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The Kuga, Our New Car

September 11, 2019 by Anne Sweet 3 Comments

Ford Kuga

Meet our new car, a Ford Kuga. I think it’s pretty nice. It’s not exactly what we wanted and I can’t drive it because it is not adapted. But it’s still nice to have a new car.

Motability Scheme

We get our cars on the Motability Scheme.

The Motability Scheme enables anyone in receipt of a higher rate mobility allowance (such as the Enhanced Rate of the Mobility Component of Personal Independence Payment or the Higher Rate Mobility Component of Disability Living Allowance) to use their mobility allowance to lease a car, scooter, powered wheelchair or Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle. The Scheme provides flexible and hassle-free access to a brand new, reliable vehicle of your choice – giving you greater freedom, everyday.

The cars are not free, you give up your benefit, or part of it, to pay a monthly lease fee. The car does not belong to you at any time and can be taken away if your benefit stops. After three years you have to give the car back, but if you are still entitled you can choose a replacement and start again.

Benefits of the Motability Scheme

When you think about it, it’s a pretty expensive way of getting a new car. You can buy a new car for the same weekly price (or less) and the car will belong to you. But the Motability scheme comes with many benefits such as:

Insurance for up to 3 named drivers
Break Down Recovery
Services and MOTs
Adaptations that would cost a fortune to have fitted yourself

When you add it all up it is worth it. Even when both myself and Graham were in full time work. (Before I got sick) we couldn’t afford a new car. My cars (As I was the only driver then) were usually second hand and pretty old. We’d end up having to fork out loads of money for MOTs and repairs. And I had to pay seperately for Break Down Recovery. I had built up a 10 year no claims bonus on my insurance, but even that was an extra expense.

Why Do We Need A Car?

When I first got sick in 2016 we already had a motability car for Star. She’d had surgery on her spine and was too ill to go to school for 11 months. The criteria changed for being accepted for a car and we no longer qualified for Star. She’d recovered from her spinal surgery, but the condition that caused it was still present. However, because she could walk more than 20 metres the car was taken away.

At the time we didn’t mind. I was the only driver and I had been unable to drive for two months anyway, so the car was just sitting there. We would have been sending it back as soon as we’d got around to it, but I was still hopeful of recovery at the time.

Then I was loaned a wheelchair from a friend and I started being able to go out again. We soon learned how difficult it was getting on buses with a wheelchair, especially ones full of pushchairs and prams. Travelling was a nightmare. We even went on holiday by train, the holiday had already been booked and paid for before I got sick, so we didn’t want to waste it. The journey involved two trains, all our luggage and three young children. It wasn’t enjoyable.

It got to the stage where I didn’t want to leave the house, going anywhere at all was a pain. Long times in my wheelchair where causing even more pain. After six months I also realised that I was not going to recover.

My First Adapted Car

When we qualified again for a Motability car I went to see about getting on with hand controls so I could drive again. We had a Skoda Yeti which had a push and pull hand control with a little indicator on the top, so I could do everything with one hand. This left only one hand to steer, so I was provided with a knob to put on the steering wheel which made it much easier to turn.

It took a while to learn how to drive it, and we had some freedom back for a while. At the same time Graham was learning to drive as well.

Giving up Driving

I drove the yeti for a few months but when Graham got his licence I handed the wheel over to him. I barely drove again, not only did I never really get used to hand controls, I found it painful to drive. And although I was given the go ahead to drive on my medication, the letter states that I should do so only if I felt I was able. Which was not very often.

When it was time to replace the Yeti we decided not to have adaptations on the Kuga and I gave up driving. This made me feel much sadder than I expected and kind of took the shine off receiving our new car. It didn’t help that the new car is manual when the Yeti was automatic. Graham was so used to driving automatic it took him a couple of weeks to get the hang of it.

Getting used to the Kuga and not driving

I’m feeling a little more happier about it now. I didn’t learn to drive until I was 30, up to that point my ex husband had done all the driving and I was quite happy just being a passenger. When I was single again I decided that it would be nice to drive myself and passed my test after just a few months of lessons. It seemed I was a natural. I loved driving and I’ve clocked up many, many miles over the years I was behind the wheel. Giving up was hard, but I know it’s the best choice really. Ironically, the last time I drove the Yeti was to give my ex husband a lift earlier this year.

Now I’m back to being a passenger, and Graham is getting used to driving the Kuga. It really is a lovely car and so comfy. Mabye I’ll drive again one day, but for the next three years I’m just going to be chauffered.

More Information.

