Toyota Prius: the perfect car for those with arthritis?
We can think of plenty of good reasons to choose a Toyota Prius for your next car. Saving gas is the most obvious choice, and some people are happy with merely the perception that they are being green. But, how about choosing the Prius for the ease it offers in choosing gears? Think that's just crazy talk? Think again! Warren Clarke, Automotive Content Editor over at Edmunds Inside Line suggested the Prius to an older friend who happens to have arthritis in her hands. She asked Warren for advice on what type of vehicle to purchase which is no too manually demanding and he recommended the Prius. Not only is the gear selector easy to operate, but readers also pointed out in the comments that the car has push-button-start too, making it easier for someone with arthritis to start the car. When I first read this, I thought it was comical. But, after thinking harder about it, I can understand why somebody would value this and consider it a "feature". After all, this older person might be completely able to drive a vehicle, albeit with some pain. I personally don't want to be driving on the roads by the time I become a hazard to other motorists, but that may not be the case here. Any comments?
[Source: Edmunds Inside Line]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Rex 10:11AM (9/20/2007)
I agree with his recommendation. My mother purchased a 2002 model with the vertical shift lever. It is easier for her to shift that other vehicles because of her arthritis doesn't cause pain due to how the lever is designed. Also, to start the vehicle it doesn't take as much pressure on the key as some other vehicles.
Reply
jt 11:57AM (9/20/2007)
The Toyota Compact IQ demonstrated at the recent IAA has some new features too, like flexible passenger seats. As does the Prius Electric. There is a video of it on Club of Pioneers.
http://www.clubofpioneers.com/blog/video-blog/18/stories/397/
Reply
Tony Belding 12:15PM (9/20/2007)
This reminds me of a discussion a while back about the fate of Buick. Somebody a while back was lamenting how Buick was coming to be seen as a "grandma and grandpa" car, and wondering if there was any way to save the brand by making it appeal to younger people again.
It was the wrong question. With all the baby boomers going gray, there's going to be a *big* market for grandma-and-grandpa cars. Brands like Buick, if they actively go after that segment, could become huge.
Reply
UH2L 2:34PM (9/20/2007)
Good points. I know car companies have their eyes on the older crowd and know vehicles have to be made easier to use for them. Buicks and the Grand Marquis for instance use larger displays, and old style controls that customers are used to, but they haven't done much in terms of the shifting or starting. Prius is good here whether incidentally or on purpose.
It seems like all car companies fall into the trap of making vehicles appeal to the younger crowd when young people have a lot less money than older people. It's about image, and nobody young wants to drive "an old person's vehicle," but they shouldn't forget easy profits. By having lots of features that appeal to the older crowd, the manufacturers might get more price out of the vehicles.
Atul
http://www.thingsivenoticed.com
Reply
philmcneal 3:44PM (9/20/2007)
after driving an 04 for awhile i love the shifter! I love how it bounces back to its default position... if only manny trannies were made in this sense, its so durable for my kind of use since i treat it like a game joystick.
Funny as it sounds when my passengers see me drive the prius they ask "is it a manual? beceause you sure drive it like one"
i like to switch back between D and N a lot due to pulse and glide.
Reply
deceasedcomrade 5:13PM (9/20/2007)
Driving the newer Priuses is really really easy, the wheel is small, easy to turn, and all the levers are easy to move, the 03 is much less so in all of these but both are just easy to drive and maneuver.
Reply
Doogs 6:53AM (9/21/2007)
I came in here to say that the Prius, like most Toyotas, also offers steering resistance akin to Pole Position, which should probably appeal to sufferers of arthritis, but looks like deceasedcomrade already brought that up.
Reply
Doogs 7:03AM (9/21/2007)
Tony and UH2L -
Believe me, the car companies are very much aware of the senior market. Especially in Japan...where something like 40% of the population is expected to be made up of seniors by mid-century.
The problem (at least in the U.S.) is that, just as young people don't want to drive "an old person's vehicle", neither do an increasing number of older people. Taken as a whole, baby boomers are very brand conscious. Couple that with their desire to stay young and cool, and I don't think marketing a car explicitly to old people is the way to go.
Reply
jg3 3:55PM (9/23/2007)
One major misconception is quite apparent in this post. Arthritis is not limited to older people. It can happen at any age. Then there's the bonus misconception that age automatically means unsafe.
Reply
Don'r sit down 5:18PM (10/01/2007)
Being older and being Buick are two different things, and sloppy handling in any mark or dead on-center steering feel is thought a Regal pain in the palm. I grew up on motorecycles and then staye dwith the poors mans sports car, an assortment of Hondas (Civics and Preludes) and a great MR2 Turbo thrown in for good measure. Now I have burcitis in both sides near my hips and the good tight sport seats I loved cause pain. I understand from the Doc this is very common.
Before mu life as I know it ends and I buy a Buick, I will spend what it takes to keep driving cars with good handling and good steering feel. If the car companies don't make these seats available with support that don't impinge so much through the hips, the aftermarket will. Just watch.
Reply