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[OT] Hand Controls and Stuff...

I guess, Ping Burgerman, Alistair J Murray (he was always a nice dude, does anyone keep in touch with him? Remember, he had an Alpina B10 that was really cool?) and anyone else really that knows anything.

I mentioned this elsewhere, but for those that didn't read - I was in a lot of pain Saturday night, had to had a doc visit and stuff, but just a painkiller shot, nothing out of the ordinary. Woke up Sunday AM, and I couldn't move my legs hardly at all. Hardly at all is now virtually not at all, slight toe movement. They still have feeling all over, get cold, warm, itch, can feel pressure/touch/scratching etc - although it seems to vary all over as to how sensitive they are. It appears to be that the tumor is probably squashing the nerves somewhere. D'oh :-(

Anyway, that sucked, but realistically, it seems unlikely they're gonna get better. Now, I know disabled people drive, and my arms both work perfectly. So I guess I want some kinda, hand controls on the wheel for the accelerator and brakes - in an Auto? I beleive AJM had this in his Alpina? In a regular car this would mean getting out of the chair and into the car of course - not sure how doable this is, but I guess, with a slide board, chair side off an just slide in - and have someone on hand to take the chair into the boot, then help me at the other end of the journey etc - but that would be ok.

So I guess really, erm, help? I don't know anything about this stuff, and never thought I'd have to - it was a bit of a shock, as you can all probably guess. My legs had been a bit wobbly, but I just assumed it was cos I hadn't been doing much at all, and they were weak. Where do I wanna be looking for advice and getting stuff done? Also, a few test drives would be handy cos I've never used hand controls of course. Am I best just to get a Motability car and let them sort it? Or buy this something like this -

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- and get it done myself? I feel as though I'll end up with a much more awesome motor this way, but the mods appear to be free or cheap with Motability, and of course, new car, servicing, tyres, insurance etc. And you have to assume the mods are likely to be of the best types/qualities? Although the money isn't a motivator either way, I just want the best solution for me - which is obviously the best car I can get, but, without having to do loads of work and hassle to sort it out, or having loads of problems which makes me think the all in Motability solution, despite giving me a less interesting motor, might be best. Certainly I guess I'm best going to them for testing reasons...

Any help or advice greatly appreciated :-)

Absolutely gutted that it looks like I won't be driving the Clio again - although, last time I drove it, I did drive it nice and hard hehe. Fair breaks my heart to look out the window and see it just sittin there in the garden though, all unabused and in need of a proper detail (although at least it is cleanish and waxed).

Reply to
DanB
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P.s. - If anyone wants to email me at all, if you could post here that you have done so that'd be great cos whilst the reply addy is valid, it's never checked (unless I know it's getting a mail then I have the usual 10 minutes trying to remember the password battle :-)).

Reply to
DanB

Fuck, that's shit news mate.

Mate of mine had something similar happen to him years ago out of the blue, he tends to drive the fastest autos he can find - said it's weird at first, but after a while it's pretty natural, and he's not at all easy to keep up with. His choice of car lately has always been an AMG Merc. Current one is a C43 AMG Estate and that seems to suit him fine.

My first 911 was a Sportomatic which had hand controls when I picked it up, they only took about 2 minutes to fit / remove, the chap who had it was an airline pilot who'd made one too many mistakes. I don't think I'll ever be able to drive a 911 the way he could.

So, if nothing else, there's a good chance of finding something very quick which is suitable.

Bentley Turbo R's are quick, have huge boots and auto boxes :-D

Reply to
Pete M

I am gutted to hear this.

Glad you at least got the Clio round the 'ring. (c:

Dunno much about the ins and outs of conversions - sorry.

I think the Clio should go on permanent UKRCM CIHAGM duties to stop it looking forlorn. Conditions of use would be that if you had it, you'd have to do something cool with it at least once a week, and take pictures.

Reply to
Douglas Payne

Me first. I'm going to kill someone if I have to keep on driving this 406. It's getting to the point where I look forward to driving the bird's ZX...

Reply to
Doki

Sorry to hear that dude, I know how it feels.

