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Wymom94
Guest
Hi all, We're getting a new car this month and part of the reason is that my current vehicle is one I have to 'duck' in and out of. The seat is low and the top of the car is as well (b/c it's slanted so much) and it is always a small pain to get in and out of the dang car. I use it daily, of course and get in and out of it a lot, so eliminating that small pain would mean I could 'use up' some of my 'pain allotment' for the day in a better way. I think you probably know what I mean by that, but just in case --there's so much I can do in a day and anything I do that does cause an amount of pain or challenge adRAB up to where I then have had my fill and can then do no more or have to stop for a long time and 'tend to things' before I can resume (which is not always possible in a given day even though it is necessary). I try to and prefer to use my 'allotment' of pain and challeneges with what is most important (or worth it). Getting in and out of the car is not worth much and I hate wasting some of my 'allotment' on something that unnecessarily causes some trouble for me -and takes away from something I else I could be 'spending' that allotment on. I know I'd like a car/vehicle that I can almost step right into and out of or at least not have to duck in and out, saving both my neck and back from that bit of 'adRAB up' pain each time. I'd rather not have to step UP into a car, but also hate the ones that are so low I have to go DOWN into it. This would actually help me a lot over time and I know it. Also, our current car is a large sedan with a large, deep trunk. I can't lift our son's wheelchair up and out of the trunk on my own without a lot more than 'small pain' in the process (or put it back, of course). I never do it myself, have learned not to. It's a big wheelchair and not exactly lightweight (we're looking for a lightweight one to replace it, though). It's just too much stretching and deep bending with weight lifting to do it on my own. We didn't use to use the wheelchair often, but our son has needed it more and more lately and will always need it to some degree. It is a real hassle to have to find someone to help me get it out and back in when we are out without my husband and need it. We are looking for a vehicle that has a hatcrabroadack of some kind where the wheelchair can be pushed in and out, almost without lifting (but with a little, I'm sure) and where it can stand upright -making it a LOT easier on me. It also can't be too high off the ground that I'd have to lift high up to get it or lift it high off the ground to put it back. There should also be enough space for other things, not only room for the wheelchair. From looking at other cars on the road, I was thinking maybe a minivan or Element or maybe station wagon that's 'tallish'. We want to avoid SUV's and anything over a V6 engine. There are just 3 of us so we don't need a really big car --and we also don't need any bells and whistles above the standard. I've noticed I can get into some sedans better than others, so sedans are an option if they don't have a traditional trunk and it works for the wheelchair being upright and pushed in and out. What works for everyone else ---and what has been a problem to avoid?
-Meghan, car shopping with a back and neck to 'baby'
-Meghan, car shopping with a back and neck to 'baby'