Every day use, and elderly mother taxi?
 

Hey all I currently have a modified Yaris. She is lowered on TRD struts and springs, TRD rear sway bar, etc. But even then its only lowered a inch or two, and still a fairly tall little car. I have an elderly mother who can walk with a cane but it's a little hard to get up and sit down for her, but she can get in and out of the Yaris on her own. I also have a fairly lowered 1990 Miata. Only with my help she can get in and out of it OK. I am guessing that the Miata is a good 4 to 6 inches lower than the FR-S/BRZ.

So my question: Does anyone out there drive their elderly parents around on a regular basis in their FR-S? For me the FR-S will have to be my every day car, diving to work, grocery shopping, going to the movies, going to friends house, moving, road trips, and driving my mom around from time to time. Every day crap we all have to do. Now that this car is out, I am also wondering how folks who have pressed their FR-S/BRZ into every day life use, are living with their car. Thanks all,

-- Jason

Unless your elderly parents are in tip top physical shape or they are very short, they will have difficulty with ingress/egress (is that the right word?).

J, based from the list of your needs, a FRS/BRZ is not the car for you. It has almost no utility due to it's size. Good luck!

Yes, I can say from personal experience that they have a hard time.

It is too low, they would have a really hard time, to impossible time, getting out of the front seat.

Agree with the others here. Not a good pick. It's not something I would try to drive my parents around in - way too low to the ground for someone in their late 60s or older if they have any difficulty with mobility.

Impossible because racecar.

NOT a good idea.......I have driven lots of sports cars over the years and the FR-S is among the LOWEST seating position...which makes it hard to get in-out....I wouldn't even consider putting my 68 year old mother (in perfect health) in it....while she could do it, its not worth the endless bitching....

I'd say keep the Yaris for driving your mother around, and the FR-S should be able to handle most of the other everyday uses. Sounds like you have at least 2 cars so you can afford to keep more than one? May not be what you want to hear but you should probably sell the Miata if you can only keep 2. Miata and FR-S would serve the same general purpose, small fun to drive 2 seat car. The only thing you lose is the convertible top. :(

p.s. I know the FR-S has 4 seats, but in my mind (and probably in most of yours) it's going to be used as a 2-seater with room for storage in the back.

My 85 year old grandpa sat in the seat and said " jesus h christ im stuck in this thing!" haha he refuses to let me drive him in it and we take his truck instead for errands and whatnot.

Thanks for all the quick replies folks. You are right, not what I wanted to hear, but honestly about what I expected to hear.

I was hoping to buy the FR-S around January after I get the Yaris paid off. Optionally, my mom has a car, and I can drive her around in her Corolla and just give her a little gas money (Yeah I know for driving her around, but her funds are limited).

Yeah I can afford the insurance and upkeep on 2 cars, but honestly after I get the FR-S I am not sure if I would keep the Miata, soft top or not. She is a fun little thing though, especially with the top down, even for a guy who is 6'3" tall.

Again thanks for all the feedback. If I keep the Yaris I am going to have to wait another year to save up enough for a down payment to buy the FR-S and keep the Yaris. Such a long time to wait.

I have a lot to think about.

-- Jason

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My 63 year old father denounces that he's too old to go for a ride in a sports car

Get a minivan, your mom and kids will love/thanks you. Sports/fun cars can wait.

WOW. A lot of responses that really surprise me. I guess there's some truth to the statement that growing old isn't for wimps. I'm 78. I drive a Miata and if things go as I plan I'll have one of the Toyobaru twins in a day or two. My wife is only 73 and agrees with my choice.

I'm 25 and I find it is hard to get in and out of my FR-S, but thats the price you pay to drive a sports car.

you're probably sitting too close to the steering wheel?

That's sooooo low.
I think the sure way to find out is to bring your mother to a dealer and have her try sitting down in it.
Also, if you're planning to keep your Miata, then I'd say you have more to lose than gain by replacing your Yaris with FR-S/BRZ.

