My 84 year old dad wants to buy a new car - discuss.

[Anonymous]

My 80 year old inlaws have decided they need a new car before all new cars have touch screens. Their current cars are about 5 years old and work great. But they have this idea in their head that soon all cars will be touch screens! It is not exactly rational.

[Anonymous]

My dad bought a new car at the age of 86 and died six months later. Unfortunately the way he set up the trust and estate all assets went into the trust and my mom was the trustee. But since she had dementia the bank became the trustee and they sold the car at auction when there were several grandchildren who could have used the car. You might encourage him to specify a specific recipient for the car/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My father is 82 and just bought a new car. Then he drove it about 2000 miles on a road trip. The man freaking loves to drive. If something happens to him while driving, well, he died doing what he loved.

And hopefully nothing happens to anyone else due to him!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They're isn't anything to discuss. If he can safely drive and has the money, he's fine. Don't be greedy

This. I do think OP has a right to intervene if they are closing in on the point where they will have to take away the keys (old or new). But nothing in OP's post suggested this, so I'm on Team MYOB.

Did you miss the part where she said he's 84-years-old?

If his previous car didn't die, he would still be driving it around. These are two separate things - whether he is fit to drive and whether he should get a new car to replace the old one. OP does not say that they think he is unsafe driving. OP only mentions whether or not to get a new car and thinks leasing would be a better option (indicating her question is more about finances).

Personally I think all seniors should require driving tests every 5 years between 60-75 and every 2 years after that. But that's not what this thread is about.

The implication of the OP is that she doesn't think he'll be capable of driving for much longer. Which itself suggests she's not sure how safe it currently is.

Which, of course is going to be a concern. The father is 84 years old. That's older than Trump and Biden. Would you want to see either of them driving on public roads?

Right - "much longer." But as for now, he is driving and OP seems fine with it. So getting back to the main question - does she intervene and suggest a lease or just sit back and watch and let him do his thing?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Title says it all. Dad lives alone (divorced), he’s 100% mentally there and has some balance issues but otherwise healthy. Is pretty active - cooks, goes to the gym, etc. His current car just went kaput so he needs a new set of wheels.

Part of me feels like this makes no sense at all and he should lease, part of me thinks “good for him!”, and still another parr of me thinks, “it doesn’t really matter what I think - it’s his life and his money.”

But still - 84 + new car? What would others do here? Say something? Keep out of it?

FWIW Dad and I have a very good relationship.

The bolded is all you need to know.

It's his life, his money, and you don't get a say in whether or not he buys a new car. Keep out of it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My 80 year old inlaws have decided they need a new car before all new cars have touch screens. Their current cars are about 5 years old and work great. But they have this idea in their head that soon all cars will be touch screens! It is not exactly rational.

The touch screen thing is coming for you and me. My friend couldn't get the SUV she wanted without one. They're cheaper to build.

The irrational thing is that your in-laws think that their 5 year old cars are going to die soon. Cars last forever these days.

[Anonymous]

My parents (age 80) have a large puppy. Maybe a car isn't so bad...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They're isn't anything to discuss. If he can safely drive and has the money, he's fine. Don't be greedy

This. I do think OP has a right to intervene if they are closing in on the point where they will have to take away the keys (old or new). But nothing in OP's post suggested this, so I'm on Team MYOB.

Did you miss the part where she said he's 84-years-old?

If his previous car didn't die, he would still be driving it around. These are two separate things - whether he is fit to drive and whether he should get a new car to replace the old one. OP does not say that they think he is unsafe driving. OP only mentions whether or not to get a new car and thinks leasing would be a better option (indicating her question is more about finances).

Personally I think all seniors should require driving tests every 5 years between 60-75 and every 2 years after that. But that's not what this thread is about.

The implication of the OP is that she doesn't think he'll be capable of driving for much longer. Which itself suggests she's not sure how safe it currently is.

Which, of course is going to be a concern. The father is 84 years old. That's older than Trump and Biden. Would you want to see either of them driving on public roads?

Right - "much longer." But as for now, he is driving and OP seems fine with it. So getting back to the main question - does she intervene and suggest a lease or just sit back and watch and let him do his thing?

