Best 2-Door Vehicles

[Crazy8]

I am a T-12 para looking to replace a 2001 Cadillac Eldorado with a newer 2-door vehicle. I currently transfer into the driver?s seat, fold my Quickie, pull it into the car and slide it behind the passenger seat. It fits well without having to remove the wheels. However, the car keeps breaking down and is no longer reliable.

Does anyone use or know of any current model 2-door cars that can accommodate a wheelchair behind the passenger seat? In the past I was able to use the same process in a Cougar and in a Thunderbird, but it seems like 2-door cars have gotten much smaller. Does anyone have any experience with current 2-door cars?

[Crazy8]

Sorry. I posted this same question earlier on this forum but could not find the replies. I have since figured it out. Sorry for the repeat. My bad!

[ChesBay]

Sorry. I posted this same question earlier on this forum but could not find the replies. I have since figured it out. Sorry for the repeat. My bad!

May I ask how you solved the problem. If you stayed with a car and find workable 2 or 4 door?
Thanks

[Jeramie630]

BMW 3 series fit a chair nicely they are pretty roomy . Also doge challenger are big like the older cars you discribed but go to a dealer they will usually be more than happy to have you try it out just act like you plan on buying from them

[rshadd]

I have a 2009 Chevy Colorado extended cab that works really well. The suicide style rear door makes loading my TiLite TX chair very easy. I also lowered the truck 3" so the seat height is same as my cushion height so transfers are easy too.

[Joe-MN]

Well since you currently are driving a 2001 car, I am going to assume used is not a problem for you.

- The Chevy Colorado/GMC Canyon as RShadd suggested. New model is tall, and expensive.
- Ford Ranger last made in 2011, prior to the new model that just came out.
- Honda Element, last made in 2011. I almost got one of these
- There is a small Saturn with a small suicide door behind the driver's door. Has not been made in a long time
- Mazda MPV or Mazda 5 (2004?2016)
- Have you looked at any of the two door GM products, Monte Carlo, Grand Prix, etc
- Toyota FJ Cruiser. Kind of tall, has a big blind spot (so I have read) and is expensive
- If you want to go old school cool Mercedes had a two door sedan back in the 70's and 80's. Diesel

I may have the dates wrong on some of these, but you get the idea. If I was looking to replace my current vehicle, I would think long and hard about a low mileage Honda Element AWD. It would take a little time to find, but I am sure they are out there.

[TheVillageIdiot]

- Mazda MPV or Mazda 5 (2004?2016)

I have a 2014 Mazda 5 and there is no way I can fit a Quickie Xenon behind the passenger seat. The car seems to have rather limited rear leg space compared to my daily runaround 2010 Nissan Tiida (Versa in the USA)

[Sit-N-Fly]

I have a 2009 Chevy Colorado extended cab that works really well. The suicide style rear door makes loading my TiLite TX chair very easy. I also lowered the truck 3" so the seat height is same as my cushion height so transfers are easy too.

What's your routine for getting the chair in and out? Do you reach behind the seat and pull the chair in or ?. I'm interested because I've been thinking about a lowered truck for awhile and it looks like you've got it figured out.

[Andy]

Surprisingly roomy inside an Accord coupe. And light years more reliable than a NorthStar Horror, true luxury. I think you might like the memory seat in the Caddy, these have that also in V-6 models

[Crazy8]

Thanks so much for all the great and informative replies. Sorry for the delay responding, as I?ve been out to all the various dealerships investigating. I finally pulled the trigger and bought a new Dodge Challenger with the understanding that I will have to make some interior modifications to get my chair in and out.

Sit-N-Fly, you are correct. I transfer into the drivers seat and then reach behind the seat and pull the chair in, then push it across, behind the front passenger seat. As with the Eldorado I will have to have the center console cut down a bit as it extends too far into the back seat to easily slide the chair across. I have also learned from my previous vehicles to have lucite put over the backs of the front seats and on the ?under knee? area of the back seats to both protect the seats and help make getting the chair in and out easier. Using this system has worked for me over the years without having to take the wheels off my chair every time I get in and out of the car.

[Crazy8]

Andy,
You know your stuff. The NorthStar horror is quite accurate and I certainly am going to miss my memory seat. I just hope I can keep my Caddy running long enough to finish modifying my new ride. I am excited about having updated features like the back-up camera, etc. but concerned about the little things I will miss with my big ole Eldorado.

[nick]

Andy definitely knows a great deal about vehicles. I know first hand.
He also knows how to spend your money! LOL! Right Andy?
He convinced me in purchasing a ‘18 Scat Pack Challenger...... he has an SRT. Now I absolutely can’t wait to get mine out of storage soon and tear apart the streets.
The Monte Carlo SS now seems so sluggish! LOL.....
Crazy8, congrats on your new vehicle.
My cousin had the Northstar in a older ElDorado....... I’ll admit it sure is a beautiful car but wow did it always have issues. LOL!

[Andy]

Dont blame me for spending your money...I've got enough troubles. I stroll into a dealership and the sales guy starts bashing my forehead into the hood while yelling "you gonna buy today?". I just cant say no and end up buying all sorts of shit. Unreal. But since you got a Challenger...do tell and maybe even a picture? Got a few Challenger folk 'round here

[August West]

The last time I went through this process I had the following requirements:

1. easy transfer
2. 2-door
3. Passenger seat moves far enough forward to get wheelchair in back AND far enough backward to get the wheelchair in the passenger seat.
4. 4 people fit inside with wheelchair in the trunk.
5. Easy access to seat motor controls or easy to move seats manually.

The only two cars that met these requirements were the PT Crusier and the BMW 6 series. I really liked the Mercedes. But the seat motor controls are on the door which means you have to reach too far for the controls when the door is open. PT cruiser were manual seats but easy to move. You have to go for a 4-door Mercedes before you get a large trunk. Same problem with the Cadillacs. Today the Infinity G35 (BMW 6 series copy cat) may work. But I think the trunk is not so big. The Challenger was ruled out because the transfer was not easy. The distance between the wheelchair and driver seat requires a transfer board. I bought the BMW 6 series.

[August West]

By the way, I used to have a folding chair and drive a Buick Riviera back in the 80s so I know what you are looking for. That's going to be hard to find that size of door. You can find a large 2-door car. But probably not with that size door anymore. A rigid frame chair will give you many more options.