I'm 39 C6 11. I would like to drive a Vette for the rest of my life. With that said, with the techniques of egress, etc how feasible is a Vette as one gets more gray hair and bad joints...??

 

If we took care of our bodies as good as we treat our Vettes, we probably could drive one till the day they bury us...

 

No doubt.

 

Well....I'm 69 & 5'10".....bad back & bad knee. Been driving the C6 since new in '05 with nary a problem, even with the MN6. Trick is to open the door; back your butt into the seat; & then swing your legs in. Then push the button, start the engine & have a blast!

 

Roger That..!

 

Agree. Issue is when parked in garage or some ******* who parks too close.

 

When I was running Daytona a couple weeks ago the guy in the garage next to me was 82.

He was a former race driver, and was running the HPDE in his M3 BMW with manual transmission.

He didn't have any trouble hopping in and out of his Bimmer, pulling on his helmet, and strapping into a full harness, and I'm sure that in 15 years when I'm his age I'll still be able to hop in and out of my C10 Vette (or whatever the current gen is) so I can still enjoy driving it up toward its full performance capability!!

Just gotta keep myself in good shape til then, but that's my job now that I'm retired!!

Bob

 

I agree. I am 68 and have absolutely no plans to sell either my Corvette, my pickup, or my wife's Harley.

 

At 39 I'm surprised that's something you're worrying about. Everyone is different. If and when the time comes you'll know. Obviously, you can't ignore reality but I think worrying about it is a first mistake. Don't consider such things....keep a positive mental outlook otherwise it may become a self-fullfiling 'codger' prophecy. I think people who constantly worry about such things are inherently more susceptible to natural and psycho-semantic conditions....they bring things on themselves. Obviously, age affects us all but I think it's important to have a positive mental attitude.

Talk about difficult egress....when I put my car on its trailer the driver's door hits the trailer tire. I can only open the door a few inches. I also have a 'deep dish' racing seat. To get out of the car I have to raise myself up out of the seat and twist around in a 'ball' over the seat (with the door basically closed) enough to get my left foot out of the space towards the rear of the door. From there I have to raise myself up and squeeze out a very narrow opening. I'm almost 60 and fortunately I'm thin enough and spry enough I can do it. I know guys both younger and older who couldn't do that for one reason or another. Everyone should keep a positive mental outlook but everyone's different. When your positive mental outlook no longer works, then you improvise and adapt.

 

Having the seat move all the way back when I open the door to get out sure makes a lot of difference for me. I still get in and out one leg at a time while holding onto the steering wheel. I just turned 71.

 

I am 68 also. Once you establish a enter and exit routine you are set. It is a comfortable car to drive. Besides, driving a vette makes you feel much younger

 

Same age and same method, but a 2LT without the auto-seat feature. I normally drive with the seat at the back limit, so no movement is necessary.

I think the real differences are body size, weight, and strength. I'm 5'8" 175# and fairly fit. We have no control over some genetic traits, but generally can still be healthy and active if we desire.

Both a 6'4" 240# friend and a 5'5" 380# DIL have extreme problems even on the passenger side. It's also not real easy getting in/out of their own non-Vette cars either.

 

I have freinds that are only 5'10 and maybe 200lbs, and they have major issues in the passenger side. The leg room is the biggest thing, as it is much more shallow than the drivers side due to the fuse panel under the carpet.
They also have trouble getting in and out. It's an aquired technique for sure.

I have absolutely no issues on either side as I am only 5'8 and 170 lbs.
I figure as long as I continue my gym routines, I'll never have any issues.

 

I thought the title of this thread was "Cougar Potential". Needless to say, I'm seriously disappointed.

 

However, if your eyesight is that bad, the rest doesn't matter either unless you can't squeeze them in the car.

 

Perhaps the problem is squeezing them in without breaking a hip.

 

My mother is 84 and still snow skis. Come back in 40 years and ask that question.

 

Well, I'll be 76 in Nov and just crawled out the top, when I forgot about the handle to open the door, in case of a dead battery.

 

I'm 71 and have had absolutely no problems entering, exiting or driving our M6 '09 coupe to date, or doing anything else as far as that's concerned. I was a desk jockey from 25 until I retired at 69; I'm much more active now, and never felt better. Went to a car show today at Charlotte Motor Speedway with the wife, walked the whole infield, up and down the stands, to and from the parking lot, etc., then out to dinner, plus the 50 minute drive each way. Kind of an average day for us. Age is mostly a state of mind. My solution is to pay it no mind.

 

At 54 I feel like a virtual youngster after reading this thread. THANKS!