MV-1 Report

ancientgimp · 08-02-2011, 07:10 PM

My wife and I are both chair users, today we visited a GM dealer selling the MV-1 vehicle built specifically for disabled. We saw a deluxe model w an automatic, under vehicle lift w 2 settings for short lift 52.5" and long lift 87". The long lift is so long that you would have some difficulty using regular van accessible parking places. There is a switch on the door which allows you to select each length. We both attempted to wheel up lift in long deployment and found the ramp angle too severe, we could have pushed up it but would have turned over w normal sport setting COG on manual chairs. The vehicle does not kneel. We both felt a pwr chair could have handled the ramp fairly easily due to COG. The vehicle comes stdrd w no pass seat and you can easily maneuver for transfer to driver seat. The seat, however, does not swivel. It has a switch on the side of seat which is easily reached which raises and lowers the pwr seat. Low position is low enough for gravity transfer down to seat and high is high enough for gravity transfer back to chair. Unfortunately, there is no interior control to open the side door and deploy lift. In other words, this vehicle is set up as a transport vehicle. Once you reach your destination the AB person has to exit vehicle, open the manual (not pwr operated) door, then operate lift. The lift controls were on the interior edge of the door and could not be accessed from a pwd inside trying to get out of the vehicle using the ramp. The designer really missed the boat here. A pwd could open the manual door from outside, then operate lift controls w/o problem. The floor had built in, recessed tie down grooves and there was a bag of tie downs which worked well which stowed in a bag on the back of the rear seat. As a passenger you could comfortably tie down right next to driver. There is no option available to drive from wheelchair. Because the ramp did not meet our needs we did not take a test drive, however, the vehicle is powered by a small Ford V8 and gets something like 13 city, 18 highway. There is good room to maneuver inside, you might be able to tie down 2 chairs and still have the backseat. There is about 3 generous feet of storage behind rear seat. A jump seat is available as an option and fits on driver seat and folds down. Like I said, this vehicle seems best suited as a taxi and even looks like a small Checker Cab like they used to have in NYC. Too bad Bloomburg bought those innaccessible Nissan taxis. These are built in USA in old Hummer factory and will be sold and serviced by GM dealers. If your family wants a transport vehicle which the pwd will not be driving independently this could be a nice alternative to a van. The deluxe model we were in had a sticker price of around 43,000. Their website is vpgautos.com.

I am a computer idiot, my wife who has better skills than me will try to download pics we took today.

triumph · 08-02-2011, 08:07 PM

Here are some photos of MV-1 my husband and I saw today.

GJ2 · 08-02-2011, 08:58 PM

THING IS AS HUGE AS A LOWERED FULLSIZE VAN ....THIS IS A PICK I SNAPPED OF A DEMO HERE IN FLORIDA ...

jschism · 08-02-2011, 09:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GJ2

THING IS AS HUGE AS A LOWERED FULLSIZE VAN ....THIS IS A PICK I SNAPPED OF A DEMO HERE IN FLORIDA ...

How much for the lady?

WC_Sage · 08-02-2011, 09:02 PM

Thank you for the review!

Zaphod · 08-03-2011, 02:15 AM

I've been driving a ford 4.6 for about 8 years now and I'd sure like to know how it's ging to get 18MPG pushing that huge thing down the highway when mine only gets about 16MPG pushing my supercab halfton. It's totally out of breath while it's doing it too.

ancientgimp · 08-03-2011, 08:26 AM

My impression was that the vehicle was between the size of a full sized van and a PT Cruiser, not as large as a full sized van. My wife reminded me this AM that while a pwd in chair could get in independently if they could manage the ramp angle, they could not then reach the lift controls as set up to get lift back in. Again, the vehicle was completely designed for an AB person to assist the pwd. Would be a great big city taxi.

DaleB · 08-03-2011, 08:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GJ2

THING IS AS HUGE AS A LOWERED FULLSIZE VAN ....THIS IS A PICK I SNAPPED OF A DEMO HERE IN FLORIDA ...

Wow! The roof line looks taller than a van in that pic! I wonder how many clowns you could stuff in there. Maybe its the huge windows or a tiny lady throwing the perspective off but that thing looks crazy huge!

Patrick Madsen · 08-03-2011, 11:55 AM

Was more than likely designed by and AB. I'm a little disappointed they weren't more inventive.

