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the recent new suvs/mpvs are getting “prettier” with shaped back ends and curvier lines but is that design focus causing issues for the disabled? boots seem to be smaller even if the actual car has gotten longer. boot opening have shrunk meaning hoists and wheelchairs etc wont fit so people are having to upgrade to a seven seater or try and find an estate version with a squarer back end.
could motability or another disabled organisation have any influence with manufacturers or would that result in a return of the blue invacar in some guise.
im lucky that at the moment i can get in and out of a small suv/mpv so long as the seat is higher than a std saloon and i dont need a big boot or room for passengers so i have quite a wide choice so long as they do an auto.but in the future that will probably change.
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I do quite a lot of motorway miles on a weekly basis and on my journey home the other day I tried to identify every suv I saw coming past with squinted eyes before they got too close, end result was about 1 in 10 I got right as they are all starting to look like each other more and more, pretty soon each manufacturer will not have names for them but will just have a choice of “VAG SUV” or “Hyundai SUV” etc etc etc.
As someone who had to do a lot of measuring and searching to find a hoist and scooter friendly car that met my needs. I agree with you @mitch on car designs getting more and more unsuitable at the back for some of us.
I think that Motability would have very little sway, in truth probably none as far as car manufacturers are concerned.
However, I think where there could be massive improvements is in hoist/lifting design and methods. Also in car friendly wheelchair and scooter designs. I think Motability could have a fair bit of influence and input in these areas and maybe could even deploy some funds to help in more innovative designs.
garry, good point i didnt think of that. sureley its not beyond the wit of man to come up with more flexible hoist designs and some money spent on designing car freindly scooter or wheelchairs would be a good use of some of the surplus.
i know prosthetics and wheelchairs have been adapted and redesigned for sports, why not for driving too.
The problem is practicality is towards the bottom of the list for car manufacturers. Large boxy vehicles are not economical or kind to the environment.
Today it’s all about fuel efficiency and looks.
Like everything else, cars follow what’s in-vogue. As such, we have to do a lot of research to find the best option to meet our needs. Car manufactures are not interested in making a car to suit the needs of the disabled. There are just too many variations to deal with.
That then falls on to bespoke adaptation company’s to fill that niche. Not an easy task I am sure you will appreciate.
This is an area that some of that money stashed away could be used to set up a research and development branch.
Joss
Current car: Peugeot 308 GT Premium 1.2 Pure tech Petrol.
Coming soon...BMW X2 sDrive 20i M Sport 5dr Step Auto In November 2025
Agree Joss.
A small Motabilty department to also examine and advise what adaptions and aids fit which cars would be handy too.
Currently there is no resource which tells you, for example, which hoists fit into which cars and which hoists will lift which chairs and whether those chairs fit into ‘x’ vehicle.
As I found, most hoist manufacturers are only interesting in selling their product, not giving impartial advice.
Also which aids can be used with which vehicles. Most manufacturers and Motability sales people don’t have a clue about such as multiplex hand controls.
Even asking whether the Motability offered £100 manual wheelchairs would fit into ‘x’ or ‘y’ vehicle without the rear seats having to be lowered drew a blank both from Motability trained salesmen and Motability themselves!
Mike
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