Hi I hope you’re all keeping as well as you can
Having recently been discharged from hospital I now find that my mobility is greatly reduced .
Has anyone got a recommendation for a lightweight mobility scooter that I can take in my car? ( a Fiesta )
Many Thanks
Brian
Hi Brian, Pete has a Drive mobility scooter which folds down at the press of a button and fits into the boot of our car. It’s not particularly lightweight though. Try a mobility shop near to where you live if possible and see what they offer.
I hope you can find something as Pete wouldn’t be without his. He can’t walk very far so it’s invaluable. Xx
I recently bought a Drive mobility scooter. It comes apart before putting in the car boot. The salesman said automatic folding models are very heavy.
If you have someone to help you then either choose a boot scooter which breaks down into 5 pieces. It is quite heavy though. I had a Pride Elite Go Go which was small but robust and sturdy.
Otherwise a folding one such as sassy said. Again they can be heavy unless you can afford an expensive one. Mine now folds up into one but like I said it is heavy.
Also fold up ones aren't usually as sturdy as bigger ones.
I would definitely get a 4 wheel one as I don't think the 3 wheel ones are too safe.
My advice is to do what I did ie look online. You will find loads on Amazon.
Also look up scooter shops near you too as you can try them out there. I don't have a car so was quite limited in what I bought.
Good luck and happy trundling.
Thanks Hypercat some good advice
I am going to a mobility shop and try them out
It seems like the ones with lithium batteries are the lightest so ima looking at them
Kind regards
Brian
My mum had a fold up one to go in the boot but it was heavy.best is as hypercat+ sassy suggest,mobility shops r very helpful
Thanks Pat
I’m looking at ones that split into 5 parts so each component is not that heavy to lift
Regards
Brian
Hi, can't help you as I don;t have a mobility scooter. How I manage is I use my car to go wherever I am going, normally garden centers and use a walking stick to get round.
I see lots of people on mobility scooters and they seem very popular.
Hope you get one that you will like.
I cant help at all, just wanted to say that I believe if you buy anew one they're VAT free (at least that was always the case so I hope they haven't stopped that). Good luck. P
Dear Brikel,
There are Dozens of Mobility Scooters ALL 'Claiming' to be "Light Weight, Durable And Car Friendly"..... Basically it's a 'Nightmare' out there. All that said 'Shoprider', from Shop Mobility along with the 'Quingo' Range (I forget who makes these) Seem both Durable and reasonably Priced. Look Up 'Shop Mobility' on Google, in the First instance.... a Good Reliable and 'Established' Company.
Maybe Try Amazon Market Place, or eBay, though DO Be Careful there.
Sorry that I can't be more help, my friend.
AndrewT
Last year when I was looking for one, CareCo had a very lightweight one that came apart to go in the boot. However, they couldn't deliver one in time for our holiday so I went on Marketplace and found a Kymco mini (2016 model but hardly used).
It is sturdy, but this adds to the weight. It has a range of 26k so has the large lithium battery which is still heavy.
The scooter breaks into 5 parts to go into the boot. The largest part needs two of us to lift it in safely (ie no back strains). The seat is the most awkward bit to lift in.
I find the scooter very comfortable, although being an old model, it has no suspension. The newer ones do.
It can take weight up to 20st.
It has the 'delta' steering which means you can control it from either side which is useful if one arm or hand is temporarily out of action through e.g. arthritis or injury.
I feel very safe on mine.
My neighbour has a folding one as she is short on storage space. She doesn't use it as she can't raise it up herself and needs help.
Another friend has a suitcase style one which she can lift into the car but said it was OK for holiday use but 'a bit rickety' for general use, so she advised against getting one.
Although I would like a lighter one, I feel very secure on mine and not top heavy. I weigh 12 stone.
Some scooters are designed to go into shops with. Others are wider.
I hope some of my experience may help you to know what questions to ask before you buy. I was a total ignoramus until I bought my own. Fortunately, I struck lucky.
It has given me back a lot of independence and I would be lost without it.
Just make sure that you can put it in the back of your car before you pay for it!
I know that places will let you do that so ask if they forget to offer.
Good luck! Let us know what you get, won't you?
Xx Moy
Hello Moy
Thank you for a very informative post. Some very interesting points.
I’m going to Careco later today to try one
I’ll let you know the outcome
Regards
Brian
this is all sound advice. I am considering ability scooter but I can get around with a walker at present. We live on the top of the hill so anyone caught with a gradient gentleman next door to me bought one off a man who demonstrated it, and he’s okay and he’s never had it out of the box because he’s frightened of falling off it.
in my limited experience people have bought secondhand scooters had problems. People have offered me ones for £50. I don’t want to do that, because I want a reliable model if I’m going to spend serious money on a scooter.
