Testimonials

TESTIMONIAL 2016 (NSW)

We purchased a new 2016 Kia carnival and got the family conversion done. After a few delays we finally become proud owners of a very flash wheel chair van, Best decision we could have made, wish we had done it sooner. Going places now is stress and strain free.  Have to also mention the QUICK-SECURE Retractable tie downs and restraints, these are so easy and convenient to use, real time savers. Highly recommend this product. Very impressed with the finished product, it was well worth the wait. Thanks to the team at freedom.

From the Riches family. 

TESTIMONIAL (NSW)

Hi Phillip, In September 2016, Phillip of Freedom Motors assisted in converted our Mercedes V250d with the Fiorella Slim Fit Platform Lift for our son’s first wheelchair and we could not be happier with it!  We experienced excellent customer service from start to finish with Phillip providing constant updates and managing to expedite the installation from four to two weeks for us.  Life is so much easier for our family now that we are able to just slide our son’s wheelchair into the docking system and away we go – no more heaving lifting in and out!  Phillip was also able to recommend a suitable comprehensive car insurance company to insure our newly converted vehicle and the premium was surprising reasonable compared to regular car insurers.  I cannot recommend Freedom Motors highly enough and we will most definitely be using their amazing service in the future.  Thank you! 

Have a great day! Cheers, Sarah

TESTIMONIAL (VIC)

Freedom Motors gave us the Freedom of Motoring. My wife started having difficulty manoeuvring in and out of our car, it was very stressful. We decided to seek a wheelchair accessible vehicle which is a daunting prospect, with many vehicles and companies. Fortunately we accessed the Freedom Motors website and we were soon in contact with Peggy Hertog the Victorian State Manager. Peggy quickly sorted out our requirements and budget. The thoroughness of the Freedom mechanics and engineers in refurbishing our Chrysler Voyager was extremely thorough and professional. We thank with all sincerity the advice and friendly information that we received throughout the experience. Freedom Motors and Peggy Hertog made what appeared a daunting and onerous task to us into a very pleasant and fulfilling experience. Our Thanks to all involved and especially to Peggy: Thank you for all your help and guidance.     

Win and Rod Harrison

TESTIMONIAL (WA)

Hi Troy, Just wanted to pass on our thanks to Freedom for the awesome work conducted on our new Kia Carnival YP. We couldn’t be happier and the Family Conversion has made a massive difference to our life. Having Addison sitting in her wheelchair in the middle between her two sisters is amazing. From a practical point of view, it makes it safer for her as she is very close to us so we can see she is ok. We couldn’t have her in the rear of the vehicle due to her medical needs, so the family conversion is amazing. But more importantly, she is now in between her two sisters and often reaches up to hold their hands whilst we move between home and school, hospital and family events. It is wonderful. The Freedom Dock is awesome and it makes the journey very easy and one less thing to do each time we head out. We couldn’t be happier with our Freedom Family Conversion and attached are a couple of photos of us in our new vehicle.

Thanks from the Read’s. Trent

TESTIMONIAL (WA)

Dear Freedom Motors, In January this year I took possession of my wheelchair drive converted Volkswagen. After numerous problems trying to work out what I exactly needed. I finally contacted Garry at Freedom. He initially put me on to Brooke Rowe, our WA representative. Brooke assisted me with vehicle type and the conversion I required. Once completed, as Brooke had left the company to look after her young family, I dealt with Troy Rowe. Troy's assistance has been second to none. From helping with transportation back to WA. He then handled all of my driving modifications. He has a great wealth of knowledge, due to his experience in the field. And together we worked out the best driving aids for me. This was a far better option than dealing with too many OT's and the hassles that come with "too many cooks". I have state of the art voice activation for wipers, indicators etc. Fidel accelerate and brake system to name a few. Any problems, don't worry, Troy is always ready to help. So now 3 and a 1/2 years since my accident, I am finally on the road again. It seemed at times out of reach. But thanks to Troy we now have a "one stop conversion” specialist in WA. And I highly recommend him. Thanks Troy you are a legend in my eyes and I appreciate all of your ongoing assistance.

Cheers, Tracey Demasson

TESTIMONIAL (VIC)

I chose Freedom Motors to do my modifications after quite a bit of research. Everybody I spoke to, indicated the only place to go was Freedom Motors. In the last 6 years I had not one problem with my modified KIA. Unfortunately I had a few problems with my second car but the after-sales and customer service by Freedom as represented by Peggy Hertog really made the most difficult situation in a positive experience. Peggy dealt with the problems head-on, kept us posted about the process and was always easy to reach, even in the weekends. Freedom Motors did an outstanding job to meet my needs. I couldn't be happier with the service I get from Freedom Motors but more particularly from their State Manager Peggy Hertog. I would recommend Freedom Motors to everyone who needs a modified car. They really care about their clients.

Thank you, Ian McPherson.

TESTIMONIAL (QLD)

Hi James, Firstly, I want to say a HUGE thank you for your guidance and assistance. I have made the right choice regarding car and type of conversion, to a great extend because of you. Emma and I very happy with the car and I find it hard to imagine what it was like two weeks ago. We have established a new routine and are enjoying the benefits. I don't miss lifting the chair into the boot at all, lol. Emma also loves riding in her chair and looking out the front window. Now I also bring the chair into the house after school which I have rarely done before. This gives Emma more opportunity to play, learn and eat in a safe and comfortable position. This is my daughter Emma and I taking ownership of our brand new Kia Soul MY16, family member conversion in April 2016. It is an amazing car that looks inside and out having come straight from the factory. The quality of the interior finish is of highest standard, the layout and positioning of tie downs and accessories are well thought through and both the front and rear tie downs are very easy to use. I first contacted Freedom Motors in September 2015. My first conversation with James Hawker took me from having a rough idea with some questions and doubts to the point where I was confident to purchase. James made the purchase process really easy and was always just a phone call or email away. This was incredibly helpful to me since I was purchasing the car through my local dealer and James stepped in coordinating everything until the delivery was complete. Overall, Freedom Motors provided me with a perfect product which I can recommend very highly. Take care.
 
Best Regards, Doreen

TESTIMONIAL (NSW)

We purchased our Kia Grand Carnival in January 2015 and contacted Freedom Motors with a view to having it converted to a wheelchair accessible vehicle for our adult son, Nicholas. The conversion was done in April and completed within a few weeks.  When we delivered the vehicle to Freedom Motors we were very impressed with their attention to detail when inspecting the vehicle. This attention was also noticeable when we took delivery of the converted vehicle. We were provided with a detailed explanation of the features of the conversion and how they operated, as well as an explanation of the driving procedures required in a converted vehicle. Freedom Motors conveyed an impression of efficiency and expertise, as well as an understanding of the difficulties encountered by families with wheelchair-bound children. The converted vehicle has been trouble-free and has enabled our family to enjoy greater flexibility in our daily lives. We would recommend Freedom Motors as a highly efficient company with significant expertise in vehicle conversion.

Peter and Anna Rousch

TESTIMONIAL (WA)

We chose a Kia Grand Carnival because we needed the configuration that would allow for transporting more people. With our conversion we can easily transport six people inclusive of the wheelchair, which is great for those times when we want to go somewhere with extended family. We found Freedom Motors staff easy to communicate with, the quality of the work to be top notch and the after sales service to be easily accessible in our State. Our daughter is much happier not having to be lifted into the car as it was getting to the point where it wasn’t safe for her and we were starting to really feel her weight. My wife had reached the point she could no longer lift her without severe pain and discomfort in her neck and back, with a high risk of dropping her due to our daughter’s increasing weight, as she is now twelve years old.

Regards, Michiko Parnell

TESTIMONIAL (NSW)

Hi Carolyn, Freedom Motors modified a Kia Carnival for our son. It was converted for his specific requirements, taking into consideration that he is a tall man and uses a large motorised chair. The impressive result has provided a safe, comfortable ride. He is easily loaded and strapped in. We are most satisfied with Freedom Motors' friendly service and professional expertise."