I don't understand what it matters how close I sit to the steering wheel? Its hard to get out mostly because its so low to the ground. Im 5'11 and keep the seat pretty far back but I telescope the wheel all the way towards the back.

But in race mode I always scoot the seat forward and the seat back into the investment banker position. So my face is close as possible to the windshield So I can see more of the road.

I'm the same height, got no problems/difficulties .. same positioning from the sounds of it.
maybe your technique getting in? :X
I was suggested trying butt first sideways then rotating into the car, found it to be pretty simple.

I don't see how that is possible since the 86 has only 4.5 inches of ground clearance to begin with unless you're draggin' parts!

That said, I can tell you that FatherInLawHawk who has some mobility issues cannot get in and out of my FR-S. Since they live near us and we often do things together that is one (of several) reasons we recently purchased the '04 Suburban shown in my Owner's Journal.

You have to be pretty limber to get in and out of the 86 regardless of age.

My parents are 60 with no mobility issues, but it's a huge effort for them to get in and out. I'm 29 and quite athletic, I have no issue getting out when it's parked outside, but inside my small garage it still takes me 2-3 seconds to climb out (although it's probably because I'm anal about not getting the trim dirty with my shoe).

Well this is only a guess. Maybe my lowered Miata is about the same height. But its low enough that I am looking up at most lowered Civics. :)

-- J

Responding to everyone who is talking about getting and out of the FR-S. I am 6'2.5" tall and the 1990 Miata I have now (had it for only a few weeks) is technically too small for me. But there is juuuuuust enough leg room for me to safely drive the car. I agree that you need to be limber to get in and out of a low sports/sporty car. With the Miata I swing out my left leg, rotate my body, right leg out and stand up. I do the same thing in reverse with the top up. With the top down, I just grab the window brow with my left hand, the seat with my right, and lower myself down, right leg under the wheel and foomp, in the seat, pull door closed, start car, drive away. haha.

Thanks again for all the feedback. Sounds like the FR-S is NOT going to be a good fit for carting my mom around on a regular basis, but thankfully it's not too often and she still has the Corolla. I think I will just drive her around in her own car when she is not feeling up to getting in and out of the FR-S.

-- Jason

Bravo, sir!

I just went for a ride in my friends FRS...man its bumpier than my m3 lol.

I can't imagine it's any harder than the TRD struts/springs/swaybar in my Yaris. And certainly not at hard as the Tokeko HP's and Tenabe spring combo I had on that before. Like riding on bump stops.

So, I was talking with a friend of mine, he (as some of you have suggested) said the BEST thing to do, if I have to have 2 cars is keep the Yaris, even if it delays the FR-S, it DOES make the most sense. I am not counting on it, but if I get a bonus at the end of the year I will have plenty for a down payment.

Another question: If I order the FR-S in say January, and it takes 2 months to show up and I have saved up more of a down payment, can I renegotiate the auto loan? Or do they not even bother with that until after the car is delivered to the dealer?

-- Jason

I am fairly certain this is SOP but I did not sign any financing arrangements until delivery of the vehicle, which makes sense since you are not in possession of the car so why would you be forced to pay for it ahead of time? Also, rates can change significantly enough in this environment.

Back to this topic about being hard to get in and out of. The seat can be jacked up considerably, making it much easier to get in and out. You just cant be tall or your head hits the ceiling.

Reeeeeeally? Talking about the passenger seat? My mom is about 5' tall now I think. Probably not as bad as the Miata than. I will say this. She loves the Miata with the top down. Haha.

-- Jason

No, not really. Only the drivers seat can be jacked up. My mother is 64 with cancer and it's my duty to take her to her cancer treatments. My solution? Tell her "wait, and I'll help you get out." Then quickly run to the passenger side and help. Done :-) I get my FRS, she gets out safely.

My grandmother wanted to take me out to dinner on Friday. She's 84 (almost 85), has a hip replacement, a brace on her ankle and walks with a cane. She was able to get in an out with ease and actually likes my car. :respekt: