Recommended Vehicle Fuel Type for 73yr Old Pensioner

Daniel Plainview on 15/01/2025 - 13:28
Last edited 15/01/2025 - 15:36 by 1 other user

Hi all, I am trying to convince my 73yr old mother of the merits of getting a certain type of vehicle, which she is currently rather resistant to. Hence, I'm hoping to leverage the expertise of folks here as to their opinion given the variables applicable to determining which type of fuel type vehicle she should lean towards.

Relevant factors:

  • Age 73yr, still very capable driver
  • Driving sub-10,000km per annum the vast majority of which are urban (sub 20km round trip)
  • Only needs smaller car (no towing, many passengers, bulk carrying etc)
  • Has ~9kW solar system on roof, on average exporting 75%+ of power back into grid @7c/kW
  • Looking to spend up to $30k on right car, leaning towards 2-4yr old low mileage 2nd hand.

I am not placing up my opinion (as don't want to influence the opinion of others).

I would welcome in the comments constructive feedback supporting your recommendation, as I will be showing this to her as oddly it seems my credibility is somewhat lesser than total strangers at times - lol the joys of assisting older parents.

Thank you in advance for your opinion & thoughts. :-)

Poll Options

  • 248
    Electric powered vehicle
  • 37
    Hybrid powered vehicle
  • 197
    Internal combustion powered vehicle
  • 25
    I just want to see the poll results
Automotive Car Electric Vehicle

closed Comments

  • Duckie2hh on 15/01/2025 - 13:31
    +63

    age 73yr

    Go with a simple ICE vehicle. Sorry but your mother won't be driving long enough to recoup the cost/benefit of an EV.

    • pharkurnell on 15/01/2025 - 13:36
      +6

      You can see the phone calls of mother with flat battery

        • ATTS on 17/01/2025 - 16:40

          Is it right ev reliability is different to ice.

          Like can you trash it non stop without affecting reliability as much as ice engine?

          • Euphemistic on 17/01/2025 - 19:45

            @ATTS: Smashing battery usage constantly isnt good for battery longevity, but its probably not as serious as you might expect.

            Operating anything at maximum all the time will shorten its life.

            • ATTS on 17/01/2025 - 21:01

              @Euphemistic: Thanks. When you say but not as serious would it be similar to using a computer to play high resource demanding games. Or overclocking?

          • THICKnSLOW on 17/01/2025 - 19:49
            -2

            @ATTS: absolutely!

            The electric motors are bulletproof they will last 2000x longer than an Ice engine, the only consumables are brake pads and tyres, but don't worry they are super cheap to replace, the wear and tear, disposable at end of life is harmless to the environment because the heavier weight of the vehicle ensures wear and tear on those items are deliberately harsher to make the harmful particles miniscule and undetectable in the bloodstream of mammals.

            The batteries also last 45x longer than a fuel system on an Ice, never needs replacing ever and it has the same range after 15 years so no worries at all.

            • surg3on on 19/01/2025 - 08:35
              +3

              @THICKnSLOW: Brake pads last a lot longer on EVs. They get used a LOT less

              • THICKnSLOW on 19/01/2025 - 14:24
                -1

                @surg3on: I disagree the brake pads get used less, anyone who knows how to drive properly knows how to use engine braking in ICE cars, let alone EV regen braking. I reckon brake usage has gone up and there's A LOT MORE emergency braking situations these days:

                1. The absolute worst quality of drivers on the roads today
                2. The people who choose to let the auto steer/drive software control the car than actually paying attention to driving
                3. Heavier vehicles
                4. Less agile vehicles
                5. Poorly designed roads
                6. Poorly signed roads
                7. Excessively bright headlights
                8. Poorly maintained roads
                9. Increase in wildlife and people crossing roads
                • Tleyx on 19/01/2025 - 15:13

                  @THICKnSLOW: Roads are better designed now than in past

                • surg3on on 19/01/2025 - 16:36
                  +3

                  @THICKnSLOW: Sorry man. You need to look up how regenerative braking works. In the time you took to type all that you could have learnt some cool engineering stuff

                • Jackson on 20/01/2025 - 18:27
                  +1

                  @THICKnSLOW:

                  I disagree the brake pads get used less

                  Then you just have no idea, and probably should stop polluting the comments

    • Daniel Plainview on 15/01/2025 - 13:36
      -4

      She's in excellent health - I would be surprised if she wasn't driving for another 8-10yrs easily. Any EV vehicle would be 2-4yrs old - which is where they take a ton of depreciation.

