Top 5 cars if you are heading towards retirement

People in this part of the world are healthier than ever, living longer and fuller lives than ever before. That means retirees are generally active people, with demands from all sides on their time and energy, whether that's minding the grandchildren or helping out in a local charity shop, plus of course spending copious amounts of time in the garden and on the golf course. Yes, stereotypes are alive and well. Regardless of your preferred retirement activity, the type of car that you'll most likely want is fairly easy to guess. At your age, a reliable car is non-negotiable, but you could also do with a high-set driving position offering decent visibility and ease of access. A two-door model is tempting, but no good when the grandkids are about or when your buddies want a lift to weekly bingo… That's what you spend all your time doing, right?

1 - Honda Jazz

Year: 2014
List price: €14,950
Owners: 1
Mileage: 21,329km
Engine: 1.3 petrol
Location: Dublin

The Honda Jazz is probably the perfect small car for retirees, as it has an unblemished reliability record, modest running costs and it's compact enough for unstressed parking and manoeuvring around busy town streets. Despite its relatively small size, however, the interior is simply massive, with loads of room for four to five adults or child seats in the back, and a decently proportioned boot as well. What's more, the rear seat base flips up create a long, high area that's perfect for carrying tall plants, for example. Just saying… We've chosen a late second generation example from the Carzone.ie database as we reckon it's better looking than the new car.

2 - Skoda Yeti

Year: 2011
List price: €10,900
Owners: 1
Mileage: 53,108km
Engine: 1.2 petrol
Location: Dublin

We're huge fans of the Skoda Yeti crossover and we think it could be a perfect car for many of those heading towards retirement. All versions have a comfortable upright seating position that is raised up, which makes getting in and out particularly easy. The rear seats, meanwhile, can be moved in countless ways to accommodate grandkids or friends with ease and the boot is a good size. There are four-wheel-drive versions for the more outdoorsy retirees that want to get off the beaten path, but we reckon front-wheel drive will suit most. Likewise, though most are diesel-powered, we'd advocate seeking out a rare petrol model unless you plan on long journeys abroad, as it'll come with less maintenance in the long run.

3 - Peugeot 2008

Year: 2014
List price: €13,950
Owners: 1
Mileage: 27,158km
Engine: 1.2 petrol
Location: Dublin

A good alternative to the Yeti, and more common with petrol power, is Peugeot's very likeable 2008 crossover. It's a little smaller than the Skoda, but it doesn't really feel it inside. Though based on the Peugeot 208 it's considerably longer and so has a large boot. The rear seats fold completely flat as well and the petrol engine is very cheap to fuel and tax. The seating isn't quite as high up as in the Skoda, but the 2008 is smaller and easier to park.

4 - Kia Venga

Year: 2015
List price: €12,950
Owners: 1
Mileage: 58,200km
Engine: 1.4 petrol
Location: Cork

If you like the idea of something like the Jazz, but need something a little larger, then you can't go far wrong with the Kia Venga. It's classed as a compact MPV, but its footprint on the road is no larger than an average hatchback's so it's a cinch to drive and park. Despite that, it has a spacious cabin with upright and comfortable seating, plus some versatility to the rear seats and boot. There's nothing remotely interesting about the 1.4-litre petrol engine's performance, but this 2015 example we found has loads of its original seven-year warranty intact, which is certainly worth taking into consideration.

5 - Porsche 911 Cabriolet

Year: 2002
List price: €25,950
Owners: 1
Mileage: 115,873km
Engine: 3.4 petrol
Location: Dublin

Or you could say, screw the grandkids and their parents' inheritance and treat yourself to that Porsche cabriole you've always wanted. There are a surprising number on Carzone.ie. We chose this immaculate 2002 example as it has the all-important manual gearbox and a removable hardtop for the winter months. It looks stunning and though the mileage sounds high, it indicates that the single owner hasn't had many issues with it. If your grown up kids kick up a stink