# Help widowed “Soccer Grandma” choose a car **URL:** \ **Category:** Buying/Selling\ **Created:** [June 24, 2026, 3:45pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/help-widowed-soccer-grandma-choose-a-car/205896 "2026-06-24T15:45:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Marnet](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/marnet/32/41_2.png) [@Marnet](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Marnet)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2026, 6:19am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/help-widowed-soccer-grandma-choose-a-car/205896/64 "2026-06-30T06:19:16Z")
@Honda2076 Kudos to you for going about your car shopping in a good way, i.e. test driving and asking for suggestions. Don’t forget to talk with your preferred regular car maintenance shop for suggestions regarding recommendations of vehicles to look at and test drive and vehicles to avoid due to high rates of problems. Also, your car insurance agent might have some informative feedback based on your insurance company’s aggregate information regarding the most common safety and reliability issues claims. I asked such questions of my car mechanic shop and insurance as well as here on this forum in past years when car shopping a couple of times to good effect. Good luck to you. Hope you find a vehicle that works well for you and that you like. ---
**Author:** ![jtsanders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c2a13f/32.png) [@jtsanders](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jtsanders)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2026, 12:18pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/help-widowed-soccer-grandma-choose-a-car/205896/65 "2026-06-30T12:18:02Z")
> [@ChrisTheTireWhisperer](#): > > With a flat touch screen you need to look at the screen to know where to touch. I only need a quick glance to make sure I’m touching the right part of the screen to make any changes I want. This is normally to change the radio station. Temperature control is automatic. I turn on the wipers by pushing a button on the end of the turn signal stalk then pushing a button”button” on the screen to set the speed. It’s quick and easy, like diverting your gaze to look at your speed. You must do that a lot, and that’s OK. You’re used to it and it’s second nature. I find using the center screen for most controls is second nature now too. ---
**Author:** ![Cavell](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/cavell/32/43396_2.png) [@Cavell](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Cavell)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2026, 1:29pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/help-widowed-soccer-grandma-choose-a-car/205896/66 "2026-06-30T13:29:22Z")
I really like my power sliding doors and rear hatch. And leather heated seats. It’s not gm so seat heaters actually feel like they work. ---
**Author:** ![VDCdriver](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/vdcdriver/32/48514_2.png) [@VDCdriver](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VDCdriver)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2026, 1:43pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/help-widowed-soccer-grandma-choose-a-car/205896/67 "2026-06-30T13:43:04Z")
> [@Cavell](#): > > I really like my power sliding doors and rear hatch And, the “kick” feature to open the rear hatch when both hands are filled with packages is really handy. ---
**Author:** ![ChrisTheTireWhisperer](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/christhetirewhisperer/32/34798_2.png) [@ChrisTheTireWhisperer](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ChrisTheTireWhisperer)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2026, 2:44pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/help-widowed-soccer-grandma-choose-a-car/205896/68 "2026-06-30T14:44:36Z")
I tried the seat heaters in a 2013 Sonata Limited I drove for about as long as I could tolerate the documented haunted steering that should have dissuaded me from buying that particular car. Even when it was below freezing outside, the low setting for the seat heater burned my tuchas! It’s winter time. My expectation bias tells me the seats should be cold. ---
**Author:** ![davesmopar](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/davesmopar/32/41750_2.png) [@davesmopar](https://community.cartalk.com/u/davesmopar)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2026, 2:45pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/help-widowed-soccer-grandma-choose-a-car/205896/69 "2026-06-30T14:45:57Z")
> [@jtsanders](#): > > like diverting your gaze to look at your speed. You must do that a lot, And don’t forget checking you mirrors, all 3… ---
**Author:** ![Honda2076](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/53a042/32.png) [@Honda2076](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Honda2076)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2026, 5:42pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/help-widowed-soccer-grandma-choose-a-car/205896/70 "2026-06-30T17:42:32Z")
> talk with your preferred regular car maintenance shop for suggestions regarding recommendations of vehicles to look at and test drive and vehicles to avoid due to high rates of problems. A mechanic is the last person I would ask! Why would they willingly bypass boat payments? ---
**Author:** ![Marnet](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/marnet/32/41_2.png) [@Marnet](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Marnet)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2026, 7:09pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/help-widowed-soccer-grandma-choose-a-car/205896/71 "2026-06-30T19:09:23Z")
In my case, I use an independent mechanic shop which has been excellent at saving me money as well as helping me understand the comparative costs of maintaining different makes/models I was considering. Your experience may have been different. I was offering suggestions based on my own experience. ---
**Author:** ![ChrisTheTireWhisperer](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/christhetirewhisperer/32/34798_2.png) [@ChrisTheTireWhisperer](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ChrisTheTireWhisperer)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2026, 9:24pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/help-widowed-soccer-grandma-choose-a-car/205896/72 "2026-06-30T21:24:50Z")
> [@jtsanders](#): > > It’s quick and easy, like diverting your gaze to look at your speed. You must do that a lot, and that’s OK. What do you mean by that? ---
**Author:** ![jtsanders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c2a13f/32.png) [@jtsanders](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jtsanders)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2026, 9:41pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/help-widowed-soccer-grandma-choose-a-car/205896/73 "2026-06-30T21:41:26Z")
IIRC you talk about maintaining the speed limit. That should require looking at the speedometer a lot. ---
