Sirus Switch - Drive from w/c or w/c passenger

[Mark]

Well I've now sold the Renault Kangoo DFW vehicle and bought a Sirus FIAT Qubo Switch, (875 miles from new).
Just had it a couple of weeks but if anyone is thinking of one, I'll try to answer any questions.

It allows you to move the front seat to either the driver's side or the passenger side with the w/c in the other position. This was the main reason for getting it.

Already doubled it's mileage from new and proving very convenient. I have EZ-Locks fitted on both sides.

[Burgerman]

Link?

[Mark]

Link?

Good point. Link is http://www.sirusautomotive.co.uk/our-pr ... tch-model/

[Burgerman]

I have looked at these at the mobility shows.

These would be a good economical small drive from wheelchair alternative van for the US market. They are well made etc. and diesel so run on fumes...

Only thing I have against them is space for dog, spare seating, shopping/planes etc.

[Mark]

Yes, basically they are fairly small and therefore cheaper to run and insure, but have the space limitations you identify. I reasoned that if I'm on my own, I can load up the fairly flat floor at my side after removing the front pax seat. If there is someone with me, they can put the stuff in the back, and remove it at destination. Dogs are self-loading and can go under the drop-down rear bench seat if pax in the back as well. There is quite a bit of room, but still the compromises a rear-entry gives. Just remembered - we don't have a dog!

I was attracted by the conversion quality, and the shallow ramp angle without the complication of lowering suspension. What isn't fitted can't go wrong.

Was a bit worried about the performance from a 1270cc diesel, but it has an intercooler after the turbo and goes surprisingly well. Fuel consumption between 40 and 50 mpg so far, c.f book figures in the 60's. May loosen up after Speed Sally has put a few miles on it.

Things to watch out for...
The base vehicle power steering is still heavy, unlike the Sirus Caddy conversion for example, so I had the steering rack modified to 50% of the force. Now very easy on my rough wrists and shoulders.

It is rather tight for a F55, but do-able at standard width.

I have genuine Ez-locks (latest model but s/h) on each side, so Sally and I can share the driving. About 3 minutes to move the seat and lock it down, but getting quicker each time.

[Burgerman]

Wouldn't work for me though. Cant get planes in without disassembly or helis etc. Or a spare chair to the college via RC for work to be done like some welding for e.g.

[falco peregrinus]

We've got a couple of converted models from a couple of manufacturers like this in Australia, and they look pretty good up front. But then when you do your homework you find out that they're brought into the country by a small company (In one case, because the importer of all the other models of that particular big-name brand has chosen not to import the particular model that is ideal for wheelies), therefore you run the risk of the company going to the wall, or not stocking the required parts resulting in long wait time for repairs, etc etc, any one of which can eventually result in the vehicle having to be written off and dumped simply because of non-availability of support or parts for it in the country. We've had a long run of such events in Australia. (And it's not just us - another example that comes to mind is the Austin Champ in the UK. A revolutionary and ahead-of-its-time 4wd, but it had a habit of snapping axles, and when the supply of axles ran out, they had to be scrapped.) In Australia we've had Ford Falcon (just recently), Morris 1100 (hydraulic suspension had a limited life and you couldn't buy replacement bags for it, so they all ended up getting dumped long before they should have been), Leyland P76 (Leyland Australia went to the wall just after the P76 was released, so they sold all their stock at auction. Some fools actually bought them, even though everyone knew that there were no spare parts available for them once the auction was over.) There's a lot of security in buying a brand name vehicle from a very large company that you can be reasonably confident is never going to collapse. (And that most definitely does not include Ford, Chevrolet/ Holden, or Dodge). To my mind it does include companies like Toyota (In Australia, at least, because I can't see the importer, Thiess, ever going under), Land Rover/ Range Rover (because the Australian Army buy enough to keep them afloat alone!), and at the moment no others come to mind as definites. Perhaps Nissan, in Australia. Perhaps Mazda, in Australia. Basically, a good car that meets one's needs is not enough - one also needs to be confident of being able to keep it on the road for as long as one may be forced to retain ownership of it. (Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine I would be forced to keep the van I have now for 24 years - and there's no prospect in sight of ever being able to replace it!) And Toyota have got a great track record for that in Australia. Mine is 24 years old, and it's only in quite recent years that I have had to go non-genuine for parts for it.
Falco

[Mark]

Wouldn't work for me though. Cant get planes in without disassembly or helis etc. Or a spare chair to the college via RC for work to be done like some welding for e.g.

Aircraft, unless small, would be a problem. Spare chair no problem, done it several times. - There is plenty of room but my spare chair remote control (Sally) is not as controllable as your RC system.

[falco peregrinus]

Reminds me of a time when a mate came over. He had recently developed back trouble, and had trouble bending, so I showed him a grabber. He said "Oh, I've got two of those! One aged 8 and the other 10!"
Falco.