996/997 Coupe + Wheelchair?
Discussion
Hi all.
I'm forward planning a bit for a big birthday in a few years and an associated car purchase/present and extended Euro roadtrip with my wife. I've been watching 996/997 prices for a while and the more I research the cars themselves, the higher up the list they go (specifically a 996 C4S). The problem is though, my wife uses a wheelchair. For an extended roadtrip it should be ok as we'd fit a roofbox so between that and the back seats we should have enough room for wheelchair + luggage but in terms of use as a weekend car before/afterwards, does anyone know if its possible to get a wheelchair in a 996/997? I only realised the other day that the back rests of the rear seats drop flat so I'm assuming/hoping I'd be able to get a wheelchair into the back??
I'm forward planning a bit for a big birthday in a few years and an associated car purchase/present and extended Euro roadtrip with my wife. I've been watching 996/997 prices for a while and the more I research the cars themselves, the higher up the list they go (specifically a 996 C4S). The problem is though, my wife uses a wheelchair. For an extended roadtrip it should be ok as we'd fit a roofbox so between that and the back seats we should have enough room for wheelchair + luggage but in terms of use as a weekend car before/afterwards, does anyone know if its possible to get a wheelchair in a 996/997? I only realised the other day that the back rests of the rear seats drop flat so I'm assuming/hoping I'd be able to get a wheelchair into the back??
I know from when my father was still driving whilst wheelchair bound there were some chairs that folded down to very compact form, and as you say, the seat backs fold flat.
Biggest issue is the diameter of the wheels, will put a tape measure to the back of mine a bit later if you need.
FYI, the frunk can hold a lot more stuff than you might expect, especially if you use soft duffle bags.
We toured ours across Switzerland and northern Italy for 10 days with 2 adults, a 2 1/2 year old, with all our baggage and the baby buggy up front.
Biggest issue is the diameter of the wheels, will put a tape measure to the back of mine a bit later if you need.
FYI, the frunk can hold a lot more stuff than you might expect, especially if you use soft duffle bags.
We toured ours across Switzerland and northern Italy for 10 days with 2 adults, a 2 1/2 year old, with all our baggage and the baby buggy up front.
While avoiding doing meaningful work I took a tape measure outside.
The 'back deck' is comfortably 100cm x 100cm and slopes forward. I think the challenge may be getting a chair past the front seats. With the seats moved forward the gap between the driver's headrest and the b pillar is approx 60cm, with only 5-10 cm of room between the headrest and the roof lining.
As others have suggested you should test one out before you buy (bubble wrap the chair) or a Targa may be a good shout.
The 'back deck' is comfortably 100cm x 100cm and slopes forward. I think the challenge may be getting a chair past the front seats. With the seats moved forward the gap between the driver's headrest and the b pillar is approx 60cm, with only 5-10 cm of room between the headrest and the roof lining.
As others have suggested you should test one out before you buy (bubble wrap the chair) or a Targa may be a good shout.
WombleCate said:
While avoiding doing meaningful work I took a tape measure outside.
The 'back deck' is comfortably 100cm x 100cm and slopes forward. I think the challenge may be getting a chair past the front seats. With the seats moved forward the gap between the driver's headrest and the b pillar is approx 60cm, with only 5-10 cm of room between the headrest and the roof lining.
As others have suggested you should test one out before you buy (bubble wrap the chair) or a Targa may be a good shout.
also if the frunk can accomdate all luggage needs, then a cab could be an easy option for lobbing chair in the back? The 'back deck' is comfortably 100cm x 100cm and slopes forward. I think the challenge may be getting a chair past the front seats. With the seats moved forward the gap between the driver's headrest and the b pillar is approx 60cm, with only 5-10 cm of room between the headrest and the roof lining.
As others have suggested you should test one out before you buy (bubble wrap the chair) or a Targa may be a good shout.
I know this is a bit left field but if I were doing a big European roadtrip with an older partner who had mobility challenges I would ditch the 20yr old Porsche and go Bentley Continental/Arnage. They are £30-50k and - I understand - were bloody well made and really comfortable to sit in.
I can imagine cruising down the windy road to Montel Carlo or round the lakes near Villa D'Este in one (dark blue cream leather) to be a massive treat.
Good luck with the hunt!
I can imagine cruising down the windy road to Montel Carlo or round the lakes near Villa D'Este in one (dark blue cream leather) to be a massive treat.
Good luck with the hunt!
I can't help with your specific question, I think a challenge would be to get it past the seats into the back - even if there is enough space in the back, then the opening seat to B-pillar might be the issue.
I have an F-model Targa and I can fit my road bicycle (so 700C wheel) in the back (front wheel off, but rear wheel on). This works when the passenger seat is all the way to the front, but only because I can lift the bike over the seat (as there is no roof). I would not be able to get it into the rear with the roof on the car.
Edit: If it helps, I can take the bike apart and put it in the rear to take a picture as the car is currently with me - so no major hassle
I have an F-model Targa and I can fit my road bicycle (so 700C wheel) in the back (front wheel off, but rear wheel on). This works when the passenger seat is all the way to the front, but only because I can lift the bike over the seat (as there is no roof). I would not be able to get it into the rear with the roof on the car.
