# Car Shopping for Special Needs Child - Help Please **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 30, 2010, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-shopping-for-special-needs-child-help-please/562374 "2010-11-30T04:34:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Tristan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tristan/32/18058_2.png) [@Tristan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tristan)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2010, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-shopping-for-special-needs-child-help-please/562374/21 "2010-12-01T01:06:56Z")
IF you are set on a Honda, this may sound a bit odd, but you may want to reach out to the Import communities to see if a fund raiser or special arrangement may be made. I havent’t lived there in 5 years now, and all my contacts are long gone, but it might be worth a shot. Or for that matter, contacting Honda directly. Can’t hurt, might help. ---
**Author:** ![Drain\_Bead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e47774/32.png) [@Drain\_Bead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drain_Bead)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2010, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-shopping-for-special-needs-child-help-please/562374/22 "2010-12-01T01:23:28Z")
I got halfway through your post, and thought “they should get a Honda Element.” And lo and behold, you suggested exactly that. The Element is great–decent gas mileage for an SUV, easy to clean, TONS of cargo room, and holds its resale value quite well. I’d go for that if you can. The problem, as you’re finding out, is that very few Element owners want to sell them. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2010, 8:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-shopping-for-special-needs-child-help-please/562374/23 "2010-12-01T08:08:39Z")
> [@Infovore](#): > > Yep, the Element is really versatile. You can fold the rear seats up against the windows (though it does make visibility a bit of a problem) or remove them entirely to have a big empty space in the back. Good, and thank you. ---
**Author:** ![Moirai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/96bed5/32.png) [@Moirai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moirai)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2010, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-shopping-for-special-needs-child-help-please/562374/24 "2010-12-02T03:28:09Z")
I know you are pretty well set on an Element, but if you look at other vehicles, I recommend the Toyota Sequoia (2008 or later, it’s a bigger model than previous years). Three rows of seating but the back bench seat folds completely down (in 2 sections) for tons of space for equipment, etc. I love ours for the space and the seemingly ZERO maintenance- after our previous cars, it really stands out. Nice height in back for loading stuff, auto open & close on the back door, lots of other cool stuff. My nephew has very special needs as well, and they are getting by with a Toyota 4Runner right now, but the Sequoia has more room to fit their needs so they may be going that route as well. Good luck. ---
**Author:** ![Bearflag70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Bearflag70](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bearflag70)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2010, 8:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-shopping-for-special-needs-child-help-please/562374/25 "2010-12-02T08:18:10Z")
Sorry, but we may be moving off Element because if we decide to have another child while our daughter is with us, an Element may be too small. Our first choice at this point is a used larger SUV at less than $20k. The universe is forcing us into an SUV or van. I never dreamed this would happen. ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2010, 11:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-shopping-for-special-needs-child-help-please/562374/26 "2010-12-02T11:28:12Z")
With a FIL who is paralyzed and in a wheelchair and a brother who is severly disabled and in a wheelchair, I think your best bet will be a minivan for form and function. Eventually a wheelchair will be utilized and lifting it up and down is very, very wearying. Getting some kind of minivan with the middle seats missing and putting in a ramp will give you oodles of freedom and options in the future. Make sure you apply for handicap parking status stuff. You’re dealing with alot of crap in your life, parking issues shouldn’t be one of them. I beleive that you could check on craig’s list for a used ramp and get it installed ( we gave one away that was an older heavier model that was no longer needed.) and if you sell your van, you can take the equipement out. My FIL’s minivan is fully pimped out, courtesy of the insurance company (lawsuit deal, you know that kills them.) with hand controls, remote entry, remote start, folding ramp that is considerably lighter than the last models he’s had and the van does the hydraulic ‘kneedown’ to the ground thing too that the industry learned from the ghettotastic hotrods. Ask around your area. If you have an AutoShow ( not hotrod, but that may help too.) like Detroit does, check out the vehicles for mobilities issues. (Detroit’s is in January. It’s bitterly cold, but the party is awesome. ) ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2010, 11:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-shopping-for-special-needs-child-help-please/562374/27 "2010-12-02T11:38:49Z")
[A GIS on Wheelchair Vans](http://www.aavans.com/Vehicles/WheelchairVans.aspx) [Disability Resource](http://www.disability-resource.com/transportation.html) [More resources](http://www.themobilityresource.com/mobility-prod-avc.aspx?tmrcid=Google-V&gclid=CNTikZW9zaUCFYQUKgod9y_FkA) ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2010, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-shopping-for-special-needs-child-help-please/562374/28 "2010-12-02T15:03:40Z")
Do you not have a local Honda dealership who can do the leg-work for you? Someone, somewhere will be trading one in, probably at a Honda dealership. Honda probably have or will be able to recommend specialist professionals for the modifications you’ll require down the road too. ---
