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We are now the proud owners of a 2003 Chrysler Town & Country, fully loaded. It was within our price range, is quite a bit like my current '96 Plymouth Grand Voyager, but with a lot of "bells and whistles"... Oh... and seven years newer and 80K LESS mileage! We can do this because Chris' factory job pays well enough SHE can afford it. (Only now she'll HAVE to work there for at least six years!)

Here's the story (and a warning for you, if you're looking for vehicles!)

Chris (not me!) had gotten a couple of sales ads in the mail from two different dealers. We went to one closest to us (Bill Estes Ford Off Site New Window in Brownsburg, Indiana Off Site New Window) and they had about six or seven used minivans, five or six Fords and the Town & Country. As we stopped by them to look and I got out of our van, a salesman we'd seen standing outside the door (Chris said he was like a vulture, but he was just being a salesman outside at the time we drove by), came over to us. He tried to sell us on one of the Fords, but I KNEW I'd fit in the T&C. When he told us the price and mileage (right at 29K!), we decided to look closer. He went and got the key. When he came back, I got into the driver's seat (it fits about like my current van), and the salesman pointed out all the extras. (We noted some of them ourselves, but he was good). Power everything, zoned climate control (front and back, too), As it was a lot like the current van, we knew it would work for us, but since this was the first place we stopped, we needed to check out another place (with a number where we COULD win a $5000 Wal-Mart Shopping Card) at least. This turned out to be a fiasco!

We drove from Brownsburg to Pearson Ford at 106th and Michigan Road (SR421). As we pulled in and were driving through the lot looking for vans, a lady salesperson walking from the end of that row flagged us down, and asked what we were looking for. We said "Minivans". She handed Chris her card and said there was a really nice one down on the end. (We hadn't got there, yet.) We drove on down the way we were going, and there, at the end was a 2002 Windstar. Now, I had "tried on" Windstars before, and knew it would be a little tight (and it doesn't help my left leg doesn't bend more than around 90 degrees.) She insisted on getting the keys, though I told her it probably wouldn't fit right, and she did. While she was gone, we noticed a number of scratches in it. A few minutes later, she's back with the keys. I get in (finally - left foot got caught where the door meets the floor, you know). Meanwhile, she'd gone around, Chris had gotten into the passenger's seat, so she came BACK around, got in behind me about the time I managed to get my foot in, and she said "See... Fit's fine!" (I hadn't close the door, yet!) She handed me the keys and I started it. Sounded fine. It sounded ok. She pointed out some of the features it had, including pedal movements (they come close for short people and to the floorboard for tall people - KEWL!) and I "made them move" for short people and tall people, saying that it might help them put the hand-controls in, if they could adjust the things. But, then again, we'd never be able to use them. Once the control are hooked in, the pedals wouldn't be able to be moved. I closed my door, and showed her how little room I had to move my leg. Then, as I always do, I checked the stereo system. Within about 1/2 a minute after I turned it on, the van died. I tried to start it again, and it wouldn't. I turned OFF the radio and used a light foot-touch on the pedal (you know... like you do when there's a problem), and she chided me, that I shouldn't do that. (Turned me off right away!) I did exactly what she told me (press the gas to the floor once and let it off, then try to start it again). Of course... IT didn't work, either. She said it was probably the battery (though all the lights were working, etc., including a light in the middle of the speedometer that flashed "Theft". I told her I thought that might be the problem, and she told me I was wrong (not using that word, but...). Seems they ran the flashers on a lot of the road-front vehicles the night before, and someone "forgot" to start and run the van for a while. Huh!?! (Helluva sales person, huh?)

