Searching for the perfect car
Monday, March 8th, 2010
Mobilise member Sally Hyder had despaired of ever finding a suitable vehicle to transport her large family and all their kit. She tells us about her quest to find the perfect Motability car for her and her tribe.
“I need a car that will carry me, my electric wheelchair, three children (one of whom is disabled), my husband, an au pair, an assistance dog, a trumpet, a harp and hockey kit!” This was the opening gambit that began my conversations with car dealers during my quest for that perfect car – and often that was the end of that! The responses varied enormously, from “Motability cars should not be used as family vehicles” to a comical “Not all at once… unless you want to buy a lorry?”
I have been driving for over 20 years, using hand controls for the last eight. I have Multiple Sclerosis and my last car, an elderly Ford Galaxy, was in need of retirement. I was struggling with the push/pull hand controls and the weight of the car, and knew it was time for a change.
I began my quest armed with a lot of optimism but little knowledge. At that point I had no idea how the Motability scheme worked, and had not a clue as to which adaptations might be appropriate.
Doing the research
My first port of call was Mobilise. I signed up for membership and, by reading the magazines from cover to cover, I began to get a feel for what sort of options there were out there.
I was quick to realise that living in Scotland complicated matters. Actually getting to see or try out different adaptations was extremely difficult. I could attend my local driving assessment centre (which had a three month waiting list!) to see basic hand controls, but when I wanted to have a look at an accelerator ring I was told that “the car with that on comes in March and September”! For a while I thought I would have to buy untried and cross my fingers!
I was able to “test passenger” (rather than test drive) lots of cars, but I just couldn’t find the right one: it was a bit like Goldilocks and the Three Bears! They were either too high, too low, or the seats were too hard, too soft – but nothing was ‘just right’.
The perfect fit?
However, our Eureka moment came when we least expected it! We had hired a car on a day out and were given a Citroen C4. I loved the bucket seats, I stayed in one place when going round corners, and my husband said it drove really well.
The next day I contacted Citroen Edinburgh and met the Motability specialist Keith. We quickly worked out that, because of the shape of the boot door the only model suitable for taking my wheelchair was the Picasso Grand people carrier. I had lots of questions about the Motability scheme, which Keith was able to answer; it was only at this point that I realised that the down payment that you have to make on the more expensive cars on the Motability scheme was not a deposit and that sadly we wouldn’t be getting it back!
The next day I went for a test drive as a passenger. Keith brought the car to me and we went out. During the drive I really made him put the car through its paces. I was particularly suspicious of the Electronic Parking Brake. This is situated on the dashboard. The Picasso is a sequential automatic, which means that (for example) when doing a hill start you need to use the brake, the car will not creep forward slowly as in a full automatic. I asked Keith to do a number of hill starts for me, I operated the brake and found the built-in three second delay before movement more than adequate to take control of the car.
The larger windscreen gave excellent visibility and I discovered cruise control – definitely a plus for those of us on hand controls! I still thought the ring accelerator was the way forward but was a bit stunned at the prices. However, Keith put me in touch with Paul from PL Mobility Solutions. He came round the next day to demonstrate the hoist and discuss adaptations. He said that the accelerator ring was a completely different driving experience and suggested using a left foot accelerator pedal. I wasn’t convinced but he put me in touch with a driving school, Drive me Bananas, who had a car fitted with the same adaptations.
Which one’s the brake?!?
They duly turned up and took me on a lesson. After a few gentle stops and starts I started to drive using this and loved the experience. It was so much more relaxing. However, there was one problem which my driving instructor had anticipated! He made me reverse my car into the drive. Fortunately he had his foot on his brake! Apparently lots of people who learn to drive before moving on to hand controls are “hard wired” in our brains so that when reversing we tend to stamp on the accelerator rather than the brake! Therefore, foot pedal and hand controls were ordered so I can mix and match.
I am now waiting for my car. Paul has been round already to put the lifting bar onto my wheelchair, which is very neat and small. The only part of the process I found really difficult was going to the non-accessible Job Centre Plus to get the CP50 form and sign it. Until I have my Motability car I wouldn’t be able to get there independently – but of course, I can’t get my Motability car until the form is signed! My family and I are all really excited about the new car, and I’ll be updating you in a future issue of Mobilise to let you know how we all get on – or, more to the point, whether we can all get in!
Further information
Drive Me Bananas
0131 660 2587
121 Waverley Crescent
Bonnyrigg
Midlothian
EH19 3BW
Drive Me Bananas offer lessons in the Edinburgh, Midlothian and East Lothian areas. They have an adapted automatic vehicle with hand controls, steering wheel knob, power steering / cruise control & a left-foot accelerator.
Motability
0845 456 4566 / 0845 675 0009 (Minicom)
This article first appeared in the June 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