# What is the 'official' old people car now? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 26, 2005, 11:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-official-old-people-car-now/323477 "2005-09-26T11:29:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2005, 11:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-official-old-people-car-now/323477/1 "2005-09-26T11:29:45Z")
Now that GM shut down the Oldsmobile line, soon to be gone are the unofficial Old People Car with their Olds 98, which, I am fairly certainly was _the_ old people car for the last twenty years. Reliable, affordable, land yachts. I see seniors driving minivans, samari’s, jeep laredos & cherokees. It’s wrong, wrong, wrong. What do you see our senior population driving nowadays? ---
**Author:** ![Diceman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Diceman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diceman)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2005, 11:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-official-old-people-car-now/323477/2 "2005-09-26T11:43:09Z")
The Cadillac Fleetwood, older Chrysler models (not the Sebring or 300), and any Lincoln are the offical geezer-mobiles around here. ---
**Author:** ![Pride\_of\_the\_Peaches](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Pride\_of\_the\_Peaches](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pride_of_the_Peaches)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2005, 12:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-official-old-people-car-now/323477/3 "2005-09-26T12:17:55Z")
To me, Buicks are the ultimate old people cars (except for the new La Crosse). Le Sabres seem popular. Then again, most of the older Buick models are bought used and driven by teenagers and the like. Not a bad idea, as the insurance on them isn’t too bad . . . But a model newer than five years? Totally an old person. ---
**Author:** ![UrbanChic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/9dc877/32.png) [@UrbanChic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UrbanChic)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2005, 12:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-official-old-people-car-now/323477/4 "2005-09-26T12:58:12Z")
I’ve got to go with Buicks, too. There’s always the Caddy, but that’s a gimme. The Ford Crown Vic seems to be popular with the blue hair set, too. ---
**Author:** ![Rocketeer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocketeer/32/4437_2.png) [@Rocketeer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rocketeer)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2005, 1:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-official-old-people-car-now/323477/5 "2005-09-26T13:06:49Z")
Buicks, definitely. And the Toyota Avalon. ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2005, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-official-old-people-car-now/323477/6 "2005-09-26T14:27:50Z")
Buicks are the god-king of OPC but Crown Vics make a respectable showing. ---
**Author:** ![Athena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/35a633/32.png) [@Athena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Athena)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2005, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-official-old-people-car-now/323477/7 "2005-09-26T14:30:06Z")
> [@Pride of the Peaches](#): > > To me, Buicks are the ultimate old people cars (except for the new La Crosse). Le Sabres seem popular. My mother (age 70) drives a Buick LeSabre. As does my uncle, an aunt, and another aunt. The youngest is in her late 50s, I believe. At family gatherings, we have a “LeSabre” section in the parking lot. I’d say we have a winner. ---
**Author:** ![Purd\_Werfect](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e47c2d/32.png) [@Purd\_Werfect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Purd_Werfect)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2005, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-official-old-people-car-now/323477/8 "2005-09-26T14:38:30Z")
I gotta think that the idea of an old people’s car is on the wane, as the number of old people who lived through the era of american boats is on the wane, at least on the road. I would consider the Cadillac to still be an older person’s car, but there’s Led Zep doing the ads, and the styling is much more aligned with the times relative to the '70s and '80’s. Actually, now that I think of it, except to the very young, the idea of “old people” is diminishing in distinctiveness compared to the last 50 years. Of course, maybe it just seems that way to me since I’m getting older. The name Buick invokes visions of metamucil in the minds of many, but I wonder how long that marque will even be around before being absorbed by Chrysler. Of course, if Cadillac can be turned around, Buick conceivably could be as well. ---
**Author:** ![Omniscient](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omniscient/32/3290_2.png) [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2005, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-official-old-people-car-now/323477/9 "2005-09-26T14:46:22Z")
> [@Purd Werfect](#): > > The name Buick invokes visions of metamucil in the minds of many, but I wonder how long that marque will even be around before being absorbed by Chrysler. Of course, if Cadillac can be turned around, Buick conceivably could be as well. I might be misreading this, but I think you’re confusing things. Buick is a GM brand, as was Oldsmobile. Honestly when Olds was retired I was shocked they did it. The stated reason was that Olds was diluting and directly competing with Buick and they wanted to focus on revitalizing that brand. This sounded pretty silly to me since it seemed that Olds was a hell of alot more vital than Buick at the time. Olds at least had the popular Alero and fairly strong Aurora lines, while Buick had a bunch of stale OPCs. Go figure. Anyways, Buick always has ben and always will be the premire OPC, moreso than Olds ever was. ---
