2014 Toyota Sienna vs. 2014 Honda Odyssey

        VS.   

Choosing the right Vehicle for you and your family can be very hard and when consumers must choose between the 2014 Toyota Sienna and the 2014 Honda Odyssey (the best when looking for safety, fuel economy, lots of space, and a good price) they have a tough decision on their hands. But one factor that seems to shine through in the debate is fuel efficiency. Little lower fuel economy at highway the 2014 Toyota Sienna will improve by offering the new 2014 Toyota Sienna Hybrid.


The Honda Odyssey and the Toyota Sienna both offer confident handling, roomy interiors, high safety ratings and a choice of seven or eight-passenger seating. Despite its bigger size the Odyssey offers a little less room for passengers and their luggage compared to the Sienna.

2014 Odyssey
The Odyssey’s second-row seat is uniquely versatile, and its V6 engine is unusually fuel efficient. The Odyssey is powered by a 3.5-liter V6 engine that produces 248 horsepower. Only front-wheel drive is available. Fuel economy is 18 mpg city/27 mpg highway.

2014 Sienna

The Sienna offers all-wheel drive, front fog lights as standard and 6-speed automatic transmission. The Sienna’s standard 187-horsepower 2.7-liter four-cylinder engine can be upgraded to a 266-horsepower 3.5-liter V6. Buyers can also choose between front- and all-wheel drive. Fuel economy is 19 mpg city/24 mpg highway for the smaller engine, 18/25 for the front-wheel drive V6, and 17/23 for the AWD V6. Also Toyota is going to offer the 2014 Sienna Hybrid which will rise the fuel economy to 30 mpg city/29 mpg highway.


Both vehicles offer a full complement of safety devices. The Odyssey earned five stars and the Sienna earned four stars on the NHTSA side pole crash test.

2014 Odyssey
The Odyssey integrates a premium audio system paired with 12 speakers, 5.1 Surround Sound Theater Mode, 15 GB hard drive memory, speed-sensitive volume, and rear sound controls. The rear DVD entertainment system features one screen and HDMI technology.

2014 Sienna
The Sienna’s system uses ten speakers, surround-sound, auto sound leveling, and music streaming via Bluetooth. The rear dual-view DVD entertainment center uses a 16.4-inch display.


After adding up the characteristics for each minivan, it appears the Honda Odyssey comes out ahead mainly due to more advanced technology and more versatile second-row seating. However, these advantages come with a price; the Odyssey usually costs more than competing minivans with comparable features. When 2014 Toyota Sienna Hybrid comes to market it will be way in front of the competitors.


The Winner Is . . .
Considering how close the Odyssey and Sienna are in all of these respects, a case can be made for either vehicle so we want your help deciding.Call us today and let us know which wheelchair minivan you would buy for you and your family. 508-697-6006

If you'd like more information you can call us today or come visit our Mobility Center so you can give both of them a try first hand.

How to Sell a Wheelchair Van In New England

Need help selling a wheelchair van in New England?

Do you want to sell your wheelchair van but don't know how? We can help!

We will buy your late model clean wheelchair van.

Wheelchair Van Classifieds can offer a “for sale by owner” approach but, at the same time, do not afford a personal interaction with a trained mobility sales expert, we do.

Let us do all the hard work and sell your wheelchair vehicle for you through our New England network of sales professionals. We are dedicated to ensuring people looking to buy handicap vans and adapted vehicles that they will get something thats going to work for them.

Sure you can try and sell your used accessible vehicle in a online classifieds by creating an account and creating your classified ads listing.

VMi New England, Bridgewater, MA offers a mobility classifieds listing service for free on all vans we take on consignment to sell for you, in which we handle the sales process for your adapted vehicle. Learn more about having us sell your wheelchair van or other handicapped vehicles at our state of the art mobility center.