**Author:** ![VDCdriver](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/vdcdriver/32/48514_2.png) [@VDCdriver](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VDCdriver)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2026, 10:32pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/help-widowed-soccer-grandma-choose-a-car/205896/75 "2026-06-30T22:32:25Z")
That is an excellent point, JT. Why use a “frivolous” feature like Cruise Control? Maintaining one’s desired speed is a job for the eyes and the right foot! 😏 ---
**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:** [June 30, 2026, 11:43pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/help-widowed-soccer-grandma-choose-a-car/205896/76 "2026-06-30T23:43:15Z")
> [@Honda2076](#): > > A mechanic is the last person I would ask! Why would they willingly bypass boat payments? I’m not sure if that was supposed to be funny? Are you implying that mechanics would recommend you buy an unreliable vehicle, hoping that it means more work for them? ---
**Author:** ![ChrisTheTireWhisperer](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/christhetirewhisperer/32/34798_2.png) [@ChrisTheTireWhisperer](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ChrisTheTireWhisperer)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2026, 11:53pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/help-widowed-soccer-grandma-choose-a-car/205896/77 "2026-06-30T23:53:53Z")
> [@jtsanders](#): > > IIRC you talk about maintaining the speed limit. Nothing wrong with obeying laws. > [@jtsanders](#): > > That should require looking at the speedometer a lot. Not any more than it would require looking at the speedo to maintain higher than the limit, or below it. ---
**Author:** ![VDCdriver](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/vdcdriver/32/48514_2.png) [@VDCdriver](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VDCdriver)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2026, 1:31pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/help-widowed-soccer-grandma-choose-a-car/205896/78 "2026-07-02T13:31:03Z")
> [@db4690](#): > > Are you implying that mechanics would recommend you buy an unreliable vehicle, hoping that it means more work for them? I think that this is a more likely scenario at the garage, especially with the current weather patterns. ![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/original/3X/c/d/cdfde525ebe3ae12e5408ba44ccd3938e7ae5c26.jpeg) 😉 ---
**Author:** ![davesmopar](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/davesmopar/32/41750_2.png) [@davesmopar](https://community.cartalk.com/u/davesmopar)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2026, 2:51pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/help-widowed-soccer-grandma-choose-a-car/205896/79 "2026-07-02T14:51:46Z")
> [@ChrisTheTireWhisperer](#): > > > [@jtsanders](#): > > > > That should require looking at the speedometer a lot. > > Not any more than it would require looking at the speedo to maintain higher than the limit, or below it. I think the whole point was that you are taking your eyes off the road while driving to check your speed, quite often in order to maintain the legal posted speed limit… How is that any different than glancing at the HVAC controls or the radio, or infotainment screen… It takes me about the same amount of time to glance at my speed as it does the most common controls while driving… ---
**Author:** ![VDCdriver](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/vdcdriver/32/48514_2.png) [@VDCdriver](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VDCdriver)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2026, 2:54pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/help-widowed-soccer-grandma-choose-a-car/205896/80 "2026-07-02T14:54:36Z")
> [@davesmopar](#): > > How is that any different than glancing at the HVAC controls or the radio, or infotainment screen… There you go, being factual again. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![TwinTurbo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8baadc/32.png) [@TwinTurbo](https://community.cartalk.com/u/TwinTurbo)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2026, 2:14pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/help-widowed-soccer-grandma-choose-a-car/205896/81 "2026-07-03T14:14:56Z")
There’s only one button I really need for almost all control in my car- it’s the microphone button. After that, I just tell the car what I want. Everything else of consequence is available via buttons on the steering wheel or conventional stalk controls. And navigation is so much nicer with the bigger screen. I opted for the largest one they offered on the RAV4. This is modern day heaven: 1. Press the microphone button… 2. Speak- “Take me to {name the place you want to go}” 3. Speak- “Text {name in your contacts}” 4. Speak- “Call {name in your contacts}” 5. “Text from ■■■, would you like me to read it to you?” ---
**Author:** ![VDCdriver](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/vdcdriver/32/48514_2.png) [@VDCdriver](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VDCdriver)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2026, 4:40pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/help-widowed-soccer-grandma-choose-a-car/205896/82 "2026-07-03T16:40:39Z")
> [@TwinTurbo](#): > > This is modern day heaven: > > 1. Press the microphone button… > 2. Speak- “Take me to {name the place you want to go}” > 3. Speak- “Text {name in your contacts}” > 4. Speak- “Call {name in your contacts}” > 5. “Text from ■■■, would you like me to read it to you?” 1. Would you like to respond to that text? (Or, words to that effect. I don’t recall the exact phrasing) I love modern technology when it works properly, and it has never failed me in the 4 years that I’ve owned the vehicle. ---
**Author:** ![davesmopar](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/davesmopar/32/41750_2.png) [@davesmopar](https://community.cartalk.com/u/davesmopar)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2026, 10:39pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/help-widowed-soccer-grandma-choose-a-car/205896/83 "2026-07-03T22:39:40Z")
Ha! My truck has voice command, I but I think it only works the outdated infotainment center, meaning calls and text only, don’t think it does volume control or any thing else… I really keep forgetting I even have it… lol ---
**Author:** ![Cavell](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/cavell/32/43396_2.png) [@Cavell](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Cavell)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2026, 12:52pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/help-widowed-soccer-grandma-choose-a-car/205896/84 "2026-07-07T12:52:53Z")
If you had to verify insurance, valid license and current license plates prior to driving I bet it would lessen bad drivers being on road. Why can’t cars computers do that? They upload data now. And no, you can’t tell computer to opt out. [Previous page](https://community.cartalk.com/t/help-widowed-soccer-grandma-choose-a-car/205896.md?page=3) [Next page](https://community.cartalk.com/t/help-widowed-soccer-grandma-choose-a-car/205896.md?page=5)