New Car Blues

[icnmgrjill]

(Reprint Sept. 03, Update July 08 )

Here's my dilemma. I haven't bought a car in 10 years. Why? My IC is very car sensitive and, sometimes, even a short drive can provoke intense pain and/or pelvic floor muscle spasms. It's finally time for me to find a car that I can drive comfortably. I want to visit my friends and family who live more than an hour away again. I want to go on more family vacations and I want to be more mobile. But, it's been amazingly difficult. I've driven dozens of new and used cars with little luck. Because I know that I'm not the only one, I thought it would be helpful to assemble a list of cars that patients have found comfortable and/or painful! By the end of this article, I hope that you'll send me an email sharing your car suggestions and feedback.

My criteria are simple. I want a suspension that is soft and doesn't jar with every bump. I want a seat that is well padded and comfortable. I want my passengers and myself to be safe (i.e. front & side airbags) and the car reasonably reliable. I want to be able to carry cargo. Last but not least, I want it to be affordable. Is this too much to ask???

My first foray was with minivans. I thought that I could put a porta-potty in the back row, if needed, for long drives. I also frequently drive my elderly parents around town so comfortable seats was a priority. But, I quickly discovered that the third row seats were an obstacle. I wasn't strong enough to take them out by myself to make room for that porta potty. Luckily, two minivans had third row seats that folded into the floor: The Honda Odyssey and the Mazda MPV. Of the two, the Honda's suspension was awesome! It was the smoothest ride of any of the minivans but the seat cushions seemed very thin and weren't very comfortable for me. I also drove the 2002 Toyota Sienna, which had the most comfortable seats, but the suspension was worse that then Honda. (The new Sienna's also have a fold down third row seat). In any case, they were too pricey for me.

About six months ago, I decided to try small SUV's. Consumer Reports lists the Honda CR-V and the Toyota Rav4 as the best in the group. But, like the above, the Honda's seats were barely comfortable. The Toyota Rav4 was worse, as it had a truck suspension and bounced down the road. The Mitsubishi Endeavor, Kia Sorento and Hyundai Santa Fe were slightly more comfortable, but again, I was feeling those potholes all the way to my bladder. The Saturn Vue & Buick Rendezvous were contenders. Their ride was smooth and the seats were very comfortable. I was shocked to read, however, that the Saturn Vue, as well as most of the other small SUV's listed above, scored horribly ("poor") in the Institute of Highway Safety's new side crash results. The Buick has had so many recalls that it seems like a poor investment.

I've also driven a few sedans. The Volkswagen Passat & Jetta were quite nice but pricey. Last weekend, I drove a 2001 Volvo S80 (used, as there is no way that I could afford a new one) that was also very smooth. But the seats had bolsters (those cup like seats with higher sides) that were very uncomfortable. I've heard that Audi has an excellent suspension. Can anyone out there attest to that?

With respect to seat design, I find that flat seats with low side bolsters are the most comfortable. Many leather seats seem hard and, in the case of the Volvo, had an odd design in the stitching and cushions so that it felt like there was a brick right under my tailbone. Luckily, I much prefer fabric!

I'm hoping that you can help not only me, but other patients who are really struggling with car rides. If you're currently driving a car that is IC friendly, please send me an email to carsurvey@ic-network.com and share what type of car, year & model. Tell us why you like it. Are the seats comfortable? How's the suspension?? What else do you do to make your drive more comfortable? I also want to hear about cars that hurt. Hopefully, we'll be able to assemble a list that IC patients can use as a guide when they buy or rent cars. - Jill :)

Update 09/03 - After a year of trying, I've decided on the Buick Rendezvous. I went back and drove it again, and it was super smooth and comfortable. I'm concerned about quality but the ride was so good and so comfortable, that I think I'll risk it.

Update: 07/08 - Okay, it has a great ride. I've had it for five years... but it's not exactly fuel efficient. Last week, it cost me $72 to fill up the gas tank. Yikes! Thank god I don't have to commute anymore. I can only wish that the small cars were smoother and more comfortable. Anyone have any comments about the Prius?

[snowgirl]

Prius is there not a waiting list for them right now?

[SharonA]

Hubby and I won a Prius the first year they came out. I don't recommend it as an IC friendly car. It is great for short trips, but not for anything past an hour or two. The gas mileage information is also rather inflated. The only time we got anywhere near what they said it would do was on the open road driving to D.C. That was good for the billfold, but not the bladder. We sold it and are glad we did.

