Another tidy job from Rossetts gives Jim a lift

Seventy-year-old wheelchair user Jim Tidy is enjoying a new lease of motoring life, thanks to a very special Mercedes-Benz minibus.

That's because Worthing dealership Rossetts Commercials has just supplied the pensioner from nearby Lancing with one of Britain's first low-emission Euro 5 Mercedes-Benz Vito models.

The vehicle left the Mercedes-Benz factory as a nine-seat Traveliner minibus, but then underwent an extensive internal conversion by an independent, third-party specialist, allowing Jim to drive while remaining in his wheelchair.

Jim was struck down with polio when he was just 12; he cannot use his left leg and is confined to a wheelchair most of the time. The car he drove previously had not been adapted to allow him to remain in his wheelchair while driving - so he had either to struggle to get the chair into the boot first, or enlist the help of others to do so.

His new, Long-bodied Vito 113CDI, therefore represents a huge leap forward. Special modifications include a fully automatic lift at the rear, allowing Jim to wheel himself inside. The conversion also entailed the removal of five passenger seats, allowing Jim to wheel his chair all the way through to the front and then lock it in place before setting off.

Other enhancements to the smart, Velvet Red model include the addition of hand controls for acceleration and braking - no clutch is required as the vehicle has a fully automatic transmission. However, others can also drive the Vito as the foot pedals have been retained, along with the original driver's seat, which is stowed behind the front passenger seat but can be swung back into position when needed.

Jim, who lives with one of his two sons and has two grandchildren in Worthing, is using his Vito for shopping trips and for giving lifts to friends and family.

"I hope to be driving for at least another 10 years," said the widower, who used to work in the financial markets but has long since retired. "So I wanted a vehicle that would be cost-effective to run and would not let me down. I considered various models, some of which were more expensive, before deciding on the Vito.

"Mercedes-Benz enjoys a reputation for economy and reliability that's second to none, and the Vito is an attractive looking vehicle which is clearly built to a very high standard. It also comes with long service intervals and an excellent, three-year, unlimited mileage warranty - I won't be covering great distances but the fact that the manufacturer sets no limit on its cover is very reassuring and underlines the confidence it has in its own product.

"I've received a first-class service too from Rossetts Commercials, whose Area Sales Manager Barrie Rawlins liaised between myself and the conversion company throughout the fitting process."

The new Mercedes-Benz Vito range is powered by a range of Euro 5-compliant four- and six-cylinder engines that not only meet the latest emission standards but also deliver significant improvements in fuel economy.