      How long did you feel such a situation would warrant to make it viable? :-)

        • klaw81 on 15/01/2025 - 17:04
          +34

          more lithium batteries are catching fire than ICE vehicles at home.

          You worded that awfully carefully.

          Lithium battery fires in homes are indeed on the rise, but it's cheap e-scooters, hoverboards and other small electronic devices that are causing those fires.

          Lithium battery fires have absolutely nothing to do with EVs - there has been a grand total of 1 instance of an EV catching fire in a house in Australia, with over 200,000 EVs on the road…..meanwhile, there are over 2000 ICE vehicle fires in NSW alone each year.

            • klaw81 on 15/01/2025 - 19:19
              +20

              @Protractor:

              How many % of those ICE car fires were parked at home?

              I have no idea, they don't provide a breakdown. I think we can safely assume it was more than one.

              Currently, the leading cause of EV fires (37%, or 3 of the 8 total EV fires in Australia since 2010) is being parked a house that catches fire for some other reason.

              But since you're worried about being too specific, here's a much broader picture for you:

              Based on records of global EV battery fires from 2010-2020, there’s a 0.0012% chance of a passenger electric vehicle battery catching fire. For ICE passenger vehicles, the global rate is about 0.1%. Based on those figures, an ICE vehicle is just over 80 times more likely to catch fire than an EV.

              I don't think either of those figures are super accurate or necessarily relevant to Australia, but the statistics are pretty clear - EV fires are extremely rare, and a significantly lower risk of fire than the average ICE vehicle. That much is indisputable.

              I'll bet the 1 instance EV scenario becomes 100 in the next few years

              I'd take that bet. There is absolutely no basis to expect your prediction to be even close to correct.

              You'd expect to see a major uptick in vehicles fires in places like California or in Norway and Sweden, if your theory was correct - they have much higher penetration of EVs compared to Australia. However, no such trend has occurred.

              I recall similar predictions of impending disaster when people started putting solar panels on homes, and they turned out to be utterly baseless too.

              • Protractor on 15/01/2025 - 19:26
                -4

                @klaw81: Okee. Bookmarked, ahead of the rise.

                • klaw81 on 15/01/2025 - 19:33
                  +8

                  @Protractor: Don't hold your breath.

                  In case you missed the significance of the first figures I provided above, the current Australian statistics rather amusingly suggest that it's more likely that your house will set your EV on fire, than the other way around.

                  In fact, of the total 8 EV fires in Australia since 2010, only 3 have been identified as actually being caused by the car itself.

                  • Protractor on 15/01/2025 - 19:38
                    -6

                    @klaw81: Won't be holding my breath, just sitting back watching the numbers of EVs grow (very) exponentially ans as the race to get lithium batteries into rigs, gets busy.And batteries get older.And DIY home based recharge shortcuts (teach me Youtube) pick up.

                • us3rnam3tak3n on 16/01/2025 - 10:15
                  +1

                  @Protractor: What is a few years? 3? 5?

                  Might as well make a specific prediction.

              • Alice McGregor on 17/01/2025 - 19:51
                +3

                @klaw81:

                8 total EV fires in Australia since 2010

                409 people were murdered last year. About 100 struck by lightning. 9 people have won $50million Powerball since 2010.

                I'd risk it.

              • someone else on 19/01/2025 - 09:44
                +2

                @klaw81: How do you dare bringing actual statistics and evidence to this illogical discussion? Shame on you!

                • klaw81 on 21/01/2025 - 10:07

                  @someone else: I was actually wrong, and double-counting a couple of the incidents.

                  According to the official figures, there's only EV 6 fires in Australia so far, not 8 as I originally claimed.

                  I sincerely apologize for misleading everyone.

      • DingoBilly on 15/01/2025 - 16:49

        You think that but decline happens pretty quickly. There's a reason you don't see many 80+ year olds on the road despite "excellent health", and the average age people give up their license in Aus seems to be 75 based on what I read.

        Even if in excellent health her reactions will be much slower than the average drive and she's already less safe from that perspective. All the more to her if she lasts a while but it's unlikely she'll be doing it safely for long.

        • brad1-8tsi on 16/01/2025 - 14:24

          You think that but decline happens pretty quickly. There's a reason you don't see many 80+ year olds on the road despite "excellent health", and the average age people give up their license in Aus seems to be 75 based on what I read.

          Even if in excellent health her reactions will be much slower than the average drive and she's already less safe from that perspective. All the more to her if she lasts a while but it's unlikely she'll be doing it safely for long.

          My Mum's 82 and delivers Meal On Wheels 5 days a week in the Bronte / Maroubra area. She's a surprisingly good driver.

