Do you still drive? Age?

Almost 80 and still drive otherwise I would be homebound and going nuts. When not doing errands, I just take ride to look at the scenery. We have a lot of hilly and twisty roads here and I like the way my car handles them so it's fun. I used to ride a motorcycle but quit after an accident.
 

80 here and still driving, I've always loved driving, still do, but I've slowed down and drive very cautiously now, I drive a 2014 GMC Terrain that only has 39,000 miles on it, so that'll tell you how much driving I do....my mother drove up into her 90's, hope I can do the same.
 
My grandfather was my inspiration. He lived in the mountains of North Carolina. He owned VWs when everyone else owned American cars. I used to visit him in the summer and he would drive me to Chimney Rock, speeding along the curves like there was no tomorrow. He lived to be 98, and I'm guessing he drove until he was 90.

My uncle, his son, drove a motorcycle well into his 80's. I asked him when he was going to stop, and he said "when my leg can no longer kick over the seat". ;)

I hope to be so lucky.
 
Catlady said:
It would be better if people mentioned their age, it makes a huge difference.

I had no problem with driving before I retired. I even worked the third shift and most of the time I went to work and came home in the dark. After I retired at 63 I have become increasingly uncomfortable about driving, especially in the dark. I had no problem getting on the interstate but now I avoid it if I can but am alright once on the interstate. I am now 77 and plan to give up my license at 80 when I'm due to renew it. I'll sell my car and use the money I now spend on insurance, registration, gas and other expenses to pay for transportation.
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Oh, silly don't drive in the dark. That is terrifying especially if it is raining and the lines in the road disappear. When I leave for the pool it is still dark and I hate it! I will be so glad when we are back to longer days. Especially if you have cataracts night driving is terrible but those can be removed.

For years I thought I would give up driving we I am 80, but maybe not. I am 75 now and a Senior Companion, which means I drive other people around. I live in a small city and avoid the roads during rush hour. I drive less busy side roads and cross busy roads where are traffic lights for safety.

Covid shut us down a few times and I hate being isolated with nothing to do. I love serving people and making them happy. I survived the first long shut down by giving a homeless guy rides to his canning spots, and reading a book while he did his canny (going through dumpsters looking for refundable cans). That was different and kind of fun. Then he left town, and I realized I don't tolerate having nothing to do very well. I need my clients.

Whoops, just got called to give someone a ride- must go :D
 
Chet said:
How is rearward visibility on the Kona? The small rear window and pillars on SUVs make it tough, at least on the one I had.
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Probably a valid point, but it hasn't been a problem for a couple of reasons. The side mirrors are a good size, and I bought the Kona because I wanted the SEL safety package. Lane change warning works very well, as does the backup traffic/pedestrian warning. The front collision warning and breaking are also more than I expected. I was crossing a bridge in heavy traffic. A few car lengths ahead, a car in the lane next to mine was in an accident and stopped. The camera spotted it before I did, on came the warning beep and the breaks, enough to slow the car, but leaving a complete stop up to me. The only thing I don't like about the SEL is that it includes a sun roof -- something I never use.
 
Tom 86 said:
86 & still driving. I have a Dodge Durango 2018 Getting to be too big for me, looking to trade back to a Prius 3 or 4
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Before the Kona we owned a Prius -- put 102,000 miles on it. Good car, but we had to replace the batteries before we traded it. I did the math. Savings on gas and the tax credit when we bought the Prius new were nice, but were pretty much offset by the higher initial price of a hybrid and the cost of that replacement battery pack, so we went with a good mileage car, but not another hybrid.
 
Catlady said:
Of course, that depends on how you feel about driving and how well you drive. I've heard of people driving until 90. On the other hand, my father had a spotless driving record and in his early 70's he had a bad accident (his fault but no injuries). His insurance premium DOUBLED.

YES! So great that now you can get deliveries. As for a driver, I'm hoping I can find someone that does not have a job and I can pay him/her to drive me, rather than use strangers like taxis/Lyft. I am a homebody and don't go out much, anyway.
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I have a friend that does just that - he no longer drives due to health issues. A friend of his has an independent taxi service and he calls him whenever he has errands.
 
ElCastor said:
Before the Kona we owned a Prius -- put 102,000 miles on it. Good car, but we had to replace the batteries before we traded it. I did the math. Savings on gas and the tax credit when we bought the Prius new were nice, but were pretty much offset by the higher initial price of a hybrid and the cost of that replacement battery pack, so we went with a good mileage car, but not another hybrid.
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I've had 2 prius's. One a used 2007 that I put 150,000 miles on it. The dealer said he could make me a good deal on trade as most Prius's can go 300,000 miles before the battery will go bad. Even then I have a re-build place that can get me a replacement battery for $1,000.00 This was back in 2010. So I traded for 2013 that had 34,000 miles on it. I put another 150,000 miles on that one & got a good trade-in on the Durango.

I do like the dealer I got both my cars from as they are not like most dealers. They are honest about what my cars need to be replaced. My last Prisus was supposed to go 7,500 miles between oil/filter changes. I would always get an appt. to change it at 5,000 miles. They ask me why I was doing this? I said oil is cheap engine rebuild is not.

They had to change the oil change warning in the computer from 7,500 miles to 5,000 miles so it would start letting me know when I was at about 4,500 miles.

Loved the fuel mileage they got. From 55 to 62 MPG. The last one had heated seats & an electric grid in the fan output line so when I started it I had instant heat in the wintertime.
 
