Looking for some help on a choice of car for my 81 year old mum, who's recently left hospital with a knackered left leg and severely decreased mobility.
She's now going to need a small automatic, five door car with enough space for a fold-up wheelchair if she eventually needs one. Her current car is a 02 1.0l five door Yaris with 60k on the clock, and she'd like something similar about two years old of a similar size. Ease of getting in and out would be preferable.
Any ideas of a) options for a car, and b) a very ballpark figure on what I could expect in PX for the Yaris?
Thanks in advance!
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Mazdaboy,
It could be worth getting an Occupational Therapist to assess your mum for seat height and position before choosing a car. It tends to be an under 65s service though in some areas.
ageist - hope things have moved on.
Regards
Edited by oilrag on 21/11/2008 at 13:43
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This site may help: www.ricability.org.uk/index.htm they have a car and a mobility section worth looking at, will certainly tell you if you can get a wheelchair in the boot.
Edited by mrsarcasm on 21/11/2008 at 13:53
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Please consider asking her to give up the car, save a lot of money and hire taxis when she needs them. This is no comment on your mum's own capabilities but stems from a general observation that those in old age (I'm not so far off myself) would be better off giving up the stress and risks of driving, acknowledging that their need for a car is in fact much less than they imagine, and saving hard cash in the process.
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Take your point Roger, but she's a surprisingly switched on individual for her age. She's as a good a driver as most half her age, and to boot she was still working as a nurse in a nursing home prior to the operation!
I like the Fiat Idea which I'll take a look at....
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How about a Fiat Idea? Easy to get in and out of, and a useful boot for a folding wheelchair I'd have thought. Something like this:
tinyurl.com/6csuuy
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Not really sugesting a car, but would she qualify for Motability? That way its all paid for except fuel and you can also get grants for modifications to the car.
If its got to fit a wheelchair in it, even a folding one I'd look at either estate sized superminis (Fabia, 207, etc) or next size up - you'll probably get a folder in a normal supermini boot, but nothing else! (Says he speaking from experience!!)
Edited by b308 on 21/11/2008 at 16:16
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She's hopefully only temporarily disabled, but enough for it to make sense and go with an automatic box. The space for a wheelchair is only a contingency plan on my part in case things don't improve.
I was surprised to find out that a disabled parking permit is a long way off, despite her immobility. We'll have to rely on patience from other motorists and understanding from supermarket car park staff!
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I think that they only give BBs for permament disablements, not temporary ones, so that probably why... if things are that bad that she can't walk far then I suggest that she sees the local council to discuss it - they may have to speak to her GP or Specialist though.
One alternative with the wheelchair space is to take out the rear seats! Plenty of room then!! ;)
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The higher rate of Mobility Allowance, which you need for a Motability car, can only be applied for before your 65th birthday.
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wagon r ticks the boxes
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Saw how versatile the rear seats on the previous Honda Jazz were today. The bases can be flipped up to make the floor space available - a folded up wheelchair would easily fit. Even had "hooks" on them it seemed to fasten things too. Worth exploring further. Don't they do a CVT?
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Have you popped in to a Peugeot dealer to try a 1007 with the sliding doors, i know they fit the auto box, and as the sales were terrible for that car, i've seen new pre regs for IIRC £6995, maybe a little more for the auto.
Incidentally i've spoken to many Pug and Cit dealers who could have sold hundreds more previous shape berlingo/partner combi's if only they had fitted auto boxes, a silly decision not to, would have been the ideal car for your circumstances.
Good hunting and long may she enjoy the freedom of driving herself around.
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Thanks to all for this.
She's determined to overcome the hopefully temporary setback. The Yaris was ok, but I think that after six years with the car she'll appreciate a change.
The Peugeot/Citroen options will also be looked at if I can overcome deep seated but historic reservations!
Anyone got any vague ideas on the Yaris trade-in value?
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Anyone got any vague ideas on the Yaris trade-in value?
Don't px it, put it on ebay if its good with as much info as poss, i've seen some very high prices paid for these, they do seem to be flavour of the moment.
Might even be worth a punt on here, or autotrader, one owner Yaris well looked after, i can see parents of daughters ringing your phone off the hook.
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I know I own one, but I would recommend the Daihatsu Charade, prob a 2006 model.
Reason I say that is because my nan loves my car as she has great trouble walking and due to the boxy shape, it gives good headroom meaning little twisting is needed to get in, the seat is at just the right height so you slide into it rather than drop down as with some cars, plus unusually the doors, on the 3dr atleast, open at 90 degrees making getting in extremely easy for those not so able bodied.
Oh and the auto is a nice, smooth, proper autobox.
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Honda Jazz CVT sounds the best bet:
- few reported problems with the transmission
- wheelchair if ever needed could go in the back with the cushions flipped up
- it's taller than her Yaris and easier to get in and out of
- much better to drive, and to look at, than a Wagon R.
I'd only be guessing at the value of her Yaris - perhaps low £2000s as a PX, high 2000s sold privately / on Ebay.
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If the wheelchair is a definite and she is deternmined to stick to a supermini then ease of "dropping" the rear seats is the major key... folding the rear seats in many SMs is a real pain in the butt - remember that what may seem easy for us able-bodied can be a real s*d for someone with limited movement.
Take her with you and get her to do the folding - that way you will ensure that she can do it easily - from what I remember the new Yaris is quite easy, though I hadn't looked at it from a disabled point of view when I had a play with one... though compared with the old Yaris and some others its quite a "large" car...
"Tall" isn't always best as well, especially getting in and out - people assume that disabled people need a more "upright" car to get in and out of, but thats not always the case, with my wife the Roomie is slightly taller to get in and out of than the old Fabia and she finds it slightly more difficult, though once in its better - I'm glad I didn't get the Scout version, that extra 2" would have been a real problem.
Go for a wander round the dealers, don't just go for what you think you know!!
Edited by b308 on 22/11/2008 at 07:51
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Cant price it till Monday for you as weekend off but whats the exact model S GS CDX T2 T3 Tspirit etc ... what colour is it and on a scale of 1 to 10 how nice is it 10 being mint... any dings dents scuffs etc ... does it have full history main dealer or non main dealer is it 02 /52 or 02/02
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Many thanks! The accurate description is a green 3 door 1.0. VVTI Yaris (no other clues, base model I reckon), 51 reg, 60k (FSH, mostly independent servicing). Two very minor dings to body(akin to supermarket door contact), slight scuff to rear bumper. I'd give it 8/10. Interior 9/10. Very grateful.
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HI MB,
OK Glass's Guide gives a base model Yaris S 3 Door as follows
01/51 @ 67000 miles = £1825
02/51 @ 65000 miles = £1900
if its a GS model (check reg doc) then add £250 to these figures.
However to work out what a dealer may see it as is a different ball game. colour does not help, scuff and dings also reduce its SIV (stand in value) if it was offered to our sales manager he would probably SIV it @ £1500 or £1750 S / GS ... this would be the same value most dealers would place on it.
Now the PX price you will be offered is differnet to the SIV as most dealers put a margin into the car they're trying to sell to you so as to enable them to offer you an infalted PX price.
Its a case of doing your homework on the car you want to buy and then negociate the PX price.
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Really appreciate this, many thanks. We're going to put a new car on hold following a discussion today, as she may well improve thereby negating the need to change. Thanks again for the research.
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>>>>>recently left hospital with a knackered left leg and severely decreased mobility.<<<
In view of the above and her age do bear in mind that DVLA have to be informed of any disability likely to cause the driving of a vehicle by her to be a source of danger to the public .
A matter to be considered for discussion with her Consultant/GP ?.
dvd
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