By Jennifer Frost
With Americans spending on average just under 11 hours per week in their car, you would be wise to consider whether your current car is as ready for retirement as you might be. Whether or not you choose to keep a car will, of course, depend largely on how much you are able to access your friends, family, leisure activities and day to day life without one. Maintaining a car can be a significant retirement expense, but it can also be an essential means to stay independent and connected, so for many people, it’s simply a question of choosing one that suits their lifestyle.
Driving duties
The first thing to consider is how much driving you intend to do, and whether it’s mainly short urban hops or long distances. Perhaps you’re planning to use your retirement to finally take those road trips you’ve been dreaming of; one survey recently found that two out of three travelers are currently planning one. Deciding whether you’ll need the car for work, looking after the grandchildren, or hitting the highway for long breaks will inform the practicalities, such as how much trunk space, legroom or fuel efficiency you will need. This is where independent car reviews can be really useful, since they do the hard work for you. They can provide ratings based on rigorous testing, so you can compare all kinds of vehicles’ safety scores, fuel economy and even comfort levels.
The most important bodywork
How your car looks may well be a key consideration, but for these purposes, you should also think about how your car works for your body. Consider whether you will find it easy or difficult to get in and out of taller vehicles such as SUVs, or low slung sporty numbers. The average person loses around 1cm in height every 10 years after the age of 40, and this accelerates after the age of 70. You may find that this affects your visibility preferences too, in terms of adjustable seat height and breadth of windows, and additional parking sensors may now seem a valuable extra. It’s not just your sight and height that matter; a quieter running car might also leave you more able to chat with passengers if your hearing is becoming impaired.
Future proof
Advances in technology are such that you may like to use your retirement as an opportunity to enjoy a few more bells and whistles. A recent survey by the AAA found that 40 million Americans are considering an electric car for their next vehicle, which your grandchildren may be delighted about. You may also like to take advantage of Forward Collision Warning and Automatic Emergency Braking to compensate for any slowing of reflexes. Finally, if you’re comfortable with your tech, you might like to have fun with some of the more ambitious touch screen control panels that are available.
Maintaining your independence and social networks is vital during retirement, and a car can be an important tool to facilitate this. However, cars can also become a drain on the finances if they are too high maintenance or inefficient, so bear this in mind when choosing the right one for you. Consider how you’ll be using it, what your physical needs are, and whether you can use today’s technology to make your driving a dream.