Tom 86 said:
I've had 2 prius's. One a used 2007 that I put 150,000 miles on it. The dealer said he could make me a good deal on trade as most Prius's can go 300,000 miles before the battery will go bad. Even then I have a re-build place that can get me a replacement battery for $1,000.00 This was back in 2010. So I traded for 2013 that had 34,000 miles on it. I put another 150,000 miles on that one & got a good trade-in on the Durango.

I do like the dealer I got both my cars from as they are not like most dealers. They are honest about what my cars need to be replaced. My last Prisus was supposed to go 7,500 miles between oil/filter changes. I would always get an appt. to change it at 5,000 miles. They ask me why I was doing this? I said oil is cheap engine rebuild is not.

They had to change the oil change warning in the computer from 7,500 miles to 5,000 miles so it would start letting me know when I was at about 4,500 miles.

Loved the fuel mileage they got. From 55 to 62 MPG. The last one had heated seats & an electric grid in the fan output line so when I started it I had instant heat in the wintertime.
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Looked up the paperwork. My post wasn't quite correct. Bought our 2006 Prius new, traded it in 2018 with 110,000 miles on it. As I recall, the battery (really batteries) began to go at a little over 100,000 and was replaced at around 101,000. I traded it in 2018 for the Kona. As I recall the dealer wanted a little over $2,000 for the battery job, but I got a rebuilt from a 3rd party for about $1,500. Here's what I'm currently seeing on the Internet about Prius battery life.

"Toyota says a Prius battery will last between 100,000-150,000 miles or between 8-10 years. However, there are owners that have eked out far more mileage, as well as others who’ve reported fewer." https://www.thedrive.com/cars-101/38127/prius-battery-life

I owned the car (and liked it) for more than 10 years, so battery life may have been normal for those days. On the other hand, technology being what it is, maybe these days it's better? Anyhow, hybrids will one of these days be a thing of the past. The future is all electric.
 
ElCastor said:
Looked up the paperwork. My post wasn't quite correct. Bought our 2006 Prius new, traded it in 2018 with 110,000 miles on it. As I recall, the battery (really batteries) began to go at a little over 100,000 and was replaced at around 101,000. I traded it in 2018 for the Kona. As I recall the dealer wanted a little over $2,000 for the battery job, but I got a rebuilt from a 3rd party for about $1,500. Here's what I'm currently seeing on the Internet about Prius battery life.

"Toyota says a Prius battery will last between 100,000-150,000 miles or between 8-10 years. However, there are owners that have eked out far more mileage, as well as others who’ve reported fewer." https://www.thedrive.com/cars-101/38127/prius-battery-life

I owned the car (and liked it) for more than 10 years, so battery life may have been normal for those days. On the other hand, technology being what it is, maybe these days it's better? Anyhow, hybrids will one of these days be a thing of the past. The future is all electric.
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Thanks for the information. I guess I did well for 150,000 miles on both of mine.

As for total electric vehicles. That won't happen in my lifetime. Maybe 50+ years in the future. They will have to beef up all the electric grids to handle all the chargers. I see a lot larger cars & even semis that are going hybrid.

Just read an article that McClarin has a hybrid that can go over 200 mph. Cost over $100,000.00 It has a new design battery that's good for speeds under 70 mph range of 700 miles, then the gas engine kicks in & helps travel & charge the battery.
 
Tom 86 said:
Thanks for the information. I guess I did well for 150,000 miles on both of mine.

As for total electric vehicles. That won't happen in my lifetime. Maybe 50+ years in the future. They will have to beef up all the electric grids to handle all the chargers. I see a lot larger cars & even semis that are going hybrid.

Just read an article that McClarin has a hybrid that can go over 200 mph. Cost over $100,000.00 It has a new design battery that's good for speeds under 70 mph range of 700 miles, then the gas engine kicks in & helps travel & charge the battery.
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Just my opinion, but by the end of this decade I suspect the finish line will be in sight for gas powered cars.
 
I doubt that I'll bother to make the switch from gas to electric at this point in my life.

I'll stick with a traditional vehicle until it becomes too expensive and then switch to a car service when I need to venture out.

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Aunt Bea said:
I doubt that I'll bother to make the switch from gas to electric at this point in my life.

I'll stick with a traditional vehicle until it becomes too expensive and then switch to a car service when I need to venture out.

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By car service, do you mean taxis or Ubers? Because a friend of mine who is even older than I and lives even farther out from town than I keeps saying she's not moving closer to town or out of that huge house & property, she's going to hire a car service or full-time/just-for-her driver. I said you mean like a personal Uber driver or a live-in chauffeur or something? She said no, my own personal driver who works for only me. So I tried putting in "car service" into yellowpages.com for our area, all I got back was auto dismantling and wrecking yards. So I tried "driver" but all I got was driving schools. (They don't teach it at high schools around here anymore; you have to pay for it.) So then I tried "chauffeur" but all I got was one limousine service that's mainly used for proms, etc.
 
officerripley said:
By car service, do you mean taxis or Ubers? Because a friend of mine who is even older than I and lives even farther out from town than I keeps saying she's not moving closer to town or out of that huge house & property, she's going to hire a car service or full-time/just-for-her driver. I said you mean like a personal Uber driver or a live-in chauffeur or something? She said no, my own personal driver who works for only me. So I tried putting in "car service" into yellowpages.com for our area, all I got back was auto dismantling and wrecking yards. So I tried "driver" but all I got was driving schools. (They don't teach it at high schools around here anymore; you have to pay for it.) So then I tried "chauffeur" but all I got was one limousine service that's mainly used for proms, etc.
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I suppose that I would consider any available form of transportation, but I was referring to a taxi, Uber, Lyft, etc...

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