Regards, Margaret

TESTIMONIAL (NSW)

September 2015 my husband David & I had our Toyota Rukus 2011 model converted for wheelchair accessibility “Family Member Conversion” for our son Benjamin by Freedom Motors. We are very pleased with the professional high quality conversion on the Rukus, which looks fantastic and done in a suitable time period. Garry Dale has been a great help and support before and after the conversion. We consider Freedom Motors to be the leaders in the field for wheelchair accessible conversions. We would highly recommend Freedom Motors to potential customers looking for this type of conversion, without any hesitation. Many Thanks Freedom Motors Australia

Kindest Regards, Jill & David Scarpignato

TESTIMONIAL (VIC)

Dear Mr van Mullekom, I have a life threatening muscle wasting condition called Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD), which places severe restrictions on my body, limiting my ability to perform many physical tasks. Despite my disability, I live a very active life with a hectic day to day schedule. I am a full-time student and recently completed my Bachelor of Biomedicine Honours degree at The University of Melbourne. I plan to study on and pursue a full-time PhD at the same university beginning from 2015. Until present, I have relied on Maxi Taxis for all my conveyance including travel to university, trips to medical appointments, and trips to recreational events such football matches, sporting events, movies and restaurants. As anyone who has relied on Maxi Taxis would tell you, it can be extremely frustrating having to plan all trips in advance around cab drop off and pick-up times. This makes it hard to have fun and enjoy memorable events. But worst of all, taxis are not reliable and sometimes it can be a long wait for one to arrive (up to an hour or more during peak times!). Occasionally, I have altogether missed lectures, medical appointments and other events because of reliance on taxis. After saving up for several years, in August 2014, I finally had enough funds to purchase a Kia Grand Carnival S. As soon as I got the car, me and my parents started discussions with several companies regarding modifying the vehicle for wheelchair access. Following a vehicle demonstration at our place from Freedom Motors State Manager of Victoria Mrs. Peggy Hertog, the decision was not hard. Peggy was very friendly and patiently explained all the features and options available with Freedom conversion. In my opinion, her personal touch clearly distinguished Freedom Motors from other companies. Above all, Peggy was always accessible via email and phone to answer all our queries. We opted for the Freedom family conversion as it was most suitable to our needs. In September 2014, our car was transported to St Marys, NSW for the conversion courtesy of Freedom Motors at no extra cost to us. The converted vehicle was delivered to us in early November. Although, I admit the conversion takes quite a bit of time, when you see quality of the end product, it is well worth the wait. The compact and lightweight manual rear ramp opens up with minimal effort. The electric restraints retract and lock my electric wheelchair in position as I move up the ramp onto the lowered floor. Within two minutes, I am securely tied down and all set to move about on the roads. With close proximity to the driver and other passengers, I can more actively participate in family discussions. The unobtrusive vision enables me to enjoy the scenic beauty while travelling. Best of all, I no longer need to rely on taxis and can move about at my convenience. Over the next few months I plan to travel Australia in my newly modified Kia Grand Carnival. For anyone who is considering a vehicle modification, I will highly recommend Freedom Motors. The expertise of their engineers and technicians and the friendly customer service are commendable.

Savant Thakur, St. Albans, VIC

TESTIMONIAL (QLD)

Having grown up in a rural area of Queensland with limitation and very few services, my parents had always provided the best for me.  After life changing challenges happened about 4 years ago. I was left relying on a power wheelchair for everyday living.  It didn’t really hit us until I finished my university degree in Brisbane and landed a position back in the rural area, the need to transport my power wheelchair was a much greater challenge.  In the city I had access to the buses, trains, citycats and regular taxi services.  Once arriving back in the area, it hit me personally that I couldn’t go places independently due to the fact I need to transport my power chair. It was though the great effect of my family that found freedom motors, the investigation and phone calls between my family and freedom motors began. We made a trip to Sydney to view the vehicles and modification choices.  It was that day that I selected Toyota Rukus vehicle as my choice and the modification choice was the transfer into the driver’s seat from my power wheelchair.  This conversion choice was the one that best suited my needs and capabilities.  During the process of making the discussion, the staffs were very helpful at taking the time to return calls to any of my question, no matter how odd the question was. Once the discussion was made the vehicle was purchased in my local area and transported down to Sydney for the modification to be done as suggested by the sales team.  Over the two month period of the conversions, the sales staffs were fantastic at accommodating my travel arrangements and timeframe to fit it in with the very helpful workshop staff. Since collecting my car on 31st May 2014, then driving back to rural Queensland, it is like most things, there have been a few teething problems, but with help from the Freedom Motors staff, we were able to iron out the concerns and now everything is going really well.  My Toyota Rukus and transfer modification by Freedom Motors, has given me enormous independence and freedom.  The modification of transferring into the driver’s seat from the power chair has made it very comfortable   for me to able to drive.  It’s a very odd feeling been able to drive myself places and be completely safe and independent. I was very nervous at the start, because it had been so long since doing shopping and task confidently and independently. But now there is no stopping me from traveling anywhere I want to go.  I would strongly recommend this company to anybody that needs the ability to transport a power wheelchair to either give independence or more opportunity to allow their family to have outings together.  Freedom Motors have the choice and designs available to accommodate most needs within the Australian population. With much appreciation to my Family & Freedom Motors.

Katharine Butcher

TESTIMONIAL (NSW)

Dear Garry, We are very impressed with the conversion with the self driver transfer function in a Toyota Tarago. Brian is very happy. He has a smile on his face and he has his indepentnace back. He can now go out on his own without me helping him. Thank you all very much.

Brian & Mavis Sommersville

Testimonial (NSW)

We bought a Toyota Tarago 2009 model and was converted by Freedom Motors within a couple of weeks in April 2014, we purchased a 5 passenger + 1 wheelchair access conversion. The purchasing of this conversion has enabled us to easily drive our son Ali into the van with no troubles. At first his father would have to pull the 17 year old son out of the wheelchair and sit him into the 2nd row seats with his siblings which was hard for Ali to sit properly, for the kids to support him, and especially for the father to lift him up. After that the father would have to dismantle the chair and place it in the boot, and then take it out and reassemble it again. This was directly impacting the father’s health, as his father has minor back problems. The sales person treated us in a great way, she answered all our questions and gave us all the information and kept us informed while the van was away. The after sales service of Freedom Motors is AMAZING, after we received our conversion we were really impressed. The quality of the modification work is outstanding, and we love the light weight operation, and the quality of the internal and external finishing. The modification meant that the mother can easily go out by herself, without having the husband at home to lift him in the car. Overall, the Freedom Motors service is FANTASTIC, their work is really life changing, and I have no hesitation to recommend this reliable company to anyone that needs a great quality conversion to their vehicle. Thank you FREEDOM MOTORS for your ongoing commitment!

Kind Regards, Hussein and Samia Morad

TESTIMONIAL (WA)

Many thanks to Freedom Motors for coming up with such a brilliant concept!! We purchased the Kia Grand Carnival and it was converted to the Passenger Model with delivery in Feb 2013, earlier than the intended date which was simply amazing especially since we live in WA. The conversion is of top quality and any staff members we spoke to were professional and very accommodating.   We had a small teething problem with the locking dock which was followed up promptly and problem solved to our satisfaction! Our daughter feels like a princess sitting up high at the back.  We have often thought why we didn’t get this vehicle sooner as we no longer have back problems!  It’s wonderful to know that this company has put a lot of thought and effort into the needs of ones like our daughter and we would highly recommend Freedom Motors to everyone!

The Humble Family, Perth

TESTIMONIAL (NSW)

Freedom Motors Australia, Thank you for making our lives easier and more enjoyable!!! Our daughter Chloe was like any normal 3 year old girl, running, skipping and dancing when she contracted a vomiting virus, the following week Chloe could no longer walk on her own. Chloe has been diagnosed with a rare brain disease called Vanishing White Matter Disease (a type of Leukodystrophy) which causes her motor skills to deteriorate.  Within one year Chloe was in a wheelchair and I found myself lifting Chloe and the wheelchair in and out of our car up to 4 times a day, with school runs for her sister Madeleine, after school activities and normal daily running around.   We decided it was time to start looking at which vehicle conversion options were available.  After making several calls to different suppliers, we found that Carolyn from Freedom Motors was available anytime we needed to ask anything and even offered to drive from Sydney down to Wollongong to show us the vehicle.  We decided to travel to St Mary’s to see the conversions available, as well as the work shop and we were very impressed by what we saw.  We had exceptional service from Carolyn from the very first phone call, which has followed through to Richard in the service department who has also been available for any queries we have had. Thank goodness we started the process of ordering the car when we did, as the week prior to receiving the finished conversion, my back went on me completely and I couldn’t lift Chloe or the wheelchair anymore, my husband had to have a week off work to look after our two girls.  I absolutely love the fact that I open the rear door and push a button and the ramp lowers automatically – no more lifting!!!  Chloe is wheeled up the ramp and the wheelchair locks into place with the “Freedom Dock”.  The additional seats we have in the rear means that we can take the girl’s friend’s places as well.  The finished product is very professional and looks great. I would definitely recommend speaking with Freedom Motors before looking anywhere else for a conversion.

Nyree & Grant & Chloe Saxby, NSW

TESTIMONIAL (NT)

We recently purchased a Kia Grand Carnival and had it converted by Freedom Motors to accommodate Josie’s wheelchair.  The advice and assistance provided by Freedom Motors was professional and prompt and despite us being located in the Northern Territory the process was seamless. When we took delivery of our newly converted vehicle from Freedom Motors earlier this year it was like a dream come true and has been a truly life changing event.  Being able to wheel Josie in to the car and just drive off has proved so easy and convenient.  It has given both Josie and our family the freedom to come and go as we choose, when and where we like.  It gives us such comfort to know that we don’t have to rely on other people regarding lifts into our car and also maintains Josie’s dignity.  Car travel sitting in her wheelchair is so beneficial to Josie and makes outings much more enjoyable. Freedom Motors has done an excellent job with the conversion and we are very grateful.

