©Audi
Commitment to our readers
The GOBankingRates editorial team is committed to providing you with unbiased reviews and information. We use data-driven methods to evaluate financial products and services – our reviews and ratings are not influenced by advertisers. You can read more about our editorial guidelines and our review methodology for products and services.
20 years
Helping you become richer
trusted by
millions of readers
Transportation costs are one of the heaviest expenses for retirees on Social Security, yielding an average monthly benefit of $2,071.30, according to social Security Administration (SSA) Data from December 2025. That same month, Kelley Blue Book (KBB) The average price of a new car has risen to just a hair under $50,000, the report said.
The sticker price is just one factor. Other considerations include long-term ownership expenses, insurance, reliability, safety, and of course, the driving experience.
I’m no expert on cars or retirement, but ChatGPT can provide some illumination. I asked the AI chatbot which cars retirees on Social Security should avoid. There were some sentiments in this – most notably, that there are more than just one car that fits the bill.
luxury cars
ChatGPT begins by acknowledging that retirees on a fixed budget should choose their cars wisely, “as high purchase prices, fuel costs, repairs, depreciation and insurance can quickly put a strain on limited income.”
The AI chatbot quickly concluded that luxury vehicles may be the worst offenders of all those categories. It says, “They cost a lot, are expensive to repair and depreciate rapidly – making them difficult to find on a fixed monthly Social Security budget.”
It specifically warned against the following models:
- Infiniti QX55
- BMW X3
- Audi A6/A8
- volvo xc90
- Maserati Ghibli
- BMW 7 Series
- Mercedes-Benz S-Class
- jaguar xj
large gas consumers
Many retirees need extra cargo and passenger space for their hobbies or travel – but ChatGPT cautions against traveling more than necessary.
This prompted this warning for anyone eyeing anything that sizable: “Large vehicles can be fun, but on a tight budget, they mean higher fuel and maintenance expenses.”
It specifically mentions these gas-guzzling models due to poor fuel economy, expensive maintenance and repairs, difficulty parking, difficulty driving, or some combination of these.
- ford explorer
- toyota 4runner
- jeep wrangler
- full size pickup truck
anything unproven or unfamiliar
Finally, ChatGPT advised retirees not to be too quick to adopt emerging technologies or specific concepts when shopping for a car. “Some advanced or specialized vehicles may cost more to maintain and may be harder to repair in the future,” it wrote, citing the following examples.
- Toyota Mirai (hydrogen fuel cell vehicle)
- High-end EVs with expensive batteries