# Best auto for a rural postal carrier **URL:** \ **Category:** General Discussion\ **Created:** [November 13, 2015, 7:07am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/best-auto-for-a-rural-postal-carrier/91695 "2015-11-13T07:07:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![MarkM](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de053/32.png) [@MarkM](https://community.cartalk.com/u/MarkM)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2015, 2:11pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/best-auto-for-a-rural-postal-carrier/91695/41 "2015-11-16T14:11:39Z")
Hmm. Safety difference between cars have more to do with design than minor differences in size. Unless you buy a really big, heavy vehicle, and one from the last few years, any safety advantage will be very modest. Modern cars are far better in side impacts than even larger older cars. In a higher speed accident I’d rather be in something bigger, but a slow moving postal carrier is more likely to be hit in the back or side. The biggest difference is going to be in your expenses. Anyone driving a bunch of miles of stop and start driving will spend plenty on gas. The Prius is not only super efficient, it is also extremely reliable. The cost per mile for driving one are among the lowest by any measure The cab companies here were required to start using hybrids some years ago. At first they griped, but reportedly they very quickly found they were saving a lot of money, especially on brakes and transmissions. Toyota talks about the Prius having a CVT, and the effect is much like one, but what it has is a very straightforward set of planetary gearsets without much to wear out The regenerative braking means the conventional brakes don’t have much to do. ---
**Author:** ![Catietjen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f08c70/32.png) [@Catietjen](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Catietjen)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2016, 7:46pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/best-auto-for-a-rural-postal-carrier/91695/42 "2016-09-21T19:46:35Z")
I know this post is old but Bill Russel (and a few others) don’t understand what they’re talking about. Almost any bench seat car or truck can be driven from the passengers side. I am a RCA, I drive a 1993 Oldsmobile 88 with no modifications. As long as your wife can comfortably sit in the passengers seat with seatbelt on and reach the pedals with her left foot and steering wheel with left hand, the car will work. (I have to move the passengers seat forward) Sliding side to side on the seat isn’t possible because your driver’s seat will be full of mail. We don’t get pulled over by police because we are not driving recklessly or unlawfully. We use turn signals, strobe light, flashers, headlights, flags, and magnetic signs on our vehicles. When there are accidents, it’s not usually the postal carriers fault. ---
**Author:** ![Catietjen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f08c70/32.png) [@Catietjen](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Catietjen)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2016, 7:56pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/best-auto-for-a-rural-postal-carrier/91695/43 "2016-09-21T19:56:34Z")
Don’t bother with modifying any vehicle, it will cost more then she’ll make. Find an older car (easy to repair yourself) low miles, good transmission, and front bench seat, your good to go. I have been a RCA for 4 yrs now, my car started out in excellent shape, low miles and had one owner. I am now on my second tranny rebuild. I’ve bought the car three times over in 4 yrs. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![shadowfax](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/shadowfax/32/13026_2.png) [@shadowfax](https://community.cartalk.com/u/shadowfax)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2016, 8:03pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/best-auto-for-a-rural-postal-carrier/91695/44 "2016-09-21T20:03:53Z")
You resurrected a year-old thread to say what was already said back then? > [@shadowfax](#): > > Sure there is. When I lived “out,” the rural mail carrier had a 90’s LeSabre. She got a set of driving instructor pedals, which attach to the passenger side floorboard and have connecting rods that go over to the factory pedals. Then she’d steer by reaching over to the factory steering wheel. ---
**Author:** ![Catietjen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f08c70/32.png) [@Catietjen](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Catietjen)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2016, 8:06pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/best-auto-for-a-rural-postal-carrier/91695/45 "2016-09-21T20:06:53Z")
Yep, guess I did. I didn’t read all of the replys. But some of them I did read were dumb. ---
**Author:** ![kurtwm1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/13edae/32.png) [@kurtwm1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/kurtwm1)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2016, 8:34pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/best-auto-for-a-rural-postal-carrier/91695/46 "2016-09-21T20:34:20Z")
I agree with you, especially the last one you posted. ---
**Author:** ![VOLVO-V70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/8e8cbc/32.png) [@VOLVO-V70](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VOLVO-V70)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2016, 8:39pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/best-auto-for-a-rural-postal-carrier/91695/47 "2016-09-21T20:39:59Z")
Don’t you think the original poster would have made a decision by now ? As for dumb replies , it is an internet forum - what do you expect? ---
**Author:** ![db4690](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/db4690/32/2583_2.png) [@db4690](https://community.cartalk.com/u/db4690)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2016, 2:26am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/best-auto-for-a-rural-postal-carrier/91695/48 "2016-09-22T02:26:00Z")
😜 ---
**Author:** ![bing](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/bing/32/4619_2.png) [@bing](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bing)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2016, 4:15am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/best-auto-for-a-rural-postal-carrier/91695/49 "2016-09-22T04:15:46Z")
Well I said all I was going to say last year and I’ll stick by what I said. Incidentally, the other day I saw a vehicle that I thought was unusual for a mail carrier and thought of this thread. For the life of me though I can’t remember what it was that was unusual. It might have been a beat up old car or something. Like everything else, there are usually limited funds and unlimited wants and ideas. ---
