I know, you are all tired of me writing about the great car hunt. But it is over and I don't want to leave you hanging....Not exactly a thing of beauty in my eyes. It is one of those car styles that you either love or hate. I happen to not be super crazy about the boxy style but I am super crazy about how well this fits a wheelchair user with little to no modifications. We will be installing a flip down transfer seat like this just to make it as safe as possible. We don't have a cost yet on the transfer board but I am pretty confident it will fit in the $1200 budget Ford gives for after market mobility aids. I was completely in love with the Buick Enclave but after talking with after market mobility specialists found that it would be impossible to convert to a drop out, swivel seat which Carter would need due to seat height. One person thought they might be able to but it would be more than the typical $8,000 cost to modify a seat to turn and come out of the car.The Flex seating is 6 inches lower than the Buick. It doesn't sound like much to non wheelchair users but when you are transferring you really want to not have any height difference. There is only an 1 1/2 inch ...
Archives for 2011
The New Car Short List
Last week I posted about the great new car hunt being on. With Carters surgery less than 2 weeks away, the decision needs to be made pronto.I have received some really great advice and suggestions and here is what I have learned:Car dealerships are not open on Sunday in Denver. WHAT is up with that?VW has some of the best, responsive social media reps out there.I may be better off with a *gulp* MINIVAN. Oh, it creeps me out to even type it. I am a truck/SUV type girl.While a mini-van makes a ton of sense I am just not sure that I can do it. The big players in the market are the Sienna, Odyssey and Town & Country. Sienna is the ONLY one that offers AWD and that is pretty high on my list. Plus the 2011 has these wicked cool reclining seats that may look gimicky but for long car rides I can totally see how they could help with Carters leg circulation issues. Topping the reason for a mini-van? They can be converted with wheelchair ramps pretty easily. I just don't know if I can do it though. Toyota's have had a lot of issues lately although I was happy to see they are mostly manufactured at a plant in Indiana. But, I may have mentioned, it is a minivan!Topping the list of mid-size ...
Social Media for New Car Shopping?
In the next month I plan to buy a car. Whether or not it is new will depend on pricing and other details but the main gist of my car hunt is to find something for Carter and I. Let me repeat that---for the first time I am looking for a car that fits just Carter and I. That feels so good to say! Finally! Bob will take the older SUV and pass that to Con next year when he starts driving. So, this car is really about making life easier for the two of us to get around-wheelchair and all.I'm wondering how I can bring social media and blogging into this hunt??? Cause the deal is, I AM buying the car. I have no illusions that by being a blogger I should get any sort of deal, let's face it, I am not that popular of a blogger~LOL! What I am hoping is that the social media departments of some car companies may help to make sure I find the RIGHT car for us. I am going to be blogging my way through this both here and on Spina Bifida Connection because in the disability world, the right car makes all the difference in your level of independence-whether you are the driver or not. AND for a mom with a wheelchair using kid, it makes all the difference in how much work is involved getting the kiddo ...
Haunted History&Bucket Lists
Just FYI that I am back on my genealogy kick. Don't know why. Just am. Roll with it, k?I love haunted houses. House histories and ghost stories are the stuff sweet dreams are made of. So, imagine my excitement when I found the house of my great-grandfather 7 TIMES removed is in the National Registry and tours are offered!!! The Van Wickle House is preserved in an area called "The Meadows" in Somerset, NJ . It's a modest Dutch farmhouse but, O M G! The house is available with many of the belongings to tour???Freaking cool, huh?Even more cool?It's been reported in several places as being haunted with 5 spirits-him and his wife are the most prevalent of the 5!OK, I am about to pee my pants now, or go book airline tickets. Someone hold me back. Or offer me a place to stay if you're near there.This tops my 2011 Bucket List....what's on yours? ...