**Author:** ![StGermain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stgermain/32/2868_2.png) [@StGermain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StGermain)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2010, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-shopping-for-special-needs-child-help-please/562374/29 "2010-12-02T16:49:38Z")
[This Element](http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sby/ctd/2085680814.html) is for sale in the Bay area and is handicap-accessible. This [Sienna](http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sby/ctd/2087530029.html) is used, 2007, low miles, and at the same place. You might want to check there, although they may be pricey, being just for handicapped vehicles. StG ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2010, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-shopping-for-special-needs-child-help-please/562374/30 "2010-12-02T17:11:13Z")
> [@StGermain](#): > > [This Element](http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sby/ctd/2085680814.html) is for sale in the Bay area and is handicap-accessible. This [Sienna](http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sby/ctd/2087530029.html) is used, 2007, low miles, and at the same place. You might want to check there, although they may be pricey, being just for handicapped vehicles. > > StG Oh, I like that element. Pity I am not currently in the market for another vehicle =( ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2010, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-shopping-for-special-needs-child-help-please/562374/31 "2010-12-02T17:45:26Z")
Check out the Nissan Cube and Quest as well. Both super reliable and lower priced. With Cube you don’t get the nifty wide swinging doors like the Element though. ---
**Author:** ![Bearflag70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Bearflag70](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bearflag70)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2010, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-shopping-for-special-needs-child-help-please/562374/32 "2010-12-03T23:16:59Z")
We’re sucking it up and leaning toward a minivan now. SUVs have accessibility difficulties. Our understanding is all we need now is a minivan with a ramp attached and a middle bench seat. We can attach the ramp later. Looking at Toyota Sienna and Honda Odyssey. I prefer Mazdas but the Mazda5 is small for a minivan and doesn’t come with a bench seat in the center row. One SMA family said a Honda with a simple side entry ramp has served them well for 8 years (no need for full conversion). ---
**Author:** ![TravisFromOR](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/cc9497/32.png) [@TravisFromOR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TravisFromOR)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2011, 5:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-shopping-for-special-needs-child-help-please/562374/34 "2011-03-01T05:05:41Z")
Reported for spam. Interesting thread, though… ---
**Author:** ![kambuckta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/53a042/32.png) [@kambuckta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kambuckta)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2011, 9:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-shopping-for-special-needs-child-help-please/562374/35 "2011-03-01T09:58:30Z")
> [@TravisFromOR](#): > > Reported for spam. > > Interesting thread, though… You reported **Bearflag70** as a _spammer_ for requesting some information about vehicles that would be appropriate to transport his little girl Getty around?? Are you fucking serious? :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Sigmagirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c89c15/32.png) [@Sigmagirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigmagirl)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2011, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-shopping-for-special-needs-child-help-please/562374/36 "2011-03-01T13:33:26Z")
Perhaps someone posted spam in **Bearflag70** ’s legitimate thread, and that spam already has been removed because of **TravisFromOr** ’s reporting it? ---
**Author:** ![Autolycus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/22d042/32.png) [@Autolycus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Autolycus)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2011, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-shopping-for-special-needs-child-help-please/562374/37 "2011-03-01T15:04:41Z")
Please explain yourself **Travis**. ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2011, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-shopping-for-special-needs-child-help-please/562374/38 "2011-03-01T15:23:12Z")
There was a note there that read like an advertisement, talking about a special program one of the manufacturers offers. It seems to have been removed. ---
**Author:** ![Autolycus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/22d042/32.png) [@Autolycus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Autolycus)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2011, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-shopping-for-special-needs-child-help-please/562374/39 "2011-03-01T16:09:13Z")
My apologies then. I thought I might have jumped the gun…I should know by now to listen to that little voice. ---
**Author:** ![Bearflag70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Bearflag70](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bearflag70)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2011, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-shopping-for-special-needs-child-help-please/562374/40 "2011-03-01T17:21:02Z")
I think someone from the local Kiwanis Club is going to help us get a free used minivan and someone is going to fix the transmission first. I think it’s a 1999 Town & Country. ---
**Author:** ![kambuckta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/53a042/32.png) [@kambuckta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kambuckta)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2011, 8:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-shopping-for-special-needs-child-help-please/562374/41 "2011-03-03T08:38:34Z")
Yeah, apologies from me too **Travis.** Hey, good news about the van though **Bearflag** …keep us posted!! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-shopping-for-special-needs-child-help-please/562374.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-shopping-for-special-needs-child-help-please/562374.md?page=3)