Where to buy a hand controlled car?

BungalowPrincess

Hello,
My father sufferered a spinal injury last year which has left him with severely restricted use of his legs. He'd now like to start driving again but following an assessment knows he needs a car with hand controls by techtronic however we are struggling to find one. Does anyone have any experience of this who could perhaps suggest a website or a garage. Maybe making it more awkward is that they only have about £3000 to spend.

Thanks

Chorlie

Most people I know buy a car (new or secondhand) and get the hand controls fitted rather than trying to find a car to buy which already has controls.

I guess it depends what type of controls he needs, if it's just standard Push/Pull Hand controls there are several makers and most have fitters that can come to you to fit them (normally takes them around an hour to fit them).

I always use Jeff Goslings Hand Controls (regarded by most as the best Push/Pull Hand Controls) they cost about £400, but like I said if he needs something more special (ie Joystick controls) they could cost a lot more. I've not heard of Techtronic Hand Controls, I've Googled it but can't find anything, so I don't know what type of control they are; if you can let me know I might be able to help more, I have dozens of friends who use Hand Contols (Push/Pull & Joystick) so can ask them.

If he's not in a major rush to get them, he should go to the Mobility Roadshow there he can drive lots of cars with hand controls and there are stands with many other makes/types of controls.

http://www.jeffgosling.co.uk/

http://www.mobilityroadshow.co.uk/


NOTE: The other option is if he is getting High Rate Mobility Allowance or its part of his DLA (or can apply for it) he could get a car on the Motability Scheme

http://www.motability.co.uk/main.cfm

BungalowPrincess

Sorry I got the name wrong its techmobility apparently the rods for that are placed behind the steering column. He needs push\pull, an indicator switch and a steering spinner. We thought it would be easier if the car had already been adapted. We are also unsure of what car he uses a wheelchair but doesn't like long cars that are hard to park. Its all rather complicated.

Chorlie

Just looked at there web site, I've never seen those before....

Goslings only have one bar where most have two. As for an indicator switch, I learnt to drive in a car with one so paid extra for the switch and after a few months it broke, so I used the normal indector until I could get it fix, after a few days I was use to it so never got it fixed and never had control with the switch since.....

His best bet (if he can wait a couple of months) is to go to the mobility road show and test drive several car and look at all the hand controls and see which he likes best.

If he can't wait, than best get a few price for some different control for a rough idea of the average cost and find a car he likes (I'd guess it will be an automatic) then when he's found the car check with the hand control company that they car fit it to that car and if so buy the car and get them fitted.

It's is very simple, if you look at Jeff gosling's web site it has photos of some of the cars he's fitted them to and there is every car you can imagine.

http://www.jeffgosling.co.uk/HandControls/examples/f.html

moose1982

One piece of advice I would give is to buy a reasonably well known car, such as Ford Focus, Vauxhall Astra, Volkswagen Golf etc etc etc. The reason I say that is because if your father buys a 'dud' and wants to swap it in a couple of years, moving the adaptions will be much cheaper than having to buy most of the bits behind the dashboard again.

Tally-Ho_2

A few adapted cars for sale are advertised here:

http://www.mobilitychoicemotoring.co.uk/

The ads are either private sales or trade sales of adapted vehicles.

BungalowPrincess

I'd be more than happy to take my Dad to the mobility show but I know he wouldn't go. Since his injury he'll only go to hospital appointments the rest of the time he stays in the house I think he's scared before he was 6 foot 1 and confident. We're taking it as a good sign that he wants a car but he wants me to arrange it all and its quite hard.

deets

BungalowPrincess wrote: »

Hello,
My father sufferered a spinal injury last year which has left him with severely restricted use of his legs. He'd now like to start driving again but following an assessment knows he needs a car with hand controls by techtronic however we are struggling to find one. Does anyone have any experience of this who could perhaps suggest a website or a garage. Maybe making it more awkward is that they only have about £3000 to spend.

