Forester - Ease of Access for Elderly

[milkroute]

Hi,

I currently have a 95 Taurus and am looking to move to
a new Forester....

How easy is it for elderly person to get in and out of a
Forester? With it's 8 inch plus height from the street, is
it easier to get into????

We have only the Taurus to compare it with.....

Thanks,

John W.

 

[Grolsch]

In my opinion it will be far easier. The seat height is roughly right at
your butt height... just back your self in and swing the legs. No deep
squats to lower yourself in. Enjoy, great practical safe vehicle.

 

[Frank]

Hi,

I currently have a 95 Taurus and am looking to move to
a new Forester....

How easy is it for elderly person to get in and out of a
Forester? With it's 8 inch plus height from the street, is
it easier to get into????

We have only the Taurus to compare it with.....

Thanks,

John W.

It's great/perfect. Much easier to get out of than any low slung
car. No climbing either like in big SUV's.
Frank

 

[QX]

Hi,

I currently have a 95 Taurus and am looking to move to
a new Forester....

How easy is it for elderly person to get in and out of a
Forester? With it's 8 inch plus height from the street, is
it easier to get into????

We have only the Taurus to compare it with.....

Thanks,

John W.

We have 2 cars, an 05 Forester XT and a 97 Dodge Caravan.
One family member, who has bad arthritis, and is a stroke survivor
prefers the Caravan.
Seat hight is perfect to sit on (not into) and getting up is much
easier. To get out of the van, you only have to swivel your legs out
and stand up. From the Forester, she has to stress the hips & knees to
come to an upright position.
Seat height in the Forester is about 23". It's 31" in the van. Those
measurements are effective seat height, not the edge bolsters.
What it all boils down to as far as handicap access, is seat height.
This is also within limits, as if it's too high, it becomes even more
of a challenge.
The Forester is easier to get in and out of over my daughters car
(Nissan Sentra), again, the seat height is the key.
Don't get me wrong, I love driving the Subie over the van, but we just
select the appropriate vehicle based on who is going along.
Ideally, it the elderly person will be a regular passenger, a test
drive may be the best solution..
FYI, the Forester has enough room in the back to carry a standard
wheelchair when folded flat without extending into the drivers field
of view, should this become a factor in the future.

 

[Al]

Hi,

I currently have a 95 Taurus and am looking to move to
a new Forester....

How easy is it for elderly person to get in and out of a
Forester? With it's 8 inch plus height from the street, is
it easier to get into????

We have only the Taurus to compare it with.....

Thanks,

John W.

My 89+ mother-in-law loved our Outback. She found it easy to get in and
out of and liked the ride. The Forester may be a little bumpier.

Al

 

[Catherine Jefferson]

How easy is it for elderly person to get in and out of a
Forester? With it's 8 inch plus height from the street, is
it easier to get into????

It is *much* easier for anyone who is mobility-impaired, as are many
elderly people, to get into and out of a Forester or other
high-clearance vehicle than into and out of a normal passenger car. Not
having to sit down as far, and particularly not having to stand up as
much, makes life a lot easier.

It is also much easier to transfer someone from a wheelchair into a
Forester or other high-clearance vehicle than into a normal passenger car.

 

[Paul Knudsen]

Hi,

I currently have a 95 Taurus and am looking to move to
a new Forester....

How easy is it for elderly person to get in and out of a
Forester? With it's 8 inch plus height from the street, is
it easier to get into????

We have only the Taurus to compare it with.....

Thanks,

John W.

My wife has arthritus, and gets in/out or the Forrester pretty well.
(We also had a Taurus previously.)

Bottom line: try one before you buy!

 

[vjc]

I had a focus wagon and moved up to a new forester. My mother is 82 and has
no problem getting in and out of it.