We accept all quality, serviceable mobility vehicles for consignment used Braun handicap van classifieds, pre-owned VMI mobility vans, and even used Rollx and AMS wheelchair vans, and all other brands of accessible vehicles.

We can get consumers financed that other wise would not be able to buy your van.

Have more questions? Give our mobility experts a call today at 508-607-6006 to ask more about our “consignment program” handicap minivans.

Find used handicap vans and accessible vehicles for sale in our online mobility classifieds. Shop our nationwide selection consignment vehicles sold through VMi New England. Included in our wheelchair van classifieds are adapted cars, trucks, SUVs, full-size vans, minivans, and other professionally modified vehicles for the disabled or elderly. Find pre-owned conversion minivans from, Braun Entervan (Braunability), Vantage Mobility (VMI) Northstar and Summit, Eldorado, Amerivan, IMS ramp vans and even AMS Vans, Rollx vans, and more.

Previous customers of VMi New England and Automotive Innovations receive a complimentary mobility equipment inspection and minor repairs free when contracting with us to sell you used wheelchair van

We are also happy to accept trade-ins toward the purchase of any new or used handicap accessible van.

Contact us to take advantage of our huge world wide network of people looking to buy handicap vans.

Walk-N-Roll for Spina Bifida

41st Annual Falmouth Road Race-Sunday, August 11

Charity numbers available on Team SBAGNE!

Team SBAGNE wants you to join our team as we run the 7.1 miles from Woods Hole to Falmouth Heights in support of the Spina Bifida Association of Greater New England. If you are interested in running and fundraising for SBAGNE, contact Wendy Potts at wpotts@SBAGreaterNE.org

Team SBAGNE has begun training for the 41st running of the Falmouth Road Race! Help them meet their fundraising goal of $45,000.

Spina Bifida is a congenital defect in which part of one or more vertebrae (the bone structure that surrounds the spinal column), fail, to develop completely, leaving part of the spinal cord exposed. It can occur anywhere on the spine but is most common in the lower back. The severity of the condition depends on how much nerve tissue is exposed. Frequently special adaptations on a vehicle are necessary for independent driving. The person with spina bifida may also have impairments in the ~areas of vision, perception (how the brain interprets what the eyes see) or learning. Adaptive driving equipment is frequently used for physical problems. A spinner knob and hand controls can be used if a person is unable to use either foot for gas or brake. Specialized modifications can also allow a person to transfer to the driver’s seat or drive from the wheelchair in a van or minivan.

Common factors that can affect safe driving:

• Limited range of motion and strength
• Difficulty with coordinated movements
• Visual impairments (poor acuity)
• Trouble visually scanning or tracking quickly
• Learning difficulties
• Impaired judgment in complex situations
• Slow processing and reaction time

A driver rehabilitation evaluation will examine the strengths and weaknesses of each individual as related to the driving task. The goal is independent, safe driving. No modifications or vehicle selection should be made until the person has completed a driver evaluation.

If you or those that drive with you notice any of the above warning signs and need a driving evaluation, give us a call at 508-697-6006 and we can, help you with with knowledge about medical conditions, and help with a comprehensive evaluation and determine your ability to drive. 

• Visual Perception
• Functional Ability
• Reaction Time
• Behind-the-wheel evaluation

Long Life Rust Proofing For Wheelchair Vans

7 year old Braun Wheelchair van in New England. Customer didn't believe in rust proofing

wheelchair vans rust, corrosion, long life and rust proofing in new england

Vehicles today are subject to rust and corrosion due to moisture, humidity, tons of road salt and other airborne pollutants that can cause rapid deterioration of your wheelchair van. If neglected, the damages can make your mobility investment of little value.  The thousands of yearly miles, environments and exposure to the elements of larger vehicles means they are alot more likely to suffer from the effects of corrosion. Correct rustproofing on a regular basis can ensure that your vehicle does not suffer from corrosion related vehicle downtime and keep your van from falling apart.