Edit: If it helps, I can take the bike apart and put it in the rear to take a picture as the car is currently with me - so no major hassle
Edited by MDL111 on Thursday 24th April 09:56
Snowy999 said:
I know this is a bit left field but if I were doing a big European roadtrip with an older partner who had mobility challenges I would ditch the 20yr old Porsche and go Bentley Continental/Arnage. They are £30-50k and - I understand - were bloody well made and really comfortable to sit in.
I can imagine cruising down the windy road to Montel Carlo or round the lakes near Villa D'Este in one (dark blue cream leather) to be a massive treat.
Good luck with the hunt!
stop it thats a lunchbreak lost in the classifieds looking at Bentleys coming up ........ I can imagine cruising down the windy road to Montel Carlo or round the lakes near Villa D'Este in one (dark blue cream leather) to be a massive treat.
Good luck with the hunt!
Cheers all.
I think it'll be worth a test. The current chair is a bit of an NHS spec type thing so not particularly small but it does fold down to about 15/20cm high and with the wheels off, about 60cm square so it might work.
Thought about a Bentley etc but have a real thing about a 911. The big birthday is 50, not the 70 needed to feel at home in a Continental
I think it'll be worth a test. The current chair is a bit of an NHS spec type thing so not particularly small but it does fold down to about 15/20cm high and with the wheels off, about 60cm square so it might work.
Thought about a Bentley etc but have a real thing about a 911. The big birthday is 50, not the 70 needed to feel at home in a Continental
When my first child was born, I took the 996 to various places to check which prams would fit in the boot, having moved from 2 seaters to 4 seaters already in expectation.
Mothercare of all places were very much “oh you’ll have to sell the car” so this set me on a bit of a mission to prove them wrong.
I found a local place that allowed us to take the demo models out to see if they fit and we found one.
I wanted a ruggedised type pram we could use off road and while it fit in the boot, we were then short of luggage space.
When I moved to a 993 therefore, I got a roof box and with a second nipper, we toured with a lot of kit in that.
The 993 was much smaller in the boot area so it necessitated a loft conversion!
If I were in your position after a decade or so of trying to get the luggage to fit the car, I’d go for the standard Porsche roof bars and a basket. You can then use whichever chair you can lift up there and lash it onto the grid.
Makes no meaningful impact to how you would use or enjoy your car.
I would often take my own disabled mum out in the car and lift a mobility scooter up onto the grid or box in parts.
This isn’t my image but is similar to the arrangement I had:
Mothercare of all places were very much “oh you’ll have to sell the car” so this set me on a bit of a mission to prove them wrong.
I found a local place that allowed us to take the demo models out to see if they fit and we found one.
I wanted a ruggedised type pram we could use off road and while it fit in the boot, we were then short of luggage space.
When I moved to a 993 therefore, I got a roof box and with a second nipper, we toured with a lot of kit in that.
The 993 was much smaller in the boot area so it necessitated a loft conversion!
If I were in your position after a decade or so of trying to get the luggage to fit the car, I’d go for the standard Porsche roof bars and a basket. You can then use whichever chair you can lift up there and lash it onto the grid.
Makes no meaningful impact to how you would use or enjoy your car.
I would often take my own disabled mum out in the car and lift a mobility scooter up onto the grid or box in parts.
This isn’t my image but is similar to the arrangement I had:
Just to add, if you had a lightweight wheel chair with the rear deck folded down and seats both folded forward, there would be space to flat load the chair into the back of the car if it was light enough / small enough based on the ones I’ve been researching for my mum.
I’m currently looking at 997’s regards this.
However if mobility is an issue, it means your passenger having to stand while you load in / load out and you’d need to lash the chair down if it’s in the cabin for safety.
I’d still go with fixed bars and a cage and keep the interior for squashable bags.
If you have a bike lock, you can buy a low cost second chair and let it live up on the roof.
I eventually did that with a cheap scooter & pram and they’d only leave the box when we were out in that car…
I’m currently looking at 997’s regards this.
However if mobility is an issue, it means your passenger having to stand while you load in / load out and you’d need to lash the chair down if it’s in the cabin for safety.
I’d still go with fixed bars and a cage and keep the interior for squashable bags.
If you have a bike lock, you can buy a low cost second chair and let it live up on the roof.
I eventually did that with a cheap scooter & pram and they’d only leave the box when we were out in that car…
Just to add again, if you find a decent folding lightweight chair, find a bag for it and it would fit easier into the rear seat space with the seats not folded down to create flat loading.
I used to do this with a foldable 4 wheel walking aid if similar size and we could just strap it into the rear passenger seat.
The targa someone mentioned above is also a good shout for top access to that space but they are much rarer and you should research the implications of owning a targa over the standard car.
Also if it’s your thing, a convertible would allow you to put a huge amount in the rear space with the roof off for loading….
https://www.portiacraft.com/car-detail.php?id=3638
I used to do this with a foldable 4 wheel walking aid if similar size and we could just strap it into the rear passenger seat.
The targa someone mentioned above is also a good shout for top access to that space but they are much rarer and you should research the implications of owning a targa over the standard car.
Also if it’s your thing, a convertible would allow you to put a huge amount in the rear space with the roof off for loading….
https://www.portiacraft.com/car-detail.php?id=3638
Gassing Station | 911/Carrera GT | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff