Handicap accessible van

[Anonymous]

We are looking to purchase this: http://www.toyotamobility.com

Does anyone drive the accessible Toyota Sienna? Would love to know your thoughts...

Thanks in advance

[Anonymous]

If you were in Maryland go to mobility works used to be rideaway to look at options. I drive a Braun converted Honda.

[Anonymous]

OP here. Thanks for this recommendation, I will check it out. This is our first handicap accessible van, and I just have no idea what kind will best accommodate my (50 lb) child who is in a wheelchair and cannot assist in any kind of mobility or transport.

Any insight would be so much appreciated.

[Anonymous]

We bought a Sienna with side entry last June and love it.

The first decision you have to make is whether you prefer side or rear entry in an accessible van. Go to a big showroom or expo and test a lot of models. Let your child roll in and out.

I think side entry is a lot easier for the chair and for dealing with your child in the car, but it's a lot more difficult to find parking for a side entry vehicle. Other cars will take a van spot without thinking about it.

I test drove Honda, Chevy, Dodge, Toyota and a couple others I can't remember and I thought Toyota handled the best.

I went to Mobility Works in Beltsville.

[Anonymous]

OP, thank you PP. This is very helpful, we are looking specifically at the side entry Sienna (the one where the seat pivots out of the car and lowers to wheelchair height) because for now, we lift our child out of the wheelchair and transfer directly into a carseat. I'm aware that we won't be able to do the transfer down the road, so wonder if we should just consider getting a roll-in van from the get-go. We also have two other kids, so don't want to give up too many seats in the middle row.

I will definitely follow up with Mobility Works today. I've been having a hard time finding a Sienna to test drive. Jim Coleman dealership told me I'd have to wait six months for special order and that they didn't even have a vehicle anywhere on the East Coast that we could test!

Any chance, you'd be willing to share how much you paid for the Sienna? I'm looking at around 44 - 45K but don't know if that's realistic.

Thanks so much.

[Anonymous]

The great thing about Mobility Works is if you give them a price point and a style and make, they will find your van for you. That's what we did. Once I test drove and new I wanted the Sienna and side ramp, we told them our budget and they went to their inventory around the country and selected several choices for us. We looked at the choices and asked them to drive two in to Beltsville, which they did.

Your budget is very reasonable/realistic and I'm sure you will find something really good.

Our salesperson was Stan Phillips and he's great.