Thanks, Ken, Alice and Josie Doyle

TESTIMONIAL (NSW)

Dear Garry and Carolyn, We have now had our converted Grand Kia Carnival for over a month and what a godsend!  Your company name says it all- Freedom! This is just what Jenni and I have. This weekend we will be able to attend a family wedding on Saturday and then head off to a Christmas party on Sunday. The venues for both are way beyond the reach of wheelchair taxis, so the result is that we can now lead a much more normal life whilst one of us is confined to a wheelchair. With the holiday period coming up we will be able to have a holiday- have a picnic at Patonga Beach, a day trip to the Hunter Valley and check out wheelchair friendly resorts nearby. It is amazing how good it feels for both of us to be able to get into our own car and head off to do routine things like shopping. We are both very impressed with the standard of the conversion. Over the months we have seen many wheelchair taxi conversions. The Freedom Motors conversions were certainly the ones that stood out for their quality finish. This convinced us to go with you after we purchased the Kia. Our opinion of your company has only been enhanced by the conversion of our vehicle. Many thanks to Garry and Carolyn for their courtesy and help during the process. Everything went very smoothly.

Thank you! Greg and Jenni

TESTIMONIAL (NSW)

On the 24th of October 2012, I have had your company perform a conversion of my Kia Grand Carnival van (Late Model) to be a car made wheelchair accessible which contributes to my career. The car was converted as a passenger design. I am a taxi driver, so this conversion was performed so I can transport disabled people around with ease. This is the second time I’ve used the services of Freedom Motors. The sales person was very friendly and patient in answering my questions and made explanations in detail. Another thing I have noticed on my first time at Freedom Motors, before I requested their services, is that when I have contacted other companies that their customers have complained about their services and the quality of the outcomes. At Freedom Motors, I have heard no such thing which makes me feel that they are reliable. The quality of the conversion was excellent, everything was done flawlessly even though the conversion took a little long, the staff made sure everything was in place in the final check of the car before I claim back the car. There was a slight modification to the foldable back seats in the rear that I asked for which was made and I am please with it. The services, although with slight delays, were of high quality. The first time I have used the services of Freedom Motors was 7 years ago, which the conversion had been made on my Toyota Tarago. The reliability and quality of the services was pleasing and of high standards then and still is to the present day. The after sale services were excellent. The standard level of the quality of conversions made by Freedom Motors is very high and thus I would recommend for anybody who wishes to have their vehicle made wheelchair accessible to consult the company to do so. I appreciate all the work and efforts the Freedom Motors have put in to make this conversion possible...

Regards, Rattana Luanghattharawong

TESTIMONIAL (NSW)

Hi Garry, Please find below the text of an e-mail sent by me to Dr. Graham Malouf on the Sydney Radio Station 2GBs’ Medical program on Sunday evenings.  The e-mail was read on the air by Dan Mullens the presenter of this program.  I sent this in response to you appearing on the program on behalf of your company. I have just listened to your interview with Garry Dale of Freedom Motors and wanted to tell you that we have just purchased a new Kia Soul plus and had it converted for wheelchair use by this company.  My wife suffers from MS and was no longer able to ride in our family car. We found it a very pleasant experience as Garry was very sympathetic and professional during this project as was the rest of the staff of Freedom Motors.  You would not believe the difference this has made to my wife’s mobility, no more struggling or using wheelchair taxis, she now has the freedom to go anywhere.  We can’t thank the staff of Freedom Motors enough for their sympathetic and professional help. 

Kind regards, Bob

TESTIMONIAL (NSW)

On 3/4/12 we had our Kia Grand Carnival modified to the original 3 seater in the middle passenger conversion with the freedom dock option. We chose the Freedom Van after attending a demonstration in our home town and visiting the head office. The sales staff were excellent answering all our questions and keeping us up to date during the conversion. The quality of the conversion with the Freedom Dock option was first class all legal requirements and paperwork included on pick up of vehicle. We would definitely recommend this product to everyone [after showing our car to a friend they have ordered a freedom van conversion] as it is making our life easier.    

Steve  Maria & Tia Chown

TESTIMONIAL (SA)

Hi Gary, The car is unbelievable better than I could have dreamt it would be. It makes me feel like a normal able body again. I would recommend your modifications to this vehicle to anyone. Thank you and your team very much for this great car. We love the wine bottle holders, placed strategically around the inside of the car!

Regards, Sid James

TESTIMONIAL (NSW)

We had our Kia Grand Carnival converted in April 2011 and couldn’t be happier.  After extensive research into the different conversion styles I knew this was the answer for us.  To be honest I had decided we were going to have a Freedom conversion before I had finalised my choice of vehicle!  Sandra was great, always happy to help and answer my ever growing list of questions, even taking time to show us some of the vehicles under construction in the workshop. I had discussions with other prominent conversion companies but found that Freedom offered the greatest choice in regards to the type of vehicle they could convert as well as what I considered to be the best quality conversion.  It was actually during one of these discussions that another company told me that Freedom Motors are the only other people they would recommend – high praise indeed!

As Peter is in a large power wheelchair and we have a young family we opted for the passenger conversion with the Freedom dock and power ramp.  Everything operates at the touch of a button resulting in quick, easy, stress free access allowing us to travel and function as a family once again.  People always comment on how simple it is to operate and that the rear ramp is so much easier than side access – you don’t get parked in at the shopping centre. 

I would not hesitate in recommending a Freedom conversion to anyone.  The name says it all – FREEDOM!

** I have highlighted the last sentence of the first paragraph in blue as I am not sure if it is appropriate for a testimonial, I will leave that to your discretion.  I put it in deliberately though as I wanted you to know

TESTIMONIAL (NSW)

My name is Matthew and I belong to the PR group at Studio ARTES, where we promote the interests of the organisation. Ever since Studio ARTES has bought a vehicle and had it converted by Freedom Motors, I am able to go to the PR group on a Wednesday afternoon. Previously I had to use my electric wheelchair to travel about one kilometre – in all weather: sun, rain and wind. I am grateful that we have a new vehicle that I can ride in too, without getting sunburnt or wet! The staff at Studio ARTES would like to thank Freedom Motors for the fantastic job they did on our conversion. It means that less mobile members of the Studio, who previously had to travel by public transport to go out, can now do so in comfort and in all weather conditions. It has meant that we are able to regularly attend our Community Garden plot to plant and harvest our herbs and vegetables, visit work experience sites and generally do all the things that used to take so much time and effort before.

It really has given us “FREEDOM”.

TESTIMONIAL (NSW)

Dear Mr Mullekom, My daughter Maya is nearly 9 years old and lifting her into the car seat was becoming both difficult and dangerous.  After much research we decided to buy a KIA Carnival converted by Freedom Motors. We chose a family conversion so our daughter can be with the rest of the family and she loves it. We also included the optional extras of the freedom dock and the auto ramp, which make getting her in and out of the car a breeze. There are other companies that do wheelchair conversions out there but I found that the Freedom conversions had the best reputation and seemed the best quality conversion on the market. I also found that Gary and Sandra were really helpful and kept me informed throughout the process, which I really appreciated. We love our new van and would recommend Freedom Motors to anyone,

Thanks, Julie

TESTIMONIAL (VIC)

We are extreemly happy with our Freedom Van, We will recommend it to all.

Thank you, D & A Andrews

TESTIMONIAL (NSW)

As a Disability Services provider we recently purchased a Kia Grand Carnival with a view to having it converted to enable wheelchair access to assist with transporting clients. After considerable research and consultation with other Service Providers we chose Freedom Motors to undertake the wheelchair Conversion. Freedom Motors was chosen for a number of reasons:

• Recommendations from other service providers
• Professionalism
• Industry Experience
• Choice and design of Freedom Conversion to meet our specific need
• Over-all Cost
• Service and Support

Working with our local Kia Dealer we were able to arrange for our new vehicle to be converted by Freedom Motors in Sydney, prior to the vehicle being delivered to our rural service, saving considerable time and making the process so much simpler for us. At all times, the employees at Freedom Motors have been professional, knowledgeable and willing to assist us in any way possible. The wheelchair conversion is of high quality and easy to use, and this combined with the after sales service means that we have no hesitation in recommending Freedom Motors to others who may wish to have a vehicle conversion completed.

Currajong Disability Services Inc.

TESTIMONIAL (NSW)

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN, We were in desperate need of a vehicle that was capable of transporting our disabled daughter. After being told about Freedom Motors and a number of other smaller organisations capable of converting a vehicle for a wheelchair, we decided to go with Freedom Motors. Freedom was a much larger organisation and was continually churning out vehicles converted for wheelchairs for both Taxi services and private vehicles such as ourselves and we had heard several horror stories with conversions done by other organisations. We purchased a KIA Grand Carnival in January of 2011 and booked the car for a passenger conversion in around April. The car was converted in around 6 weeks. We had a number of concerns regarding dimensions and so forth when it came to the conversion and the salesperson was very helpful in providing the information we required. The conversion was seamless and the vehicle has been used a multitude of times to transport our disabled daughter. We have found the ramp to be very solid and all the restraint mechanisms to be very safe. We would be very happy to recommend Freedom Motors to others in need of wheelchair conversions and I can guarantee our next vehicle will be converted by the same organisation again.

