[Erin524]

...and it's handicap accessible!

We went looking at ramp vans today. (note to self, before going to look at cars again. Eat lunch/and or breakfast. And ask for a chair instead of standing next to the car for half an hour)

There were two I was interested in. A 2015 Town & Country, and a 2012 Toyota Sienna.

Only reason I was looking at the T&C van was because it was brand new. Only had 1000 miles on it. Turns out that the Toyota Sienna was the one. (Toyota is my preferred make of car actually).

The Sienna is loaded. It was also $15k cheaper than the T&C. The Sienna is $46k. Had tons more options, and toys in it too. It has a right sided (passenger side) ramp. The front seats are electronic, and slide back, and turn sideways in the the van. It has hand controls, but they're not the style I like. (it's the push down to accelerate, push forward to stop. Plus that's left handed). My hand controls that I currently have looks kind of like a gear shift for a manual transmission. You pull back to go, push forward to stop. And I have turn signal buttons on it. Plus, my hand controls go on the right side of the steering wheel.

We haven't signed papers on it yet. Because we're waiting to see what they'll give in trade for my RAV4 (gonna miss that car! It's just not practical for me anymore). They'll be putting my current hand control into the van for me, and they have to order a mount for it. So it's going to be a week or two before that gets here.

That thing is loaded. It has the back up camera. A dvd player. Two sunroofs (I hate sunroofs!), and it's satellite radio capable. Plus it has blue tooth for my phone. It has some sort of Siri-like thing on the steering wheel, where I can ask the computer thingie to do things. (not sure yet what that does).

It doesn't even have a real key. You get a remote control fob, that you have to have in your pocket or with you in the car somewhere to start the car. It starts with a button instead of a real key.

Other than the sunroofs, the only thing I really don't like about it is that it's white. (I wanted a red one!). I told my parents tonight that it looks like a big marshmallow. (which is what I think I'm going to call it.)

But, it's got a place for us to put my mom's electric scooter. Which means that once we get the van, and get a new battery for that scooter, I can go to Hobby Lobby and buy yarn again!!!!! (and WalMart!)

I won't have any money to buy yarn for awhile, because...$46k car. But, I'll be able to go shopping again! And to a movie!!!

[mrsD]

Sounds great... we've always had Toyotas...they last and last and don't break down.

I have only one suggestion... check it out online to make sure it hasn't been in a flood, or water damaged.

Otherwise I bet you'll enjoy it!

[NurseNancy]

and, ask if there is a recall on it's airbags...takata made?

but, congrats. i couldn't afford to buy another van but my choices would have been between the sienna and the odyssey.

enjoy

[Jules A]

Congratulations! It sounds wonderful!

[Erin524]

I just told them yes.

The recalls should be free work at any Toyota dealership, right? (we're getting the car from a place that specializes in mobility vans)

I told them to send me the Carfax/whatever company they use for info on the car.

I feel kind of sad, because I'm giving my up RAV4, which has been my favorite car out of all the cars I've had. (my other favorite car was a 1999 RAV4, with 5 speed transmission. Gave it up for the 2010 RAV4 we're trading in)

Just that the RAV4 was no longer practical for me. I can't go inside anywhere, and do anything because I don't have the energy to get into a building. We need a car with the space for the eleventy-billion walkers we that we carry. (both parents, and me use walkers). I've been driving my parents places, and then sitting out in the car, waiting for them. My walking has been getting worse. It was kind of time to do this.

Now I'll be able to transport the electric scooter that my mom owns, and my mom and I can fight over who gets to use the scooter. I can't wait to go to Hobby Lobby with the new car and the scooter.

Won't be getting the car for about two weeks or so. We're waiting on a part for my hand controls to mount it into the car, and the guy who installs the hand controls had to go out of town for the next week or so. I should have the van in a few weeks.

[Starznight]

Congo rats!! . I'm sure 'Marshmellow' will be a good friend for years to come.

[tkrik]

Congratulations, Erin! I hope it all works out well for you and you enjoy the freedom that the new car will bring you.

[doydie]

Congrats Erin. BTW, our Hobby Lobby has a wheel chair, JoAnnes has a scooter

[Erin524]

Last time I went to Hobby Lobby, their wheelchair was broken. Joann's scooter was not plugged in, and the battery was dead. And, someone had hidden the scooter behind a bunch of freight that had come in. After they moved everything for me, to find out the battery was dead kind of peeved me off.

I need to get new batteries for my mom's scooter. My dad was talking about trading that scooter in for something smaller. I'm not sure we want to do that. I have to see if it'll fit in the van, and how hard it is to tie it down to the floor of the van.

[Erin524]

Finally getting my new minivan today. Had to wait for the hand control installer to come back from a vacation that he left for the evening of the day we looked at the van.

I still feel really kind of sad about giving up my RAV4 tho. Loved that car, and the RAV4 I had before it. Just another thing that the MS has made me give up.

Dropped the RAV4 off at 10am. The installer hopes to have it ready for me sometime this afternoon.

I just hope I end up liking the new minivan. I probably will, if I can get my mom's electric scooter into it, and go shopping at WalMart again. Won't be able to get much into the scooter basket, but at least I can probably go get a couple of things...or some yarn. Not having to walk from the parking lot into the store, only to be disappointed because all the store scooters are in use, or have dead batteries kind of sucks. Being able to use my mom's scooter will be a plus.