Unless you plan to use the transportation service in your independent living community, it is essential that you buy a car. However, when trying to buy a car as an aging adult, it is no longer about getting something flashy, it is about practicality. Since you will be using the car for your new phase of life, you must consider some things. You don’t need to consider car speed but the comfort, safety, and control.
You don’t want to buy something that will frustrate you on a long-distance drive. These are things you need to put into consideration before buying a senior car:
Comfort
Whatever choice you make, your comfort is essential; ensure the car seats are comfortable. During cold seasons, heated seats are a good option, and air-conditioned seats in hot climates. In addition, the steering wheel must be adjustable enough to make you comfortable to have a full view of the road. If you have back problems, buying a car with lumbar support would be best.
For maximum comfort, the controls must be within your reach without having to inconvenience you. You must be able to adjust the seat far from the airbags in case of an accident since they can save and harm you.
Accessible controls for Aging Adults
You don’t want to get confused using the touchscreen dashboards; therefore, it is advisable you test these controls before buying. The control on the dashboard should feature intuitive designs, and it must have the option to increase the font size. An easy-to-read dashboard with a larger display is recommended for aging adults.
Safety
Before deciding to settle for any car option, safety should be a consideration; however, this is more important for aging adults. As an aging adult, the car you are buying must have features to ensure your safety features like blind-spot monitoring, parking assistance, and rearview cameras. These features will offer you a full view of the road and make parking easier.
It shouldn’t be hard to get cars with these features since most cars have good safety ratings. So, it is hard to make a wrong choice irrespective of your car option. But this shouldn’t stop you from researching cars that have these features to keep you safe on the road.
Understandable Safety Functions
Cars with safety functions usually have technology installations; they are new and can be too advanced for aging adults. Although these features are helpful in keeping you safe, if you don’t understand them, you will end up frustrated.
Therefore, before buying any car, ensure you understand its function. Technology is meant to keep you safe, make things easier, and not stress you.
Price Range
Once you are done researching a suitable car option, it is essential to know whether you can afford it. The price of the car is important, irrespective of your payment option, whether you are paying in full or making a down payment.
Review your current financial situation to ensure you can comfortably afford the car. This understanding will help you establish a budget to ensure you don’t regret buying that car a year from now.