Sincerely, The Goods 

TESTIMONIAL (QLD)

Dear Robert, Re: Kia Grand Carnival Modification to Drive from a Power Wheelchair. As a 58 year young person with paraplegia for the first time in many years I now have Freedom when I need to travel for leisure or in fulfillment of my position as Community Partnerships manager for the Paraplegic Benefit Fund. Until recently, each time I needed to travel in my standard vehicle it imposed upon me the requirement of lifting my weight transferring in and out of my vehicle four times for each trip. Also, the lifting of my wheelchair in and out of the vehicle added additional stress upon my shoulders. As a consequence this has worn out both my shoulders requiring major modifications to the manner in which I now maintain my mobility. The modifications that you have provided to my Kia, allowing me to access it easily via my power wheelchair and to drive it without the need to transfer into the drivers seat, have changed my life completely and made my travel so much simpler and more spontaneous. I only wish that I had made the change earlier than I have been forced to do so as my shoulders today would be in far better condition than they are. A considerable number of friends have seen the modifications and they have all commented on the exceptional high quality of the modifications and how functional they are in assisting people with a mobility disability such as mine. Please feel free to utilize this letter of recommendation should you have any potential clients considering obtaining a self drive vehicle from Freedom Motors. Thank you again for changing my life and helping we continue to remain actively employed for with my standard vehicle I would have found it very difficult to continue my current employment.

Kindest Regards, Enjoy Life & Stay Safe, Tony South

TESIMONIAL (WA)

Dear Garry and team, It is now approaching 12 months since we purchased our Kia Grand Carnival vehicle and arranged for Freedom Motors to carry out our wheel-chair friendly conversion. As you will recall we opted for the ‘Passenger Design’ conversion to enable us to retain the option of carrying 4 passengers in addition to the driver.   With this option, it is very convenient and a simple matter of raising the rear door and lowering the ramp, both of which I am able to do myself, whilst seated in my wheel-chair before entering the vehicle. We initially became aware of Freedom Motors conversions thru family friends, Larry, Lee-anne and Ryan Brewer, also from Perth, who had purchased a Grand Carnival and had a similar conversion carried out by Freedom.  They were very satisfied with their conversion and at their recommendation, we undertook to explore the Kia/Freedom combination. To this end, we were extremely happy with the team at Joe Crusifio Motors in Perth, who provided us with details of other customers who had chosen different Kia vehicles and enabled us to inspect their conversions, before deciding to purchase a Grand Carnival and have the conversion carried out by Freedom Motors in Sydney. We did consider local conversion Companies here in Perth, but in our opinion the Freedom conversion product was superior in every way to what was otherwise available.  The quality of the finished product is outstanding and it is impossible to determine that the conversion was not part of the original vehicle. From the time of our initial contact with you, Garry and the other members of the Freedom team, we were extremely impressed with the professional manner in which all our queries and questions were attended to and we were very confident of a satisfactory outcome in relation to the completion of our conversion. The only servicing we have had to have in relation to the conversion was for installation of the ‘docking system’ carried out by T & L Engineering here in Perth, after delivery of the vehicle and their service as representatives of Freedom has also been exemplary. It has become a fairly regular occurrence for complete strangers to approach us in public car-parks in particular, to observe the operation of both loading and unloading of my wheel-chair with me seated therein, and the compliments abound. It has been our pleasure to recommend Freedom to people considering such a purchase, and even some who have had conversions carried out by other Companies expressing regret that they did not also purchase a Freedom conversion. In conclusion, we would like to again thank all at Freedom Motors for the outstanding product and fabulous service we have experienced in our dealings with your Company.  Should we have occasion to go down this path again, we would not hesitate to utilise the services of Freedom again. 

Sincerely Yours, Terry and Debbie Newman

TESTIMONIAL (QLD)

KIA GRAND CARNIVAL PASSENGER CONVERSION.On the 17th September 2010, we took possession of a Kia Grand Carnival that had been converted by Freedom Motors Australia, Sydney. After months of research, we felt that the Freedom Motors conversion was most suitable to our son’s specific needs. We chose the passenger conversion as it still allowed us to have a family vehicle with 5 seats. We were concerned that there may not be much leg-room etc. in the back of the vehicle but we were pleased to find that there is adequate room for 3 people. We carried out a great deal of research on all wheelchair conversions available and found it quite daunting, even when looking at the images on the web sites, to actually imagine what the vehicle would really be like – how far back the ramp would go and the weight of ramp etc. We were fortunate to be able to actually inspect a Freedom Conversion vehicle and try our son in the rear and see how easy the entry and exit was for both the adult and the carer. This is what convinced us to go forward with our own conversion with Freedom Motors.From our first conversation with Sandy, we were put at ease and she was very knowledgeable with any concerns we had. We had intended on going with a Tarago conversion as we had been extremely happy for many years with our current Tarago. Sandy advised that, from her experience, the Kia Grand Carnival was a better option. We accepted her recommendation, and Freedom arranged for the purchase, registration etc. of our vehicle. This made things easier for us as we live in country Queensland. It was a lot easier that Freedom had the vehicle right from the start. Sandy was very helpful and understanding whenever we emailed her with queries and allayed our concerns. When we went to take possession of the vehicle, we were given a very detailed demonstration of all the workings and features of the conversion. We were very impressed with the look and ease of the conversion but it was not until we started our son’s daily routine of entering and exiting the vehicle for his various activities, that we fully appreciated the benefit of the conversion. We have found that our choice of the docking station feature has been extremely beneficial. It saves a great deal of time and effort and our son just drives in, the docking station engages, and we are on our way. We would thoroughly recommend Freedom Motors for the quality of the conversion and the time and effort taken by their staff to answer all our questions. It has made life so much easier for us and most importantly our son as it has given him more independence and dignity, to not be lifted into and out of the car every time.

John, Mary & Chris O’Shea

TESTIMONIAL (NSW)

Dear Garry: Since my wife was confined to a wheelchair with MS she has been housebound. Our new Kia Soul, with Freedom Motors conversion, has truly restored our freedom. We have been able to enjoy daytrips, catching up with family and friends, and been able to help our daughter shop for her wedding. We are now looking forward to our first holiday away in nearly a year. None of this would have been possible without the Freedom car conversion. We especially find the Freedom Wheelchair Dock an excellent feature, it means no back-breaking crawling around securing the chair with tie-down straps. It means getting away is so much quicker and easier.       

Rev. Brad Lovegrove

TESTIMONIAL (NSW)

We had the family conversion done on our 2005 Kia Carnival late 2010 after years of lifting my son in and out of an inappropriate car seat. It soon became impossible to transport him as he was just too heavy for me to lift. What a positive change the conversion has had on our lives! Especially my son's. He is now able to be transported easily, resulting in an improved quality of life for him. The service and sales person were friendly, helpful and informative, very proffessional. The conversion is of a high standard and I highly reccommend Freedom Motors Conversion to anyone needing wheelchair access to a vehicle. We LOVE the difference the conversion has made to our lives.

So happy! Ljae

TESTIMONIAL (SA)

Hi Sandra, Thank you for everything that you and the staff at Freedom Motors have done to make our vehicle conversion so seamless and perfect. The conversion has made our life so much easier, especially with the docking station. I can wheel my son (Jack) into the back of the vehicle and lock him into the docking station with near no effort. It is just so much easier than trying to lift the wheelchair in and out of the car and lifting Jack into his car seat. It’s just wonderful! The actual conversion has been completed with sheer professionalism and engineering precision. After much research it was evident that Freedom Motors was the best choice for our needs, and we have not been disappointed. Our newly converted Tarago is the “Rolls Royce” of wheelchair transport. I have sent some photos of Jack in his new car, looking very excited and pleased with himself!

Thank you again, Jo Kowal. Golden Grove SA.

TESTIMONIAL (NSW)

G’day Garry, Well what can we say the name Freedom kind of says it all.  Before we acquired this vehicle we were a family with very limited options when it came to transport.  Not having to rely on the taxi service and being able to do what we want when we want, is fantastic.  A spontaneous trip to the coffee van or shops is now viable when it was not before.  For two years or more since Mya became too difficult for Ally to get into a vehicle this has not been possible.  Now the world of independence has been opened and the ‘simple’ things most take for granted such as a trip to the shops or picking Mya up from school is something that we can all look forward to !  Instead of being afraid of how it was going to happen.  From the initial process of selecting the car and choosing options through to picking up the car the staff at Freedom (particularly yourself Garry) were always available to answer any queries we had.  What could have been a difficult process was made easy  !  We love our car and thank Freedom each day for the life we now enjoy.  As Mel GIBSON/William Wallace once said, “They will never take our Freedom !” (Won’t mention the bit he said about they may take our lives ???). 

