Possible new chair

[DREW]

I may have my Wheelchair rental company take back my Merits P326A because of service/repair issues. Thing rides hard because of solid tires and it's SLOW. Merits brochure specifies a top speed of 5MPH, but I have joggers passing me while I'm at full speed. So ... BS
What chair do I get for mostly outside (some off road) longer drives? I've looked at the Quantum Edge Q6 online but I’m sure there are others? I may build a chair someday, but I see that as a second (or third) chair.

[Burgerman]

Where do you live?

5mph IS slow, joggers do 6 or 7 mph. Pride stuff esp in the US both is a mass of marketing, fancy names etc and impossible to get a programmer for. So they always steer and drive pretty awful. The smaller chairs like the one you mentioned have small amp control systems, and small 22nf batteries too. So not ideal.

For outdoors, look for rear drive preferably, 100 amp controller or better (and one you can actually get hold of a low level OEM or similar programmer for. And group 24 batteries (70Ah). Suspension (not the casters but the main drive wheels), or fat off road style tyres with big sidewalls / low pressure tyres, and large 9 or 10 inch casters. Anything else is intended for, and only works well, inside or in shopping centres.

And... 4mph may be slow but doesent suck power out of batteries. 8mph does, and you will lose torque and range. 6 is a good compromise.

[DREW]

Thanks for the info. I live in Durham, North Carolina, USA.

[Fulliautomatix]

I have a Q6 Edge...as does a friend.
They have no suspension so ride hard, are reasonably competent but get stuck in dips and on soft ground like all 6 wheelers. It is usually more competent than I think it is but I don't often go off the pavement to avoid getting stuck. It will climb a 3" step, the range appears fine but both of us are light and don't have dogs to walk.
If I knew then what I know now I would have got a RWD for sure, and to be fair the techs & OTs all said 'get RWD for outdoor use' but I didn't like the RWD options. All steered like a tanker, too long etc. So I got the chair I was comfortable using on buses/trains, in toilets and all the stuff you do.
I am reasonably happy with the Edge except for having to watch where I go and forever slowing down for bumps.