What's with Old Folks and Buicks?
 

**I apologize in advance for what may be perceived as an "ageist" post**

It happened yet AGAIN today! I was almost late for an appointment because I was stuck on a one lane road behind an old woman in a Buick.

About a year ago, an old folks condo was built a couple of miles away from me and I have to pass right by it on my way to pretty much anywhere. It never seems to fail that at a certain point the flow of traffic flows down substantially and when I finally get a good luck at what is causing the problem it's always a cottonbally looking head peeking over the steering wheel of a Buick.

Honestly, is there some sort of correlation between old folks and Buicks? For the past few weeks, ever since I noticed this phenomenon, I have been paying close attention to the traffic-slowing drivers and nine times out of ten *no joke!* they are driving a Buick.

Have any of you ever noticed this??? Seriously, I want you to pay attention next time an old person is causing a traffic slowdown and I can almost guarantee you that he or she will be driving a Buick.

Speaking as someone in her 20's who owns a Buick, I can tell you that the reverse is not true. My husband drives that car most of the time... he is a leadfoot, and has the speeding tickets to prove it :(

There is a correlation between kind of car and demographic ... Anytime I see a kick-arse Corvette, it's driven by a middle-aged guy with bad hair!

Different cars do have different age buyers. 20-year-old don't want minivans. Older people like big cars, like Caddies and Buicks. Young people will drive tiny cars like hatchbacks.

Of course not all old people drive slowly, but the reflexes of some older people do slow down, so they're driving slow for a reason.

the first car i learned to drive was a 82 buick century. it got in an accident (not by me) and now we have a 96. that thing goes fast... of course now, it's got some problems... stupid mechanics... :rolleyes: :mad:

i have actually noticed elderly people around here drive really REALLY nice cars. and of course drive them 10 miles under the speed limit :D ;)

lol lol lol...
i laughed hysterically at that subject line :)
i haven't been looking, but now that you mention it i guess i see the correllation.. :)

What is wrong with a HONDA? I am old, accordian to some, I do not drive a dressed up Chevy! By the way, it is a 5-speed, I am not totally senile!

A hood sled, with the bobbbing front end and a doggy in the rear window! Not the H car the other lead cruiser!!:)

Second to SUV's the Mothers of pooh land driving spectacular drive of choice!!! BOO! Dont have kids, remember you were/are one, spoils the whole idea fo having kids!:eek:

Let's add Chrystler to the list of "old people" cars on this note: A friend of mine in his 20's bought a Chryslter Seabring sedan. Shortly after buying the car, he received his membership to the AARP. Coinsidence? I don't know...! ;)

My boyfriend drives a Corvette, but he has a full head of great hair. :cool: :D :)

:D KappaTarzan-
i laughed hysterically at that subject line
ME TOO! Killarney, you are SOOOOOOOO FUNNY!

If you only KNEW! My Hubby drove an OLD buick till it actually DIED! It was the most HORRID piece of junk. One day a salesman came to our door and when I answered it he said, "Oh, I wasn't expecting the lady of the house to answer since your maid was here." He had parked the car in front.:o

One of my son's snotty friends would get in that car and ask (every time) "So how old IS this car?" Hubby finally told him, "Buick is paying me $50,000.00 to see just how long a Buick can last."

After the wrecks my daughter had, he bought a used car for my son. You guessed it, a BUICK! And it's ALMOST as hideous as the last one!

You have all flirted with the real answer to the question.

It's because Buicks are so big and heavy, that even if the driver can't see where he/she is going, everyone is going to get the hell out of the way!

True story:

I was driving to work one morning and a guy in an old Buick ran a stop sign and (while I almost got stopped), I hit him in the left rear quarter panel, sending him up into a yard on the corner.

I drive a little roadster, but was OK. It, however, was somewhat the worse for wear -- the front end looking very much like the famous "tent" roof at Denver International Airport if you're familiar with that.

As I was sitting in the police car waiting to give the officer my statement, the homeowner of the corner lot came over and demanded my insurance information. When I asked her why, she said my car had torn up her yard. I pointed out to her, that I was driving the little red car still in the middle of the intersection, she was really shocked, assuming that anyone walking away from the wreck would have to have been in the bigger car.

She asked me where the other driver was, and I said, "He's in the ambulance over there." He had separated his shoulder.

i have a 1990 buick and am proud! it's old, it's ugly, but it drives smoothly and runs well. a couple of months ago it was raining at night (of course, it always rains in LA) and some guy failed to stop fast enough at a stop sign...running into the side of the back of my car. it pushed me about 100 feet and i landed in someone's bushes. if it wasn't for that bulky buick, who knows what could have happened! of course, i only own it because my dad gave it to me since the mileage was low...i wouldn't mind a new car... =)

We had an 85 Buick Electra. The battery exploded on it. It would kill at 65 mph. It was the worst car EVER. I won't ever ever ever drive an American car after that.

My question is: What's with really bad drivers and Ford Taruses...there seems to be a scary correlation around here ...

Re: What's with Old Folks and Buicks?
 

CTFU @ "cottonbally looking head." That just made my day! :D

I, too, must defend the Buick. :p In college I had a 1986 Regal & now, at the ripe ole age of 26, I drive a different Buick Regal..a CUSTOM SERIES no less. (There have been other large cars as well, Chevy Caprice, Dodge Caravan, a couple station wagons...).

The current car rides so smooth I'll think I'm doing like 55mph & I'm really going closer to 80mph. I don't know *why* old people buy them (I know I see them driving similar cars to mine all of the time). My excuse is it was cheap & had low low mileage!

I drove a Buick in high school - 1987 Buick Century Station Wagon, powder blue, it was a beautiful beast of a car.

The car lasted though, and my parents love Buicks; my mom drives a Century sedan, and she loves the car.