**Author:** ![Rod-Knox](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a183cd/32.png) [@Rod-Knox](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Rod-Knox)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2016, 6:56pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/best-auto-for-a-rural-postal-carrier/91695/50 "2016-09-22T18:56:55Z")
I have installed right hand drive kits on cars for rural mail carriers. The units were somewhat universal and transferable from one vehicle to another. The RFD carriers who used them were very happy with the set ups. ---
**Author:** ![bing](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/bing/32/4619_2.png) [@bing](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bing)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2016, 8:21pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/best-auto-for-a-rural-postal-carrier/91695/51 "2016-09-22T20:21:16Z")
Well now I’m curious about the right hand drive kits. Seems to me when I was looking this up they were pulley things with a chain or belt between the two steering wheels. ---
**Author:** ![Susanne\_Boyd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/858c86/32.png) [@Susanne\_Boyd](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Susanne_Boyd)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2018, 1:54pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/best-auto-for-a-rural-postal-carrier/91695/52 "2018-11-08T13:54:09Z")
I’m about to order the universal pedal assembly from A&J Mobility, $615 plus 35 shipping. I’m starting an RCA position in a couple weeks and super excited to get going. I drive a GMC Terrain and the pedals will be the only issue due to the console. My son is a mechanic so he’ll be installing it for me… the installation instructions seem easy enough and the pedals can be disassembled within minutes to move from vehicle to vehicle. I don’t plan on using this car forever. It’s just what I already own, so I’m on the watch for a different one as soon as possible. Good luck to your wife, I hope she’s successful in her career!! ---
**Author:** ![VOLVO-V70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/8e8cbc/32.png) [@VOLVO-V70](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VOLVO-V70)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2018, 2:02pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/best-auto-for-a-rural-postal-carrier/91695/53 "2018-11-08T14:02:44Z")
> [@Susanne\_Boyd](#): > > Good luck to your wife, I hope she’s successful in her career!! 2 year old thread . @cdaquila Me suspect Spam. ---
**Author:** ![Susanne\_Boyd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/858c86/32.png) [@Susanne\_Boyd](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Susanne_Boyd)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2018, 2:08pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/best-auto-for-a-rural-postal-carrier/91695/54 "2018-11-08T14:08:31Z")
Does the age of the thread make a difference in the help that I’m looking for to start in the same field??? I just googled “best cars for mail delivery” and this forum came up, so I read it and posted a comment. I don’t have a lot of money to start out with so buying another vehicle right now isn’t logical, but I’m still looking around. I’m flattered that you think I’m spam. Just a new govt employee thats looking for advice. Have a great day!! ---
**Author:** ![shadowfax](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/shadowfax/32/13026_2.png) [@shadowfax](https://community.cartalk.com/u/shadowfax)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2018, 2:31pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/best-auto-for-a-rural-postal-carrier/91695/55 "2018-11-08T14:31:17Z")
You didn’t ask for help. You told us about a product. ---
**Author:** ![Susanne\_Boyd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/858c86/32.png) [@Susanne\_Boyd](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Susanne_Boyd)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2018, 2:34pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/best-auto-for-a-rural-postal-carrier/91695/56 "2018-11-08T14:34:48Z")
Hence “best cars for mail delivery”… that’s the help I was looking for…I saw this forum, read it AND the comments and decided to add my own. I’m pretty sure that’s what is happening in here. ---
**Author:** ![shadowfax](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/shadowfax/32/13026_2.png) [@shadowfax](https://community.cartalk.com/u/shadowfax)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2018, 6:33pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/best-auto-for-a-rural-postal-carrier/91695/57 "2018-11-08T18:33:52Z")
You need to understand it from our perspective. We cannot see your Google searches. We do not know what brought you here. All we know is that a brand new user who’s never said anything here before is telling us about a specific product, including price, unsolicited. That happens to be exactly what spammers do. If you act like a spammer, we’re going to assume you’re a spammer until given evidence to the contrary. ---
**Author:** ![Susanne\_Boyd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/858c86/32.png) [@Susanne\_Boyd](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Susanne_Boyd)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2018, 6:44pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/best-auto-for-a-rural-postal-carrier/91695/58 "2018-11-08T18:44:55Z")
And all you had to do was ask. But yet we’ve wasted all this talk on nonsense when you could’ve been giving advice instead. Good day. I have more searching to do and questions to ask elsewhere. No need to reply because I’m never coming back on this one again. Thanks for that. ---
**Author:** ![bing](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/bing/32/4619_2.png) [@bing](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bing)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2018, 8:23pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/best-auto-for-a-rural-postal-carrier/91695/59 "2018-11-08T20:23:42Z")
Well we lost another customer folks. Boy do people get angry in a hurry these days. People need to chill out a little bit. I’m afraid to even hold the door open for someone, and I’m in Minnesota. ---
**Author:** ![bing](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/bing/32/4619_2.png) [@bing](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bing)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2018, 5:18am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/best-auto-for-a-rural-postal-carrier/91695/60 "2018-11-21T05:18:00Z")
> [@Rod\_Knox](#): > > I have installed right hand drive kits on cars for rural mail carriers. Well gee, whether you classify it as spam or not, I’d like to see the site for the kits that Rod installed. The only ones I ever found were the sprocket deals. It’s called information sharing I think more than spam. [Previous page](https://community.cartalk.com/t/best-auto-for-a-rural-postal-carrier/91695.md?page=2) [Next page](https://community.cartalk.com/t/best-auto-for-a-rural-postal-carrier/91695.md?page=4)