          I will note that that with both Mum & Dad they both self-limited the range of their driving as they aged. Mum won't drive to my place 10km away as she doesn't know the area and doesn't like driving at night.

          My 92yo ex-FIL still drives the 200km from Ulladulla to Sydney. He was a pretty crap driver 30 years ago so I assume he leaves a trail of wreckage in his wake.

        • derrida derider on 16/01/2025 - 18:57
          +1

          All the more reason to get a car with the excellent driver aids now available, especially (but not only) in EVs.
          Lane Keeping Assist, Automatic Emergency Braking, Blind Spot Monitoring etc all reduce the consequences of failing senses.

      • Murkymerv on 15/01/2025 - 18:40
        +4

        Suzuki Swift , Hyundai I30 , Mazda 3 , Honda jazz.⁉️

      • Daniel Plainview on 18/01/2025 - 14:12
        +1

        Confused…..can one of the 16+ neg voters on this comment tell me what I said that was so problematic? Giving an opinion on how long she is capable of driving? Not sure what was said to attract the hate.
        https://www.ozbargain.com.au/comment/16163343/redir

        • Murkymerv on 19/01/2025 - 11:55
          +1

          Humanity loves to hate , especially here !

        • gimme on 20/01/2025 - 10:58

          You must be new here. Don't try to rationalise. This place is full of … well ppl on the internet.
          Just focus on the intelligent people and thoughtful comments… there's usually about 5%

        • klaw81 on 20/01/2025 - 12:03

          Your greatest crime was to suggest an EV, which is a trigger to open the BS floodgates for some people. Apart from that, some people are just jerks with too much free time.

      • Muppet Detector on 19/01/2025 - 21:40

        Why would someone sell any vehicle after owning it for only two years?

        • May4th on 19/01/2025 - 21:43

          tax write off, some people get a warm and fuzzy feeling having a new toy every 1-2 years and the ability to claim tax deductions lessens the cost of doing this

        • klaw81 on 20/01/2025 - 08:19

          There are several common reasons:

          1. A new or extra child on the way,
          2. A new job that requires a certain type of vehicle, or perhaps one that's either cheaper to run or has more seats
          3. Change to financial circumstances means the car must be sold
          4. Some people buy a new car every 2-3 years simply because they can
    • HeWhoKnows on 16/01/2025 - 08:00

      MG3 or MG ZS would be perfect if looking for a new car

    • bomberswarm2 on 16/01/2025 - 12:57
      +3

      OP is clearly looking to inherit a free EV.

    • hopper on 16/01/2025 - 15:29
      +1

      i still vote for EV to enjoy life before sun sets.

    • supersabroso on 19/01/2025 - 17:39

      She needs a car with the latest safety tech, that's the most important thing. Something as advanced as possible that will save her from life threatening accidents that she won't be able to handle at her age so if you're going with a 2-4 year old car, electric is the way to go. The tech in those cars far exceeds the tech in ICE cars, however she could have a lot of trouble using it at her age.

      • Euphemistic on 19/01/2025 - 17:42

        The tech in those cars far exceeds the tech in ICE cars,

        No it doesnt. Might be better than the basic hatchback, but wont be any better than a well equipped model.

        • Jackson on 20/01/2025 - 18:37

          The comment might have been accurate if he specified Teslas

          • Euphemistic on 20/01/2025 - 21:01

            @Jackson: Even then it does 'far exceed' its competitors. Maybe autopilot, but competitors are catching up. The rest of tesla tech is largely non essential tricks.

            • Jackson on 21/01/2025 - 08:46

              @Euphemistic: It far exceeds by ny measures, I'm many cars these features are more a nuisance than anything, not so in a Tesla, specifically compared to Chinese EVs.of course jn time they will catch up

    • corky on 20/01/2025 - 11:59

      As someone slightly older than OP's mother, she may be reluctant to try new technology. Some in our age bracket prefer to stick to what we know. Personally I'd love an EV. Horses for courses, whatever she's comfortable driving.

  • jv on 15/01/2025 - 13:33
    +41

    Recommended Vehicle Fuel Type for 73yr Old Pensioner

    U98

    • pharkurnell on 15/01/2025 - 13:36
      +1

      that would depend on age of walking frame.

    • theHMASfriendship on 15/01/2025 - 14:15
      +7

      I recommend Werther's Originals

      • Chandler on 15/01/2025 - 18:17
        +3

        As a middle-aged consumer of Werther's Originals, this comment offends me…

    • Seaword on 15/01/2025 - 15:44

      Not Av Gas?

      • jv on 15/01/2025 - 15:44
        +1

        Av Gas?

