When Are You Too Old For An Old Man's Car?
 

I was on my way in to work this morning and came very close to having an impromptu meeting with a C7 Corvette convertible being driven the wrong way down a one-way street. The convertible top was down, and I got a good eyeful of the driver, who had to be closing in on his 80th birthday. Normally, I have a you-only-live-once perspective when spying members of our greatest generation living it up in a sports car, but dang, this guy looked like an escapee from an assisted living facility.

Do appearances matter? If you look like an old fool behind the wheel of a sport convertible, should you hang up your spurs and buy a Subaru Forester, or just say to Hell with it, and ride off into the sunset, left-turn signal absently blinking away?

NGL, I'm offended by the Forester remark......

Given the number of deaths and injuries every year, I would be in favor of having to pass a driver's test every time you renew.

I wish I could hear everyone's thoughts as I drive by (albeit the correct way...). I am generally a fan of ridiculous cars. For a few years I had a right hand drive 4x4 diesel van (1993 mitsubishi delica) that I took offroad and on the beach regularly. Every time I took it on the beach, I would get folks cheering and taking pictures as we bounced on by. My stable is a bit ordinary right now (my e550, grand cherokee, a heavily modified saturn sky turbo, and now a geo tracker). I also look like a damn hippie so there's that.

You're never too old to have fun...until you're driving the wrong way or mix up pedals. Then you're just too old to drive.

i.m too old to care what folks think.

What's more appropriate?
A teen driving a 240D or
a geezer in a vette?

Drive what you enjoy. I've been driving an old man's car since I was young. I've now aged in that same car to the point where now it looks age appropriate.

I drive what is most comfortable for me and that provides me with the type utility I'm looking for. I've found it in the 2014/15 GLK350 as already mentioned in other places. The thing I like most about it is how easy it is to get in and out of:).

Once you hit 70 you should have to pass a test on license renewal.

The ones to watch out for have the big black sunglasses. When I used to do road work we had a couple almost drive into the trench. If you see one coming run they can't see.

Yeah I agree. As the OP alludes to, it's not really what you drive but how you drive.


I say test at every renewal - people change and it's not always age related.

Agreed. Each year over 70..

My first car was a brand new 1974 Cadillac Sedan DeVille.

Smoke 'em if you got 'em.

In driver ed the instructor said the worst drivers were 'old man with hat'

Wait a minute…your signature indicates that you have a C7 convertible. It wouldn’t happen to be white, would it?

I'd have A LOT more cars, truck, SUVs and RVs, were they under roof and somewhat climate controlled. My favorite vehicles have mostly shot Up in value while in this acquisition phase.

Clarkson on Top Gear made the point that the most dangerous drivers in the UK, based on actual facts, were geezers.