Well, I have been using the same *Permobile* *Chairman* of the last 12 years. So now it is finally time to look into other options. My biggest complaint with the *Permobile* is that it sits too high. I can't fit under most tables or, if I can, barely so. I don't drive but I can't see out my van Windows which makes for poor drives (scenic or otherwise). From the seat plate to the floor it is 18/2 inches (or close to 19 inches) and then I have my wheelchair cushion on top of that.
Anyway, the *Invacare* chairs sit much lower so that is a plus. Actually, my *Permobile* has treated me very well over all these years. Which is good because they are made in Sweden and often times it will be very difficult to get parts (even though they have a branch in Tennessee). Fortunately, anything I have needed over the last 12 years... my vendor has easily been able to fix and therefore I have not had to go more then one day without my chair. According to my vendor, if I am looking for a new chair (which I am) then * Invacare* is probably the way to go because they had such a BIG VARIETY of options (seating, backing, controls, etc.) and getting parts for them is super easy compared to getting parts for a Permobile. I was also considering the *Quantum* 600 (made by Pride Mobility) but not so much now after my seating evaluation that was done a week ago today (Monday). There is nothing WRONG with going where they *Quantum* power chair ... it is just that my vendor is telling me that Invacare is better to go with for not only a huge amount of selections for seating and so much more as well as easily getting parts. However, he did say (for certain reasons I can't remember at the moment) that perhaps I might want to stay with getting another Permobile. My husband is in the process (as I write this) of taking a DEMO* INVARE FDX *wheelchair back to the vendor today. I didn't even get a chance to write here that my vendor got an Invacare FDX (latest model of the Invacare chairs) for me to be able to try out (over this last weekend) before making a final decision on what chair I do want. The *Invacare* *FDX* is Invacare's latest model that has many cool features. But when I first saw it on Friday, and over the weekend, it looks so Mickey Mouse compared to the chair I am using. It is definitely smaller and more compact. I easily fit into it ... it just looks so "cheap." Anyway, my husband picked it up on Friday, brought it home, he was pretty sure that I would not be able to reach the joystick and the controls. Sure enough, when I got into it late Friday afternoon... I could NOT reached the joystick port controls am therefore I couldn't try it out all weekend! So that was a wasted trip on Friday and now he has to take it back today! What is really frustrating is that when he was down there on Friday and the representative was showing him everything on the wheelchair (how this feature and that feature works) my husband mentioned that "It doesn't look like Lori will be able to reach the joystick or controls" but the guy didn't say anything and did not respond. But what he DID say (after my husband said that I probably would not be able to reach the joystick or controls) was that "They can't ALTER demos."* Well, what good is a DEMO if the person can't use it to try it out??? * Just another thing for my husband to have to do. And the vendor that we are going through isn't exactly close by (with traffic and everything it is probably 30 or 35 minutes). *UPDATE* - As I am writing this... my husband just called me from the vendor shop and told me that they are modifying the chair right now. So now he has to bring it back, I have to try it out again and OF ALL WEEKS this is an extremely busy one. So he has to worry about getting me in and out of that chair during the 3 or 4 hour four hour timeframe that I can be up (cuz of my wound area) as well as having to take it back to the vendor after I try it out x-number of days. BIG DECISIONS TO MAKE FOR AS CHAIR I'LL SIT IN FOR MANY YEAS TO COME! Lori On Mon, Nov 8, 2010 at 12:21 PM, Eric W Rudd <[email protected]> wrote: > Personally, I much prefer my Permobils over my Invacare solely due to > reliability. After having 2 Permobils I've decided to try a Quantum due to > a very close dealer. > > Eric W Rudd > [email protected] > > ----- Original Message ----- > *From:* Derrick <[email protected]> > *To:* [email protected] > *Sent:* Monday, November 08, 2010 1:07 PM > *Subject:* [QUAD-L] Permobil or Invacare > > I have had electric Invacare wheelchairs all my years with c/5 sci. > > I hear Permobil is better and my vendor is bringing one for evaluation. > Which do you prefer and why? > > Any suggested questions that I should ask? > Thanks, > Derrick > Ps:if you get a message from my spamblocker whenn replying -do not worry > i'll get your message > > > > -- Lori Age - 46 C4/5 complete quad, 31 years post Tucson, AZ
