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Motability Car.

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  • My son doesn't understand anything about choosing a suitable car, so I make the initial enquiries and choices. I take his wheelchair with me to see how easy it is to put into the boot, and how much room there is once it is in - I take my son with me for this part, as I need to see how well he can get into and out of the car, as he cannot manage lower seats.

    Once I have had a test drive and checked comfort and safety for my son (windows that can be locked by the driver, for example), I then make the decision. Like many people with a learning disability, he cannot make these decisions himself.

    So far, he has had two Nissan Notes - great cars, although they were the older design. I don't know how good the new design is. The next car was a Qashqai (both my boys much bigger and now young men - the Qashqai was bigger and roomier). It was a disaster from the start, with numerous things going wrong with it. After two years, the timer belt snapped and it needed a new engine (not something that I did, or could have prevented). Motability let me end the contract early. Now we have a Skoda Yeti, which is great.

    One thing that is important to me is how easy it is to get to the dealership. If there is a problem with the car, then I don't really want to go somewhere several miles away. There isn't a Skoda dealership in our town, so we have gone to the next town. I wouldn't travel any further.

    Also, think about courtesy cars when the mobility car is in for servicing. Nissan only ever gave a Micra, which isn't really suitable for carrying a wheelchair, but they always arranged services/repairs for first thing in the morning, once I had dropped my son off at school. In every case (except the final time the Qashqai went in), I had the mobility car beck before the end pof the school day. Skoda will collect the Yeti and leave me with a car that is suitable to carry a wheelchair (although it is likely to be lower, so my son will need more help getting into and out of the car - but it's only for a day). I'm hoping to arrange any services for during the school day.
  • WantToBeSE
    WantToBeSE Posts: 7,729 Forumite
    I've been Money Tipped! Debt-free and Proud!
    poppy12345 wrote: »
    I actually watched a few youtube videos about the different cars i chose before i test drove any. The reviews are great. There are many cars out there with 0 advanced payment. Depending on what level spec you want a lot also have this payment.

    Thanks Poppy :) I've found a lot of car review videos on YOutube Hadn't thought of looking there! I love seeing cars on video, much easier to get a feel for it before actually seeing it in real life.
    oldhand wrote: »
    Do make a point of taking all cars you see for a decent drive which should show up things like how hard/soft the suspension is,how wide the doors open and just how much room is left in the back after you put in any mobility aids etc in case you go on a longish trip and need to pack suitcases.
    My wife checks my postings for me these days and just reminded me there was a post quite some time back on here from someone who got a BMW 1 series and was on here only several weeks later complaining they could not live with it due to low seating position and hard suspension and wanting to know if they could change it,so please choose wisely and best of luck...

    Thanks oldhand. Low seats are no good for us, so i am thinking about looking at SUVs instead.
    cte1111 wrote: »
    Just a thought, as tight on road parking is an issue, make sure that the car you choose comes with parking sensors. I think many Motability suitable models do but not all, and it makes a massive difference to being able to park without too much stress. Good luck, I hope you find a nice car that suits your son.

    Thanks cte1111 :) Yes i think thats a good idea about the parking sensors!

    So, i am now thinking about this one:

    The Renault Kadjar http://www.motability.co.uk/cars-scooters-and-powerchairs/search/renault-kadjar-dynamique-nav-729607
  • WantToBeSE
    WantToBeSE Posts: 7,729 Forumite
    I've been Money Tipped! Debt-free and Proud!
    My son doesn't understand anything about choosing a suitable car, so I make the initial enquiries and choices. I take his wheelchair with me to see how easy it is to put into the boot, and how much room there is once it is in - I take my son with me for this part, as I need to see how well he can get into and out of the car, as he cannot manage lower seats.

    Once I have had a test drive and checked comfort and safety for my son (windows that can be locked by the driver, for example), I then make the decision. Like many people with a learning disability, he cannot make these decisions himself.

    So far, he has had two Nissan Notes - great cars, although they were the older design. I don't know how good the new design is. The next car was a Qashqai (both my boys much bigger and now young men - the Qashqai was bigger and roomier). It was a disaster from the start, with numerous things going wrong with it. After two years, the timer belt snapped and it needed a new engine (not something that I did, or could have prevented). Motability let me end the contract early. Now we have a Skoda Yeti, which is great.

    One thing that is important to me is how easy it is to get to the dealership. If there is a problem with the car, then I don't really want to go somewhere several miles away. There isn't a Skoda dealership in our town, so we have gone to the next town. I wouldn't travel any further.

    Also, think about courtesy cars when the mobility car is in for servicing. Nissan only ever gave a Micra, which isn't really suitable for carrying a wheelchair, but they always arranged services/repairs for first thing in the morning, once I had dropped my son off at school. In every case (except the final time the Qashqai went in), I had the mobility car beck before the end pof the school day. Skoda will collect the Yeti and leave me with a car that is suitable to carry a wheelchair (although it is likely to be lower, so my son will need more help getting into and out of the car - but it's only for a day). I'm hoping to arrange any services for during the school day.

    Unfortunately we live about 45 mins away from any dealership, so there will always be some waiting around. I'd rather there wasnt!

    I love the QashQai but i dont think thats suitable for us. I did look at the Juke but it seems too small for us.
  • poppy12345
    poppy12345 Posts: 18,880 Forumite
    Tenth Anniversary 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    WantToBeSE wrote: »
    Unfortunately we live about 45 mins away from any dealership, so there will always be some waiting around. I'd rather there wasnt!

    I love the QashQai but i dont think thats suitable for us. I did look at the Juke but it seems too small for us.
    The Juke is bigger than the cars you mentioned in a previous post. I looked at these but didn't like the shape or the hidden door handles on the rear doors. The boot is quite big. I chose a Suzuki Vitara auto in the end. Love this car, the high lvl, the drive, the boot space is very large. Fuel economy isn't too bad either for a 1.6. It has everything i need including rear camera, sat nav, cruise control. It's very quiet, extremely easy to drive and park.
  • WantToBeSE
    WantToBeSE Posts: 7,729 Forumite
    I've been Money Tipped! Debt-free and Proud!
    Poppy, i was looking at the Suzuki Vitaro, but it looked quite wide in the photos. Maybe I'll add it my list of test drives.

    What model did you go for?
  • poppy12345
    poppy12345 Posts: 18,880 Forumite
    Tenth Anniversary 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    WantToBeSE wrote: »
    Poppy, i was looking at the Suzuki Vitaro, but it looked quite wide in the photos. Maybe I'll add it my list of test drives.

    What model did you go for?
    The SZ T model. It's very easy to park and the visability is great because of the ride height.
  • teddysmum
    teddysmum Posts: 9,521 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    WantToBeSE wrote: »


    Thanks oldhand. Low seats are no good for us, so i am thinking about looking at SUVs instead.



    [URL="http://"][/URL]


    Even some of those are difficult. I'm 5ft 2ins and not disabled, though I have a number of herniated spinal discs, have little arm strength and find getting into our Range Rover P38 very difficult, even with the suspension lowered. It's high up and there are no easy places to grab and pull, so my husband has to haul me in from the driver's seat (not very elegant).
  • poppy12345
    poppy12345 Posts: 18,880 Forumite
    Tenth Anniversary 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    edited 23 January 2017 at 8:38PM
    teddysmum wrote: »
    Even some of those are difficult. I'm 5ft 2ins and not disabled, though I have a number of herniated spinal discs, have little arm strength and find getting into our Range Rover P38 very difficult, even with the suspension lowered. It's high up and there are no easy places to grab and pull, so my husband has to haul me in from the driver's seat (not very elegant).
    The P38 is extremely high though and most SUV's aren't as high as that. Mine certainly isn't.
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