Car for someone with arthritis in wrist and ankle?

Car for someone with arthritis in wrist and ankle?

Author
Discussion

Lennard

Original Poster:

192 posts

239 months

Wednesday 26th September 2012
quotequote all
I want to get my mother a new car for Christmas as she's had the same automatic rover for donkies years.

It needs to be a 4x4 as my parents live in a cottage in the hills of Wales miles from no where, it needs to be an auto, reasonably economic as they're both retired now, easy to park (she has it in her neck too) and good for someone with arthritis so I guess an auto is a must.

Budget is maximum 5k.

I was thinking the new fiat panda 4x4 and buy her some bfg goodrich a/t for the winter months?


okie592

2,711 posts

182 months

Wednesday 26th September 2012
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p38 range rover with a v8

furrywoolyhatuk

682 posts

169 months

Wednesday 26th September 2012
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Suzuki jimny.....

Grenoble

54,960 posts

170 months

Wednesday 26th September 2012
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Must it be 4x4? Most modern cars with good winter tyres will cope well with the assist systems if their tyres aren't too wide?

blearyeyedboy

6,649 posts

194 months

Wednesday 26th September 2012
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Lennard said:
I want to get my mother a new car for Christmas as she's had the same automatic rover for donkies years.

It needs to be a 4x4 as my parents live in a cottage in the hills of Wales miles from no where, it needs to be an auto, reasonably economic as they're both retired now, easy to park (she has it in her neck too) and good for someone with arthritis so I guess an auto is a must.

Budget is maximum 5k.

I was thinking the new fiat panda 4x4 and buy her some bfg goodrich a/t for the winter months?
Lennard, could I just clarify something?

Has she recently moved to this remote location? If not, why does she need a 4x4 when a Rover has sufficed until now?

(If there is a sudden change, it might help us direct you to appropriate 4x4's. If there isn't, a wide range of reliable FWD autos would be available.)

If her mobility is getting worse, cars with high seating position can be useful for ease of getting in and out. However, small MPV's (Scenics, Zafiras etc) might be easier to park for someone with a bad neck and cost less in fuel than a 4x4 too.

Lennard

Original Poster:

192 posts

239 months

Thursday 27th September 2012
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We've always had 4x4's and infact have a 110 that my dad uses all year round and a P38 4.0 with LPG that my mum uses during the winter, however that's a PITA to park and the cost of running it is high.

Grenoble

54,960 posts

170 months

Thursday 27th September 2012
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Subaru Forester automatic. Problem solved....

R0G

5,017 posts

170 months

Thursday 27th September 2012
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Is the arthritis in both wrists and ankles ?

Lennard

Original Poster:

192 posts

239 months

Thursday 27th September 2012
quotequote all
R0G said:
Is the arthritis in both wrists and ankles ?
One wrist and one ankle + the neck bizzarely no other joints are affected?

I think it's rheumatoid as well, so it comes and goes.

Lennard

Original Poster:

192 posts

239 months

Thursday 27th September 2012
quotequote all
Grenoble said:
Subaru Forester automatic. Problem solved....
That's a pretty big car though?

excel monkey

4,583 posts

242 months

Thursday 27th September 2012
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Suzuki SX4

V12 Migaloo

953 posts

161 months

Thursday 27th September 2012
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Feel for your Mother, mine had bad Arthritis, so I can understand what the family goes through. Renaults Scenic had a 4WD version I think, and I alsways thought their controls to be on the lighter more comfortable side. Other then that the XC70 from Volvo wouold do her proud, best seats in the buisness and light controls.

R0G

5,017 posts

170 months

Thursday 27th September 2012
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Lennard said:
R0G said:
Is the arthritis in both wrists and ankles ?
One wrist and one ankle + the neck bizzarely no other joints are affected?

I think it's rheumatoid as well, so it comes and goes.
Which side - both left etc ?

Grenoble

54,960 posts

170 months

Thursday 27th September 2012
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Lennard said:
That's a pretty big car though?
Not if she is used to a Landy? They have good visibility which helps.

Lennard

Original Poster:

192 posts

239 months

Thursday 27th September 2012
quotequote all
R0G said:
Which side - both left etc ?
Not too sure, iirc it's the left?

Grenoble said:
Not if she is used to a Landy? They have good visibility which helps.
She used to drive the P38, the point is I want to get her a small auto 4x4 that'll cart her around safely and easily.

I do like the idea of the forester, but i'm not sold on it due to it's size... surely an impreza estate would be a better option when considering a mid-sized car???

Grenoble

54,960 posts

170 months

Thursday 27th September 2012
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Better ground clearance with the Forester and slightly higher driving position, and higher loading area in the boot - all help if you have mobility issues?

hardcorehobbit

1,103 posts

210 months

Thursday 27th September 2012
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Daihatsu Terios is a small, cool looking 4x4. Not sure if auto option though.

hamishg

162 posts

203 months

Thursday 27th September 2012
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My mother also has mild arthritis and wanted a 4x4 (due to elevated driving position and easier access rather than necessity) and an auto box. I bought her a Toyota Rav 4. She loves it. Looks smart, very reliable, nippy, reasonable economy and handy in snowy/poor conditions. Or a Forester (they're really not that big!)

JQ

6,345 posts

194 months

Thursday 27th September 2012
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You can't do it!

My sister has just been through this. Severe psoriatic arthritis all over. She needed a big modern 4x4 for the expanding family. She tested every car avaiable and walked away with a Disco 4. Obviously it's out of your price bracket, but my point is that it was the only one in which she could do everthing. There were reasons why the Merc GL, Audi Q7, etc etc were discounted - generally down to the positioning of buttons or resistance levels of certain elements of the car. You need your parents to test all the potential cars to see which is best for them. We can't tell you what's best for them and what's best for them may not be a great car, but when you have a disability other qualities become far more important.

Personally, I'd just spend a day at somewhere Fords of Winford trying every car that fits the bill and see which suits them best.

R0G

5,017 posts

170 months

Thursday 27th September 2012
quotequote all
Lennard said:
R0G said:
Which side - both left etc ?
Not too sure, iirc it's the left?

Grenoble said:
Then an auto should be ok but if there are issues with any left controls then they would be advised to get it adapted