| What car? | |
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Mart V.I.P Member
Posts : 2091 Join date : 2017-03-13 Age : 79 Location : South of England
| Subject: What car? Wed Aug 23, 2017 7:39 am | |
| We bought our Renault Megane estate car from new 11 years ago. It has a couple of electrical faults (heated rear window doesn't work and the window winders are troublesome) but it still runs well and only has 38,000 miles on the clock. The reason for thinking about another car is that it's proving a bit unsuitable for hoisting the new power wheelchair in and out of.
We really need a car with a larger opening at the back and maybe something where the chair can be ramped in and out rather than hoisted. Hoisting is proving difficult because the positioning of the chair on the road has to be just right for the hoist straps to line up with the hoisting points of the chair. Manoeuvring the 24 stone (151Kg) beast into a hoisting position isn't easy.
I've no idea what vehicle would be best for the purpose. Whatever, if we decide to go ahead, it will need hand controls fitting so that Mrs mart can drive it. Perhaps getting a different sort of hoist would be better too (there are a few different ones). Ramps are good but a fair amount of space behind the car is needed to use them.
It would be good if we had somewhere near here that did cars that are already adapted for disabled persons use. Plenty of places up and down the land do them but none anywhere near us. It will therefore have to be an ordinary motor suitable for fitting hand controls to ..and a hoist or ramp at the back.
We might get fed up with looking and put the problem off for a while longer. On the other hand, we might just see a car with possibilities. We won't be looking at new wagons this time. The car isn't used all that much and we don't want to eat into the finances too much to buy one. Adapting it will cost a good bit anyway. |
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andsome V.I.P Member
Posts : 4525 Join date : 2014-09-24 Location : Burntwood in Staffordshie, ENGLAND
| Subject: Re: What car? Wed Aug 23, 2017 8:20 am | |
| Best of luck with your hunt. Have you thought about a furniture delivery van? ----------------------------------------- Gustav Mahler is the finest composer who ever lived. |
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malcolm Administrator
Posts : 5329 Join date : 2014-09-23 Age : 79 Location : Coppull, Lancashire
| Subject: Re: What car? Wed Aug 23, 2017 9:11 am | |
| Tricky problem Mart. Alan is your man to ask, he is a car expert ans I'm sure he will offer some good advice. |
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Mart V.I.P Member
Posts : 2091 Join date : 2017-03-13 Age : 79 Location : South of England
| Subject: Re: What car? Wed Aug 23, 2017 8:23 pm | |
| Some specialist dealers on the Internet will come out to the house and demonstrate their cars, so we're going to arrange one or two appointments. An advantage is that the cars are already fitted with folding ramps and adapted floors. No hand controls on any we could find unfortunately, so it looks like we'd need those fitting as an extra. |
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Guest Guest
| Subject: Re: What car? Sat Aug 26, 2017 2:06 pm | |
| - Mart wrote:
- Some specialist dealers on the Internet will come out to the house and demonstrate their cars, so we're going to arrange one or two appointments. An advantage is that the cars are already fitted with folding ramps and adapted floors. No hand controls on any we could find unfortunately, so it looks like we'd need those fitting as an extra.
My advice would be to get onto Mobility Dealers and explain your requirements, if you haven't done so already. They are the specialists in this sort of thing. |
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Mart V.I.P Member
Posts : 2091 Join date : 2017-03-13 Age : 79 Location : South of England
| Subject: Re: What car? Wed Aug 30, 2017 3:07 pm | |
| Well, that's it. The company we are dealing with came out to our house with the car we'd picked and we have bought it. It will take me a while to get over taking the plunge but I'm sure it's for the best: Renault KangooThey are arranging to get the hand accelerator and brake fitted. We should take delivery in a week or so. |
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Guest Guest
| Subject: Re: What car? Wed Aug 30, 2017 3:39 pm | |
| Good choice, if I may say so Mart. There a quite a few of them running around here with Disability stickers on them. Plenty of room in the back for wheelchairs and electric scooters, all with hoists fitted. |
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Mart V.I.P Member
Posts : 2091 Join date : 2017-03-13 Age : 79 Location : South of England
| Subject: Re: What car? Wed Aug 30, 2017 8:48 pm | |
| This one has a ramp that folds out and a lowered floor. It means the chair is driven on and off rather than hoisted. It was always a job to position the chair so the hoist could be hooked up. The ramp should make life a bit easier I hope. |
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davo Senior Member
Posts : 3753 Join date : 2016-10-19 Location : OZ
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Mart V.I.P Member
Posts : 2091 Join date : 2017-03-13 Age : 79 Location : South of England
| Subject: Re: What car? Sat Sep 02, 2017 9:18 am | |
| Reminds me of saying, "kangaroo petrol" when learners go along the road in fits and starts because of poor clutch control. :) |
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malcolm Administrator
Posts : 5329 Join date : 2014-09-23 Age : 79 Location : Coppull, Lancashire
| Subject: Re: What car? Sat Sep 02, 2017 9:53 am | |
| That looks great Mart I'm sure you both will love it ! |
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meerkat12 V.I.P Member
Posts : 2409 Join date : 2014-10-05 Location : South east England
| Subject: Re: What car? Sat Sep 02, 2017 11:39 am | |
| Glad you have found what you want, will make things a lot easier for you both |
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