**Author:** ![Purd\_Werfect](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e47c2d/32.png) [@Purd\_Werfect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Purd_Werfect)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2005, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-official-old-people-car-now/323477/10 "2005-09-26T14:52:08Z")
Thanks **omniscient**. I was indeed confusing things. ---
**Author:** ![Ellen\_Cherry](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellen_cherry/32/3600_2.png) [@Ellen\_Cherry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellen_Cherry)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2005, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-official-old-people-car-now/323477/11 "2005-09-26T14:57:40Z")
It’s the Lincoln Town Car around here. I’ve NEVER seen anyone under 60 owning those boats. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2005, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-official-old-people-car-now/323477/12 "2005-09-26T15:03:01Z")
> [@Ellen Cherry](#): > > It’s the Lincoln Town Car around here. I’ve NEVER seen anyone under 60 owning those boats. That’s what I came in here to say. I actually drove one of those a few months ago when I was “upgraded” at Hertz and it was the only car left in the lot with a GPS system. It brought me back to high school when my sister and I shared my step-dad’s old Olds Delta88. What a boat. ---
**Author:** ![Omniscient](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omniscient/32/3290_2.png) [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2005, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-official-old-people-car-now/323477/13 "2005-09-26T15:08:20Z")
> [@Ellen Cherry](#): > > It’s the Lincoln Town Car around here. I’ve NEVER seen anyone under 60 owning those boats. Yeah, the Town Car is certainly an OPC, but it doesn’t get the top billing in my book because it’s a little too expensive. The average old person can’t afford a Lincoln or a Caddy on a fixed income, but damn it, they can spring for the Le Sabre. I suppose there’s fewer renegade teenagers tooling around in Town Cars, than in Buicks, but the sheer power in numbers that the Buick has in blue-hairs is overwhelming. ---
**Author:** ![Hoodoo\_Ulove](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/58956e/32.png) [@Hoodoo\_Ulove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hoodoo_Ulove)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2005, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-official-old-people-car-now/323477/14 "2005-09-26T15:17:08Z")
> [@Shirley Ujest](#): > > I see seniors driving . . . samari’s . . . Leaving aside your apostrophized plural, what the fuck is a samari? ---
**Author:** ![Omniscient](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omniscient/32/3290_2.png) [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2005, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-official-old-people-car-now/323477/15 "2005-09-26T15:21:49Z")
I was wondering the same damn thing…inquiring minds want to know. ---
**Author:** ![Phlosphr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Phlosphr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlosphr)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2005, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-official-old-people-car-now/323477/16 "2005-09-26T15:26:18Z")
Those who are saying the Cadillac is an Old Fogy car…Check out the [Caddy STS](http://www.seriouswheels.com/pics-2005/2005-Cadillac-STS-FA-Pillars-1600x1200.jpg) . I really like this vehicle. I’m actually considering purchasing one myself… I’m 35. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2005, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-official-old-people-car-now/323477/17 "2005-09-26T15:46:46Z")
> [@Hoodoo Ulove](#): > > Leaving aside your apostrophized plural, what the fuck is a samari? Probably the Suzuki Samurai, which was replaced after people who don’t know how to drive ‘jeeps’ rolled them. ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2005, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-official-old-people-car-now/323477/18 "2005-09-26T16:04:43Z")
> [@Johnny L.A.](#): > > Probably the Suzuki Samurai, which was replaced after people who don’t know how to drive ‘jeeps’ rolled them. Suzuki Samurai. ( sorry, low on caffeine this am.) ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2005, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-official-old-people-car-now/323477/19 "2005-09-26T16:08:47Z")
> [@Hoodoo Ulove](#): > > Leaving aside your apostrophized plural, what the fuck is a samari? [Samari](http://www.nfl.com/players/playerpage/12660). ---
**Author:** ![KlondikeGeoff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3e96dc/32.png) [@KlondikeGeoff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KlondikeGeoff)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2005, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-official-old-people-car-now/323477/20 "2005-09-26T16:26:25Z")
> [@Shirley Ujest](#): > > Now that GM shut down the Oldsmobile line, soon to be gone are the unofficial Old People Car with their Olds 98, which, I am fairly certainly was _the_ old people car for the last twenty years. > > Reliable, affordable, land yachts. > > I see seniors driving minivans, samari’s, jeep laredos & cherokees. It’s wrong, wrong, wrong. > > What do you see our senior population driving nowadays? Gee, **Mz Ujest** , can’t speak for others, but my wife and I, certified geezers, really love our Jag XJ8. And here in AZ, see a lot of old fogeys tooling around in sports cars. Maybe it’s the heat. 🙂 [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-official-old-people-car-now/323477.md?page=2)