www.ultimatehandyman.co.uk

Ahh Ok, I guess in my head I was thinking of just adding ramps to a small transit type vehicle and bolting in some restraint points.

Thanks Bob - just out of interest, what search term did you use on Autotrader? It's failed to find anything for me - and just to complicate things, I'm looking for a "passenger up-front" conversion. I don't plan to treat my wife as an item of cargo, it doesn't seem right somehow.

Passenger up front:-

I do understand your concern about making sure the van is roadworthy. Remember though under the new consumer rights act you have a right to a full refund if you find any faults with the vehicle within 30 days. After 30 days and within 6 months you then have the right to repair.

I'd take it to a good garage and get them to give it a thorough check. An MOT only covers the basics and to be honest I'd be wary of garages doing their own MOT's when selling them on. They have a tendency to bodge things just to get it through an MOT.

Just on the MOT question. I MOTed my previous car half way through its anniversary as I was not happy with the time the MOT had to be done (I had to be away for part of the month before the anniversary). Subsequently, after I part exchanged it, the next seller who got it from my dealer MOTed it again so he could sell it with 12 months MOT. What I am getting at is, you could MOT the car any time you like before its due date and as you will not be within the 4 weeks (or 1 month???) of the due date, the date you pass the MOT will be the new due date.

The only catch is ... I don't know if there is any particular reason that it may not be possible to do that for a car that has not been MOTed before.

Clear as mud I hope.

OchAye wrote: ↑Sat Jan 04, 2020 1:02 pm I don't know if there is any particular reason that it may not be possible to do that for a car that has not been MOTed before.

Having read the .gov website more thoroughly I can't see any reason why not, and I'll just insist on it before agreeing to buy it (assuming I like the vehicle).

There's not hundreds of vehicles out there to choose from as the *passenger up-front* conversions are a relative newcomer to wavs and the choice of vehicle is already limited by what is deemed convertible (and what spec I want), but I can wait until the right one comes along if this is not it.

Yes, I'd want a years ticket on anything that had one coming up soon. AFAIK, there's nothing to stop them MOTing it.

One point I would consider, is how far away from the dealer are you?
It'd be your problem to get it to them if there are any problems while under any warranty unless otherwise agreed

For Autotrader look under vans, as most are van's or car dervived vans

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/vans when doing a search put WAV or Wheelchair in the options box

https://www.ridc.org.uk/features-review ... d-motoring is a very useful site and lists lots of vehicles and specs

http://www.wavcompare.com/wheelchair-pa ... e-up-front

Yet another edit.

the earliest ride upfront i can find is 2000-2006

http://www.wavcompare.com/search-result ... equal]=188

Dave54 wrote: ↑Sat Jan 04, 2020 3:32 pm
One point I would consider, is how far away from the dealer are you?
It'd be your problem to get it to them if there are any problems while under any warranty unless otherwise agreed

It's a fair trot at just over 100 miles, but there's a 6 month RAC warranty and 12 months RAC breakdown cover on the vehicle after sale - I'm guessing, (but I'll check), that the RAC will come and take a look if any problems arise.

ayjay wrote: ↑Sat Jan 04, 2020 4:07 pm It's a fair trot at just over 100 miles, but there's a 6 month RAC warranty and 12 months RAC breakdown cover on the vehicle after sale - I'm guessing, (but I'll check), that the RAC will come and take a look if any problems arise.

Sounds OK then. Worth checking though as you say.
Good luck with the buy.

It's a fair trot at just over 100 miles, but there's a 6 month RAC warranty and 12 months RAC breakdown cover on the vehicle after sale - I'm guessing, (but I'll check), that the RAC will come and take a look if any problems arise.

Just so you know the RAC warranty is not as good as what you may first think. I had problems with my rear parking sensor. The garage tried to fob me off to the RAC warranty people but the warranty only covers replacement. It doesn't cover diagnosis! Which is mental because you first have to diagnose the problem in order to fix it. In the end I sent the garage a recorded letter setting out the problem and my rights under the Consumer Regulation Act. The eventually backed down and fixed the problem.

The RAC warranty works more for the garage as it does you.

ayjay wrote: ↑Sat Jan 04, 2020 4:07 pm

Dave54 wrote: ↑Sat Jan 04, 2020 3:32 pm
One point I would consider, is how far away from the dealer are you?
It'd be your problem to get it to them if there are any problems while under any warranty unless otherwise agreed

It's a fair trot at just over 100 miles, but there's a 6 month RAC warranty and 12 months RAC breakdown cover on the vehicle after sale - I'm guessing, (but I'll check), that the RAC will come and take a look if any problems arise.

if you want piece of mind you can always get an inspection done https://www.rac.co.uk/buying-a-car/vehicle-inspections

Dave54 wrote: ↑Sat Jan 04, 2020 3:32 pm One point I would consider, is how far away from the dealer are you?
It'd be your problem to get it to them if there are any problems while under any warranty unless otherwise agreed

That was my problem I bought the car at the other side of Edinburgh which involved at least an hours drive at peak times. After the third journey there and back I learned from these people the garage was actually obliged to pick the car up from me and drop it back off. They even sent me a template letter.

The garage of course claimed they didn't know this

https://www.mygov.scot/consumer-rights/

Argyll wrote: ↑Sat Jan 04, 2020 7:28 pm

It's a fair trot at just over 100 miles, but there's a 6 month RAC warranty and 12 months RAC breakdown cover on the vehicle after sale - I'm guessing, (but I'll check), that the RAC will come and take a look if any problems arise.

Just so you know the RAC warranty is not as good as what you may first think. I had problems with my rear parking sensor. The garage tried to fob me off to the RAC warranty people but the warranty only covers replacement. It doesn't cover diagnosis! Which is mental because you first have to diagnose the problem in order to fix it. In the end I sent the garage a recorded letter setting out the problem and my rights under the Consumer Regulation Act. The eventually backed down and fixed the problem.

The RAC warranty works more for the garage as it does you.

Just been reading up on the RAC Warranty on google, as you say, it's supposed to go back to the seller for diagnosis, it's something else I'll have to mention, or maybe ask the RAC if that can be circumvented somehow.

We went down yesterday and took a trip in this vehicle, I can't say it's as intuitive to drive as my Merc, (I guess I'll get used to it) but we agreed to buy it. There was no problem with the MOT, they said they would have it done as a matter of course as they don't sell anything with less than 9 months MOT. I asked about the RAC warranty and having anything diagnosed at their premises and he said that that was more to do with the wheelchair conversion aspect of the van, (although the RAC website doesn't read like that), it does still have the manufacturers warranty until the end of May 2020.

I also got a sensible offer (well not insulting anyway) for my Merc in P/Ex, although the various supermarket kisses cost me £400.

I can't say it would have been my first choice of vehicle, but it's quite a restricted market to choose from, and at £28k less than new price I can't fault it. Picking it up some time during the week beginning 21st Jan.

It looks good, and certainly an unusual model (never seen one). Can the wheel chair fit at the space of the front passenger? It looks as if it is car width as opposed to van width.