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Posted by Megan Drummond Jun 26, 2008 |
A demo of my new wheelchair, the Quantum 6000Z, was delivered today. The agency that I work with is allowing me to keep it so that I can get used to it before my own comes in in a few weeks. The demo model doesn't have everything that my chair will have, namely the seat elevator, and it has parts that I will not have on mine, but it is basically the same and will allow me to get a feel for it an how it drives.
I've only had it for two hours and I'm impressed and extremely frustrated. I am impressed because of how much better it is than my Permobil. It has good shocks, it's extremely quiet and it is cosiderably more stable than my Permobil was.
I am frustrated because I can't seem to drive it yet. I know I've only had it a few hours, but I just assumed that I would hop right in it and be on my way. I was very wrong. I've been in a rear-wheel drive chair so long -15 years - that I can't even get this chair to go in a sraight line. It has casters in the front and the back to give it more stability and the big wheels are directly under the seat. That configuration makes the chair drive very oddly, at least for me right now. I'm sure I will get used to it in time, though.
My advice to anyone out there who may be considering a chair that's radically different from the one you're currently driving is to ask your equipment provider if it would be possible to get a demo model. That way, you can drive it for a week or so and get used to it before you get your own chair.
Good luck!