Best motability cars for 2017 (number 10 will shock you!)

"Chariotoflove" (chariotoflove) 04/12/2017 at 14:58 • Filed to: car shopping

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So, in the UK, it seems they hand out government living allowances to people with disabilities. Part of that money can be used to lease a car under what’s called the Motability Scheme (I found this by accident while looking for portable hand controls).

Anyway, !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! listed it top 10 motability cars. Scroll down to number 10 on the list, and you find:

Go figure.

djmt1 > Chariotoflove 04/12/2017 at 15:05

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I missed out on these scheme by a bloody year. That said I doubt my dad would of been to impressed if I got an MX5 considering he can’t get up from low positions.

itschrome > Chariotoflove 04/12/2017 at 15:07

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hey just cause they are disabled doesn’t mean they can’t still have fun. it’s not like it’s any more expensive than the rest of the lot and it’s about a British a thing with wheels as you can have. even if it is from japan.

Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. > Chariotoflove 04/12/2017 at 15:12

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My grandparents able bodied neighbour qualified because of very mild arthritis. They had a Qashqai. It was rightfully taken away a little while ago and they bought their own replacement. They already had a second car too. Why anyone thought to give a car to acouple who are mostly able bodied and with their own car already I’ll never know.

Eric @ opposite-lock.com > Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. 04/12/2017 at 15:28

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Arthritis makes you eligible?! Damn, I live in the wrong country. I’d probably be disabled there (although I’d want to work because I love what I do).

Chariotoflove > djmt1 04/12/2017 at 15:38

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Imagining you driving up and saying, “Dad, here’s your new car!”

Chariotoflove > itschrome 04/12/2017 at 15:41

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No, you don’t understand. Cripples are supposed to stick to lift vans and 70s coupes with scooter carriers.

Of course I kid, but I have been looking at how to make a Miata work for me, and the challenges for the mobility impaired are not trivial. I was surprised to find it in this top ten list.

Chariotoflove > Eric @ opposite-lock.com 04/12/2017 at 15:43

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Depends on the type and extent of the arthritis. The kind that can be controlled with some anti-inflammatories should obviously not be eligible for this program. But, advanced osteo or rheumatoid arthritis can be every bit as crippling as limb loss or spinal cord injury.

Chariotoflove > Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. 04/12/2017 at 15:43

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For every government program intended to help people, there will be those who learn to scam the system.

Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. > Chariotoflove 04/12/2017 at 15:47

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Yep and it sucks, because people who really need the help sometimes get punished for the misdeeds of others. I couldn’t live with myself if I knew I was taking valuable resources meant for the disabled...

Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. > Eric @ opposite-lock.com 04/12/2017 at 15:47

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If it’s severe enough yes, but these people were gaming the system.

Eric @ opposite-lock.com > Chariotoflove 04/12/2017 at 15:57

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I have osteo in my hands and there’s nothing they can do about it. Very early onset, at that. But I’m going to power through it until I can’t use a keyboard anymore... It would just be an incredible comfort knowing that I’d either be given considerable accommodations or have a true safety net (this seems like a completely ridiculous safety net, to which I’m in awe) should work no longer be possible.

Eric @ opposite-lock.com > Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. 04/12/2017 at 16:03

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I could see that, but it’s kind of shocking. I’m sure it’d work like that in the US, too, but we don’t get anything beyond some kind of disability payments (and that’s contingent on some number of requirements).

Most disabled people here can’t afford cars, let alone brand new ones that are tailored to their specific needs and completely subsidized like this.

Chariotoflove > Eric @ opposite-lock.com 04/12/2017 at 16:13

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I’m sorry to hear. Yes, osteoarthritis is not curable at this point.

The UK seems to love this nanny state thing. There are good and bad points, like to anything. If things get bad, you could emigrate to the UK and get free basic health care, etc. but still be in an advanced country. You just have to get used to small diesel manual hatchbacks.

Eric @ opposite-lock.com > Chariotoflove 04/12/2017 at 16:23

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I already have a compact manual hatchback, which makes me a bit unusual in the US. I enjoyed driving a diesel one when I was there, but they don’t make/sell many diesels in that size range here.

Definitely can see that. I’m almost more infuriated by my government because it’s almost as expensive (when you count things like health insurance as a tax, it’s far more expensive) yet we get very little for it.

One thing I realized is that my grandparents would have been eligible and wouldn’t have needed to maintain older cars throughout the later years of their lives had this existed for them. I remember many afternoons and weekends helping them maintain the older cars they could afford in the later years of their lives. I appreciate all I learned through it, but in retrospect it was crazy that a man in his mid-80s was still repairing his own cars to transport his very sick wife (who was issued a handcap parking placard) to her numerous appointments.

Lastly, I now understand why used cars are so inexpensive there. 10% are on this scheme, many are company cars, etc.