The 2008 Chrysler Town and Country and Dodge Caravan minivan redesign was a pivotal fork-in-the-road for this product and the company. I'm not sure they took the right path.
Chrysler's engineers could have designed something unique, streamlined and beautiful. Instead, they chose to prey upon the fears of drivers, especially the soccer moms looking for safety and security. The new van has a blunt nose, wide stance and aggressive-looking grill, similar to the Charger and 300, to give it the feeling of increased safety.
The new design also is more macho and gets away from the soccer-mom look. GM did the same thing with its under-achieving minivans several years ago. The slight increase in sales didn't help enough to keep the "U" chassis from being cut from the GM product lineup. 2008 will be the last year for the Chevrolet Uplander minivans.
Even in 2004 when Chrysler was redesigning their minivans, the writing on the wall said "accommodate older baby boomers, be environmentally responsible, increase gas mileage, and give us some luxury features."
Chrysler increased the luxury features, but missed everything else. I don't see any increase in accessibility features for persons with disabilities or any assistance to the vehicle modifiers now dealing with the nightmare of completely redesigning their lowered floor vehicle.
I'm sure Chrysler engineers and marketing people can site the increased problems meeting upgraded 2008 Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards, market pressures from overseas companies, and lack of sales volume in the "disability market" as reasons for not producing accessible product. However, the creative process used to solve accessibility problems can be its own reward and has often lead to new and wildly successful products.
Chrysler could have chosen a path filled with innovation, style and environmental sensitivity. Instead they have chosen a path leading to a homogenized product line while showing the world a fierce face.
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
Remember, It's a Business
For a newly disabled person or a teenager with a disability driving is the ultimate freedom. So, it is easy to get emotional about the fantastic adaptation to the new ride.
Just remember, adapting motor vehicles is a business. In most circles it is know as a "Mobility business," but it's a business just the same.
Follow the same good consumer practices you would with any business. Check prices, arm yourself with knowledge by knowing what's available, and ask questions.
You don't have to be grateful to the company for building your ride, but you do have to work with the sales staff and technicians. They need to know what you do and don't like, what you physically can and cannot do and, frankly, what you can afford.
If you have good people working with you, you should get good results. Then you can sit back and admire the work of the craftsmen who put together your vehicle.
The work should look professional and slick. Paint should match, wires and carpet edges should be hidden and the switches and adaptation should be easy to use.
It's OK to admire the work of professionals and have some pride in ownership, whether it be artwork, a home, clothes, shoes, or a customized wheelchair van.
KB
Just remember, adapting motor vehicles is a business. In most circles it is know as a "Mobility business," but it's a business just the same.
Follow the same good consumer practices you would with any business. Check prices, arm yourself with knowledge by knowing what's available, and ask questions.
You don't have to be grateful to the company for building your ride, but you do have to work with the sales staff and technicians. They need to know what you do and don't like, what you physically can and cannot do and, frankly, what you can afford.
If you have good people working with you, you should get good results. Then you can sit back and admire the work of the craftsmen who put together your vehicle.
The work should look professional and slick. Paint should match, wires and carpet edges should be hidden and the switches and adaptation should be easy to use.
It's OK to admire the work of professionals and have some pride in ownership, whether it be artwork, a home, clothes, shoes, or a customized wheelchair van.
KB
Monday, October 15, 2007
Times Have Changed
Family friend Bill Edison grew up in northwestern Kentucky and eventually became the production manager for the International Harvester heavy duty truck line in Fort Wayne, Indiana. He pionered the style called "management by walking around." But, he almost didn't make it through high school.
Times were hard in rural Kentucky and his Dad told him he had to quit school and get a job. Bill found a job that allowed him to stay in school and work. He applied to drive the school bus.
16-year-old Bill had driven almost everything on the farm, but to drive the bus he needed a driver's license. So he borrowed his uncle's Model A Ford and took it to the state highway patrol office.
Unfortunately, his uncle's Model A wasn't in very good condition. It lacked brakes and a working clutch, among other things. The officer giving Bill his road test soon began to suspect that something was wrong.
"Bring this vehicle to a complete stop." he ordered.
Bill obliged by shifting the car out of gear and rubbing the right front tire against a curb until it stopped. The officer realized the car didn't have any brakes, so he had Bill drive back to the office.
"Son" he told Bill, "if you can drive this you can drive anything. Here's your license."
Times, they keep telling me, have changed, and whenever I tell this story people always smile because they appreciate the beauty of a simpler time but also understand that this story could never happen today.
Times have also changed for the industry that provides adaptive motor vehicle equipment for persons with disabilities. This equipment is no longer the collection of ragtag parts put together in someone's garage. In the past 35 years since wheelchair lifts were invented, engineers, lawyers and even the federal government have gotten involved.
Perhaps all of this is for the best. In the past too much emotion was attached to the "special" equipment. Now, it is all just another part of a "special" ride. The price the consumer pays for all of this is he/she must remain current and knowledgeable about the products in this field.
KB
Times were hard in rural Kentucky and his Dad told him he had to quit school and get a job. Bill found a job that allowed him to stay in school and work. He applied to drive the school bus.
16-year-old Bill had driven almost everything on the farm, but to drive the bus he needed a driver's license. So he borrowed his uncle's Model A Ford and took it to the state highway patrol office.
Unfortunately, his uncle's Model A wasn't in very good condition. It lacked brakes and a working clutch, among other things. The officer giving Bill his road test soon began to suspect that something was wrong.
"Bring this vehicle to a complete stop." he ordered.
Bill obliged by shifting the car out of gear and rubbing the right front tire against a curb until it stopped. The officer realized the car didn't have any brakes, so he had Bill drive back to the office.
"Son" he told Bill, "if you can drive this you can drive anything. Here's your license."
Times, they keep telling me, have changed, and whenever I tell this story people always smile because they appreciate the beauty of a simpler time but also understand that this story could never happen today.
The motor vehicle industry has changed forever. Modern cars and trucks are crammed full of equipment to reduce pollution, increase gas mileage, and hopefully reduce the amount of carnage on the roads.
Times have also changed for the industry that provides adaptive motor vehicle equipment for persons with disabilities. This equipment is no longer the collection of ragtag parts put together in someone's garage. In the past 35 years since wheelchair lifts were invented, engineers, lawyers and even the federal government have gotten involved.
Perhaps all of this is for the best. In the past too much emotion was attached to the "special" equipment. Now, it is all just another part of a "special" ride. The price the consumer pays for all of this is he/she must remain current and knowledgeable about the products in this field.
KB
Friday, October 12, 2007
Background
10/12/07
If you use a wheelchair and you are riding or driving in a car or van, you have eight wheels involved in your personal transportation.
Getting from the four wheelchair wheels to eight wheels out on the highway can be interesting and challenging, or frustrating and expensive. I hope these blogs will take the mystery out of fitting and purchasing this equipment.
Karl
If you use a wheelchair and you are riding or driving in a car or van, you have eight wheels involved in your personal transportation.
Getting from the four wheelchair wheels to eight wheels out on the highway can be interesting and challenging, or frustrating and expensive. I hope these blogs will take the mystery out of fitting and purchasing this equipment.
Karl
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