These are American senior citizens' favorite cars

Auto Blog ^ | December 15, 2011 | Dan Roth

[decimon]

The stereotype of elderly drivers preferring Lincolns and Buicks has to come from somewhere. TrueCar.com took a look at the past two years of car sales to buyers at least 65 years old and found a couple common threads. The first thing these buyers are looking for is familiarity. The nameplates and vehicle types that were popular when these buyers were younger rank high with senior buyers, kind of the same way people's musical preferences get frozen in time.

[decimon]

There's a geezer on the road,
turn-signal overload

[BraveMan]

Here’s the list, followed by the percentages of each car that are bought by seniors:

1. Lincoln Town Car, 90 percent

2. Buick Lucerne, 87 percent

3. Cadillac DTS, 85 percent

4. Cadillac CTS, 74 percent

5. Cadillac STS, 71 percent

6. Hyundai Azera, 25 percent

7. Chevrolet Impala, 51 percent

8. Buick LaCrosse, 59 percent

9. Lincoln MKZ, 54 percent

10. Toyota Avalon, 54 percent.

[central_va]

Lincoln Townhouse.

[Huntress]

I reckon they didn’t include the Mercury Grand Marquis because it’s no longer in production. But there sure are a lot of them on the road, most driven by old folks (including my folks).

[decimon]

Lincoln Townhouse.

Car services sure love 'em. It used to seem there were about a billion of them just in Manhattan.

[ChocChipCookie]

Those are for senior citizens with money. My parents are driving a 12 year-old Crown Victoria. They’ve taken very good care of it, but it has started costing an arm and a leg in repairs.

[Vinnie]

Buicks have a 5 min. time limit on the turn signals. (really)

So in 5 min. you’ll know the actual intent.

[cripplecreek]

Cool story about an old girl (101 years old) in Plymouth Michigan. and she knows her cars.

http://graphics8.nytimes.com/bcvideo/1.0/iframe/embed.html?videoId=100000000895665&playerType=embed

[traditional1]

Another statistic that they left out:

If there is are least a dozen cars in a bumper-to-bumper lineup/pack, in the High Speed Lane following a vehicle on Cruise Control, there will be either a:

1) Mini Van

or

2) Buick

Driven by either a Senior Citizen, or a woman.

[traditional1]

"Buicks have a 5 min. time limit on the turn signals. (really)"

It usually stays on (the left turn signal) only until, after a mile of driving, the Senior turns right and the turn signal goes off.

[forgotten man]

Are Buicks equipped with rear view mirrors?

[ExCTCitizen]

It is an interesting list. I’m surprised Toyota was on the list.

[Joann37]

Interesting!

[knews_hound]

I just sold my Cadillac STS and I am not exactly old.

I wonder what that says about me?

Cheers,

knewshound

[traditional1]

"Are Buicks equipped with rear view mirrors?

Why would they do that?

Buick drivers can't see IN FRONT OF THEM, let alone, in a rear view mirror. (They find the cruise-control by feel)

[guppas]

I have a Toyota Sequoia I love. (I’m 68) Sometimes I get in it, turn on the left turn signal and ride around town during the rush hour. I’m telling you, I love being old.

[Harley]

I’ve been calling motoring seniors GIBs for years. When we see one we go “Look out GIB coming.” Oh GIB stands for “Geezer In a Buick”.

[Revolting cat!]

What all these models have in common are turn signals that will not go off, and steering wheels which automatically take the vehicles to the passing lane at 40MPH!

[Huntress]

Driven by either a Senior Citizen, or a woman.

I've noticed that as well. I can forgive the old folks more readily than the younger women, but slow drivers in the passing lane always drive me nuts.

[SkyDancer]

My grandad (72) drives a jacked up 1967 Chevy pickup tricked out for off-road traveling. I don’t know who those geezer’s are that drive those Detroit boats but they sure don’t live in my neck of the woods.