Member Review – Vaneo About Town
Monday, February 8th, 2010
Mobilise member Jill Brown relished the freedom that having her own vehicle gave her – but after nine years in her trusty Ford Courier it was time for a change. After test-driving several other vehicles she discovered the Mercedes Vaneo WAV; and it was love at first sight!
I have a Complex Myopathy and Osteoporosis and because of my disability am not allowed to drive. I wear a firm neck collar, various other supportive splints and can only walk short distances using a rollator. However I have a wonderful team of friends who drive me and my assistance dog Yates when we need to go further than I can travel in my Pride Jazzy electric wheelchair. I thoroughly enjoy the freedom that having my own vehicle provides. As well as attending hospital appointments etc Yates and I regularly travel to concerts as well as enjoying days out at the beach and other places of interest. Last year we had two holidays in Cornwall which added a good few miles to our total, although my average annual mileage has only been about 3000 miles.
For the past nine years my Ford Courier had served me well, but I was finding it difficult to stand up from the passenger seat of the car, and as it was a three-door model loading and unloading was awkward. I decided that the time had come for a change of vehicle, and this time it had to be a WAV!
Finding the perfect match
My first step was to look at the advertisements for WAVs in Mobilise and arrange demonstrations of the models which sounded suitable. My friends were so patient and took me on lots of test drives, but it took a while to find something suitable for my needs. Some vehicles lacked headroom; I am 5ft 7 ½ ” tall and my Jazzy chair with its shock absorbers adds more height. Another wasn’t suitable as the fixation points for the chair weren’t accessible. Although I often sit in the front passenger seat at the moment, I wanted to prepare for the future when I may not be able to transfer so easily. In several models I felt very carsick, as I couldn’t see out properly. In fact visibility from all the vehicles I tried was very poor compared to my old Ford Courier with its raised roof. I queried this factor with all the manufacturers but was told people nowadays don’t like the look of “Popemobiles” – I disagree!
Finally I decided to contact Brotherwood Automobility Ltd in Dorset. My adviser there suggested that I try the Mercedes Vaneo and arranged a home demonstration for me and a couple of the friends who regularly drive my vehicle. From that first test-drive we were very impressed with the Vaneo and a second trial confirmed my decision. When seated in my wheelchair I was able to drive up the rear ramp and forward so that I was seated almost between passengers on the two perch seats. This made me feel part of the company, rather than isolated in the rear of the car as with some WAVs. Fixation is simple with front and rear wheel restraints holding the chair, and a comfortable seat belt holding me securely. The headroom was sufficient; I would certainly recommend this vehicle to anyone who is tall.
Flexible and spacious
Sometimes I sit next to my driver and the front seat, with its own airbag, is comfortable and fully adjustable. The car is higher up from the ground than my old Ford, so entering and alighting the car is much easier for me – but perhaps a shorter person wouldn’t appreciate this feature!
This is a five-door model with side sliding doors which make it easy for extra passengers and Yates to get in and out, or to load shopping etc. The rear tailgate, which lifts to allow access, is a joy to open as it is spring-loaded so very light.
The car can accommodate five passengers, including one wheelchair user, and still has some space for holiday luggage – we will test that properly during our summer holidays! With the wheelchair in the forward position, there is space for luggage behind it, but it can also be secured at the back of the vehicle, if you prefer, which allows a good space between the perch seats. Yates has his bed there and has room to lie down comfortably (he is a Labrador Retriever, so quite a big dog!) The vanity box in front of the passenger seat is spacious and there is room for maps etc under the front seats, with additional storage compartments over the wheel arches. This model does not come with a spare wheel, and the dealer advised to always carry a can of “Protec” which may be injected into the tyre if a puncture occurs – this would enable you to get to the next garage.
On the road
Mechanically the automatic gearbox seems fine though at first we all thought it was slow to change gear – apparently this is common with Mercedes vehicles and we are now used to it. Mine is a diesel model, which is new to me, but it seems to do a fair mpg. I haven’t had a good chance to test the mileage on a long journey yet, but results so far indicate that fuel consumption is very reasonable.
My car is the basic 1.7 litre model but others are available. The car can be driven manually with a very small movement of the drive selector – this could be a disadvantage for anyone not familiar to the model, so I tell all my new drivers about this. I had reversing sensors fitted before I took delivery and although at first we found the warning “bleeps” rather annoying as the sensors are extremely sensitive, they do make parking that little bit easier.
Further information
Mercedes no longer produce the Vaneo but spares are guaranteed for ten years, and second-hand models, like mine, are widely available. At the time of writing, Parkers Used Car Price Guide estimates that you should be able to pick up a second-hand 1.7 Vaneo Trend (2005 model) for around £4,500 – £5,500 (not adapted) and Brotherwood Automobility had several adapted Vaneos available from between £17,900 to £18,700.
Vehicle dimensions:
MERCEDES VANEO TREND CDI 05
Length:420.0cm
Height:183.0cm
Width:174.2cm
Height at tailgate entry: 137cm
Wheelbase: 29.0cm
Miles done since purchase: 1,142 miles
This article first appeared in the July 2009 issue of Mobilise magazine, which goes out to all our members and includes reviews of adapted cars and mobility equipment, features on accessible travel and leisure, campaign updates, news, competitions and real-life stories.
Membership of our charity costs just £16 per year and includes your monthly subscription to Mobilise.
Tags: adaptations, car review
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