First time to ride into WAV with wheelchair

[MMG]

Hi Lynne K , seeing as you have mentioned measurements...
I am having to look at roof heights etc. very carefully as I am 6ft tall.
I assume the Invacare TDX seems to be the standard issue motorised chair for most, and I was measured up for one at the weekend.
May I ask what make/model of vehicle your WAV is please? (as I will probably have to eliminate it from the list of WAVs I am looking at).
Hope you get used to your new ride, and settle in to enjoying it.
Cheers M'Dear.

If it helps, we have bought an "up front" WAV so that my husband can still sit in the front with me. We thought this was important to maintain a bit of normality.

The car (well van really) is a Fiat Doblo. Not at all sexy, no bells and whistles but does what we need it to do whilst still having three rear seats available and a usable boot for the dogs. The floor is lowered so my husband can drive in and out on his powered chair with plenty of headroom. He is 5ft 11 so quite tall. Access is via a ramp through the front passenger door.

We bought a used vehicle as couldn't wait the 12 months required for a new one on mobility. There is a large resale market (who knew????) so plenty of options ( and price ranges) to look at. The dealership we went to had 250 vehicles on display, all WAV's of various configurations and makes and models- so shop around.

We initially considered a through the rear door up front model but decided against it as it made the rest of the vehicle effectively unusable.

[Stubot]

Lynne K - I was looking for VW Caravelle / Ford Tourneo Custom size or bigger to make sure I had enough room for the family. Motability didn’t work for those - the initial payment was huge, as richard points out. Figured I’d be better off buying new or used myself with a loan if needed. Not convinced that Motability offers good value for money.

WheelsOfSteel is quite right about delays on new vehicles due to the chip shortage. I was being quoted an 8 month lead time on some! Some of the coachbuilders were ordering stock in and converting up front. Downside you don’t get exactly what you want. Upside you have transport.

I was looking at Jubilee and Brotherwood for new and used, and Paddock Automotive for used only. All will demo vehicles at your home before you choose to commit, which meant we could make sure it definitely worked for the boss. In the end I got a Mercedes V-Class from Brotherwood, because they had one in stock for quick delivery at the time, and I managed to get it. It is brilliant (and huge!), but not cheap! It’s easy to get in and out of, it should hold its value, and the ride quality is everything you’d expect from a Merc.

[Lynne K]

Hi WheelsOfSteel My wife has an Invacare TDX SP2. It’s a beefy machine - weighs 180kg I think, and my wife is quite tall when sitting in it. I was going to get a WAV before she got the chair, but was so glad I waited until afterwards. There was no way of second guessing her height when sitting in the chair and therefore headroom needed to get in and out, and the various WAV sales people were very helpful when I
Spoke with them.

In the end we narrowed it down to WAVs with a fully lowered floor and rear ramp access - maximises headroom, keeps centre of gravity low (much more comfortable ride), and means my wife can still see out of the windows once she’s in

What WAV did you get and was it from Motability or did you buy it yourself? I’m very disappointed with the ride that I had and not being able to see out of the windows. The floor was lowered but not the right car I think xx

[WheelsOfSteel]

WheelsOfSteel Which WAV did you get?

Hi richard I have not got a WAV yet. When I speak to the folks who do the conversions they say they are having trouble getting new vehicles. Supply issues caused by the global semiconductor shortage (and Covid).
Not really a problem yet as I can still manage to wrestle a lightweight scooter into the back of my normal car.
Looks like I will have my TDX chair long before I have a car that will enable us to take it anywhere

[richard]

I also have the Invacare TDX SP2. I have a drive from wheelchair WAV. It’s a VW Caddy which I bought secondhand. Motabilty wanted a £20,000 up front payment and my PIP for five years. A total cost of just under £60,000!!! And at the end of five years it goes back and you start again. Appalling. My Caddy cost me £16,250, it was just under three years old and had just over 2000 miles on the clock.

I’m six feet tall and driving from the wheelchair is not the best thing, after an hour I have a numb bum. The parcel shelf above the steering had to be cut out.

Richard

[richard]

WheelsOfSteel Which WAV did you get?

