Testimonials

My Motability Car has changed our lives!

“I’ve had a Motability car for some years now. Previous to my Sirus conversion I had a standard car with a boot hoist. The discovery of my Sirus car instantly allowed not only me, but my family to regain a huge aspect of our independence we had lost for so long. Suddenly I found I had confidence, social inclusion, self control, happiness and total comfort to mention a few, all this slowly but surely came back to me when I sat upfront in my chair for the first time. And I had actually put myself there! No painful time consuming transfer, having to rely on my partner to lift me into the passenger seat, so it also makes his life easier and saves us time. Previously I’d choose not to leave the house because the effort of using my previous car became such a chore.  Thankfully now I actually enjoy getting out and about and the rest of the family are usually playing catch up. My environment has never felt so inviting…New life here we come! And all thanks to my Motability car and the help from Sirus.”

The Sirus Fiat Future is our latest up front passenger vehicle solution and the most affordable on the market. Russell Venvil, company director commented “we strongly believe that travelling up front next to the driver is the future of accessible travel. Many of our customers are couples who want to sit side by side, which is of course a much more sociable way of travelling, than the chair user having to travel in rear”.

All Sirus vehicles are available through the Motability Car Scheme.  www.motability.co.uk  Click here for more information on the Sirus Up Front Passenger Fiat Qubo.

James Finnie – My Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle

James is 73 years old and has Multiple Sclerosis. The condition primarily affects his lower limbs and as a result he is confined to a wheelchair. As his condition has deteriorated over the years James mobility requirements have also changed. Having previously leased standard production cars on the motability scheme, James realised that he needed an adapted wheelchair accessible vehicle which would enable him to drive from his powered wheelchair.After a full assessment of his needs James decided that a Sirus Volkswagen Caddy was the most suitable mobility car for his lifestyle.“ I have only had my wheelchair accessible vehicle for a short time, but I am very impresses” says James. “With a push of a button, the cars automatic ramp unfolds, making it possible for me to get in and out of my wheelchair accessible vehicle whilst staying in my wheelchair”.

As James lives on his own, his mobility car is vital for him to be able to maintain his independence and active life.“Despite my disability, I live an active life. I am a Borough Councillor for my local town and without my mobility car I wouldn’t be able to do most of the things that I can do now.“The advances in technology have made it possible to keep me driving. I still have my independence and the freedom to go wherever I want to. I am so grateful to Motability, they really do help to keep people mobile”. James car was adapted and supplied by Sirus Automotive Ltd. Vicky Crees, Marketing Manager at Sirus said “we design and manufacture compact drive from wheelchair vehicles and wheelchair passenger up front vehicle solutions and our primary focus is to offer our customers affordable, high quality mobility vehicles backed up by excellent service. Mr Finnie recently received his Vokwagen Caddy drive from wheelchair mobility car which gives him total freedom and independence. The mobility vehicle comes with a fully automated tailgate and ramp so he can enter and exit with ease, plus an automated wheelchair locking system so he doesent need help from carers. The recently launched new style Caddy is very fuel efficient, giving Mr Finnie 54mpg making motoring that little bit more affordable”.

For more information about wheelchair accessible vehicles available on the Motability Scheme visit www.motability.co.uk

Jim Hellington

“I would like to take this opportunity to express my thanks for all you have done for me, I am now truly independent – you have no idea how much this means to me””We are sending you a big thank you for all your help and patience in your adaptations to our car, which has dramatically improved our independence. It’s great to have the freedom to go out together as a couple, without help or carers. In the last few days we have hardly been at home!”

Frank Adams

“I had a lot of problems with my previous WAV (not a Sirus). I decided to seek the help of Motability and Sirus and took delivery of my Caddy in March this year. Its was named Tardis by me, as it hisses and blows a lot everytime I open up, plus it transports me anywhere I want to drive to. I now feel my driving confidence is back to full strength again with recent trips to Naidex at the NEC., Morecambe and the lakes, and the Mobility Roadshow at Peterborough plus rides into the countryside when possible.”

Bethann Siviter

“I only have one thing to say to you: Thank you for my Wonderful, Accessible car! Actually, I have something else to say, too: all of your staff, and thus your company, have been so friendly, personable and willing to help that I feel like a member of the family. From your receptionist to your engineers to Simon who first said “this is what you need” everyone has been exceptionally friendly, professional, and well informed. Not once have I ever come away feeling like I still had something I needed to resolve.”

Mr Melvyn Kirk

“In the old car we had a hoist, to be quite honest it was that much trouble getting in and out, I much preferred to get on the bus. Now we have the Sirus car, a couple of minutes and we’re away… so we don’t have to go on the bus anymore! It’s made a tremendous amount of difference as it allows us to go on holiday, it allows us to take our grandchildren out, it allows us to just go out to the shops quickly, we just drive in and we’re away. Its quick, it’s good, and it’s just brilliant, absolutely brilliant.”

Mr & Mrs Midgley

Mr Midgley received his U Can Passenger Up Front in 2010. Here we hear from his wife, Mrs Gill Midgley….

“I would just like to say thank you from a carer’s point of view! The U Can has revolutionised our lives, life is so simple now, it is indeed a Click and Go solution to life! The addition of a big van mirror sideways onto the back of the passenger seat has also made life easier from a reversing point of view. But really I just wanted to say thanks for making my life so much easier and my husband’s life so much more fun!”

