What is right and what will work
I’ve touched on the fact that I’ve been looking at mobility scooters and power chairs before. I’m going to use the term “scooter”, unless there is anything specifically about any type. The first thing I want to mention is that I’ve yet to meet a scooter sales person who really tried to “sell” a product. They have all focussed on advising which of their products might be best for me. It has also been noticeable that, when I have mentioned other types, they do not take the stance of “don’t buy that because ours is better”. A very refreshing buying experience that others might like to consider. (Ford, I’m looking at you!)
I won’t bore you with all the details of how I landed with the solutions I have, but in a few bullet-points:
- There is an astounding array of scooters out there, some very similar but from different manufacturers, some very similar and from the same manufacturer
- Some are very good around town. Others excel on the rough stuff. Dog walks in the New Forest was a key factor for me. Finding one that is very good at both is tricky.
- How much and how easily they fold (if at all) varies, and therefore has a huge bearing on the type of vehicle they can be transported in
- Wheelchair accessible vehicles are way behind in terms of offering electric vehicle options.
- They can cost an absolute bloody fortune!
- Trying to make decisions on this was challenging. I was, for the most part, still on a high level of the medication that caused quite severe brain-fog. It just compounded the problems.
My key criteria (rightly or wrongly) for the car
I have had hybrid cars for several years. I also had an all electric car for the last 2 years and was extremely reluctant to go back to an internal combustion engine. That ruled out most traditional wheelchair accessible vehicles, as they are predominantly diesels. Those that do make EVs face not only the usual higher cost of being an EV. They then also have the cost of WAV conversion. I therefore looked at what I could get a hoist or lift fitted to. The choice was still limited. However, being able to purchase VAT free due to the disability modification helped. It certainly brought a couple of EVs into the realms of possibility.
Maybe I’ve been spoiled and I could’ve compromised. However, I had become rather accustomed to the luxuries of my BMW iX3. That ruled out the likes of the Citroen Belingo type EVs. Scooters that would be comfortable enough longer term, and particularly for unmade paths, tend to be tall and not fold much, and so a tall boot entry was needed. By the way, finding details of how tall a boot opening is can be quite challenging without going to physically measure them. It just doesn’t seem to be something manufacturers publish in their technical specs.
The final scooter shortlist
I tried many scooters of various shapes and sizes. These included a few from a company who let me loose in the New Forest in theirs. I narrowed it down to the Quantum Edge 3 Stretto and the Scoozy C. The Scoozy was brilliant in the Forest, but I was a little concerned that it would be difficult in town. A particular concern was the fact that it has a relatively long front, and so sitting at cafe tables etc would be difficult. It also doesn’t fold, not even the seat back, and so that brought a further limitation to the car list. The Stretto was great. It has good suspension, although not quite as capable on the rough stuff. After much deliberation, and the assistance of an independent chap, Richard, I settled on the Stretto. Whilst I was finalising the prescription of the Stretto with Rich, we got talking to another customer of his who flies quite frequently. He has a different condition to me, but very similar symptoms. He was looking for something comfortable, but that could be collapsed for flying. He had bought a Freedom DE08L, and would be using that for travel, but using his main power chair (something similar to the Stretto) for every day use locally. We have a motorhome holiday booked for this weekend. I also have plans taking shape for a trip to Zambia in 2025. This seemed ideal for me too so I bought one to use in a similar way.
The outcome
The travel chair came quite quickly and I quickly came to love it. It is so much more capable on bumpy pavements than the chair I had bought last year. It is also relatively easy to get in and out of the boot. I wouldn’t want to use it in the forest, but I’m certainly happier out and about than I was before.
The car choice came down to a Ford Custom Transit dual cab EV or a VW ID.Buzz. The Transit was theoretically cheaper, but the VW is a nicer vehicle, and the salesman didn’t act like a d**k. With a few incentives being offered by VW, there was so little in it, there was really no decision to make. With a hoist fitted to get the chair in and out, I took possession on Monday. Nicely timed, the Stretto was delivered on Tuesday. I need to take both to the hoist place to get the necessary adjustments made. The Freedom chair is doing a great job. In the meantime, I’ve worked out a way of using the hoist for getting that in and out.