If you would like to know more about the Motability scheme you can visit their website. You can also visit The Big Event which is held at the NEC every year. Another exhibition at the NEC for lots of information on disability (including cars and Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles) you can visit Naidex for free.

Car Brakes, How to Check They are Safe.

June 20, 2019 by Anne Sweet 2 Comments

How Good are your car brakes? Do you know? A lot of people take them for granted, especially in the summer when roads are generally drier and free from ice.

cars using their brakes in busy traffic in low light with headlamps on. — *Photo by Nabeel Syed on Unsplash*

Signs of brake deterioration

Look for unusual sounds when applying your brakes, like squeaking or grinding
Do you have to press harder on them to stop your car?
A lot of cars give an illuminated sign on the dashboard to show the brakes need checking

Brakes generally need changing every 20,000 to 60,000 miles you do depending on your type of driving. You may also need a brake fluid flush.

When driving in busy cities like London the traffic can be very congested which means you will be using your brakes a lot more. It’s important that you take good care of them and get them checked regularly. If you are thinking on the lines of getting your brakes inspected, you can get car brakes in London – repaired and replaced at DAT Tyres.

How to take care of your Brakes

Have your brakes and pads checked regularly by an expert
Check your brake fluid regularly
Listen and watch for warning signs like sounds and responses when you are using them.
While driving try coasting for while to slow down before applying your brakes, this puts less pressure on them
Don’t travel too close to the car in front so that you don’t have to brake too harshly.
Invest in good quality brakes from a reputable company, otherwise you may be spending money without any real benefit.

When Your Brakes Let you Down

Last year we were involved in a road traffic accident because the car behind us suffered brake failure. They crashed into our stationary car while we were waiting to turn into a road. Our car was push a few metres down the road and a lot of damage was caused. I was taken to hospital by ambulance and my husband and son treated for whiplash.

The lady in the car behind suffered whiplash and shock.

It’s always better to be safe than sorry.

Disclosure: This is a collaborative post

I like Driving in My Car

April 16, 2019 by Anne Sweet 9 Comments

Driving

Yesterday I drove my car. That’s not huge news, but I haven’t driven since before the accident last October. I wasn’t driving then, and hadn’t driven more than once or twice in the preceding months, but that seems a pivotal point.

I have never really felt comfortable driving with my hands, but I’ve always enjoyed driving and the freedom it brings. Getting from A to Z is so much easier by car. But I don’t drive alone since my illness. I can’t lift my wheelchair out of the boot, and if anything happened where I became unable to continue driving I’d be stuck.

It was a sudden decision to drive yesterday. I wanted to go to visit my brother who lives about two miles away. A quick and easy drive. And I did it.

Dilemma

This made me think even more about our car dilemma. We get a car on Motability. This means that in return for the disability benefit I get for being unable to walk can be used in exchange for the three year lease of a new car with insurance and breakdown recovery included. We are due a new car this year.

I know I don’t always talk about everyone but we are actually a family of seven living together. Sometimes, we want to go out with more than five of us in the car. This means either a taxi to help or Graham has to make two journeys. It would be nice to go out more as an extended family without this issue so we have made the decision to get a bigger car, one with seven seats.

This decision comes with drawbacks. Seven seat cars require a deposit and with limited funds it means we are limited to which we can choose. (I’m talking thousands of pounds here.) There are actually only two cars we can afford and we have been weighing up the pros and cons. The one we finally decided on we have discovered that we cannot have it as an automatic car. The implications of this means that we cannot have hand controls fitted and I won’t be able to drive it.

The other car is still an option and we will take a look at it before making a final decision. The main issue is that it won’t have enough room for my wheelchair if we all use the car. So, we can all go out together but I won’t be able to get very far when we get to wherever we are going. We may find that the wheelchair can be fitted in somehow, or maybe my manual chair will fit. That’s why we are going to view it.

So, here is my dilemma. We get a car that is most useful for us as a family but I won’t be able to drive it. It’s only for three years, and so many things can happen in that time. So maybe we won’t need seven seats by then and I can go back to driving. Do, I sacrifice driving for three years?

The answer is there really. Why should we not get the type of car we really need, just because I will miss driving. I can’t even go anywhere alone, I need another driver with me.

Still, it’s another thing that I must give up because of this stupid rare condition.

Reasons To Buy New Tyres and Quit Worn out Tyres

March 7, 2019 by Anne Sweet 2 Comments

This week started out with a shock. Just as we were about to do the school run we discovered our car had a completely flat tyre. We couldn’t blow it up so we had to wait for someone to come out and replace it. We could have saved the hassle just by looking after our tyres properly.

