WAV

[eurolynch]

I am looking for advice on wheelchair accessible vehicles. If anybody has an experience with upfront or in back?

[kenh1]

We decided against buying a wheelchair accessible vehicle and opted to use wheelchair taxis. This worked very well for us. The driver helped us to load the wheelchair. No parking problems, no requirement for a blue badge and not left with a disability vehicle we no longer needed at the end.

[eurolynch in reply to kenh1]

Thank you. Food for thought x

[NannaB in reply to eurolynch]

Are you in the U.K. We had our WAV via the DLA. I paid £1200 for a five year loan and got £500 when handing it back as we only had it for 3 years. Tax and insurance was paid. Only disadvantage was I lost my no claims bonus as they paid the insurance for more than two years.

XxxX

[Willow_rob]

Buying a WAV was the best decision we made in our care planning because it enables me to get Mary out and about on my own at any time. She was virtually house bound before. There are many second hand with low mileage. Make sure your wheelchair is of a type which has been crash tested. Ours is a Citroen Berlingo. You can get them Road Tax exempt but it will be more difficult to resell when the time comes.

[eurolynch in reply to Willow_rob]

My quandary is whether to go for an upfront wheelchair seat or in back. Seems most have in back.

[NannaB in reply to Willow_rob]

I had a Belingo WAV and now no longer required have an ordinary one. My son has the first one I owned, still going strong with no problems after 19 years.

[NannaB]

I chose a rear seat option. When I got the car, Colin could still weight bare and walk short distances so he sat up front with me. We took the wheelchair which he needed when necessary. The main reason I chose a rear seat was because we have a steep drive. It was too steep to push a wheelchair up but I could reverse the car, open the door and the ramp meant the wheelchair could be brought out on the level. I went to a garage that specialised in adapting cars and asked them what they could suggest and the man said he would bring an adapted car to our house and see what worked. He did 2 days later and we had a dummy run which worked perfectly. Once Colin was totally immobile he sat in the rear but with a seat next to him so if we went out with others, he had someone to sit with and the seat in the front meant I could go out with friends if I had a sitter. Think about your situation and who will be using the car and go and look at some, try them out.

Good luck.

XxxX

[Javan]

We bought a used upfront car. The old bag is not isolated and I can see and talk to her easily. It has been the best fit for her.

[AliBee1]

Hi. We had a Peugeot Teepee which was adapted so known as a Peugeot Horizon. It had a drop down ramp at the back and electronic pulley system to pull the wheelchair up the ramp, which I think is essential. Some of the back seat chairs could be removed so Nigel was sitting just to the side of me behind me and could see where we were going. If you are in the UK there is a company called Allled Mobility in Scotland. They have reps throughout the country and offer a free trial and advice service. One of my friends used them on my advice and as her husband need a tilt wheelchair and has very long legs the front passenger seat was removed too so they could accommodate him and his chair and she is thrilled with it. They also have a lease system if you do not want to buy.Good luck. AliBeex

[eurolynch]

Thank you. Have ordered a Peugeot Rifter. This will make life easier x