Advice for Replacement Car - Disabled Modified

Hootie

My wife will be changing her car soon for a newer model, she is a registered disabled driver and gets a grant which allows replacement every 2 yrs. She currently has a Nissan Qashqui 2, 2ltr diesel automatic. The car seemed lovely when buying it but we both have grown to dislike it. The car seems to fly through diesel, i know automatics are heavier but we seem to be constantly putting diesel in. Also the automatic gearbox has a manual tiptronic which i hate, the car only allows you to upgear at certain revs and downgears itself. What this effectively means is on ice for example when you need a high gear with low revs, 3rd for example, the car will not upgear and when you go into a corner it downgears itself into second or first causing a spin.
I am looking for any suggestions people might have as we will be test driving soon, has to be automatic. Is there any disabled drivers who could recommend any car or mpv?

cozzie55

My mother is a disabled driver as well and the biggest problem we have is that you have to pay a premium to get most cars in automatic and it seams a bit pointless in getting an automatic car that resale would be terrible on. eg an auto avensis/passat etc. So my question is does the car have to be automatic?

It is possible to adapt a manual car so that there is no need to clutch when changing gear. As far as i am aware you flick a switch under the steering wheel and the cars clutch engages and remains that way while in "auto" mode, flick the switch again and it returns to manual transmission. This seams like the perfect option for us at the minute esp seen as my mother is not the only person to drive the car. I am just beginning doing a bit of research on it at though as the plan is to upgrade in the new year so i'm not fully sure of the details. Best bet is to ring round the adaption companies.

In terms of cars then, I've been looking at mostly SUV as they seam to fit our needs at the minute

Ford Kuga
VW tiguan
Toyota Rav4
Peugeot 3008

All have advantages and disadvantages

Kuga and Tiguan both have Powershift/DSG gearboxes. Both are the most expensive though. Kuga probably has the best spec

Rav4 can be got in auto and 4x4, Big problem it only has a 2l petrol version while the only diesel is a 2.2, although a 2l is on the way i'm told. The 2.2 is a nice drive as well.

3008 cheapest of the four, again can be got in auto, not really a proper SUV. We have a peogout 407 and the 1.6l diesel engine ain't too bad, the 407 itself is a bit rattly and electrics aren't the best i'd expect the same from the 3008


If your not into SUV's then try the Ford C-max mpv or we've always found the toyota avensis to be a nice car in terms of height for a disabled driver

Hootie

cozzie55 thanks for reply, i should have stated that my wife has arthritis and cannot use a clutch, apologies. Interesting about the manual gears with the clutch override - never heard of that. We would be looking at a big vehicle with the kids and all so a car would not really suit. This time round will be test driving for weekend instead of stupid little drive that means nothing, lesson learned there.

colm_mcm

THose manual conversion servos arent that good and are a warranty minefield.
Grand back in the day when automatics weren't widely available but no excuse these days.

DIlemma:
Efficent cars have low vrt
Low vrt means little money to claim back
Efficent cars sell better second hand cos of low tax

The days of changing up for 2 years for nothing on a disability are over.


Something with a dsg box would solve your issues too.

cozzie55

Hootie wrote: »

cozzie55 thanks for reply, i should have stated that my wife has arthritis and cannot use a clutch, apologies. Interesting about the manual gears with the clutch override - never heard of that. We would be looking at a big vehicle with the kids and all so a car would not really suit. This time round will be test driving for weekend instead of stupid little drive that means nothing, lesson learned there.

I have been in contact with two adaption companies in relation to the clutch override. Cuddihy mobility in Kilkenny have two systems that will control the clutch while you change the gears. Best give them a ring for the proper information. I can pm you their number if you wish.
Another adaption company were charging €2k to do the works, think you'd get an auto for that much extra though

The 4 suv's I mentioned have plenty room anyway and definately fit people 6ft+ in the back because we have tested that

Bitten & Hisses

colm_mcm wrote: »

THose manual conversion servos arent that good and are a warranty minefield.

I wouldn't agree with that. They certainly don't enhance the driving experience and can be a bit jerky, but they are a viable alternative for someone who doesn't want an auto. I know someone who has had a servo clutch fitted to cars since 2002 and there hasn't been any issue with warranty.
And yes, you do spend up to €2K to buy the kit, but you can move this kit on to the next car when you change.

cozzie55

Bitten & Hisses wrote: »

I wouldn't agree with that. They certainly don't enhance the driving experience and can be a bit jerky, but they are a viable alternative for someone who doesn't want an auto. I know someone who has had a servo clutch fitted to cars since 2002 and there hasn't been any issue with warranty.
And yes, you do spend up to €2K to buy the kit, but you can move this kit on to the next car when you change.

yes i forgot that you keep the adaption kits when you change car. it makes this adaption seam all the more worthwhile. Especially when you consider that you will be able to sell on a manual car at the end of it all instead of an auto

vectra

Are you claiming as a driver or passenger?
How many kids?

