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Hello everyone, I'm new to this forum and I would like some honest opinions on a good car for my grandmother.  Here is some info that might help:

She is currently driving a '03 Cadillac Deville DTS which has been good to her, but she's tired of it and its starting to have minor problems. She is tired of driving big floaty cars like the Deville and wants something a little smaller and sportier, but still luxurious. She wants to keep the price under $45K so I have suggested cars like the Lexus ES350, Infiniti G37, and Acura TL.  Also, the Hyundai Genesis is high on the list.  She does not want another Cadillac, or anything made by GM (she's driven GM vehicles her whole life and wants a change.)  This will probably be a car she keeps for a long time (10 or so years) so reliability is probably the most important, along with a comfortable ride, luxury feel, and a little sport to it.

Any suggestions will help!  Thanks.  

a few points to ponder....

how close are the hand operated controls to what gm has used...  some cars are very different..

is she tall enough to see over the wheel of the new car..

can she see the fenders/ bumpers..  i got in a car the other day.. i am 5'11"   and i could not see the end of the fenders or the bumper.. so i had to guess where they were..   she might be good at this after driving full size Gm cars.. but it is something to think about..

i had a lady customer upgrade to a new car.. after her 69 firebird was rear ended and destroyed.. she bought it new in 68...   when she got in the new car.. about the 4th time.. she thought she had her foot on the brake.. nope . it was the gas... held to the floor...  when she dropped it into gear.. it took off like a rocket ship... still thinking she had her foot on the brake.. she held it down..   she hit a short series of telephone poles used as a retaining.. wall..  only ended up with a bruised shoulder..

so pedal position needs to be close to what she is driving also..


this is not a warning.. just something to think about..  feet learn where they are slowly... measure the pedals spacing from the transmission tunnel..   the relative height..



this lady also prompted a practical joke at the DMV...

she had found out i was going to the DMV... and she wanted me to pick her up a drivers handbook.. when i got to the information counter.. i ask for one for an older lady friend of mine...  the wonderful DMV lady pushed it across the counter to me.. i looked at it.. pushed it back.. ask if she had the large print edition.. my friend cannot see so well any more..  the lady at dmv picked the book up and held it to her chest...  told me if she cannot read this size letters...   she cannot have a license..  i laughed..  and told her it was just a joke...   i have tried that on several DMV workers over the years..  one commented.. that they really should have a large print edition.. at which point i laughed..  she must have helped me before..