[dg2901]

We've owned a 2004 Honda Element for 4.5 yrs now. We bought it new for $22000. I would recommend this car to anyone looking for a smooth riding and an extremely functional vehicle. The front seats are very comfortable; the back seats are designed in stadium-seat style and quite comfortable as well. The back seats fold up against the wall of the vehicle (single or both) to allow for extra room in the back. If you recline both the front and rear seats back this makes a sleeping area for two--again, quite comfortable.
The handling is very tight for a mid-size SUV, and it has excellent crash test ratings. It has driver and passenger front airbags (I believe that the newer models also come with side airbags as well). Its very easy to get in and out of..the back door are suicide doors allowing the vehicle to be completely opened up when all 4 doors are opened.
Gas mileage is approximately 26 & 30, give or take, as like any vehicle. We've driven this vehicle continuously for 4 years, have taken it on road trips, to the beach, the mountains, etc--its been nothing but lovely. The interior is waterproof and stainproof. When it gets dirty we open up all the door and hose it out.
I could go on and on about this vehicle, however my ramblings do it no justice. If you're near a Honda dealership, I highly recommend you take an ELEMENT out for a test drive.

Any other questions feel free to ask. I'm even willing to send you some pics of our "E" if you're interested.

[momof3britts]

We just test drove a 08 Ford Fusion and loved it, very smooth ride. I wish we had been able to drive it without the dealer with us and taken in on a few roads to test it on my bladder to be sure. It is #1 on our list right now.

[hdb1982]

I bought a 2007 Pontiac Grand Prix when my Grand Am got totaled Easter Day. I love Pontiac's. The handle very very well. It handles turns very well and you can barely feel bumps when you happen to hit one. The cars steering is very responsive, you barely have to turn the wheel. It is a powerful car. Mine is a V6 3.8 liter and I get about 22-26 mpg. Even though it is powerful, the is no dive in the front end when you accelerate or hit the brakes. I always hated when you punch the gas or slam the brakes and a car flings forward. Mine is fully loaded and has heated leather seats with lumbar support. You can adjust the firmness of the back of the front seats. It also has dual climate controls, a plus for us b/c I am always freezing when Adam is sweating. He can sit his on 68 and I set mine on 82. It has front and side curtain airbags. The seats I can not say enough good things about. They are the most comfy I have been in, more so than my dads Lincoln MKZ. It is very roomy too, I am 5'11'' and I do not feel cramped, even when I have to scoot the seat up b/c there are people in the back seat. It has steering wheel controls for the radio,including mute, which are nice. Your hands don't have to leave the wheel. The passenger seat leans forward and lays flat. The back of it is hard plastic and can be used for a writing area when driving. There are cargo nets on back of both front seats. You can program 2 personal option settings. I have one and Adam has one. I hit number 1 and everything electric moves to my preference. The seat location, the mirrors, even the radio. I will be honest, there are a few things I would change if I could. 1)there is only 2 cup holders in the entire car and they are in the front, my Grand Am had 5. 2) there isn't a light in the trunk but I am not sure if there isn't one or if mine is burnt out.lol and 3) when I hit the trunk release it unlocks the trunk but it doesn't swing open on its own. In my Grand Am you had to be careful not to lean too far over the trunk when you opened it b/c it really flung open.

Oh, it also came from the manufacturer with a remote car starter. There is an extra button on the key less entry remote. You just hit the door lock button then hold down the car starter button for 3 seconds. If it is hot out the AC turns on, if it is cold out the heat and defroster turns on. I wish the heated seats turned on with it but it isn't that big of a deal b/c the seats warm up super fast.

It has 3 lighter ports so you can plug in a lot of things.

The sticker price for the car is about 24000 with the options I have but I only paid 12,100 for it. My FIL is the finance manager at the areas largest dealership and he can do 5 deals a year at 100.00 over what the dealership paid. My Grand Am I bought from him brand new and only saved about 2,000. He can't play with the numbers too much on new cars. But trade ins, rentals or demos he can play with the numbers a lot more. My interest is only 2.9% so my payments are really low. They are 202.00 for 5 years. If you are more of a car person than an suv or truck person, as I am, I highly recommend the Grand Prix. If you go to Pontiac.com you can take a virtual tour where you can choose the options and the interior colors. My car's exterior is a slate blue/blue gray, with black carpet, dash and trim and dark gray leather seats. A car is a personal preference but I love my Grand Prix. I usually want a new car every few years but I think this one I will keep until it is no longer drivable, unless it isn't safe for some reason. I have had a Pontiac Sunfire then went to the Grand Am now I have the Grand Prix. I guess my next option is the Bonneville. My MIL had one and it was sooo nice. It had the SSEI supercharger though and her purse didn't like the gas prices. Hers was also a lease so she had to turn it in anyway. If I didn't drive so much I would lease b/c I don't like to have a car more than 4 years. I had my Grand Am longer but we had other vehicles. Now we have Adams truck, the company work truck and my Grand Prix. 2 less vehicles than we had a year ago.