Focus vs C-Max vs Mondeo

custardy

Lum wrote: »

Grand C-Max wasn't an option otherwise I wouldn't have even posted this thread

Is the Focus (Estate) longer than the C-Max then? It's hard to find actual useful specs like that on Ford's site!

It's going to sting a little that to get the Focus Estate I'll be paying extra for the navigation package that I don't want >.<

look on the Parkers site under facts and figures,for the models you want

forgotmyname

Focus estate is approx 7" longer. But the taller shape of the C-Max may suit a chair without taking it apart.

Although the newer shape isnt as boxy as the older models. So a bit more like a tall hatchback.

I would pop along to the dealership with the wheelchair. I considered a C-Max but it wasnt as comfortable as the Mondeo.
That was an older model and a personal thing though. Others may say its comfortable.

Herzlos

custardy wrote: »

I would have thought checking how easy the wheelchair is to put in/remove would be the main check.
once you see that,you can look to specs/equipment

This. I'd take the chair to a dealer that's got a focus estate and a C max and see how you get on.

I'd be inclined to go for the estate in terms of all round practicality though. It's probably also a lot better for getting a chair into. It's what the police are/were using for a while and they have to drag a lot of stuff around with them.

Lum

I think I've narrowed it down to the Focus Estate or Mondeo Estate, as I've just had another requirement dropped on me!

She's buying a tricycle, specifically this one:
http://www.sunrisemedical.co.uk/Shark.aspx

and if she gets one of those, I'm probably going to go looking for a recumbent trike to go with it, so carrying two of those things changes things a lot. Going to be one in the back and one on the roof!

Edit: also given that the price difference between the Focus and Mondeo estates on offer is £500, I may as well just go for the Mondeo.

I now just have to figure out how to translate this into English:

"Drivers can trade up to the maximum of one grade above and pay the difference between the WLC of the vehicle that they select and the Benchmark Value at their grade. This difference will be deducted through payroll out of net pay as a ‘Private Use Contribution’ (PUC)."

I have no idea what a WLC is, or what my benchmark value is and my fleet people aren't answering their email.

Edit2: The Focus Titanium also has LED rear lights which is a negative for us as my partner is able to see the flickering which will annoy the crap out of her when we convoy.

custardy

Lum wrote: »

I think I've narrowed it down to the Focus Estate or Mondeo Estate, as I've just had another requirement dropped on me!

She's buying a tricycle, specifically this one:
http://www.sunrisemedical.co.uk/Shark.aspx

and if she gets one of those, I'm probably going to go looking for a recumbent trike to go with it, so carrying two of those things changes things a lot. Going to be one in the back and one on the roof!

Fiesta and a trailer

Lum

I am actually seriously considering Focus and a trailer! Not sure I'd want to do long motorway trips in a Fiesta as that's the only car that has ever made me travel sick while driving, I'm guessing due to short wheelbase, high seating position and lorry ruts.

I'll have to book some driving lessons though as I've never towed and my licence was issued after the cut-off, but put bluntly it seems a more cost effective way to do it than to take what is looking like a couple of grand out of my salary to cart a bloody trike around a couple of times a year!

Edit: Oh crap, the Focus Zetec doesn't even have cruise control, *cries*

Chorlie

I've had a Mondeo Estate and I fitted my chair in without taking the wheel off, just fold the back down and rolled it in, brakes on and away I went.

That was with a chair like this https://www.simplyhealth.co.uk/sh/pages/independent-living/manual-wheelchairs/k-series.jsp but have done it with other similar chairs, so that quickie will be fine.

The Focus estate is almost the same size so can easy do the same, but the Mondeo is a nicer car and I found the seats far more comfortable than my friends Focus.

I'm also in the process of getting a hand cycle...

PM me if you feel I maybe able to help you more....


Edit - You can fold the back seats down and almost double to size of the boot, so a Mondeo estate may be big enough to two cycles, I had 6 wheelchair, 3 people and 6 bags into a car.....just have to learn how to stack things right ;-)

Also there are other options than that type of hand cycle....

Lum

Actually there aren't any other options. While I don't consider myself disabled, my back is in a pretty bad state and that Quickie one was the only one I'll have any hope of lifting. Same reason why she uses the Quickie Helium when we travel together. I can't lift her Kuschall Champion that she uses when travelling alone.

The problem is now I've just realised how much those nicer cars are going to take out of my salary. Since she earns significantly more than me even before DLA, it kinda stings.

Chorlie

http://www.motability.co.uk/cars-and-wavs/search/

Do a search for each model of car you're looking at on here and select More Details, it has a lot of details about each car and so at the end list Accessibility Details which gives you boot size, height off the ground etc.

Chorlie

Lum wrote: »

Actually there aren't any other options. While I don't consider myself disabled, my back is in a pretty bad state and that Quickie one was the only one I'll have any hope of lifting. Same reason why she uses the Quickie Helium when we travel together. I can't lift her Kuschall Champion that she uses when travelling alone.

The problem is now I've just realised how much those nicer cars are going to take out of my salary. Since she earns significantly more than me even before DLA, it kinda stings.

I now use a Ti-Lite which is fully Titanium and is a lot light than the Kuschall to lift in and out of my car, I now have to take it apart and lift it over my body onto the passage seat rather than put it into the boot since my condition has got worst.


Also - Have a look at these guys for the Hand Cycle http://www.teamhybrid.co.uk/