Automobility, A false hope?

Some general ramblings

Automobility Programs!

Automobility programs sponsored by the big major auto manufactures at first glance are great programs!  I will even admit they are good programs, however I think they are missing the point and at times too narrow minded.

My understanding of these programs administrated by the major automakers is that it is to help people equip their (Insert Brand here) vehicles with what ever mobility or ability device a person may need. The amount of reimbursement depends on the equipment needed. Not everything is applicable but the majority of equipment needed is applicable.

Think for a moment now and imagine this. You need a vehicle, of course none of the manufactures make one that fits your needs exactly. You have to buy what ever there is out there and then add what you need to make the vehicle work for you. The manufacture gives you some money back to "help with your mobility expenses.. Reality says they are still making a bunch off of you in an inflated price originally.  The truth is you have to buy a new vehicle first, then spend even more on your mobility equipment to make the vehicle work for you. Then the manufacture will send you some money back.  (there goes that old saying "ya got to spend money to make money)

Now, My own personal belief is that this is something the company does to make people feel warm and fuzzy and they can say to the general public, "Look we help handicapped people have normal lives by helping them pay for things they need to use our vehicles". They also say it is to help build brand loyalty. They want their customers to buy from then again and they think a good public image helps! What all of this stuff boils down to is Corporate Bottom line. Sell more cars, make more money, make shareholders happy!! Sounds reasonable don’t it?

Well I don’t like corporations but that doesn’t make any difference in the real world! I feel corporations today are nothing but Greedy Money machines!!  The goal of any corporation is make more and more and even more money.  Pretty soon the human factor ceases to make any difference.  The corporation doesn't care about anything but the "Bottom Line".  It is designed by it's very existence to be self perpetuating!!  So much for human responsibility.. Oh yeah they can talk the talk and toss out a few crumbs here and there but if it makes a mark on the "Bottom Line" there is hell to pay.

No what really Pisses me off is if you look at the program real close and think about it, how many people does it really help? I mean think about it! If you buy a NEW vehicle they will pay some of the cost to fix the vehicle so you can use it!!! Hmmmm Still sounds pretty good too huh? Well not a lot of people whom are disabled can afford a NEW automobile. Ok here is my pet peeve on this. First the automakers require that you buy NEW vehicle from them not USED. Auto Dealerships sell new and used. They sell all makes and models used and want to push a NEW car at you first.

Try this. You suddenly find yourself in the situation where say you need to use a wheelchair. Your existing perfectly fine automobile is no longer able to suit your needs. You need to get a more mobility friendly vehicle. Now because this condition was rather sudden you may be out of work and trying to exist on a small amount of money. You decide you’re loyal to a particular brand and look at buying new!! Wow!!!!! The prices are very high and you can not afford to increase your debt load. The next thing you look at is used and you stay loyal to the manufacture and even buy from a Brand Dealer. You purchase your almost new used vehicle and now because you have purchased used you don’t qualify for mobility reimbursement. Catch 22 huh?

If I had been able to afford to buy brand new then I would have only spent 1K on mobility devises as opposed to the 2K I just had to lay out of my pocket. I am currently unable to work and less able to afford most things that an able bodied person is. If I had been able to afford to buy new then it wouldn’t be as much of a hardship to purchase my lift as it is.

It seems pretty damn Chicken shit of the companies to do that. I dare Chrysler mobility to change the rules. Make it applicable to say new and used up to say 3 years old purchased from a Chrysler dealer! If they really want to help the community and people in need then they should step up and look at what really makes a difference. It couldn’t cost them that much more than they pay now! They would do a hell of a lot more to helping the community and people here than they do now… More disabled people can afford a used car than a new one.

How many people that need accessibility modifications do you know that could afford a new vehicle? If they can afford anything I believe the majority of us are in a lower income range bracket. There should be something to help all people with necessary modifications Not just the wealthy.

I might add that I am Damn fortunate to be able to even get a used van. I have been lucky to have had a good paying job for a significant amount of time before I got worse. I know people that can’t even afford a cheap automobile or even afford a manual wheelchair themselves.

I am ranting here because of an excessive amount of time I have on my hands these days. I have been thinking about this for several days and have looked at it from various viewpoints. Initially I was going to buy new and I was figuring on re-imbursement for part of my mobility Mods to my vehicle.  Then I realized I should be controlling my costs and a new vehicle was more money than I am putting out right now. It was the better move for me financially to buy used because I didn’t increase my monthly outlay just extended it a couple of years more. I don’t know when I will be able to return to work so I really have to be careful with expenses. If I do return to work I will need the vehicle for daily transportation. While I am waiting to improve enough to return to work the van will help me make my appointments. Now the bad part is because I bought used I cover all of the mobility modifications out of my already shrinking budget…See where this is going? A round about catch 22 circle designed to suck my wallet dry!. The more money you make and spend the more opportunities to save money on purchases there are out there. The less you make the less you can afford basic necessities the less you get to take advantage of special deals.. So there I guess the rich shall get richer and the poorer less fortunate of us will pay the bills!!!!!

This Sucks!

HEY CHRYSLER CORPORATION??????? You have slipped a few notches with me and when and if I need another vehicle either new or used you may not be on the short list or long one either next time.

The Soon to be broke….

Tek At large