Hootie

There is a lad just up the road from me in Wexford who specializes in modifying cars for disabled drivers/passengers, we got the present car modified from him, will go to him and ask about this. What is the official name of it so I can find out more and try to price it.

Admittedly I have no experience with cars modified for disabled drivers but I cannot for the life of me understand why you would want to be messing around with a clutch adapter system when an auto would be much better and easier to use. The extra cost has to be worth it for comfort and ease of use.

cozzie55

Hootie wrote: »

There is a lad just up the road from me in Wexford who specializes in modifying cars for disabled drivers/passengers, we got the present car modified from him, will go to him and ask about this. What is the official name of it so I can find out more and try to price it.

As far as I am aware there is two types you can get "press button electronic gear shift" adaption and an "automatic clutch control device". I'm sure if the adaption company is one of the approved ones then they will know what you are talking about.

Stanley Fast Dolt wrote: »

Admittedly I have no experience with cars modified for disabled drivers but I cannot for the life of me understand why you would want to be messing around with a clutch adapter system when an auto would be much better and easier to use. The extra cost has to be worth it for comfort and ease of use.

Well for us the reason we would prefer a manual is the cost. To get a car with auto as standard you generally have to go up to the top specs and pay a premium of 5-10k. To get auto as an added extra its generally 3-4k. Then you have to take into account fuel consumption in an auto is worse than a manual, and finally resale will be hopeless because no one will want an auto over a manual in most run of the mill cars because the tax will be way higher.
In terms of use my mother isn't into driving that much that she cares about handling etc her only worry is she has a reliable car that gets her from A to B.

And on the plus side the car is still a manual when the rest of the family drive it so we don't need to be worrying about changing from manual to auto the whole time.

vectra

Stanley Fast Dolt wrote: »

Admittedly I have no experience with cars modified for disabled drivers but I cannot for the life of me understand why you would want to be messing around with a clutch adapter system when an auto would be much better and easier to use. The extra cost has to be worth it for comfort and ease of use.

What modifications are needed?

Hootie

vectra, when her arthritis is not in flare up she is able to do small driving and has an accelerator/brake lever beside wheel and as a passenger she has a swivel seat in front. Have 5 kids so a 7 seater is needed. Also the reason I'm looking for info on the conversion is that you do loose money on the resale of automatics and if you could keep the manual gearbox it would obviously help.

cozzie55

Hootie wrote: »

vectra, when her arthritis is not in flare up she is able to do small driving and has an accelerator/brake lever beside wheel and as a passenger she has a swivel seat in front. Have 5 kids so a 7 seater is needed. Also the reason I'm looking for info on the conversion is that you do loose money on the resale of automatics and if you could keep the manual gearbox it would obviously help.

If you need a 7 seater look at the Hyundai santa fe. I know they were doing an offer in recent weeks think prices starting at 32k

Bitten & Hisses

cozzie55 wrote: »

As far as I am aware there is two types you can get "press button electronic gear shift" adaption and an "automatic clutch control device". I'm sure if the adaption company is one of the approved ones then they will know what you are talking about.



Well for us the reason we would prefer a manual is the cost. To get a car with auto as standard you generally have to go up to the top specs and pay a premium of 5-10k. To get auto as an added extra its generally 3-4k. Then you have to take into account fuel consumption in an auto is worse than a manual, and finally resale will be hopeless because no one will want an auto over a manual in most run of the mill cars because the tax will be way higher.
In terms of use my mother isn't into driving that much that she cares about handling etc her only worry is she has a reliable car that gets her from A to B.

And on the plus side the car is still a manual when the rest of the family drive it so we don't need to be worrying about changing from manual to auto the whole time.

Or you may want to buy a car which has a pup of an auto transmission, like Audi's multitronic.
I would recommend the system which has a button fitted to the side of the gearstick to operate the clutch. There is also a sensor fitted to the accelerator pedal which detects when you're starting out or stopping. This system has a master switch, which allows you to switch it off completely if someone else wants to drive the car.