Kind Regards, The Irving family (Jon. Ally, Mya and Evie)

TESTIMONIAL (WA)

The Kia Carnival and Freedom Motors conversion have come together well and I am now driving it around the North West and living in Exmouth. I threw it into full use straight away and a 12 hour drive from Perth to Carnarvon was how it was broken in with the power of the V6 being very comforting to have when needing to overtake. The hand controls were smooth and well placed and work well together with the cruise control. It took a while to get full confidence in the electronics and docking system but when you get use to it and realize that you can manually override the system if need be and won’t ever be locked in for keeps it is great. I like to drive myself and the Ricon seat system functions really well and along with the recline buttons the car comes with you can vary your seating position simply and easily when stopping for a rest. It is a really nice experience to be driven around in it too! My wife can sit in the driver’s seat and not even have to get out putting down the ramp and letting me drive in and lock myself into the docking system. With the lowered floor you have panoramic views and in the Kia Carnival you are positioned between four A/C vents with your own climate control knob. The freedom obtained from being able to get around with my electric chair when going somewhere is what it was mainly about and it does that brilliantly. It is indeed a very smooth form of transport, especially on long drives. Garry was very helpful from the outset and considering I was in WA and it all had to be sorted out over the phone the end result was a good one. I would recommend Freedom Motors for any one wanting a van conversion that wants to make transporting yourself and a chair no worries.

Thanks a lot. Chris Sammons. 

TESTIMONIAL

To the Staff at Freedom,
Our family purchased a Kia Grand Carnival, we needed a vehicle for a rear wheel chair conversion. After looking at many different conversions we decided the best one on the market was the Freedom conversion. Our family have been able to enjoy going out on day trips once again thanks to fFeedom. The auto docking port is a godsend on my husband's and my back, we can highly recommend the wheelchair conversion with the auto docking port we have not looked back since the day it was installed.

Kindest regards The Bowerman Family.

TESTIMONIAL

I purchased my KIA Grand Carnival Premium from Craig Harry at Melville KIA in Perth WA at the end of December 2009.  There was a long wait for my car to be converted and it ended up getting to Freedom Motors in April 2010 to have the Passenger Conversion carried out.  I finally picked my car up on the 29th of July 2010.  As I said the wait was long but after seeing the car and the quality of the conversion I was very impressed.  I feel very safe and comfortable when I’m in the car this is one of the main reasons I got the Premium model as I’m a tall guy I needed the headroom and I have plenty of clearance so Freedoms design was the perfect choice for me.  Sandra Patterson from Freedom Motors looked after me and no matter how many times I rang to see how it was coming along or any other questions I had she was always polite.  I wouldn’t hesitate in recommending Freedom Motors, yes the wait is hard but once you receive the car you’ll be amazed at the conversion and it’s bound to make life a lot easier as it has made mine.    

M. Beros. Perth, WA.

TESTIMONIAL

We would like to express our thoughts on the conversion that your company did for us. We had our Kia Grand Carnival converted in april 2010. We had our car converted for 2 wheelchairs as our 4 year old daughter is in a wheelchair and our 2 year old son will be at some point down the track. The conversion has made out life ALOT easier, it has given our 4 year old daughter a lot more independence as she can drive herself in and out of the car. But most importantly it has enabled our family to go out a lot more so we can take her motorised wheelchair with us which enables he to take part in more outings. We would like to say the service we received from “Freedom Motors” was very helpful, friendly and professional. I would gladly recommend your company.

Yours Sincerely, Kaylene and Greg Anlezark.

TESTIMONIAL

We want to give a massive thank you to Freedom Motors Australia who did such a fantastic job of converting our Kia Grand Carnival for wheelchair access. Having this car has made such an enormous difference to our lives. It is so much easier to put Tyler in the car now, and she is a lot more comfortable traveling in her wheelchair. Tyler loves looking out the window and can now see the cars and trucks going by!! We can't thank you all enough, we are so appreciative and will forever remember your kindness.

Yours sincerely, Katherine & Tyler Wallace xoxo

TESTIMONIAL

Dear Gary and Sandra, Our conversion was completed in March on our VW Caddy Life and is the family conversion together with the freedom docking system. We chose the freedom conversion after comparing other conversions both locally and interstate. We were also happy with the treatment by the sales staff who were very professional and answered all our questions throughout the conversion process. The conversion was high quality and the after sales service has been excellent. A whole new world of true freedom has now become a reality not just a dream. We can now go places together that we otherwise couldn't do thanks to our Freedom Motors Conversion and when combined with the unique Freedom docking system (no more labouring with buckles and belts to hold the wheelchair) gives the ultimate freedom. We would recommend Freedom Motors to anyone for their courteous and professional work. Thanks for all your help.

Yours sincerely, James and Margaret Ford

TESTIMONIAL

To the Freedom Motors Team, Just like to say thankyou for modifying our KIA CARNIVAL shich was a conversion for the family in may this year. We chose the family conversion for us because we wanted our son to be apart of the family up front. The layout is great. Great Job was done with interior, it blended in with the rest of the car. It's made it a lot easier to get around. No more lifting. We have people wanting to look at it everywhere we go. They love it! We love it! We would recommend Freedom Van Conversions. Keep up the great work. I'm happy and a proud owner.

Regards, Clair Hewlett

TESTIMONIAL

FREEDOM MOTORS TESTIMONIAL (as told by Antoni & Carmel Paragalli). Freedom Motors has as its name suggests, given our family the freedom to travel and experience adventures not possible without our Freedom van conversion.   Most importantly, it allows us to have our wheelchair bound son Michael with us wherever we go. We first came across Freedom Motors some two years prior to our purchase at a mobility expo in Canberra.  We were impressed by the range of vehicles and style of lifts available.  In 2008, the decision was made to upgrade our family vehicle to a Toyota Tarago, based on our some Michaels’ travel needs, the upgrading of his wheelchair to a much larger chair and Freedom Motors endorsement of such a vehicle to fit their conversion. Our sales consultant Sandra Patterson was an enormous help to us prior to and during the conversion process, her product knowledge is immense and the after sales support is second to none.  Through Freedoms large network, we were able to view a Toyota Tarago with the exact conversion we were purchasing, only fifteen minutes from home.  The owner of the vehicle could not speak highly enough of the Freedom team. This was a major selling point when deciding on the conversion. Through our Freedom experience, we have found the Freedom team to be professional, supportive and able to solve any problems we have.  We would have no hesitation in recommending Freedom Motors van conversions to potential customers.  Like others before us, we are happy to use our Freedom Vehicle as advertisement for a great product.

A & C Paragalli.

TESTIMONIAL

We had our Kia Grand Carnival converted. It was a family conversion so we can still fit our daughter who is in a wheelchair and a massive 6 other persons including the driver. Our daughter is seated between 2 other seats so that she has company with her at all times and she just loves it, feels very special and of course she is. The sales person was willing to answer all our questions to our needs and showed us what the end result would be like, they came to me rather then we go to them when looking to do the conversion which was a big factor for us as it was very difficult to go anywhere before the conversion. The end result was better than we imagined, the high quality was fantastic and we got a new looking vehicle. We have even gotten a follow up to see that we were still happy with it and of course we are. We would recommend Freedom Van Conversion to any other potential customers.

The Furphy Family (NSW)

TESTIMONIAL

I have had my KIA Grand Carnival conversion for 6 months.  It's fantastic! This journey started when I was searching the web and found "Freedom".Sandra drove the KIA to our home so I could see it for myself.  We were impressed and that hasn't stopped.  The service has been outstanding:  both caring and very professional. I was diagnosed with MS five years ago and the disease has rogressed to the point when 3 years ago I could no longer walk more than a few metres and needed a manual wheelchair and attendant, as my left side is very weak and not responsive.  I needed help wherever I went. Previous to MS, I loved being a helper to my elderly parents, worked and led a productive life as wife, mother of two and daughter to four parents.  Life changed from doer and helper to needing help to shop, get to appointments and see friends and family.   I could drive but not get far from the car without a lot of help that my husband and daughter who gladly helped when they were available.  So life had enormous limitations! Now, I have a power chair (electric wheelchair) and the KIA conversion to self-drive.  I am mobile! I can help both others and myself!  This is so empowering to have this ability back and I am both grateful, firstly, to my husband for making it possible with some financial strain, as we had no financial help and to Freedom Motors for their wonderful conversion of the car. I wish others the joy of independence and  FREEDOM!