        🤣

        Maybe… Bowels don't work as well at that age.

        But she is definitely U98….

        • Murkymerv on 16/01/2025 - 10:21
          +1

          JV , "you've done it again".

    • Flutterby on 16/01/2025 - 12:05
      +1

      A2 full cream?

  • joka on 15/01/2025 - 13:37
    +6

    I’m no expert but I saw a poll and had to engage.

  • shxhshzhz on 15/01/2025 - 13:38
    +4

    $20k brand new MG3 with a 10 year warranty or a 1-2 year old one for even less. That car use is so low that spending more is a waste. If you want a nicer car with more features and safety tech, the Chery Tiggo 4 Pro is $23990.

    Is an EV what she is against?

      • Daniel Plainview on 15/01/2025 - 15:19
        +9

        LOL, strike one for you. She actually bought the place with it already there - and I didn't want the place purchased for other reasons. You know what they say about ASSUMING.

          • Daniel Plainview on 15/01/2025 - 15:23
            +3

            @MS Paint: And annoying son? Obnoxious much?

          • coffeeinmyveins on 16/01/2025 - 15:01
            -1

            @MS Paint:

            No assuming at all. Just taking a punt.

            You weren't "taking a punt"

            Clearly this is what

            son is pushing at

            Son probably also

            even though she didn't want it.

            You were not even making assumptions to be honest, you were stating things as if they were facts.

            Just admit you were wrong and move on. lol

        • SlickMick on 16/01/2025 - 09:52

          Half a point actually. You didn't refute the first part.

          • Flutterby on 16/01/2025 - 12:07

            @SlickMick: Quote - "Clearly this is what the annoying son is pushing at."

            • SlickMick on 16/01/2025 - 17:21

              @Flutterby: correct, that's the first, unrefuted part for which a half point was awarded.

              Are you questioning or confirming??

              • Flutterby on 16/01/2025 - 17:34

                @SlickMick: Not questioning, nor confirming. Merely to cater for ones that are too lazy to read the original sentence.

  • miicah on 15/01/2025 - 13:45
    +5

    Why even buy a new car at this point? You won't recoup the cost going for any sort of hybrid/EV. What's wrong with the current car?

    • Daniel Plainview on 15/01/2025 - 15:21
      -3

      Older Ford Focus, she has to spend some money to get her assets down to get full pension - changing car one of the few spots where she can. The Focus has previously had transmission replaced and is lacking 2nd gen safety features I think that would benefit her (blind spot detection, autonomous braking etc). She brought up replacing car first, I'm trying to find best bang for buck.

      • Protractor on 15/01/2025 - 15:36
        +2

        she has to spend some money to get her assets down to get full pension

        I'll bet you vote LNP

        • Daniel Plainview on 15/01/2025 - 16:32
          +9

          Fudge me - the folks in here. Wrong champ, I don't nor have ever voted LNP.

        • Inertia-g on 16/01/2025 - 08:15
          +2

          On most social media I would be called a leftie, and even I agree with Packer when he said anyone paying more tax than they have to is an idiot (and this example is a corollary of maximising benefits). I don’t always agree with the system, and vote accordingly, but I’m not going to leave money on the table.

          • Protractor on 16/01/2025 - 09:46
            +5

            @Inertia-g: Socialism for the rich. A very tasty treat. Neg gearing, trust funds,reduce Mums threshold etc.Yeah I get it.
            Meanwhile ppl live under bridges because the trough is either empty or being paid 4 generations fwd.
            Why should an asset rich person be allowed to shuffle the cards (sons future inheritance) when they could easily survive on a part or no pension?

          • Daniel Plainview on 18/01/2025 - 14:16
            +3

            @Inertia-g: @Inertia-g
            Agree, again not sure what I said that warranted the near double digit negs. Every man & his dog near pension age plugs all their cash into their PPOR as it's non assessable (a poor policy IMHO) yet when she's driving a decade plus old car with a very spotty reliability issue & I say she's considering replacing to get her assets down for pension - THAT is beyond the pale?

            If thats unacceptable to folks - I do no know how they'd see most corporate accounting practices. Tough markers if an old lady can't do this.

            • trufflesthepenguin on 20/01/2025 - 12:05

              @Daniel Plainview: I thought we were all here for the bargains… These discussions have changed.

