Q:
This is a crazy question, but we were wondering the other night: Do retirees drive more miles per week, month and year, than when we were working? We have more time to do road trips and pleasure travel.
A:
The answer seems to be no, at least if you’ve retired at usual ages rather than in your forties.
According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, the average person 65 and older drives 7,646 miles per year, and those who are 55 to 64 drive 11,972. But people in their 20s, 30s and 40s drive more than 15,000 miles per year.
Interestingly, though not surprisingly, males in all age groups drive considerably more miles per year than females.
Q:
We’ve purchased a 2010 Subaru Forester from my brother to give to our daughter when she graduates from college in May — her first car. But we discovered that the owner’s manual is missing. We want her to read it and follow it, not act as if the car will take care of itself. How do we get a three-year-old owner’s manual?
A:
Subaru and many other carmakers have downloadable owner’s manuals online. Just type in the model and year and it’s yours.
I congratulate you for making sure your daughter knows there are requirements for keeping her vehicle running smoothly. Although people her age are adept at working through the web and finding what they need, I recommend that rather than telling her the information is there, print it out (even though I’m normally very stingy about making paper copies) and put it in a binder.
A packet of pages serves as a constant reminder. Without it, she may decide that maybe someday she’ll go online — then if she doesn’t, necessary maintenance is left undone. Also, if the car breaks down on the road, she may needs specs or an illustration about how to position a jack to change a tire. She may also be without her computer or in an area where she can’t call it up on her phone.
The navigation system information is a different file so you don’t have to print that if the car has none.
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