Reed-edm · 08-03-2011, 01:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Patrick Madsen

Was more than likely designed by and AB. I'm a little disappointed they weren't more inventive.

Agreed, it looks like a poorly done conversion. I don't think they had the idea of independence for the WC user.

08-02-2011, 07:10 PM	#1
ancientgimp Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Michigan Posts: 3,055	MV-1 Report My wife and I are both chair users, today we visited a GM dealer selling the MV-1 vehicle built specifically for disabled. We saw a deluxe model w an automatic, under vehicle lift w 2 settings for short lift 52.5" and long lift 87". The long lift is so long that you would have some difficulty using regular van accessible parking places. There is a switch on the door which allows you to select each length. We both attempted to wheel up lift in long deployment and found the ramp angle too severe, we could have pushed up it but would have turned over w normal sport setting COG on manual chairs. The vehicle does not kneel. We both felt a pwr chair could have handled the ramp fairly easily due to COG. The vehicle comes stdrd w no pass seat and you can easily maneuver for transfer to driver seat. The seat, however, does not swivel. It has a switch on the side of seat which is easily reached which raises and lowers the pwr seat. Low position is low enough for gravity transfer down to seat and high is high enough for gravity transfer back to chair. Unfortunately, there is no interior control to open the side door and deploy lift. In other words, this vehicle is set up as a transport vehicle. Once you reach your destination the AB person has to exit vehicle, open the manual (not pwr operated) door, then operate lift. The lift controls were on the interior edge of the door and could not be accessed from a pwd inside trying to get out of the vehicle using the ramp. The designer really missed the boat here. A pwd could open the manual door from outside, then operate lift controls w/o problem. The floor had built in, recessed tie down grooves and there was a bag of tie downs which worked well which stowed in a bag on the back of the rear seat. As a passenger you could comfortably tie down right next to driver. There is no option available to drive from wheelchair. Because the ramp did not meet our needs we did not take a test drive, however, the vehicle is powered by a small Ford V8 and gets something like 13 city, 18 highway. There is good room to maneuver inside, you might be able to tie down 2 chairs and still have the backseat. There is about 3 generous feet of storage behind rear seat. A jump seat is available as an option and fits on driver seat and folds down. Like I said, this vehicle seems best suited as a taxi and even looks like a small Checker Cab like they used to have in NYC. Too bad Bloomburg bought those innaccessible Nissan taxis. These are built in USA in old Hummer factory and will be sold and serviced by GM dealers. If your family wants a transport vehicle which the pwd will not be driving independently this could be a nice alternative to a van. The deluxe model we were in had a sticker price of around 43,000. Their website is vpgautos.com. I am a computer idiot, my wife who has better skills than me will try to download pics we took today.

08-02-2011, 08:58 PM	#3
GJ2 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Royal Palm Beach , FL Posts: 258	THING IS AS HUGE AS A LOWERED FULLSIZE VAN ....THIS IS A PICK I SNAPPED OF A DEMO HERE IN FLORIDA ... Last edited by GJ2; 08-02-2011 at 08:58 PM. Reason: ....

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
new MRI, same report	alan	Care	9	01-01-2010 04:39 PM
What does this mean in MRI report	cindy	Care	1	10-01-2004 01:21 AM
Focus on the Family Disappointed with Bioethics Council Report on Cloning; Report Leaves Human Embryos at Risk	antiquity	Cure	1	07-11-2002 01:23 PM

08-02-2011, 09:02 PM	#5
WC_Sage Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 334	Thank you for the review!

08-03-2011, 02:15 AM	#6
Zaphod Senior Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada Posts: 423	I've been driving a ford 4.6 for about 8 years now and I'd sure like to know how it's ging to get 18MPG pushing that huge thing down the highway when mine only gets about 16MPG pushing my supercab halfton. It's totally out of breath while it's doing it too.

08-03-2011, 08:26 AM	#7
ancientgimp Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Michigan Posts: 3,055	My impression was that the vehicle was between the size of a full sized van and a PT Cruiser, not as large as a full sized van. My wife reminded me this AM that while a pwd in chair could get in independently if they could manage the ramp angle, they could not then reach the lift controls as set up to get lift back in. Again, the vehicle was completely designed for an AB person to assist the pwd. Would be a great big city taxi.

08-03-2011, 11:55 AM	#9
Patrick Madsen Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Blaine, Wa Posts: 3,878	Was more than likely designed by and AB. I'm a little disappointed they weren't more inventive.