Project Drive For Freedom – Part 3

The Honda City was booked in early August. Delivery was slated four weeks from the date of booking. The first thing that I did after that was to look for a hand control kit. Since I am unable to step on the pedals, I have to control both the accelerator and brake pedals by hand.

There are currently three versions of hand control kits that are being used in Malaysia. Only one is suitable because the other two needed good hand function that I lacked. I chose the one Christine is using because of its simplicity. One stick controls the brake and accelerator. It is attached to the steering column just behind the steering wheel. The stick is pressed down for accelerating and pushed forward for braking.

Hand control kit in Christine's car
The hand control kit in Christine’s car.
Photo by Wuan.

Christine got her friends to help me get the hand control kit from Singapore. The kit manufacturer, Mobility Product & Design of USA, have two dealers in the island republic, but none in Malaysia. It cost SGD800 – around RM1,900. The other more commonly used kit costs RM2,800 plus installation.

I got the left hand control unit instead of the more commonly used control for right hand. My main concern was that the kit installed for the right hand could severely impede my entry and exit into the car. However, the left hand control kit presented a host of other problems too.

… to be continued.

Related entries:
Project Drive For Freedom – Part 2
Project Drive For Freedom – Part 1
Answer Me This
First Step Of Another Journey
Test Driving The Civic
My Dream Ride
Reclaiming My Life

Project Drive For Freedom – Part 2

Around the time that Wuan and I were on the lookout for a suitable car, William and Cynthia were also doing the same. We were seriously looking at the Proton Waja Campro 1.6. The put offs were the flimsy setup and ridiculously low resale value.

They booked a Honda City instead. The exterior of the City is not a pleasant sight. It somehow does not look proportionate. In short, it is an ugly car. The other choice would be the Toyota Vios. I dislike the Vios for the odd placement of its meter clusters which is smack right in the center of the dashboard instead of on the driver’s side.

Wuan was very keen on the Kia Citra. She wanted a car that she could put my wheelchair into easily. The problem with the Citra was that the doors were very small. There was no way I could get into the car no matter how I tried.

In the end, we settled for a City too. I reasoned to Wuan that we would be spending more time inside the car than outside weeping over it hideousness. The interior was nice though. It more than made up for the shortcoming of its looks.

The plus points were the very adjustable steering column and the ample boot space. When the steering wheel was set to its highest position, I could get into the car, legs and all, very comfortably. The boot was large enough to accommodate my wheelchair without the need to remove the leg-rests.

… to be continued.

Related entries:
Project Drive For Freedom – Part 1
Answer Me This
First Step Of Another Journey
Test Driving The Civic
My Dream Ride
Reclaiming My Life

Project Drive For Freedom – Part 1

After I got back from Tokyo I began to see how important mobility is for me to live a fulfilling life. The ease of moving around in Tokyo and the totally accessible public transport there made me realise how restricted I was back home.

For most part of the last twenty two years, I had depended on transport from family and friends whenever I needed to go out. That was also subject to the availability of their time. On many occasions I had to forgo attending functions because no one was available to take me there.

A few months ago, I saw a friend who had more severe physical impairment than me drive a car. There and then, I knew that it was something that I can do and wanted to do. The other factor that influenced me was the hand control kit that my good friend Christine was using. It was a single push pull control that allowed her to drive with ease.

Over a period of one month after that, I went around car showrooms in Penang, looking for a car with automatic transmission that I can get in and out with ease. That was the most important criteria. Next was affordability followed by aesthetics.

Nissan Sentra was my first choice although I could hardly afford the monthly instalments. However, that was the least of my problems. I am a tall person with long limbs. The distance between the steering wheel and the seat was too close for comfort. I had difficulty getting my legs into the car after transferring to the seat from my wheelchair.

… to be continued.

Related entries:
Answer Me This
First Step Of Another Journey
Test Driving The Civic
My Dream Ride
Reclaiming My Life