            • Jackson on 20/01/2025 - 19:21
              +1

              @Daniel Plainview: You've learned an important lesson today, that for a site that gets by on traffic from tight arses trying to save a buck, they absolutely hate it when someone is doing just about any other money saving activity, especially one that they may not have access to. Consider yourself lucky you aren't coming here for advice on your investment property, or a legal or other financial matter, the ignorants will eviscerate for you

      • Stewardo on 15/01/2025 - 18:29
        +1

        Pokies!
        She will be backing into things shortly.
        Doesn’t need a new car, especially electric or hybrid.
        it will take years to break even.
        Seriously buy those discounted Woolworths wish cards with her cash and pre load a few insurance utilities etc.
        buy her a safe and bolt it in somewhere discreet.

      • wombatzzz on 16/01/2025 - 08:40
        -2

        another old pensioner desperate to bleed the system

        • Protractor on 16/01/2025 - 09:47
          -1

          …old pensioners son ..just under the tree

      • LFO on 16/01/2025 - 11:48
        +1

        to get her assets down to get full pension

        Wouldn't a brand new (or about) EV (or anything else) will count as assets?

        On the other hand, lots of money spent on the old Ford Focus will just be a Centerlink justified expense.

        And then she will have a fully renovated/renewed/resprayed/redone and yet a very well known vehicle: her own one.
        Almost like bringing the car from the past and brand new (almost).

  • mskeggs on 15/01/2025 - 13:46
    +20

    Older people are often most comfortable with what they know, and with low mileage and likely declining motoring over the life of this car, there isn't really an economic case for an ev.

    Maybe see if you can convince her of the environmental case? She might like to be seen as caring for the environment.
    Many EVs are a pain to operate, burying controls in touchscreen menus.
    If your mum isn't au fait with tech, it might be something she finds a substantial drawback.

    • lachhelix on 16/01/2025 - 19:49
      +4

      Came here to say exactly this - change is harder and harder as you get older.

      I could not even fathom trying to get my 70yo grandma to learn how to use an EV effectively when they've been used to something quite different for 50 years

  • Boioioioi on 15/01/2025 - 13:47
    +5

    EV or not I would not be getting a car with crap safety like MG3 that a lot of people suggest. Why would you spend $30k only to be in danger whenever there is an accident!

    • Gdsamp on 15/01/2025 - 13:52
      +33

      expedite your inheritance with this one simple trick

      • MS Paint on 15/01/2025 - 14:03
        +3

        I have subscribed to your posts to further enhance my inheritance.

    • Bruceflix on 15/01/2025 - 15:05

      Didn't the MG score higher in safety than Suzuki swift?

      • Boioioioi on 15/01/2025 - 15:35

        Looking at the ancap testing swift seems to have done pretty bad! Look at the side impact whole thing is crumpled. I wouldn't want either

    • Drakesy on 15/01/2025 - 15:44

      how so?

      A Toyota landcruiser has a zero star ANCAP and costs the better part of $70k, the design is literally 30 years old.

      Sometimes a cheaper runabout is all you need and it'll likely perform better than a 5 star ancap from 2013

      • Euphemistic on 19/01/2025 - 11:29

        People seem to forget that 5 star safety is relevant for the manufacture date. A 5 star car from 10y ago may be less safe than a 4 star car of today becasue the current standars are higher.

    • jv on 16/01/2025 - 12:29

      to be in danger whenever there is an accident!

      You mean like a 'fire' ?

    • flywire on 19/01/2025 - 10:48

      Doesn't seem like much of a risk when you consider her exposure - travel distance and speed.

  • sumyungguy on 15/01/2025 - 13:54
    +1

    Care to share what she drives now?

    • Daniel Plainview on 15/01/2025 - 15:21

      2012 Ford Focus.

      • MS Paint on 15/01/2025 - 15:23
        +3

        Surprised the powershift gearbox is still operational.

        Yes, I have assumed it's an auto.

        • ReaperX22 on 16/01/2025 - 14:24
          +2

          Comment further up says the transmission was replaced already ha

  • jellyhead on 15/01/2025 - 14:03
    +6

    My mum in early eighties bought a mazda cx3 a few years ago and she loves it

    • MS Paint on 15/01/2025 - 14:05
      +9

      Perfect. Easy ingress and egress. Easy to maintain. Easy to park. Easy to refuel. No nagging son telling her what to do.

      • coffeeinmyveins on 16/01/2025 - 15:02

        No nagging son telling her what to do.

        What's wrong in your life that you are saying this in several comments?

        projection, perhaps.

  • Dollar General on 15/01/2025 - 14:11
    -1

    Where’s the horse with cart option?

  • MS Paint on 15/01/2025 - 14:12
    +6

    I am trying to convince my 73yr od mother of the merits of getting a certain type of vehicle, which she is currently rather resistant to.

    Sounds like your mum is still super independent. That is great. Embrace that and let her make her own decision. FFS.

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