[Stubot]

Hi Lynne K , seeing as you have mentioned measurements...
I am having to look at roof heights etc. very carefully as I am 6ft tall.
I assume the Invacare TDX seems to be the standard issue motorised chair for most, and I was measured up for one at the weekend.
May I ask what make/model of vehicle your WAV is please? (as I will probably have to eliminate it from the list of WAVs I am looking at).
Hope you get used to your new ride, and settle in to enjoying it.
Cheers M'Dear.

Hi WheelsOfSteel My wife has an Invacare TDX SP2. It’s a beefy machine - weighs 180kg I think, and my wife is quite tall when sitting in it. I was going to get a WAV before she got the chair, but was so glad I waited until afterwards. There was no way of second guessing her height when sitting in the chair and therefore headroom needed to get in and out, and the various WAV sales people were very helpful when I
Spoke with them.

In the end we narrowed it down to WAVs with a fully lowered floor and rear ramp access - maximises headroom, keeps centre of gravity low (much more comfortable ride), and means my wife can still see out of the windows once she’s in

[Bowler]

Backing out was easy. Travelling wasn’t nice, knocked all over. Sitting still boring as hardly could see anything xx

Lynne. We found the same on our first outing. The wheelchair service provided some great side and head supports that eliminated the movement. Worth talking with OT

[WheelsOfSteel]

Thanks Lynne K , that is interesting because I still had the Berlingo on my short list.
The "Door entry height" is reported on the motability site as something I should be able to fit through (my wheelchair assessor measured me in the chair).
Oh well - just have to get the chair and try it in a few demonstrators.
Thanks for responding.

[Deb]

Hi Lynne K , seeing as you have mentioned measurements...
I am having to look at roof heights etc. very carefully as I am 6ft tall.
I assume the Invacare TDX seems to be the standard issue motorised chair for most, and I was measured up for one at the weekend.
May I ask what make/model of vehicle your WAV is please? (as I will probably have to eliminate it from the list of WAVs I am looking at).
Hope you get used to your new ride, and settle in to enjoying it.
Cheers M'Dear.

Hi WheelsOfSteel . I am 5 11 and use a mini salsa powerchair. Our WAV is a Peugeot Rifter Horizon. It is really comfortable and my head is a way from the roof, but my view out is really restricted. We did have the option of having the floor lowered or seats taken but it was eye wateringly expensive.

Good Luck,
Love Debbie x

[Lynne K]

Backing out was easy. Travelling wasn’t nice, knocked all over. Sitting still boring as hardly could see anything xx

[Lynne K]

Hi Lynne K , seeing as you have mentioned measurements...
I am having to look at roof heights etc. very carefully as I am 6ft tall.
I assume the Invacare TDX seems to be the standard issue motorised chair for most, and I was measured up for one at the weekend.
May I ask what make/model of vehicle your WAV is please? (as I will probably have to eliminate it from the list of WAVs I am looking at).
Hope you get used to your new ride, and settle in to enjoying it.
Cheers M'Dear.

Citroën Berlingo. My wheelchair is an Invacare Spectra XTR2 Xx

[WheelsOfSteel]

Hi Lynne K , seeing as you have mentioned measurements...
I am having to look at roof heights etc. very carefully as I am 6ft tall.
I assume the Invacare TDX seems to be the standard issue motorised chair for most, and I was measured up for one at the weekend.
May I ask what make/model of vehicle your WAV is please? (as I will probably have to eliminate it from the list of WAVs I am looking at).
Hope you get used to your new ride, and settle in to enjoying it.
Cheers M'Dear.

[Lynne K]

Thanks everyone. We’ve stopped at one of our BBC usual places overlooking a reservoir. Put the seatbelt on another way as it was across my diaphragm, and now where it ought be across my waist.

The drive here was like being in a washing machine at times and I don’t feel as comfy as I’d hoped before but getting comfy with my back is always a challenge.

My hair is brushing the roof and I’m only 5’5 so anybody taller with the same wheelchair wouldn’t fit.

It’s a bit claustrophobic in the back here. xx

[Ellie]

Lynne K Hope all went well on your first drive 🤞🤞

As Debbie says, it gets easier with practice xx