I have a folding power chair which weighs 20k it’s a lightweight and I gave up trying to lift it into the boot of a hatchback. I also have a vertex sport from CareCo which takes apart very quickly and the heaviest part is about 15k, my favourite is a class 3 which also takes apart but you would need to be very fit and strong to lift the individual parts into a car. In the end I purchased a wheelchair adapted vehicle with a drop down ramp which is big enough to take the class 3. Shop around as some are very expensive see if you have a CareCo shop near you so you can have a look at some. I have been to a couple of shops selling new and second hand, one was very good the other tried to sell us a rather old 3 wheeler that they obviously hadn’t been able to shift, so beware. Another point, if you have an estate car it’s possible to manoeuvre a small scooter into the back with out taking it apart or lifting it in one go. I used to lift the front end and rest it on the car and then pick up the back and slid it in. I have used a set of folding ramps to get the class 3 in a people carrier. There is the option of having a hoist fitted in the car, a colleague has just got a new mobility car which has a hoist fitted. Best thing I ever did getting a scooter means I can go out without struggling
Something else you might consider is having a winch fitted in your car. I don't know what it costs but have seen a few people near me using them to lift scooters into seemingly quite small cars. Xx Moy
Hi, I use an electric hoist to load/unload mine into my Honda Jazz. Have previously used ramps but can't speak highly enough about the hoist. They seem expensive but the improvement in quality of life is worth it.
You would probably need advice to pair a scooter and hoist. I use a Rascal Vista in my Jazz. I have the rear seats permanently flat to accommodate the scooter. The scooter goes into the boot fully assembled except for the seat, which is removed and placed on the footwell of the scooter.
Takes a couple of minutes to load or unload.
Highly recommended solution.
This is the link to the company that make the hoist that I use in my Honda Jazz. It was a game changer for me. autochair.co.uk/products/sc...
Thank you
it’s something to bear in mind for the future .
At present I’m able to lift something so the ones that come apart seem to be the way to go.
Regards
Brian
In that case the Rascal Vista worth considering. Mine has two batteries which gives great range. Both are easily removed with one hand.
The power drive unit is detached with one hand. Breaks into 5 pieces. Heaviest bit, I think, is 25kg.
Good morning Brian. When you are at the Mobility shop tomorrow ask about an hoist that can be fitted to your car to lift your scooter up into the boot. I know it will be extra cost. Failing that you can pick up a 2nd hand bargain on Facebook Marketplace. My friend got his scooter off there and it had just had new battery fitted so it came with the receipt. Good luck with your search. Brian
Hope you find your ideal scooter. Lots of advice has been given. X
it certainly has
SO A BIG THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO HAS REPLIED
Kind Regards
Brian
I have a Livewell folding scooter. Folds with remote. It’sa third of the price of the luggies. I’ve had several and this is the best. I take it everywhere in my families boots.
I have a mobility scooter yhat i use round the house for the samereason as you. Unfortunately its not a fold away one My mum got a wheelchair that is fold away that i take to medical appointments. I don't go anywhere else because getting in the car is very exhaustinng similarly so is getting out & into the wheelchair & need a long rest before i do anything else. So effectively im in personal lockdowm
There are many folding scoloters of variuous sizes and weights. I would suggest you buy as large as you can afford and manag. And do go for either suspension or poneumatic tyres! However they are never as light or easy to handle as they suggest. I hade on of these fitted to my car. They are usually called car boot hoist.
Hi , I have 3 scooters at the moment, be very careful before you buy,they vary in all sorts of ways, visit a reputable shop/ store and take look, don't buy straight away you will probably get a better deal online, prices vary horrendously.Auto folding are great but as has been said NOT particularly light.
The 5 piece pull apart are ok but some bits ( battery and back wheels ) are still quite heavy unless you get the smallest version
Good luck in your search.
Thanks for your reply
I’ve.just been to Care Co and the choice was limited and expensive for what I wanted Lithium batteries and aluminium frame so I’m looking elsewhere
Regards
Brian
Do check out Marketplace on Facebook as there are usually lots to choose from on there and you may find one locally.
I met a guy yesterday who is selling his almost new scooter as he decided it was too slow for him! He's now bought a road scooter. Just saying this as it shows that people sometimes sell almost new ones as they bought in haste then found the one they bought didn't suit them. Their mistake may be your bargain!
You will have already found a lot out at CareCo, I expect, so you can use that knowlege to shop around. xx Moy
hi . I’ve got a Pride Apex. There’s no way I could lift it into my car even if I took it to pieces. I’ve got spinal fractures so I wouldnt even think about it. I just use mine locally. My Husband had a little one that I used to put in the back of the car but it was very heavy. You can hire scooters in most places you go. I remember my husband hired one for an afternoon. I don’t know how much it cost though. I’ve heard some charge £10 and others have said£30. Perhaps do a bit of digging to find out.
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