Thanks

Hi bungalowprincess. sorry your father has had such an awful injury. I hope I can offer you some general advice. In my case, I had a right leg above knee amputation 2 years ago and suffer from severe Rheumatoid Arthritis in all joints--and went through the process myself of finding a suitable vehicle and adaptions (in my case a simple left foot accelerater adaption sufficed).
I note you say your father has had a driving assessment where hand controls were recommended adaptions to any future vehicle your father drives. Was this at an accredited Mobility Disability Service center? If not I would strongly advice he contact his nearest center and arrange an assessment. If it was then I'm a little surprised the center didn't offer your father any advice or recommendation on his options for sourcing a suitable vehicle and adaptions. I came away from my assessment with a folder packed with info detailing adaption manufacturers, fitting centers, sources of vehicles, and even financial assistance advice. This proved invaluable and gave me every piece of info I needed to get me back on the road. Whilst your dad wants you to do the sourcing of a vehicle, he must understand it is he who will be driving it and as such must be the one to do the research etc---no to mention any test drives etc.
Given your fathers disability and severity affecting his ability to drive an unadapted vehicle, I assume he is in receipt of DLA, namely the mobility component (if at an applicable age that is).
If so, I cannot advice you more strongly to tell him to use the allowance to contract lease a vehicle through the motability scheme.
Not only will he get worry free motoring for 3 years in a brand new car ( or motability financed Hire Purchase of an approved used car-different rules apply here thoughn), he will also have access to financial assistance through the scheme ( means tested ) to help pay for adaptions and extra driver training to safely use any adaptions.
Also this special fund can help in the paying towards any advance payments for vehicles that are especially suited to the appropriate adaptions but have higher motability advance payments ( such as automatics/electronic semi auto transmissions ).
Personally, given the technologically complicated nature of some hand control systems, and the necessity for them to be well fitted and maintained, I wouldn't risk buying a vehicle second hand with second hand controls. Just my opinion but the disabled adaptions market where car sales is concerned is just as risky as the rest of the used car sales market. As with regular car sales, the adapted car market has its fair share of unscrupulous dealers/traders/sellers. I would definitely say NO to even considering buying privately from classifieds and the like.
I must admit I wonder if your father has had a 'proper' assessment at a specialist center, provided by health and driving professionals to ensure the safest and most cost effective route to getting him back behind the wheel. Did he get the opportunity to trial different cars/systems? Also, they nearly always very strongly recommend (though not a legal req I don't think) that anybody needing vehicle adaptions to drive again, undertakes a series of 'training lessons' with an approved driving instructor, with a suitable vehicle before acquiring their own car. The cost of which again can be assisted with through the motability scheme via their grant application process.
Obviously, your father must be prepared to be actively involved in the process or I think your going to find the task very difficult indeed.
It does take a little time and a bit of research. However, as with most things, done properly and patiently, the end result is generally well worth it.
Also, remember you father must by law, have his driving licence ammended to show he can only drive an adapted vehicle and with a 'modified transmission'. NOT AUTO ONLY--using the modified transmission term means manual transmission entitlement is not removed, so that in future if technology is developed to allow adaptions to be used with manuals, they can still be driven ( a top tip I was given at my assessment --- and it was 100% accurate. I have an auto, must have an auto, but I have retained my manual transmission entitlement on my licence ).
A proper assessment and the report that is provided following it, is invaluable when suurendering your driving licence for amendment to the DVLA medical department. It provides professional and medical opinion that states your competance and medical ability to safely operate a modified vehicle using your current (amended ) driving licence. It really speeds up the whole process and ensures the DVLA reissue a licence with the correct information and entitlements first time.
I hope Ive helped a little and not confused you more...:eek:
If I can help anymore I will be more than happy to help where ever I can.
One more thing ive learned too......hand controls generally cant be fit on vehicles with EGC transmissions that have +/- paddles at the sides of the steering wheel. So your father will more than likely require a fully auto car to facilitate the adaptions. Unless anyone knows different of course........;)

try a look here too for reference and an idea of the assessment I had take a look here...... william merritt leeds . org
NO SPACES-- as a new member i cant link in case i spam. :mad:Tad unhelpful if your trying to offer advice isn't it site mods?


Take care and I hope your father is soon back on the road and independant.

BungalowPrincess

Thanks for taking the time to reply I'm sure he had a proper assessment he was referred by the spinal injuries unit. However it wasn't really that helpful they said it wasn't for them to comment on the type of car and they did create a report listing my Dads medical history and which adaptations were necessary. We've also filled in the forms for the DVLA but they are still processing it.

Mobility would be fabulous but I do not think it is an option Daddy was 65 and two months when he had his injury he'd started getting his pension only a couple of car months before. Which is why we're trying to do the best with what we've got people do not seem to be able to do much due to Dads age which I find very unfair.

It's a very good point about used cars but I do not believe my parents could afford one they've already had to pay to have a stairlift fitted as the council said it would be a two year wait and both the bathroom and bedrooms are upstairs. It really wasn't my Dads fault that he's virtually paralysed and gets me quite mad. I'll discuss it with him but at the moment he finds everything rather stressful.