WheelchairDriver

Hi,

I'm currently looking into getting a drive from wheelchair vehicle - my first - and the Fiat Qubo Switch from Sirus Automotives has caught my eye. Does anyone have this vehicle or experience of Fiats? What are they like regarding reliablity, drivability, practiality (starting up on a old morning), manoverability - that sort of thing?

I'd be really grateful for any advice you could give on this car or any smaller drive from wheelchair convertion. I've read your pieces about the VW vans, Burgerman, but they looked such big vehicles! Am I mistaken? Is the compromise of looks over usablity a sacrifice I will realistically have to make? At the moment I'm using a Topan powerchair with the narrower than standard width if this helps with picturing what I'm looking for.

Like I said, any help will be gratefully received!

Dunno about that particular vehicle. But they do better than average conversion work if you are fussy! Finish is good!

astrokitty wrote:Hi,

I'm currently looking into getting a drive from wheelchair vehicle - my first - and the Fiat Qubo Switch from Sirus Automotives has caught my eye. Does anyone have this vehicle or experience of Fiats? What are they like regarding reliablity, drivability, practiality (starting up on a old morning), manoverability - that sort of thing?

I'd be really grateful for any advice you could give on this car or any smaller drive from wheelchair convertion. I've read your pieces about the VW vans, Burgerman, but they looked such big vehicles! Am I mistaken? Is the compromise of looks over usablity a sacrifice I will realistically have to make? At the moment I'm using a Topan powerchair with the narrower than standard width if this helps with picturing what I'm looking for.

Like I said, any help will be gratefully received!

hi astrokitty.

have no experience of this particular fiat, but i do drive a fiat, (5 years now) a ulysee, and have found that one to be fine (for me) as regards reliability, drivability etc.
did at the time, test drive a fiat doblo, but found that the larger, higher vehicle had better visibility and in my opinion, felt less cramped.
please don't be afraid of driving a larger vehicle, i was too, but as i now drive a renault trafic van (camper) as well, have found that the larger vehicle is in fact easier and better than my ulysee, honestly, and every bit as manoeverable and parkable.

if you can, test drive a few different sized vehicles, you may be suprised.

Just thought I would add to this post about smaller drive from wheelchair vehicles.

I have been looking for the last couple of months for a small drive from wheelchair car.

I have eventually picked the Renault Kangoo Automatic, with a Sirus conversion.

I know you will all laugh, I will look like postman pat! (I never thought it would come to this years ago, but oh well!). The one I got hold of is 18 months old, has 237 miles on the clock and the dealer in Fife got it from an Auction down south straight from mobility. I am paying £13,450 for this, plus I am having installed a Unwins Lock & Dock system, (this cost £1,400 to have it fitted and I know if you are in the vehicle trade, cost price is £795 but I didn't know anybody to fit it so I had to pay full price). I have had the lower bracket fitted to two of my wheelchairs so there will be no problems if one is getting serviced.

I only need to use this 2 weeks out of 5, its so I can take my cocker spaniel out and about. I do have a Citroen Grand 4 Picasso but cannot use it myself.

When I orginally asked Motability for advice, they told me for the same vehicle I would have to pay £11,000 advance payment, + DLA for 5 years at a cost of £25,000, so I chose to just buy a vehicle myself.

I will let you know how crap/good it is over the next few weeks.