Margaret Brunton, Tyne & Wear

“I would like to thank you and your team for the excellent way in which you have dealt with my order and on the way you have done the conversion. It is turning out better than I thought and driving is now very easy (now I have got my head around all the buttons!) A very good job. Thank you”

Mr & Mrs Lever, Oldham

“Since the delivery of my Kangoo with its alterations to enable me to drive up on a ramp to the driving position, my lifestyle as a disabled person has been dramatically and positively enhanced. Your response to the small problems I have had have been most promptly dealt with and I will look forward to the use of my car in the future”

Mr G Faulkner, Liverpool

“I am writing to let you know the difference driving the van you converted for me has made to me. I no longer need help to get out on my own. Also to know that if anything should go wrong I only have to ring you, as your after sales service is second to none. I am completely satisfied with everything you and your team did for me”

Mark Steer, Essex

“Last Friday saw us in Surrey at my sons wedding, Saturday evening a concert at York Minster, Sunday leisurely spin through the North Yorkshire National Park, followed by Durham Cathedral, party in the Directors suite at the Stadium of Light, test cricket at Chester-le-Street…One week, three hotels, 1400 miles, no sweat, no hassle, just a normal short week’s break before I broke my neck in 1989. Unthinkable ever since my Sirus Kan-go”

Kate Wyatt

“I count myself lucky that for nearly four years now I have been driving, made possibly by a  grant vehicle from Motability. I was awarded a Sirus Renault Kangoo drive from wheelchair vehicle which has given me my independence to live a full and active life, especially as we now live in the middle of the very rural county of Norfolk.

 I am very involved with many different activities ; from editing the MS Society East Anglia Regional Newsletter, secretary of the Dereham and District Access Group and representing them on the Norfolk Coalition of Disabled People (NCODP) as well sitting on various committees to do with Neurological conditions and disabilities.  Without my adapted car I couldn’t do many of these things, as I am still able to go out alone.  If I could no longer drive the pressure on my husband, who works full time and is self-employed would be awful.

For me the Sirus conversion of the Renault Kangoo is fantastic, it has provided me with everything I need.  As Sirus work very closely with the MS Society, I was able to test drive both of their newer vehicles at an MS Event Sirus kindly attended, perfect timing, with my grant vehicle being over 4 years old I was keen to see what else is on the market. Since I had my Kangoo Sirus now offer the Volkswagen Caddy and the Fiat Qubo, for disabled drivers and up front passengers.

 Volkswagen Caddy

There are similarities in the size of the Kangoo and the Caddy, both of them being a 1.6 engine (albeit Caddy is Diesel and Kangoo is petrol).  Driving into the rear of the Caddy felt very familiar, which was extremely satisfying.  I had plenty of room to negotiate the ramp and drive into position.  This was the most important thing for me, as of course the vehicle is adapted for your individual requirements; the wheelchair locking device is fitted, the hand-controls are in positioned in place, then ive no doubt it will fit you like a glove, but test driving showed me that there would be sufficient room for all my needs.

I am used to using the Geoff Gosling standard push/pull hand controls with a steering ball, so as this was the type fitted for test-driving it felt very comfortable and easy.  The standard weight of the steering was light, so easy for me to use.  That’s something that had to be adjusted for me on the Kangoo, so that may not be necessary on the Caddy.  The drive was extremely smooth and comfortable for both the passenger and myself.

What I really like about the Sirus conversion of the VW Caddy, besides its space and comfort, is that it is diesel, therefore being far more economical to drive.  There are 2 passenger seats, which is the same as I currently have.  I have got used to this, so manage to get in my entire usual luggage and my Cavalier King Charles, Charlie, whenever I go away, especially on respite.  He always enjoys going out in the car!  I look forward to having a new Sirus Caddy in the future, but for now im happy with my Sirus Kangoo, I Can Go everywhere i want to go!”

Switch

The Sirus Fiat Qubo ‘Switch’ looked similar in size and design to my Kan-go but has a smaller engine being 1.3.  It is however a diesel. It felt very different driving in to the rear.  The ramp is less steep than the Kangoo and there appears to be more space, as the whole of the rear is flat and empty so that the wheelchair user can either drive into the driver’s space or into the passenger space if the relevant seats are swapped over.  For me this is a very exciting option.  For instance, if I am going out with my husband, who is my named driver for Motability insurance purposes, and I felt tired and needed him to drive us home, he could just simply change the seats and that would be that.  Currently that can’t happen with my Kan-go, as the seat has to be stored at home.

Once I was in driving position it felt rather tight.  Unfortunately I am no longer sylph like, so use a large electric wheelchair, but I do have longer legs than average.  Luckily my wheelchair has a tipping mechanism so I could lower it as far as possible to fit under the steering wheel.  This obviously could be raised if I chose the vehicle.  Otherwise the driving experience was excellent.  The steering was heavier, but again that would be altered to suit my needs. I am used to using the Geoff Gosling standard push/pull hand controls with a steering knob, so as this was the type fitted for test-driving it felt very comfortable and easy.  I would need the gear changes altered to a similar one in my Kangoo.

Being a diesel is a big attraction especially with petrol being such a high price.  It is far more economical to drive.  Regarding seating at the back there is the option of a fold down seat in the rear, which can accommodate two more passengers.  That is something I would find essential, so I am able to carry luggage when I go away and especially when I go to respite.

Whatever happens I intend to stay with Sirus as they have provided such excellent service throughout the past four years.  Their back-up service, whether it’s at the end of the phone or driving all the way over to Norfolk to look at the car and on the one occasion it had to go back to them, was so fast in turn around I had it back within 48 hours.  That’s amazing, as before now non-converted cars have been stuck in ordinary garages for far longer for just a small thing. I look forward to my second Sirus conversion in the future!”