Time for a RA compatible Car

So I finally gave up this week and came to terms with having to give up on my Manual Transmission.  I just can't drive my car anymore.  I am looking for a new car now and I am looking for it through my Flair glasses.  What will I be able to drive through a flair? 

I'm thinking a crossover... they are taller then a sedan so I don't have to go down as far, but lower then an SUV so I don't have to climb in to it.  Heated seats. Lumbar support. 

Please put on your flair glasses and help me list a few more things I should look for. 

Thanks

As far as being easy on hips and knees, I have had really good luck with Eagle Summit wagons (stopped making them in 96 though), Subaru Foresters and Kia Rondos. I've been in Toyota Matrix's/Pontiac Vibes a few times and they were good also. Oh, and Pontiac Aztec also.

Nichole

How funny that you posted this today...we just bought a crossover today! I really really really wanted a smaller car or a hybrid, but like you said, looking at it through "flare" glasses, I know I'd have problems climbing in and out of it. Heck, sometimes I have problems in DH's Grand Prix.

So we took advantage of some good rebates and decided we'd better use our GM credit card points before bankruptcy courts takes them away, and took the plunge. We ended up with a Traverse. Bigger than an Equinox but it gets the same gas mileage. It's easy to get in and out of, and I sit up higher. I love the adjustable seat, the large side mirrors, and the backup alarms that tells you when you're about to hit something. LOL

The only complaint I have right this minute is that it's silver...ALL our cars ended up being silver so it looks like we have a corporate fleet in our driveway!  Oh well, you have to look at features first, color second, and work with what's on the dealer's lot.

Nichole, I desperately wanted a Subaru but we had so much invested in the GM credit card program we had to use it.  

I liked the Equinox but it only seats 5 and I can see us being cramped on long trips.

Decisions, decisions...

Hey Guys,

How modern living can cause such problems and the need for a car.

Two years ago my husband lost two jobs in the space of six months after 40 years of holding down some great jobs that took him all over the world, from one week to the next (before we met unfortunsately).   Since his job loss we have had to really reign in the expenses and live very frugaly.

The two of us plus our seven year old son cycle everywhere.   We live in a village in the UK surrounded by farmland which is beautiful and the school is less than 5 minutes from the house.   I haven't worked since having Christopher as I worked very hard for 23 years, and so the joint decision was that I would become a stay at home mum.   I could have banked approximately $205,000.00 in that time but we made our personal choice and as it turned out I have had the freedom to deal with my RA which developed in 2004 and has been a battle, without the impact of long working hours and stress.   Without the use of a car I now have to have my food shopping delivered when I do a big shop once a month on-line.   I just wish that I could take our son on days out to places off the beaten track and long distances which public transport make difficult and costly.

My husband has lost 28 pounds in weight since cycling in excess of 20 - 25 miles a day as a self employed worker.   I also believe that we all have learned to appreciate things that little bit more plus, as our rate of travelling has slowed down I certainly feel closer to nature and notice so much more on my travels.

Anyway as always I've gone off track and this post was intended to be light hearted.   I was really trying to say that I don't need to make those choices over a new car because I live the simple life (through circumstances).   Believe me though I would love the freedom of a car on my driveway at times and just take off somewhere for the day.   I've been around cars all my life from a kid at home with my father and brothers and throughout my working life working with them - I love cars.

As always I do love reading all your posts and feel genuinly excited for you all having the opportunity to purchase a new car - enjoy! 

Many gentle hugs,

Dozey. 

It's wonderful you can do that, Dozey! I wish I could...and hey, at some point I may not have much of a choice! You never know. I think you do what you have to do and adapt as needed...and often it ends up being the healthier thing to do!

Where I live, in most areas (except the upscale communities) riding a bike is taking your life in your hands. Since my hip replacements I'm nervous about riding one - a fall could really mess me up. Plus I can't turn my head due to c-spine limitation; the resulting lack of peripheral vision makes me even more queasy about riding on the streets.

I would really like to invest in a recumbent bike and ride on the bike trails around here. I'd be closer to the ground and it would be easier on my hips to pedal.

Ladies,

I used to have a Toyota Highlander that was perfect for the flare days and still accomodated the kids, grandkids, elderly etc.  unfort my son did me the honor's and totalled the car.  Oh yea it was paid in full.  So I wound up with a SAAB 9-3 3 years ago and now I am having difficulties getting in and out of it. though, since I work from home it isnt that prevelant for me to get a new car yet.