Or she could recommend that he use different transportation methods *before* he kills someone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They're isn't anything to discuss. If he can safely drive and has the money, he's fine. Don't be greedy

This. I do think OP has a right to intervene if they are closing in on the point where they will have to take away the keys (old or new). But nothing in OP's post suggested this, so I'm on Team MYOB.

Did you miss the part where she said he's 84-years-old?

If his previous car didn't die, he would still be driving it around. These are two separate things - whether he is fit to drive and whether he should get a new car to replace the old one. OP does not say that they think he is unsafe driving. OP only mentions whether or not to get a new car and thinks leasing would be a better option (indicating her question is more about finances).

Personally I think all seniors should require driving tests every 5 years between 60-75 and every 2 years after that. But that's not what this thread is about.

The implication of the OP is that she doesn't think he'll be capable of driving for much longer. Which itself suggests she's not sure how safe it currently is.

Which, of course is going to be a concern. The father is 84 years old. That's older than Trump and Biden. Would you want to see either of them driving on public roads?

Right - "much longer." But as for now, he is driving and OP seems fine with it. So getting back to the main question - does she intervene and suggest a lease or just sit back and watch and let him do his thing?

Or she could recommend that he use different transportation methods *before* he kills someone.

That's not what this thread is about. Start a new one.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They're isn't anything to discuss. If he can safely drive and has the money, he's fine. Don't be greedy

This. I do think OP has a right to intervene if they are closing in on the point where they will have to take away the keys (old or new). But nothing in OP's post suggested this, so I'm on Team MYOB.

Did you miss the part where she said he's 84-years-old?

If his previous car didn't die, he would still be driving it around. These are two separate things - whether he is fit to drive and whether he should get a new car to replace the old one. OP does not say that they think he is unsafe driving. OP only mentions whether or not to get a new car and thinks leasing would be a better option (indicating her question is more about finances).

Personally I think all seniors should require driving tests every 5 years between 60-75 and every 2 years after that. But that's not what this thread is about.

The implication of the OP is that she doesn't think he'll be capable of driving for much longer. Which itself suggests she's not sure how safe it currently is.

Which, of course is going to be a concern. The father is 84 years old. That's older than Trump and Biden. Would you want to see either of them driving on public roads?

Right - "much longer." But as for now, he is driving and OP seems fine with it. So getting back to the main question - does she intervene and suggest a lease or just sit back and watch and let him do his thing?

Or she could recommend that he use different transportation methods *before* he kills someone.

That's not what this thread is about. Start a new one.

The title is "My 84 year old dad wants to buy a new car - discuss."

As several commenters have discussed, it is irresponsible for an 84-year-old to drive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is so irresponsible and dangerous. 84 year olds shouldn't be driving. This is how we end up with cars crashing through pedestrians or into buildings/homes.

At least make him take and pass a real driving test before buying a vehicle.

EXACTLY what I was thinking. At a bare minimum you should take him to a driving school for a one hr private lesson to have him evaluated. I would not encourage and 85 yr old to keep driving for any reason.

[Anonymous]

A lot of you people are very out of touch in your opinions on older people. Newsflash, they are not all the same and they don't all age/deteriorate at the same rate.

I'd say help your dad learn about and become accustomed to whatever new technology is on his new car once he gets it. Most older people could use a little guidance on that.

[Anonymous]

He haa no issues, so why is this a problem? I am not understanding.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is so irresponsible and dangerous. 84 year olds shouldn't be driving. This is how we end up with cars crashing through pedestrians or into buildings/homes.

At least make him take and pass a real driving test before buying a vehicle.

EXACTLY what I was thinking. At a bare minimum you should take him to a driving school for a one hr private lesson to have him evaluated. I would not encourage and 85 yr old to keep driving for any reason.

Not true. Everyone, at any age, is not the same. He has several more driving years ahead, and the rest of you BUTT OUT. You will understand when you hit that age, but right now there is nothing to be concerned about. Das probably drives better than the rest of the family.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is it the same poster who keeps mentioning mowing down kids?

Yes, drama llama.