Thank you, Janice Paterson (NSW)

TESTIMONIAL

Earlier this year we bought a car that needed a wheelchair access conversion. Our reason for buying a new car was due to John having MS and no longer transferring from his chair to our sedan and in doing so we considered the following things for our needs. We wanted a family car that caters for John, room for our two teenage boys and grandchildren at the same time. It needed to look like a family car not a cargo van, be wide and have efficient height inside and enough room for John’s future chair needs and room to put things. We wanted new because we have plans to travel in it and have it last a long time, and we wanted value for money. The car needed to have some easy access tools to make life easy for handlers, eg automatic ramp (need to look after our backs). We wanted John near the front, not at the back as we wanted him to feel he was part of the family not cargo, and we could talk easily. Last but not least easy access to sitting for John’s mother who is elderly. After much searching we chose a KIA Carnival. We then hunted for businesses that converted cars through the internet and word of mouth, wished we had done this first as we could have had the whole package of car and conversion in one with Freedom instead of the extra run around and cost we had. We chose Freedom Motors at St Mary’s Sydney as it was the most professional looking of all we searched and they had many conversion options to choose from. In addition to this we were able to look at another conversion of a KIA Carnival done by Freedom Motors owned by another person here in Darwin. After seeing her car and talking to her over her and her friend’s experiences we knew what we wanted. We were extremely impressed with the workmanship, professional look and immediately thought the car and conversions demonstrated exactly what we had thought from the internet site and what we wanted to fulfil our needs. What we bought:- 2009 Compliant Kia Grand Carnival(LWB)- petrol ( Diesel is more economical in hindsight) , paint glazing and tinted windows . Basic conversion – ‘family conversion’ dropped floor cage; manual ramp; 4 tie down points and tie downs and lap belt; 2 modified bucket seats. Extra conversions – Fold down double rear seat (extra 2 people when we need it), full length anchor tie down points ( a strip all the way down the floor for moving the chair anywhere if we want to, or add an extra wheelchair in, or needed to readjust space); Freedom Dock automatic wheelchair restraint system (all we have to do is push him in and it locks him in, no bending for us to tie him in, it releases with a button); Automatic electrically operated ramp system with push button( no work for us). The company was easy to communicate with and bent over backwards to get the job done on a deadline that significantly shrunk due to no fault of theirs but the Car Dealer delivering it 3 weeks late and the wheelchair was not delivered when it was promised it would be. We thought the cost was competitive compared to other company’s and from the finished product it was well worth it. Communicating was always easy by phone or emails and the crew at Freedom were always very helpful and informative from the manager right down to the ground crew. Questions were answered promptly and always with reassuring answers. Freedom Motors are very easy going and back their product with fantastic after care. Although we are over 4000 km away there have been always quick results to answer our queries. Using the car: Amazingly we have been out heaps since getting it and instead of taking 10 – 20 minutes to get in and out of the car it takes 2 minutes, push in and click, do up the seat and off we go. To drive, it is easy to turn on a 10cent coin as they say, reversing is okay using the mirrors but reversing camera would been a better choice. The floor plan of the car is great for transporting people. We have had many trips with the car full of people. Very comfortable except the middle seats have a large step to get up into the car, we should have put on side steps. It has great air conditioning front, middle and rear. The placement of John being in the middle has been great for socialising in the car. The Conversion: The job was well done, amazing process! We would not hesitate to use Freedom Motors again and we stand behind our recommendations for others to consider Freedom very seriously for future conversions. We can not stress enough how obliging and efficient this company is. They blew us away with their commitment to the customer, us, when time was our biggest problem. Really ecstatic we have it. It has made a remarkable improvement to our lives; so much that we nearly have a different one!

Thanks Freedom! John and Jenny McCrory, NT.

TESTIMONIAL

Freedom Motors has given us complete freedom to be mobile and take our daughter anywhere with us whenever we wish. Using the wheelchair access is very easy and our daughter is happy to be sitting next to us and not being on the back seat by herself. We are delighted that the modification has not changed the appearance of the car externally but the convenience of free mobility with our daughter has definitely made a significant change in our life. We thank Freedom Motors from the bottom of our hearts.

The Sunitakailash Family

TESTIMONIAL

We purchased a Toyota Tarago on the 1st October 2009, it has a passenger conversion. It has helped us a great deal, it has made everything so much easier. Freedom are great to deal with, very helpful and friendly. We would recommend freedom motors to anyone needing a converted vehicle. Thank you so much freedom motors.

Lisa Ward

TESTIMONIAL

Dear Mr. van Mullekom, I have been a bilateral amputee since 2006, living independently in a retirement village in Avalon, NSW and get about in a motorised wheelchair because I chose not to have prosthetics fitted. I have always been an out and about person and decided to get my licence back which I did in June, 2007. I heard about Freedom Motors and saw their ad in a magazine and I talked to the sales people about what sort of vehicle I would need and we chose a Honda Jazz which I had delivered to the workshop later that year. I wanted a small self drive vehicle and this car suited me perfectly. Freedom Motors built me this amazing conversion with a remote controlled rear hatch and ramp enabling me to drive into the vehicle and the wheelchair locks into the Freedom Docking Machine saving all the mucking around of tying straps on and is really safe. I then transfer onto the driving seat which swivels around and goes up to the steering wheel which is fitted with the driving controls (bit tricky at first!). There is also a camera fitted at the back and comes up on the rear vision mirror when the car is in reverse making it easy to see what's going on behind me. I picked up the car in October, 2007 and have driven 32000 kms in the two years I have owned it and at present getting ready to drive from Sydney to Tasmania via the East Coast visiting friends, and as I am a watercolour artist, getting a lot of photos for my paintings. I simply can't say how much this car and the clever technology has given me the tremendous freedom to be out and about once again. I have had problems because it is so high tech, but the people at Freedom Motors have always been able to fix it and be extremely helpful. I am very happy to show my lovely little car and tell everyone how lucky I was the day I heard about Freedom Motors. 

Yours sincerely, Marilyn Guion

TESTIMONIAL

To Whom It May Concern, I'd been toying with the idea of acquiring a converted vehicle, which would allow me to have more independence, over the last couple of years. I had a people mover with a winch in the back, to get my power chair in and out, but it always required other people's assistance. However even after some research, I just wasn't sure who to go with until I met Gary Dale at a Care for Carer’s Expo in Dubbo. He had his Kia Grand demo vehicle on display and I was just so impressed with the integrated and professional look of the conversion that I knew Freedom Motors would be the company to deal with, even if it was still about 8 months later before I acted. Well I finally took the plunge, purchased a near new Kia Grand and here I am with my newly converted vehicle. It's just great and I'm very happy with the finished product, not to mention the friendly and helpful advice and support I’ve received, and am still receiving from Freedom Motors staff. Thanks to the conversion it allows me to drive my power chair into the back of the vehicle; dock it using Freedom Motor's exclusive automatic docking system; transfer onto the driver's seat; move it forward electronically to the correct position, and drive away!  Thank you Freedom Motors. I'm quite happy to recommend your work to anyone who enquires!

Regards, Heather and Martin Rademaker

TESTIMONIAL

In March 2009 we shifted from our farm into a courtyard house in the suburbs of Adelaide.   We had been using a Subaru 4wd for farm work and a 1991 Toyota Microbus with a hoist for transporting Ashley, who is totally disabled.   We wanted to reduce to one vehicle and as our joints do not move as freely as they used to we wanted to reduce the bending during loading and unloading. I located Freedom Motors when browsing on the web.  I could not find anything in Adelaide that matched their “Freedom Dock” which seemed to suit our needs perfectly, and so with some reluctance I entered into discussion over the internet and by telephone with Freedom Motors.  I found it hard to believe loading and unloading could be so simple!  Sandra answered all my questions and seemed very friendly, but it was a bit daunting spending such a large amount of money sight unseen.  My son was in Sydney almost every week and so I asked if they could show him a converted vehicle.  Sandra took one out to his office, and he was very impressed with the quality of the product, and so we went ahead.  We bought our Kia here from Stillwell Kia, but it was delivered to Freedom in Sydney for the conversion to be done by them. The conversion took about three or four weeks and our nerves were calmed by good communication with Greg and Sandra.  To fit the centre drive wheelchair to the freedom dock we had to fly the wheelchair up to Sydney as the chair had extra low ground clearance.  Qantas transported it to and fro and although there were a few problems when the wheelchair packaging disintegrated and the chair was slightly damaged, the Freedom staff helped sort it out with Invacare in Sydney, who checked it out and fixed some minor damage.  Freedom then fitted the docking mechanism to the chair and sent it back home where it arrived in better condition than when it left.  A week or so later we flew up to Sydney and picked up our car and drove it home with an unregistered vehicle permit.  Stillwell Kia handled the approvals with the South Australian authorities and we finally got our vehicle.  I can only say the conversion is brilliant.  The Kia is good, economical and a pleasure to drive.  But the conversion with a Freedom Dock is the best investment we have ever made.  No more tedious tying the chair down, bending and twisting backs etc.  Just drive it in, the lock goes clunk, shut the tailgate and off we go – wonderful.  After almost twenty years of loading and unloading wheelchairs, this is the best thing ever.  The vehicle looks so smart most people don’t even notice the conversion, and it comes as a real surprise when we open the back, flick the switch and lower the ramp and wheel out the chair. Ashley just loves it, as he is secure, comfortable and able to get around a lot more as it is easier for us to take him.  The Kia has good air-conditioning which he needs, he has his own speakers and is close to all the other people in the car.  The location of the chair means we can still carry three other passengers when we have Ashley and an additional two if he is not with us. We have now done over 10,000kms, some of it on very rough roads, the suspension works well and there are no rattles or leaks.  The wheelchair compartment means the vehicle has fairly low ground clearance but this has not caused us any problems.  The reversing sensors and reversing camera make manoeuvrability very safe and easy.  The side plates were well worth the extra as they protect the side of the car.  The diesel motor uses about 10 litres per 100km around town and down to 8.5 in the country.  It has plenty of power, and although it feels a bit lumbering when taking off from the lights, it is surprising how other vehicles rarely shoot ahead of us.  The vehicle looks fantastic as you can see from the picture. We had to make a few minor adjustments to the “Freedom Dock” when we got the vehicle back to Adelaide due to the length of the wheelchair but we talked them through with Greg Pretty on the phone and it was as easy as anything.  I would recommend anyone to use Freedom Motors for their conversions.  Obviously we are very well known in the disability field in Adelaide, and our vehicle is eyed with great envy. Thank you all at Freedom for such a professional job.  We will probably be in Sydney next month and hope to get to see you to check it over after the initial usage period.