My daughter bought a Saturn Vue and I have driven it several times and it is perfect for the Flare day's!!  It is smaller than the Highlander, bigger and higher than the SAAB and it has Heated seats!!!  Nice little car and the price isn't too bad...  Less expensive than the Toyota Rav3...so if i have to get another car that is what i will most likely end up with, or a MiniCooper not sure yet...my kids want to get me a Rascale or a Scooter from teh Scooter Store and trade in my car... 

Tess

I have a PT Cruiser - you either love 'em or hate 'em.  It's easy to get in and out of.  Depending on the model you can get things like heated seats that can really help to ease pain.  Mine is a base model - has lots of electric "toys" - ie door locks, windows and mirror adjusters.  Even though it is small it can comfortably seat 5 and is good on gas.  It fits my walker in the back no problem.  It's automatic and even on my worst day I have had no problem driving it.  My only issue with it is I'd like 4 wheel drive for our winters but otherwise I've been very happy with it.

bigted

Mmmm, heated seats!  I didn't get that on my new vehicle.   My mom used to have a Cadillac that had leather, heated seats and boy, was it nice!   Her current car (a buick terazzo) is about the size of the Traverse and it was just big enough to fit the lift for Dad's motorized wheelchair in the back. Now that Dad's gone she's debating whether to keep the chair... I told her to keep it for now since she needs to have some knee surgery to fix a torn meniscus.

I loved that wheelchair...Dad let me borrow it after one of my foot surgeries and it goes FAST! lol

So I have a saturn Ion and I had to bring it in to get repaired last winter and they gave me a 2009 saturn vue for a rental. It had very comfy heated seats , and total car defrost which means if you live in Wisconsin like me or anywhere where you get ice storms you dont have to scrap off all the ice on your car doors, windows and all!  Its like an SUV but not as hard to get into. Its lower then an SUV but higher then a car so its perfect!  This will be my next car.

Good Luck on car shopping!

Emily

Carolan, I would keep it even if your not keeping the car, you never know what you might need it for and they aren't cheap from what i hear.  Maybe you can rent it out in the meantime. 

One way to make an extra buck.

Tess

We picked up our Traverse today! We had to laugh because it seems like every time we've bought a car during our marriage, it has either blizzarded or pelted rain when we drive it home. This time was no exception - a random thunderstorm appeared out of nowhere and poured buckets on the car before we got it home. *sigh*

I love my Subaru.  It was so hard to part with my 10 year old Subaru Forester, but now I have the 2009 Forester (larger and more room for the kids).  The height is perfect for getting in and out, (hate low cars or high climbs).  I added my bumpy steering wheel cover, which requires a lot less grip, (can practically steer with palms), which I strongly recommend.  The automatic "shift-thing" is also very arthritis friendly..hard to describe, just kind of push it down and to the side (with your palm) without having to depress any buttons.  I have the winter package which includes seat warmers etc. 

There is one major prob with the new design of the 2009 Forster and that is the position of the front seats.  Unless you like to lean the seat back a bit as you drive, the head rests come too far forward.  I started having major lower back probs shortly after getting this car.

Good luck in your search.

I DID IT!!

I was able to find a Certified Used Mazda CX7...  2008 with only 141 miles!!!  Yes...  One Hundred and forty one. 

I don't have to climb up in to it, or sit down in to it.  It has power seats with lumbar support.  They are putting the remote start and heated seats in next week. 

Thanks to it being a 2008 its considered a "Used" car so the price was 8k less then the 2009 models so I came in under budget and was able to afford the remote start I was craving. 

And above all...  Even though I know the reason I bought the car...  When I am driving it I forget that it is the "Flare mobile" and just enjoy it. 

Thank you all for your imput!!

Kat,

Congrats, enjoy and drive safely!!!  Flare car and all...remember you can always spruce it up and make it look like a "FLARE" car with sparkels and stuff!!!

Tess

Flare mobile...hee!

Man you got a great deal!!

I'm liking my new car. It's a little high but I can lower the seat to slide in, then raise it to see over the steering wheel.

Still learning to figure out how the radio works...it came with 3 months free XM radio, which I think I will not be able to live without!

The driver's seat is sooo comfortable. It hits my back in all the right places. If I miss anything, it's that it doesn't have a right arm rest. I think the middle storage compartment lid is supposed to serve as an arm rest, but I have to pull the seat up so far to reach the pedals, I basically don't have one. :/  Oh well, I'll figure something out. Stuff a small pillow under my elbow, maybe.

I need some new parts for my vehicle...

...2 new tyres for my 26 year old bicycle.  

Not sure whether it's the bike creaking or me as I head for the hill at the top of my road.

Dozey.

Dozey,

I am just picturing you and the bike creaking together!!!

Thanks Tess,

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