Q: How can I tell if the lowered floor minivan I am purchasing is a quality conversion?
A: Quality is usually a function of your expectations for the vehicle, tempered by what you are willing to pay. But, always, it is an opinion.
Take two kids on their bikes. "My bike's better than your bike" usually ends with a race or a fist fight. If you switch the kids' bikes, they usually prefer their original bike because it is adjusted to perform according to their height and weight, even if the bikes are similar. What forms each kid's opinion is his bike's ability to meet his needs and expectations.
The same is true of adults. Opinions on the quality of a vehicle are based on how well the vehicle works for them. But vehicle owners all have different needs and expectations. Truck owners expect durability, load-carrying capacity and reliability. Luxury vehicle owners expect their car to have amazing comfort features. Performance car owners expect to be pinned to the back of their seat when they hit the accelerator.
Owners of modified vehicles have several basic expectations. They expect the vehicle and conversion to be reliable, easy to use, and fit nicely into the van.
A quality conversion always starts with a quality minivan. Just as a house cannot be built on shifting sand, a quality lowered floor minivan conversion cannot be built on a poor quality minivan. Manufacturers and mobility dealers can tell you what features they need on the van in order to do the conversion. Usually, money spent on heavy-duty electrical systems and suspensions is money well spent. The rest of the features you choose are up to you.
For more information, J.D. Power, Consumer Reports and Edmunds all have surveys or articles about minivans. The J.D. Power surveys, in particular, reflect consumer's opinions about how well the vehicle met their expectations.
Unfortunately, surveys and opinion pieces about lowered floor conversions do not exist. But there are many ways to assess conversion quality. Start by looking at a minivan similar to the one you wish to purchase. Conversion paint should match factory paint, trim panels should be securely fastened, carpet and upholstery should all have a finished look — no gaps, loose ends neatly tucked away. Wiring should be hidden, encased in protective looms, never located where a wheelchair could roll over and possibly damage the wire. It's a good sign if you can't tell where the conversion begins and the factory-built van ends.
What you can't see is just as important. The manufacturer should certify their compliance with the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards, which has been proven by crash-testing of prototype vans. Warranties should be in writing, and repair parts should be readily available. Find out who will do warranty repairs, then verify their experience in repairing conversions, and how long they take.
In many states, companies selling conversion minivans must have motor vehicle dealer licenses. Many other mobility equipment dealers have joined the National Mobility Equipment Dealers Association and participate in the Quality Assurance Program. Technically, this has very little to do with the quality of a lowered floor minivan. But the insurances and training required to get these certifications and licenses indicate the dealer has made a commitment to provide quality support for your vehicle.
Owners' opinions are most helpful. Most manufacturers and mobility equipment dealers can refer you to satisfied customers. Try to find long-term owners rather than someone who just purchased their vehicle. And remember, this is their opinion of what works for them.
Sales people can also be very helpful. "Preparing the user for all the compromises which occur, and adjusting false expectations to reflect reality always makes for a better sale," says James May, owner of Freedom Mobility Aids in North Carolina and an NMEDA board member. It is the responsibility of the selling dealership to tell their customer what features are on the conversion and what is not available.
This type of selling is the opposite of the familiar super-positive sales approach, but once you understand what your modified vehicle will and will not do, then you can compare minivans and make a quality choice.