Yours sincerely, Richard Grace

TESTIMONIAL

To Freedom Motors. At last some freedom from pain. After struggling for the past six or seven years with wrist and upper arm pain, (having ruptured my biceps), which makes mobility difficult during transferring, folding and lifting my manual wheelchair into and out of my cars or onto a hoist (that didn’t work correctly), it was a pleasure to collect my Kia Grand Carnival on the 26th of March 2009, which had been converted by Freedom Motors as a self drive vehicle, what a relief on the upper limbs. I have been in a wheelchair for 34 years and participated in a wide range of activities to keep fit, including swimming and archery, proudly representing my town, state and country with my archery, unfortunately, I am no longer able to compete or even use a bow. I also wanted to enjoy my life as much as possible by being independent, as does everyone, so didn’t let being in a chair stop my physical activities and my daily work until the above injuries caused so much pain that it was getting impossible to even enjoy going for a drive, but now, thanks to Freedom Motors and their wonderful staff and service, even toward country people, it is so easy to get into the car and go driving wherever and whenever I wish to. I first saw the self drive Kia Grand Carnival that one of my friends had converted by Freedom Motors some years ago and thought it was a great idea so when I needed to go that way I decided that Freedom Motors would be the people for me and they were great. My wife and I would highly recommend anyone wanting to have a conversion done for either self drive or passenger wheelchair users to have Garry and the staff at Freedom Motors discuss your needs

Thanks Freedom Motors, Steve and Mary Austin (NSW)

TESTIMONIAL

We purchased a new Kia Grand Carnival motor vehicle and had it converted by Freedom Motors. This is our second vehicle to have been converted by this highly professional company.  Our first vehicle being a Chrysler Voyager (Converted in 2002). We use our vehicle to transport our son who has Muscular Dystrophy and is confined to an electric wheelchair. Both our conversions have been the ‘passenger’ type which has allowed plenty of room to accommodate our two other children as well. Throughout both conversions with Freedom Motors, we have dealt with Garry Dale who, surprisingly, remembered us 4yrs on when we approached him in regards to our 2nd conversion!   Garry is very professional and knows his products.  He is a warm man with great empathy and a strong understanding of the family needs when requiring special transport. For our 2nd conversion Garry suggested the new ‘docking station’ system which not only keeps the traveled safer but assists the carer and trust me, it makes a huge difference to a tired back!  It comes at a cost but we are so pleased that we installed the new docking system.  It’s worth every extra cent!!  The quality of the conversion is top class and the after sales service superb. Freedom also assisted us in the sale of our Chrysler Voyager which made it a smooth changeover for us and kept our son ‘on the road’ right up until the new conversion was ready. We strongly recommend converting your vehicle with Freedom Motors. They have certainly earned their good reputation through 2 conversions with us ….

Julie-Anne and Chris Lancaster

TESTIMONIAL

About a month ago, we were thrilled to be able to test-drive the much-anticipated “Family Design” modification to our Kia Grand Carnival. The quality of the modification work is outstanding. The Freedom Motors service was great and the after-sales service has been very good. We highly recommend the Freedom Motors Kia Grand modification. We particularly appreciate the light-weight ramp operation and the quality of the internal and external finish. The modifications have given our whole family a new-found “freedom”.

Cheers, The Hills Family

TESTIMONIAL

Dear Robert, We purchased a Freedom Van after much research.  We previously had a lot of problems with a car modified by another company and so were very careful this time.  Our investigations showed us that Freedom could offer the best solution for our 19 year old son, Greig, who uses a wheelchair.  The sales representative was very helpful, listened carefully and understood our needs.  We were convinced after being given the opportunity to try out a demonstration vehicle. Obviously when buying a conversion like this, there are many functional and technical questions.  The sales person with whom we dealt was very responsive and went out of his way to answer our questions promptly.  For example, one concern that we had was that the vehicle might be too low to get up our steep driveway without scraping the concrete.  This issue was quickly resolved through a demonstration. The quality of our conversion was excellent and has exceeded our expectations.  The workmanship is great.  We have had no issues after more than a year.  The changes have not impacted the way that the car handles and it is a please to drive.  The rear entry ramp is very safe and easy to use.  The car has attracted interest and compliments from many people. The service and after sales services was very good.  Transportation of the car from Melbourne to Sydney and back was well organised, we were kept up to date with progress and hand over was trouble free.  The sales person was diligent in following up with explanation and training on the car's features. We definitely recommend Freedom Van Conversion to other potential customers.  It has made our lives a lot easier.

Regards, Geoff and Gloria Bearne (VIC)

TESTIMONIAL

Dear Sir, During the past 12 months this service has purchased two Kia Carnivals of which each has been converted to one wheelchair position. We formally used small minibuses equipped with wheelchair hoists but found we were not using these to maximum capacity. The purchase of these people mover type vehicles has been to us extremely successful. The conversion itself is of high standard. Having viewed a conversion in progress I was very impressed with the quality of materials used. We have had some very positive feedback from our clients who all prefer to travel in this style of transport. Our wheelchair clients are practically impressed as they state that they feel more secure as they sit lower in the vehicle and suffer less sideways movement. They also state they have better vision from the vehicle. The vehicles are very easy to drive and highly manoeuvrable. This is particularly so in and around town. During the conversion process I found Freedom Motors to be extremely helpful with all enquiries that I had. I cannot speak highly enough regarding this type of conversion and would recommend it to any person or service.

Regards, Peter Wilde. Manager

TESTIMONIAL

The conversion for our car was purchased in January 2007 and was completed on a Kia Grand Carnival 2006 model. The type of conversion was passenger. We needed to purchase a freedom van as my husband is confined to a wheelchair and we need the height of the seat to be able to maneuver him in and out easily. In my previous vehicle I had to constantly lift the wheelchair in and out and fold it up every time. Having the ramp enabled us to leave the wheelchair up and be able to push it into the back of the vehicle. Our Sales consultant was Gary and I found him to be very helpful and informative all the way through the process. The quality of the conversion was excellent. After sales service has not been required at this stage. I would most definitely recommend the conversion to other potential customers. I have had a lot of interested people looking at my car.

Les & Carol Smith (WA)

TESTIMONIAL

We had our new Honda jazz delivered to Freedom Motors in September 2006 and we picked up our fully converted vehicle in March 2007. The vehicle is brilliant! Was so sick of driving a large van and although the Jazz is restricted to a two seater with the conversion, it's the best wheelchair accessible vehicle we have ever had. I have a remote control to open and close the tailgate and lower and raise the ramp so can just drive straight in. I transfer to the driver's seat which is also automated so that at a push of a button I can turn it to assist my transfer and move backwards and forwards to the correct driving position. The conversion is high-quality and surprises, everybody who has seen it in operation. I would recommend this conversion to anyone who wants a small manoeuvrable, highly economical vehicle which is brilliantly accessible.

Patricia and Robert

TESTIMONIAL

Dear Sir,
What a wonderful idea when I saw a vehicle with a ramp a the rear, but unfortunately altered the vehicle's appearance. Later I head of Freedom. Contacting Freedom they interested me with their conversion; which did not alter the vehicle's appearance. They suggested various vehicles that lead me to the Renault Kangoo. When the Kangoo arrived it was delivered to Freedom Motors for conversion. They went through the details of the conversion, giving me the confidence on their workmanship. On completion, they advised me of the after sales service & if any additions I thought would be handy. They placed 2 bars for my wife to hang on to. Now I don't have to dismantle the scooter place in the boot, take out & reassemble. Being 90 years this becomes more difficult.
My wife now sit on the scooter at the house, into the Kangoo, strap up, out to do the shopping, or whatever, back into the Kangoo & home. Still feeling fresh with so little effort, it's me who gets tired not keeping up with her. She now claims she is "the fastest shopper in the West". I have shown the vehicle to many who asked who does the conversion. Recommending Freedom Motors the conversion, sales service, before, during & after. Telling them how pleased we are with the quality of the work & the very pleasant men at Freedom Motors.

