CMP
I rented a new Ford Escape recently and it wasn’t that bad, although I wouldn’t say the driver’s seat was terribly comfortable after driving around for 1 1/2 hours straight. It took a little getting used to the controls since I’ve always driven Japanese cars, but I definitely appreciated a lof of little touches that my Subaru doesn’t have. My parents just went through the same problem (mom has bad hips, dad is tall) and they chose a new Outback b/c it has good ground clearance for ease of getting in and out. Oh, they also bought through Costco. Not sure if that saved a ton of money, but my dad was pleased with the savings. They also have a 2002 Highlander and like that, but the new models are ridiculously large and may be more car than you need…the Rav 4 seems like a better option.
The car show is a great idea, but I think it’s best to spend some time behind the wheel to really determine comfort. If you have time, you should call rental companies for a day rental to test out a car. I rented from Thrifty last and reserved an SUV but much to my surprise, I got to pick whatever SUV was on the lot which is cool. Hence the Ford Escape. Not all rental companies offer that choice, but I really appreciated it with Thrifty! Good luck and it sounds like Skeeter would be a great resource for haggling!