# Car for transporting my elderly parents **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Created:** [December 22, 2009, 5:45pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-for-transporting-my-elderly-parents/41145 "2009-12-22T17:45:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![chuckott](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ecc23a/32.png) [@chuckott](https://community.cartalk.com/u/chuckott)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2009, 5:45pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-for-transporting-my-elderly-parents/41145/1 "2009-12-22T17:45:08Z")
I need a car with plenty of headroom and a seat height where my father won’t have to bend down very much. My Element is perfect for this, except that it’s impossible for my other parent to get in the back seat. Does anyone have some ideas? ---
**Author:** ![Whitey](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/whitey/32/24680_2.png) [@Whitey](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Whitey)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2009, 5:47pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-for-transporting-my-elderly-parents/41145/2 "2009-12-22T17:47:01Z")
A minivan would probably be perfect since it would have sliding doors on both sides. I also hear that the seat height of the PT Cruiser makes it popular for those with mobility problems. ---
**Author:** ![andrew\_j](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/91b2a8/32.png) [@andrew\_j](https://community.cartalk.com/u/andrew_j)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2009, 5:56pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-for-transporting-my-elderly-parents/41145/3 "2009-12-22T17:56:40Z")
If you have any need for AWD a Subaru Forester is beyond popular with older set. I think it has an optimal seat height for them. ---
**Author:** ![mcparadise](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mcparadise/32/32_2.png) [@mcparadise](https://community.cartalk.com/u/mcparadise)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2009, 6:13pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-for-transporting-my-elderly-parents/41145/4 "2009-12-22T18:13:10Z")
This sounds like a job for a minivan. Sliding doors and chair-like rear seats. ---
**Author:** ![Docnick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecae2f/32.png) [@Docnick](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Docnick)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2009, 6:19pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-for-transporting-my-elderly-parents/41145/5 "2009-12-22T18:19:34Z")
I have a friend with similar problems. They have a Dodge minivan and had a Neon as well. The Neon became impossible to get into, and they only kept the minivan since it is near perfect. ---
**Author:** ![texases](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/texases/32/862_2.png) [@texases](https://community.cartalk.com/u/texases)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2009, 7:53pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-for-transporting-my-elderly-parents/41145/6 "2009-12-22T19:53:34Z")
How about a CR-V, Highlander, or Forester? ---
**Author:** ![VDCdriver](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/vdcdriver/32/30_2.png) [@VDCdriver](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VDCdriver)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2009, 8:03pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-for-transporting-my-elderly-parents/41145/7 "2009-12-22T20:03:06Z")
Or a Rav-4. ---
**Author:** ![the\_same\_mountainbike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@the\_same\_mountainbike](https://community.cartalk.com/u/the_same_mountainbike)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2009, 8:05pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-for-transporting-my-elderly-parents/41145/8 "2009-12-22T20:05:37Z")
The new Nissan Cube might work. ---
**Author:** ![Whitey](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/whitey/32/24680_2.png) [@Whitey](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Whitey)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2009, 8:30pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-for-transporting-my-elderly-parents/41145/9 "2009-12-22T20:30:01Z")
I think they would still have problems with access to the back seats. These aren’t that different from the OP’s Honda Element in that regard. ---
**Author:** ![Joseph\_E\_Meehan](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/joseph_e_meehan/32/21_2.png) [@Joseph\_E\_Meehan](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Joseph_E_Meehan)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2009, 9:11pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-for-transporting-my-elderly-parents/41145/10 "2009-12-22T21:11:58Z")
My only comment is to make sure that your likely riders are included in a test drive befor yoy decide. what is comfortable for one person may be bad for another. ---
**Author:** ![texases](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/texases/32/862_2.png) [@texases](https://community.cartalk.com/u/texases)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2009, 9:44pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-for-transporting-my-elderly-parents/41145/11 "2009-12-22T21:44:38Z")
The Element has that half-door clamshell back door, so it’s not quite as convenient as a regular 4-door. ---
**Author:** ![texases](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/texases/32/862_2.png) [@texases](https://community.cartalk.com/u/texases)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2009, 9:45pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-for-transporting-my-elderly-parents/41145/12 "2009-12-22T21:45:15Z")
Hmm…I was thinking “Rav-4” and typed “Highlander”…better look for a loose connection somewhere… ---
**Author:** ![texases](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/texases/32/862_2.png) [@texases](https://community.cartalk.com/u/texases)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2009, 9:45pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-for-transporting-my-elderly-parents/41145/13 "2009-12-22T21:45:52Z")
Or the Scion xB. ---
**Author:** ![GSN\_fan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/85e7bf/32.png) [@GSN\_fan](https://community.cartalk.com/u/GSN_fan)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2009, 12:05am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-for-transporting-my-elderly-parents/41145/14 "2009-12-23T00:05:19Z")
I know a lot of people here recommend a minivan, but my grandmother had trouble entering and exiting our old Sienna. I’d say to get a small SUV like the Venza, RAV4, or CRV. ---
**Author:** ![bscar](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/bscar/32/34_2.png) [@bscar](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bscar)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2009, 12:22am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-for-transporting-my-elderly-parents/41145/15 "2009-12-23T00:22:23Z")
I agree. This would be the best solution, and would probably make your parents happy that you’d include them in the process ---
**Author:** ![jtsanders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c2a13f/32.png) [@jtsanders](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jtsanders)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2009, 12:38am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-for-transporting-my-elderly-parents/41145/16 "2009-12-23T00:38:21Z")
I suggest you consider a minivan with power sliding doors. The front seats should have power height adjustment. You could carry a step stool to help the back seat rider enter a captain’s chair.