Yours sincerely
T.R.Wood

TESTIMONIAL

Dear Mr Van Mullekom,
We purchased a family conversion for our 2006 Chrysler Voyager and delivered our car to Freedom at the end of July 2008. After some initial delays we were delighted to take delivery of our vehicle on 11 November 2008. We had added to optional fold down rear seat, electric wheelchair restraints and reversing camera. The sales staff were helpful in assisting us with our initial enquiries on the type of vehicle that would best suit our purpose. The quality of the conversion is good and has certainly made transporting Callum very easy. It is great to have him sitting up close behind the driver and front passenger. With the additional fold down seat in the rear we are still able to transport our other son and his friends as well. We are happy with our conversion and Callum enjoys travelling in the car with us.

Regards
Kay & Rowan Saunders

TESTIMONIAL

We are enjoying our Renault Kangoo with the conversion from Freedom Motors. This is our second Freedom Van, and we couldn't be happier. We recommend them to anyone needing their vehicle to accommodate a wheelchair. We especially love the Freedom Dock that allows me to enter the vehicle and lock the chair into pace without having to tie it down, and without any assistance from anyone else. There is a wonderful sensation of freedom that I enjoy very much, not having to get out of my chair to get into the vehicle. Gone are the days when I had to transfer into the front seat o our station wagon, and my wife had to haul the wheelchair into the back. We love this freedom that we now enjoy. Even rainy days are no problem - it's so quick to get up the ramp and into the back. We love this wonderful system, to get in and out of our vehicle, and we know that anyone wanting wheelchair access to your vehicle will love it too

Jeff & Denise Barton 

TESTIMONIAL

To whom it may concern
I decided after reading your brochure to purchase a Tarago + have you convert it for wheelchair access. I had been informed of your work and I was advised by Freedom that the Tarago would be the suitable vehicle for my use. I am very pleased with the end results, enclosed are a few photo’s my family are pleased with. Thank you for all the help & cooperation of you Freedom Staff. I would certainly recommend your work to anyone

With sincere Thanks,
Colin A. Blatch

TESTIMONIAL

I bought a 2005 KIA CARNIVAL LS AUTO WAGON which was converted by Freedom Motors in December 2006, to enable easy access for my Electric-Tilt Wheelchair. The conversion was a family type 2 seater plus wheelchair with a fold down bench seat with Electric Wheelchair restraints. The quality of the work done was excellent. The salesperson explained everything fully and answered all my questions. I am very happy with the end result and have not needed after sales service. I have had several people stop and ask me about my conversion, so I definitely would recommend Freedom Van Conversions to other people It has definitely made my daily travels more comfortable.

Thanks!!
Kristy, Newcastle
Happy Customer

TESTIMONIAL

We had problems transferring our daughter from her wheelchair into our station wagon, so we purchased a Kia Carnival and had a Freedom Motors passenger conversion completed in October 2005.
We found the conversion to be of high quality and the customer service was excellent. Easy rear access is great for parallel parking. We strongly recommend this type of Freedom Motors conversion.
With thanks

The Costa family

TESTIMONIAL

Hi Garry,
A quick email to let you know the car arrived safe and sound - a couple of pics of Shane trying it out and looking pretty pleased with himself - he thinks the car is awesome! I will distribute your brouchers around Shenton Park Rehab. Thankyou you for all your help, your service was impeccable.

Cheers
Sue Agnew

TESTIMONIAL

After extensive research into wheelchair accessible vehicles, Peninsula Access Support & Training in November 2006 purchased a Toyota Tarago for a wheelchair conversion from Freedom Motors. Freedom Motors was chosen for several reasons; experience, value for money, and availability. After receiving the brochures and seeing a demonstration model the decision was very easy. Freedom provided us with excellent customer service from the beginning through to the date we received the vehicle. Having gone through a local dealer for the vehicle itself, the whole transaction was very simple and seamless. The quality of the conversion is first rate and we would have no hesitation in strongly recommending Freedom Motors to other potential customers.

Terri Carroll
Chief Executive Officer
Peninsula Access Support and Training Inc.

TESTIMONIAL

Our conversion was completed on July 2007 after purchasing a Kangoo van through a Renault dealership. The van was delayed in shipment from France, but the conversion was completed little earlier than expected which was a bonus. We are very pleased with the conversion. The fold-down ramp is easy to use and carpeted as is the inside of the van. My daughter’s wheelchair is securely held in place with tie-downs, the front ones being electric. The van has sliding doors on both sides, which is very convenient. Previously I would lift my daughter into the front seat of my wagon and then lift the wheelchair into the boot. It is so much easier to push her up the ramp, tie the chair down, and fold the ramp back up which fits snugly at the back doors. There is still vision out the back and I can see her in the rear-vision mirror. Freedom Motors was recommended to me by a friend who had a conversion done last year. I phoned Gary Dale, the sales manager, and he was very helpful in answering all my questions. This significantly helped me choose which company to deal with. I have since been able to show people my conversion and they have been impressed.

Kathy Bree and daughter Sarah

TESTIMONIAL

To any potential customer of Freedom Motors. My name is Tony [38] and a few months ago I decided to buy a Kia Carnival and have it modified by Freedom Motors for a self drive conversion. I work shift work so a vehicle is very important to my life style plus its also great for my social life.As soon as I met up with Gary who came to me with a demo vehicle I felt that I was dealing with a professional company, he answered all my questions right then and there. From the girls that answer your calls in the office to all of the rest staff, I was treated with lots of care all the way. While my car was having the conversion, I was invited to visit the guys at the work shop, met up with [pommy] John. John talked me through the work that had taken place to that stage, very concise and felt that nothing was to hard for them to do for me or explain. The quality of the final produced that was delivered by the due date to me was high on workmen ship. Its only when you see the final product that you appreciate how much work goes into the conversion. I had reason to need a small after sales services, nothing was a problem, fantastic. I really believe that the work these guys do is remarkable and life changing for the individual or for a family. I highly recommend any one to this fantastic company Freedom Motors.

Cheers
Tony Riccio

TESTIMONIAL

We recently purchased a KIA Grand Carnival with a view to having it converted to enable wheelchair access. After obtaining information about the various companies that do the conversion we visited Freedom Motors at St Marys. The staff there were of great assistance and after inspecting the premises and some of their completed vehicles we decided to have the work done there. The conversion took about six weeks and during that time we were kept informed about the progress and were more than happy with the finished product. Since we have been using the vehicle we have found it to be easily accessible and it has provided us with many hours of comfortable travel. In addition the family type conversion that we settled on has proven to be suitable for transporting our grandchildren to various outings. The fact that the whole extended family can travel together has opened up a world of experiences for the whole family. We are able to attend the grand children’s sporting events, we are all able to travel to have a heap of fun family experiences. Not only has it enabled us to travel around with the little kids, the big kids (us adults) are able to venture off to places that were not accessable to myself for the last few months. Recently we attended the Mudgee Cup with a group of friends (all transported in the converted Kia) something that we would not have been able to do previously. My wife and I know the conversion and ease of use of the vehicle has definitely improved our quality of life and we look forward to many more adventures in the future. We would recommend Freedom Motors as a reliable company for these type of conversions.

Kind Regards,
Mark & Sue Gooley

For many years I drove a Kia Sportage. At the time it was the most appropriate vehicle that could fit my wheelchair in. This meant I had to stand up with my limited capacity to weight bear , fold my wheelchair up and lift it into the rear of the vehicle with the fitted hoist and then walk precariously around to the driver’s door and literally drag my body into the driver’s seat.

After many years of doing this my shoulders and wrists suffered with the repeated strain on my body and it inflamed both my arthritis and my muscles which gave me great pain. This constant pain limited my independence and the choices of where I wanted to go and also the lifestyle that I wanted to live and it also impacted on my physiological wellbeing.

FREEDOM, this is the word that really captures the experience I have been in for the last few months since taking delivery of my newly modified FREEDOMVAN (now called FREEDOM) from Freedom Motors Australia. Now at the press of a button on my remote , the rear door opens and the ramp descends down so I can then drive my electric wheelchair up the slight gradient ramp and across the floor of the vehicle and into the drivers position where it locks into place automatically into the FREEDOMDOCK ( automatic wheelchair locking device).

I then press the remote again and the rear ramp and the rear door closes automatically behind me so I can then drive off.

Not only has the modified vehicle assisted me with attending my place of employment and going out shopping but it has also allowed me to socialise with my friends over dinner and recently I have also entered a weekly song writing competition at the local club. My new car has allowed me to participate and be involved with my local community in ways that I never thought of with my old vehicle.

In my dealings with Freedom Motors Australia I have felt like I was dealing with family or friends and from our first meeting with Garry Dale and subsequent meetings with Freedom staff ,they listened to my specific needs and wants in a modified vehicle and we worked together to come up with the right package for me.

Even after I took delivery they have come to my rescue and gone beyond the call of duty to fix the minor initial electrical problems which occurred in the early stages, and they had to travel to suburbs as far away as Chatswood on the north Shore to get me going again. These initial problems have now been fixed under their warranty and I have no problems at all with making any recommendation for anybody looking to purchase a modified vehicle form Freedom Motors Australia.

I was even very touched recently when they asked about one of my family who had been very ill and I feel that they are all a very compassionate company towards their many clientele.

Thank you Freedom Motors Australia for your ongoing commitment to your valued customer Athena Pavlis-Goard & my van called FREEDOM