Tips for Buying a New Car When You Have RA

If you can manage it, do your vehicle tests when you're in pain. It will give you a more accurate picture of how suitable the vehicle is for you. When pain isn't an issue, you might gloss over your needs and make a purchase that you'll come to regret. Understandably, your energy may be limited, so take your time to make your vehicle comparisons. You're going to have the car for a while, so it's wise to invest some time doing thorough research.

How easy is it for you to open the car doors? Are they too heavy for you? Do they open and close easily? Be sure to test all the doors, including the one for the trunk or cargo space. Some car models have a function that allows you to open the doors and trunk space in a hands-free manner. This may be a balm to your joints in the future.

As a driver, I want aseat符合一系列标准。我已经走远y from vehicles that don't have the features I need to be comfortable during my drive. Are you able to raise/lower the seat height? Is the seat back adjustable to the position you need? Is the seat bottom long enough to support most of your legs? Are you able to hold the steering wheel without having your head hang forward like ahat on a coat rack, or strain your shoulders? Your posture is important during your drive.

A lot of newer cars have push-buttonignitions. How much pressure do you have to apply to start the car? If a key is required, it may be easier to use it when the ignition is on the dashboard as opposed to the steering column. How much torque is required in your wrist? Are you able to manage when you grip the key and turn it? If pushing a button is hard for you, but a key presents problems as well, there areadaptive toolsto help you.

If you've found the perfect position for the seat, but now you can't reach the steering column, look for one that istelescopic. You want to be able to pull it toward you, or push it away from you, as well as raise or lower it. Be mindful of what happens to your head when you change the position of the steering column, and make sure you're able to keep your neck in alignment with your spine.

Two words: power mirrors. Without them, it's a nuisance to adjust the mirrors, especially if there's more than one driver using the car. If your neck is stiff, you may want to invest in some aftermarket mirrors; all the better to see, my dear! You may wish to change out your rearview mirror for one that is wider to give you more coverage. I bought little mirrors to stick on my side view mirrors that, when properly adjusted, eliminated my blind spot.

For years, I preferred to drive a manual. But with the progression of my RA, and a move to a big city with stop-and-go traffic, I now drive a car with anautomatic transmission. The car we have shifts easily into the various gears, unlike our previous automatic model that required you to depress a button on the shifter to put the car into park-neutral-drive-reverse, which was almost impossible for my RA hands.

Where are you going to put your kids, groceries, and gear? How easy is it to access? Is there enough room for it all? When we were testing used cars, the salesman allowed me to take it home to see whether it was a good fit for our dog. We bought the car, not only because the dog liked it, but also because it met all my criteria. TheMazda 5is my “Porsche.” What will your “Porsche” be?

1. Akey fob bumperis a protective sleeve for key fobs. If you tend to drop your keys a lot, you'll want this.
2. A car cane is a handle you slip in the doorlatch to allow you to pull yourself up.
3. Use awrenchto open and close the gas cap when fingers can't do the job.
4. Awedge-shaped cushionfrom the foam shop can made driving a lot more comfortable.
5. If you have trouble moving into position on your seat, place aplastic bagon the seat to make pivoting easier.

1. Word of mouth has value. Talk to your friends and family members. Ask to test drive their vehicles. I’ve even solicited advice from people in the parking lot. It backfired once because the guy admitted to being biased as he was a salesman for a dealership!
2. Phil Edmonstonprovides great advice to help you avoid buying a lemon.
3. Look for sites likenewcars.comfor trade-in and negotiation tips as well as black book market value.

Whether it's a quick drive to the store or a long commute, you deserve to drive a car that doesn't leave you feeling like you've been beaten up. I find that one of the benefits of creating achecklistis that the pushy car salesman may not be as pushy, probably because you have specific needs. Before you drop that wad of cash, do as many test drives as possible until you've found the right car for you, Goldilocks! Bon voyage!