There’s Nothing Standard About The Volkswagen Vista
The average car driver on the road these days wouldn’t bat the proverbial eyelid if overtaken by a Volkswagen Vista. And if there was the slightest flicker of recognition, the driver would be forgiven for thinking the overtaking vehicle was in fact a Volkswagen Caddy Maxi Life – yes, a bit of a mouthful!
But that’s good, believe it or not. For it underlines how far along the road – excuse the pun – the wheelchair accessible vehicle has travelled. Thank goodness the bad old days are no longer with us. Remember them? These were the days when the three-wheeled Invacar was just about the only choice available to the disabled driver.
The Invacar was a common sight in the 1960s and 1970s, until it was eventually phased out because of its poor design and inherent instability. Now it serves to show just how much society has moved on. Wheelchair users are no longer stigmatised by such poorly designed vehicles. Now you can’t tell the difference between a modern wheelchair accessible vehicle (WAV) and any other car for that matter.
Today, WAVs even come complete with a choice of automatic or manual transmission, and engines incorporate the very latest of design improvements, thus reducing emissions and making them ever more fuel efficient.
But no matter how much the situation has improved for wheelchair users – whether driver or passenger – buying the right car is still a daunting prospect. And it’ll probably always remain so because of the uniquely individual circumstance of most wheelchair users.
Having said that, the good news is there’s an army of people out there, patient, expert and ready at a moment’s notice to advise and help the prospective buyer. Which is just as well, for it’s never been easier to obtain a mobility car, such as the Volkswagen Vista, thanks to the Motability Car Scheme. But that’s another story.
The Vista is based on the Volkswagen Caddy Maxi Life and is built with space in mind for both the wheelchair user and passenger alike. As such, it makes an ideal people carrier, with ample room for large families or small groups.
The wheelchair user will have little difficulty getting in and out of the Vista. It’s got a lightweight folding ramp at the back, and with it’s lowered floor, the shallow ramp gradient should present few problems. When not carrying a wheelchair passenger, the ramp can be folded flat on the floor, providing a large amount of extra luggage space.
As far as seating layout is concerned, the Vista retains Volkswagen’s original middle row seating and can accommodate driver, wheelchair passenger and up to four seated passengers. The wheelchair is secured by means of a four-point automatic tensioning wheelchair restraint system and there’s a wheelchair lap and diagonal restraint belt for maximum safety.
With twin sliding doors and a one-piece tailgate, the Volkswagen Vista is also fitted with anti-lock brakes, front and rear fog lights, driver and front passenger airbags, side-impact protection beams, rear parking sensors and much, much more, all as standard. Talk about value for money!