Dont sell the Clio just yet tho. You can get a Guido-Simplex auto clutch fitted. It in conjunction with hand controls can let you keep driving it. You will need to google (no idea how to find them!) A paraplegic friend had one in a Mondao without any probs. It turns it into a twist and go with no need for a clutch on gearchanges either!

Unlwss you prefer to drive a nice auto? I always did anyway!

As for hand controls almost any automotive mobility dealer will fit some quite cheap and quickly. All manual ones are much the same. Guy called Grff Gosling came out to me and fitted some at short notice in the driveway about ten years back. Just google hand controls and find someone nearby that can do it? Training isnt needed although the first few miles can be fun! And I think you need to inform swansea (licence) and your insurance company.

Dont get hand controls fitted to the clio until you talk to Guido-simplex because they may need to be fitted by them and be different to normal ones.

As for transfering with a board - well I bought a van that lets me drive from a wheelchair precisely because it was such a fight. But im too fat! Might not be an issue for you, but try it with an OT. Preferably one from a spinal injuries unit like the one in sheffield. Because they are used to training up people to do this and technique makes all the difference. As does a folding lightweight wheelchair with removable wheels. You can take off the wheels and pull a cord and it folds small enough to lift past you into the passenger seat and footwell. Then you can manage alone should you wish. Also consider a car with big doors like my olde granada. And it helps if the seatg is the same hieght as the wheelchair one. .

Reply to
Burgerman

I'll try to get hold of a cousin of mine in the next couple of days as she used to work for a company that converted cars for the use of disabled drivers. She won't be able to advise on how to get the vehicle as she lives over in Germany but she should be able to shed some lights on the basics. Can you just ping me an email from a valid address (replace the 'tnews...' part above with 'timo') and I'll ping you some info once I had a chance to talk to her.

Reply to
Timo Geusch

I was thinking it's the ideal thing - easy access, not high up like a rangey, interesting, lots of space - enough room to swing chair in behind drivers seat.

Mazda RX7? You can get an auto and again the suicide doors will make swinging a chair in behind easy.

No need for an auto to be dull - ask AVM about the interesting oversteery moments in my diesel luxo-barge.

In fact, maybe now is the time for that 911 turbo tip...

Reply to
Tim S Kemp

I'll be the one sticking it on its roof and filling it with jelly then.

Reply to
Tim S Kemp

"DanB" wrote in news: snipped-for-privacy@mid.individual.net:

I think AJM is on the pistonheads website as fluffnik. Haven't seen him on usenet for a good while.

Reply to
Tunku

That's really shit news mate, sorry to hear that. Glad for you that you got to go round the 'ring though.

A guy I worked with last year had a Golf GTi MK5 with hand controls, he'd had a bad bike accident. I think they were fitted by Guido-Simplex. I haven't spoken to him for a year or so, but I'll try and track him down and get more info over the weekend

hth

Mike P

Reply to
Mike P

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Should be able to sort out controls and access.

Reply to
Burgerman

Crikey. Life's a bitch.

Tell you what, you pay me and I'll endure caning the Clio around with you in the passenger seat. It's a win win situation - you don't have to pay for hand controls and I get to drive something better than the 406!

Reply to
Doki

Cheers for the advice dude, it's muchly appreciated! I shall Google my brains out tonight :-)

Reply to
DanB

Reply address is valid, thanks dude :-)

Reply to
DanB

Thanks for the tip! I wanted to hear from him as well as he had an awesome car still hehe.

Reply to
DanB

Tell me about it heh.

Hehe, I think you'd love it - imagine the best handling little hatch you've ever driven, but with better handling and 200bhp and you're getting there, except it probably handles loads better than you're imagining hehe. And as bonus it's comfy and has a push button start :-)

Reply to
DanB

You can mix it into choccy brownies, or add it to fruit muffins, or make it into a tea (time to hit the kitchen).

It tends to be a block pain signals from people I know who have used it for claucoma and rhuematism (yes proper old people on the spliff).

Reply to
Elder

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Reply to
Elder

Other choice.

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TCS off, overdrive off, sport mode on, grin ...... fixed.

Loads of room, not bad economy for a large barge. And you can use the difference between the is-f and the ls for fuel and insurance and hand control conversion.

If you got an auto, could you not just prod the brake and accelerator with a walking stick?

Reply to
Elder

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