Forum Replies Created
- Replies
Hi. Sadly very little expertise by car dealers. If you go on Des Gosling’s website (based in Derby) they list different types of hoists and which cars they will fit into. They also have loads of YouTube videos showing different types of hoists in different cars.
My experience (4 different cars fitted with hoists) is that I had to do a lot of research and then get the adaptation installers to listen to me. Best suppliers of hoists have been Autochair and Brig-Ayd (now called Mobility in Motion).
The issues for you will be a) is it for a wheelchair or a scooter; b) do you want to store it vertically or horizontally; do you want to keep the back seats up (or can you cope if they’re down)?
I had a 40kg LM hoist fitted in my previous car – Citroen C3Aircross. This is for my powerchair. I did not want brackets fitted to the chair so it just had a carabiner attached to lift it from one of the struts on the chair. (Bracket aversion is because if I change scooter/chair I would have to pay for brackets again).
I am about to have a much more versatile better folding hoist (Brig-Ayd 40kg). This means that the boom won’t be blocking my rear view any more.
I am about to have a Kia Niro Hybrid which has more room.
Some of the installers (every region has their own installer) are better than others in terms of giving you advice. But do your research and find the hoist that is best for you. You can also choose a different installer if you want.
The suppliers have to develop “installation Kia” for each new model and so they haven’t all got kits for every car. There also seemed to be a difficulty with EVs on some cars.I have always had to re-check info. Definitely car sales reps don’t know. The Motability website seem to think all the dealership sales reps are Motability aware – sadly not true.
Good luck!Definitely ok to add someone to insurance. Others have written about doing it online; others have said to ring Motability. I have used both. Motability have always been really helpful whatever I phone them for! Last year my son drove the car virtually all the time when we went abroad on holiday and Motability gave me all the important advice for who to contact and to ask for driving, for blue badge parking and the special emissions stickers needed!
It isn’t as easy to find as before. BUT if you use the SEARCH button on the website and type in the word FAVOURITES, the first link takes you to your favourites. Just checked and mine are still there! Good luck.
Thank you Big Dave.
I would love to go to a roadshow- but I hope to choose my car in the next few weeks.
it’s a great idea for my next round (in 2028) if I am still driving then!
Thanks for your reply Dave.Thank you kezo
I hadn’t considered either of these cars before! I think they don’t come up in my searches because I was looking for petrol hybrid rather than plug-in.
However both are worth considering for the petrol only options. I will see how far away the dealers are – because neither are local.
The Suzuki Swace (along with the Ford Kuga and Nissan Qashqai) all have power tailgates in higher spec models. I know the Corolla doesn’t have this sadly.
You mentioned going for smaller models with the seats down … I have looked at some of these in the past especially those with 60/40 split – but the hoist installers weren’t keen. But I would consider anything smaller (easier to find parking space) and find out if hoist will fit. Any suggestions?Thanks for amazing help so far.
I am also looking for the best car on Motability scheme for my needs – we all vary on what we need and what we prioritise. I save up between lease terms to afford the extras (like the safety packs or hoists) but the advance payments have rocketed for the car specs I need. Previously only ever paid nothing in advance or £500 at most. Now it’s around £3000. But I have to find the money or my life would be restricted and my independence would be lost.
– mostly drive alone
– need automatic transmission
– have folding powerchair
– need powered tailgate (having struggled with boot strap fitted to current Citroen Aircross)
– need auto lift hoist so boot space and angle of boot door is important.
– need wide opening passenger and driver door.
– no driveway – so street parking (blue badge) has been a bonus due to “resident parking” or restricted parking. So need good parking assistance with the bigger cars.
– can’t manage with plug-in electric as do lots of long drives but would like to try hybrid this time.
I get annoyed with changing availability of cars and makes and this year asked for extension (which I was given). Have been in Motability Scheme for past 20 years and it’s been great – but never had the same car twice as best ones we’re not in the scheme the next time)I would prefer not to have a big car but it seems I need one as even with the smallest of hoists the boot space needed is “4-5 suitcases” + a horizontal clearance to the floor for hoist arm and another horizontal clearance for the floor fixings. But end up using back seats as my boot as my powerchair “lives” in my boot.
I find it all a nightmare! On top of that there’s the comfort (or otherwise) of getting into a seat with those “comfort lips” around them making it harder to get in and out! or the lack of holding straps/bars to get in and out.
I think I am going for a Ford Kuga ST Line (coping with seats in favour of boots size and shape) and will take one for a test drive next week. But the suggestion of a Suzuki Swace in a previous post has made me think again (I used to love my Toyota Corolla!). I am also thinking of the Nissan Qashkai.
Does anyone have any suggestions or comments about any of these three? Or others? Thank you