She asked if we'd seen "the conversion van" about 1/2 way in. We said, "No... You stopped us as we were coming in, and said to come here." SO, I walked with her to the van (as we were going, she asked my name and I told her), and Chris drove our van to the spot. This thing was a BUS! (Almost literally!) It was as tall as I am. The thing was ... well, take the length of our van, and add the space we have behind the back seat (actually we took the 3rd seat out, and put the full-size bench-seat about a foot or two further back on the track than the normal "back" seat would be (for my leg, when it wouldn't bend)... Basically add the 46"+ for the scooter (and then some) to our "normal" size van. She went in to get the keys, and while she was gone, we noted there wasn't a driver's side passenger door, the window looked like the type on a "conversion van" (put by the table), the back doors were like a cargo van (two, split in the middle, get it?), and the "back door" on the passenger side actually LOOKED like a bus door, but worked like the back... One door opens, then the other is unlocked and can open. The sales lady came back, and jumped in front of me "to set the seat" so I could get in (duh - think I could have handled that, and had to, once I was there!) This thing SOUNDED like a bus when I started it... It had 3 full bench seats in the back, with that extra room behind them and a 2/3-3/4 seat directly behind the driver. The side window (normally by a table on the conversion van) DID tilt out a touch on the bottom. When I got out, I barely touched the ground from the seat. It DID have running board to help step up, but GEEZE! I had Chris (literally) climb into the driver's seat. (Think ME getting into a semi! LOL) I asked the sales lady about gas mileage and she said "Well, it doesn't get as good of mileage as the smaller van..." but that's all she said. It was nice and clean, but WAY too big. (Though for the rest of the time there, she was still trying to sell us on it.) It was older, the mileage was higher and it cost more, too.

As we were going in, she asked Chris' name, and didn't even remember mine! She asked if we were "together"... Duh! We went in and Chris had to give her information for the "contest" for the $5000 Wal-Mart gift card. The lady showed us where to sit (table.. computer.. balloons, give-away stuff -- I'da never guessed) and disappeared! Apparently, she had to get someone to do it, because, obviously, no one showed the sales people how to take the info. While the (cute, but) low-level girl was taking Chris' information, the sales lady disappeared again... She was looking for other vans. She came up with one from "in back", and we waited... and waited... Then someone else came in to have her number checked. The girl took all her information (including SS#!) while Chris was no more than 1' away. She said she was happy with her car, but was talked into "talking to a sales person" who I overheard her say the same thing about her car to as they disappeared around the corner. We were about to give up and leave when, of course, the van pulled up. We went out, and it was tighter than the Windstar (this was a Freestar). The sales lady had hauled another sales person (a man... said he was from New Orleans, north side of the lake where the eye came through) to keep us busy while she looked for another vehicle. We spent some time talking to him and joked a little about the cars up here being from there, and he said EVERYONE asks him about that. The lady came walking (quickly) back in, and a couple of minutes later, she came out with a guy with some type of toolkit in his hand. The N.O. guy always filled in any lull in the conversation (and being polite, we kept looking at him, rather than what was really happening.)... After another few minutes, we were going to leave, saw the guy with the tools coming back, and the salesman said, "Ah... There she is." We walked to the end of the walk (where OUR van was), and watched as she backed out of a spot about 1/2 way between the Windstar and the "bus" (took her two tries) and drove the OTHER way. The salesman was flustered (think he knew what would happen). She turned around at the end and drove slowly back toward us. She got about 30 feet away and the thing had DIED! (and wouldn't restart.) Of course, HIS excuse was exactly the same as hers... "We ran the flashers last night on some of the vehicles, and didn't start them..." Uh huh. That was it... We left.

WARNING for friends and family looking for cars: I would NOT recommend Pearson - at least that one - from OUR experience. The sales lady was (and we saw others who were) "pushy" (not simply "aggressive"), Chris overheard her asking the N.O. salesman to come out with us with a "you're my tag-team partner", and I, personally, felt like I was being "held against my will," waiting at the desk, outside, etc. Oh... And the $2000 online "shopping spree" we won? It's an online thing. There's very little that is a "name brand", and even those are not particularly something we'd want (check out www.bpshoppingspree.com Off Site New Window). Then THEY charge you a "Processing and Delivery Fee" for EACH item you get through the "shopping spree". I can't find out how much it is until I actually log on, and think that when I do log on, I will need to spend the whole $2000 coupon or it just "goes away". However, according to the Customer Service page:

Sounds expensive, huh? We'll probably do something there, but maybe not... and I'll let you know what I find if we do. OH, and we were told by the girl, when I said something about having to pay taxes next year "Oh No! It doesn't work like that!" Uh-huh... It probably doesn't because most people don't use them, therefore they didn't "get" the money! GEEZE!)

Hmmm... Anyway, having looked online and in the sales papers, we figured we wouldn't find another van as good as the T&C, so we headed back toward Brownsburg. The salesman (Jess Tibbs, btw... seemed like a "good guy" to us!), let us take it out for a test-drive (had an experience before where when test-driving I heard a sound in the back and made sure that it would be taken care of before I got it... Turns out they had to put a whole back end into it!), and we tried everything out and listened for all the little sounds that could mean a problem. Everything worked the way it was supposed to, and there WERE no "little sounds". Another hour or so (signing papers, them getting our credit info, etc.) and the van was ours. (I recommend Estes and, in particular, Jess Tibbs at Brownsburg. And, if you go there, tell him we sent you! We get paid for referrals, you know! ) Now to get it home.