How Long do Car Tyres Last?

The average life span of a tyre is three to five years, but this varies on how much mileage you do. If you travel 30,000 miles a year then you will probably need to have new tyres yearly. If you travel much less, maybe only on weekends they they will last five years or longer. If your tyres are more than five years old you run the risk of running your car on aged tyres.

When to Get New Tyres

You should regularly perform these checks on your tyres, and if you notice any problems when checking then it’s time to consider getting new tyres.

Pressure -check your tyre pressure monthly and before long trips
Tyre tread depths – these should also be checked monthly with a gauge
Sidewall damage – you should also check the rest of the tyre for damage or irregular wear
check for punctures if your tyre seems to be deflated

If you don’t know how to do any of these checks then take them to get advice from a trained tyre expert.

Why You Should Look After Your Tyres

This is obvious, it’s dangerous not to!

Worn tyre threads compromises the cars grip on the road, this can be much worse in wet weather. Without this grip you could be prone to skidding and accidents.

Worn tyres are also likely to overheat which can cause a blowout. Again a dangerous accident risk.

Under-inflated tyres also compromises the grip on the road, another accident risk.

Over inflating tyres can cause them to wear out prematurely.

Not only is it dangerous to have neglected tyres it’s also more expensive. Good tyres will reduce your fuel consumption.

Buying New Tyres

You can get tyres online from Point S. Tyres can be fitted at garages convenient to you. But what do you need to know before buying tyres?

Size – your car tyre size is printed on the sidewall of the tyre
Tyre speed rating – also on the sidewall of the tyre
Tyre labels – give you the cars fuel economy, wet grip and noise

All car tyre size is standardised so it’s the same for all tyres.

An example is a tyre carrying the size lettering: 205/55 R16 91W.

205: the tyre’s width, in mm

55: the tyre’s side profile, as a percentage of the width (a smaller number here indicates a ‘low profile’ tyre)

R16: the diameter of wheel the tyre will fit, in inches

91: the tyre’s load index – the load capacity of the tyre (91 = 615kg)

W: the speed rating of the tyre – so you can match the ability of the tyre to the top speed of the car (W = 168mph)

Do you know how old your tyres are? When did you last check them?

collaborative post

Looking After Your Car with a Service

February 14, 2019 by Anne Sweet 1 Comment

I’ve recently received my car back after a 3 month visit to the repair garage. We were involved in a crash, which was not our fault and neither was the damage to our car. But, what if your car ends up in the repair garage with a costly bill just because it’s broken down?

I’ve been a driver for over 20 years, and I know the importance of car services. You need to keep your car in good condition to prevent costly repairs and to keep the value if you decide you want to sell it on later.

Looking after your car has many benefits and booking it in for a service is easy. It may be an extra expense at the time, but it will save you money in the long term.

a driver sitting behind the wheel of a car — Photo by Hareez Hussaini on Unsplash

What is a Car Service?

A car service will check the parts that suffer the most wear and tear and degrade over time. If you don’t look after these parts then the car will not run as efficiently and could end up costing more in repairs.

There are different types of service that depend on your mileage. A car that does more than 2000 miles per month will need an interim service every six months. But generally, a car needs a service every twelve months.

You can book Book car servicing online at KAP Motor’s Brighton Branch where you can choose what type of service your car requires. The service carried out may vary from place to place but as an overview the kind of things you can expect include;

Check of the lights, horn, washers, wipers and condition of windscreen.
Change of engine oil and engine oil filter, check of brake pads, wheels and tyres.
Check of antifreeze, cooling system and screen wash.
Check clutch and condition of battery.
Road test of brakes, steering, suspension, engine, gearbox and heating system.

A Full, or Major service may also include;

the fitting of new spark plugs, air filter and fuel filter
recommend Cambelt change date
check and adjust emissions
check and adjust ignition timing
check and adjust idle speed.

Why You Should Service your Car Regularly

Here are some real good reasons why you should regularly service your car.

Safety – A service will identify those problems that may be the cause of an accident, for example worn brakes or tyres, or exhaust leaks.

Keeping Clean – A regularly serviced vehicle will reduce the emissions that it releases into the air. Also, under-inflated tyres will burn more fuel

Cost – The cost of a regular service may reduce a much bigger cost of any repairs needed later through lack of maintenance.

Resale Value – A car that has been looked after will obviously attract a higher price when you come to sell it.

Fewer Breakdowns – No-one likes breaking down and a service can help detect those little problems that may develop into big ones while on the road.

Do you service your car regularly?

Collaborative post

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