I haven't driven more than a mile or so since my knee problem (Nov, 2003). I found out from Crossroads (driving evaluation) that my driving left-footed was technically illegal, though I didn't have any problems (something about crossing the foot over the other... and the possibility of the other "getting in the way" when having to move the left foot quickly for braking, etc.) Anyway, since my partial RIGHT foot was shoed (not booted in a "removable cast") I could drive the way I did before I had the ulcer problems on THAT foot (you know... normally). HOWEVER, remember, I have neuropathy in both feet to about 1/2-way up my calves, so don't have the same feeling YOU would. (Try this ... Cross your legs until your foot goes completely numb. Uncross them until your foot's still numb, but you can walk without dragging your toes. THAT'S what I feel.) By the same token, I DO feel some pressure, I'd learned to compensate before, and wearing the shoes (ankle-high) give me more surface area to "feel" the pedals. Chris was nervous, but I drove the old van (no REAL problems ... just a little nervous at stops because I hadn't driven in so long ... ) and she followed in the new one, home. Don't want to do that again, though. I need those hand-controls.

So now, with any luck, things will move quickly, and:

1. Voc Rehab won't have to get new estimates (since the van is basically the same as the one they GOT the estimates on)
2. VR shouldn't need the "roadworthiness" inspection by anyone (if necessary, I'm sure the Jess could get the mechanics there to "certify" that it's "roadworthy", and that will be enough for VR)
3. I can get the driver's training on hand-controls (apparently, if you can handle one type, you can handle another, and most of the "training" is pointing out things you've done wrong for so long they're habits...)
4. I can get and pass a BMV Driver's test (using hand controls) and get my license amended to using them
5. The "low bid" people doing the modifications (hope its one I believe in!) need to:
   1. add right-side hand control - a Menox (see Menox - Hand Control Packages  Off Site New Window) - probably a "standard". These will also allow Chris to drive it without unhooking anything.)
   2. add removable "suicide" steering-wheel knob (don't know if it will be a Menox, but see Menox - Steering Knobs Off Site New Window) - possibly like a Model Low or Round, hopefully, left-side)
   3. move the driver's seat back a little (2-3") to give me more leg-room (less than 2" from dash for the past x years! Front of the track will still let Chris drive it. I've been told there are "extended" tracks, by a dealer ... Well, it WAS Pearson ... and have also been told that most dealers/body-shops will NOT move the seat back for fear of problems, later. The modifiers will take care of sealing all the old "holes" in the floorboard, so there should be any rusting. My first car, the dealer moved it back, but didn't seal the holes. It rusted out in less than a year!)
   4. add an extra-long seat-belt attached just above the driver's side passenger door for the moved back position (leaving the old for the more normal position)
   5. add the scooter lift - I believe they were talking about a "Curb-sider" - (see  Bruno - The Leader in Vehicle Lift Solutions - Model VSL-602 New Curb-Sider® Vehicle Lift) Off Site New Window) Hmmm... Just noticed... an standard, wireless remote control? Would be handy!
6. I've been told that I will get an hour or two of training on the new controls, and;
7. I will officially be a "new" driver! I can't wait!

For those that don't know, here's what my scooter is like:

In a few weeks, we'll license the van (not dealer plates), get it insured, and (when I can) I will drive it and we'll use it for our longer trips. Chris will drive the Green Machine (the old van) to and from work and around Lebanon. She's going to sell her car to her daughter, who's current car is in worse shape than the Green Machine is ('96 and 111K miles... Guess you'd be too, huh? ;-) )

Oh... Here's a few pictures of our new "baby"...

Chris wants get good mats for the floors, driver, passenger, back seat and here, to protect the "clean carpet".

(Most of these pictures were only cropped a little and resized to 600px high. A couple were "sharpened".
Resolution was lowered to make them work better "on the web" and in email.
No other modifications were done to these pictures.)

Kewl, huh?

by Bill Sanders © January 24, 2006 - email:

Again, that's Bill Estes Ford Off Site New Window in Brownsburg, Indiana Off Site New Window ... Salesman: Jess Tibbs. Tell him we sent you (Bill and Chris Sanders, Lebanon!).

 

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