If you consider that new vehicles undergo thousands of spot welds and numerous bends and folds during assembly; this process damages the automobile coating systems, exposing these panels to corrosion. Besides body-panel damage, certain mechanical parts are also at risk – suspension mounts, hood-locking mechanisms, door hinges, brake cables – which are all susceptible to the damaging effects of rust on your wheelchair van.

To protect your vehicle against corrosion our rust proofing formula does more than just cover the metal required. A rust proofing product must be applied as a high-pressured spray, ensuring protection to your vehicle’s most critical areas by penetrating, displacing existing moisture and protecting the many vulnerable crevices of your automobile.

Benefits of rust treatment

Prevention is better than cure. There are a number of products that can offer prevention against rust. Products are available either as oils, waxes, fluids and coatings.  The range is vast. Our rust prevention processes, products, plan and application have been found to be very effective and developed over more than 25 years and still remain affordable.

We are the only mobility dealer in New England to offer this service.

Our rust proofing processes are ever evolving and have been for more than 25 years.

As seen in this picture the van has heavy rust and metal fatigue due to a lack of maintenance.

Once it's this bad there's not much we can do other than replace the van

Customer dealt with a different adaptive mobility equipment dealer that didn't offer rust proofing

Lou Gehrig's Disease: Help Find a Cure

HELP FIND A CURE FOR Lou Gehrig’s Disease UMASS ALS CHAMPION FUND

VMi New England mourns the passing of former Massachusetts Governor A. Paul Cellucci, a devoted public servant who dedicated the final chapter of his life to raising funds to support the University of Massachusetts Medical School’s research into a cure for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

Please give anything you can to help continue this important research.

In recognition of the critical need for new treatments for ALS, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis or Lou Gehrig’s Disease, the UMass ALS Champion Fund is a movement to drive awareness and funding for the ALS breakthroughs happening at UMass Medical School (UMMS) and in the laboratory of Robert H. Brown, Jr., DPhil, MD one of the world’s leading and most promising ALS researchers.

The Champion Fund aims to help Dr. Brown and his colleagues pursue ALS research leads and breakthroughs right now that might otherwise take years to attract funding from traditional sources. As a result, this Fund will make researchers at UMMS better prepared to “seize the moment” when highly promising ALS discoveries are made.

Dr. Brown is widely recognized as a pioneer in neurodegenerative disease research and for 30 years has dedicated his career to unlocking the secrets of ALS, a degenerative disorder that causes progressive muscle weakness, leading to paralysis and eventually death. There is currently no treatment to stop or reverse ALS. Brown has been a leading visionary for ALS treatment and part of nearly every fundamental ALS breakthrough to-date, including the identification of mutations in a gene that is responsible for the rare, familial form of the disease. Brown’s work has opened a window into ALS that has drastically changed the research landscape and provided patients and loved ones touched by ALS with something very rare: hope.

The Champion Fund aims to extend and supplement the already great fundraising initiatives benefiting UMMS. Dr. Brown and team has been fortunate to receive support from a diversity of groups, including the Massachusetts-based Angel Fund and national partner CVS Pharmacy, both of which have been raising money for UMMS and acting as champions in the fight against ALS for more than 10 years. The Champion Fund will complement and extend those funding sources to augment the overall effort..

Now is the time. There is hope. But, victories are a team effort. Join us – become a champion and help fight back against ALS.

View the list of the campaign’s Honorary Co-chairs.

Veterans Inc. 8th Annual Stand Down

Veterans Inc. has been serving Veterans and their families across America for 20 years, with an award-winning model that affirms dignity and re-establishes independence.

Their mission is to provide safe housing, hot meals, and a variety of services that address the causes of homelessness. We help veterans re-gain control of their lives and, ultimately, we save lives.

Service Provider Registration

More than 40 providers to participate: representing non-profits, for-profits, and government agencies offering veterans’ services, health & human services, and much more. Veterans at the event will be able to obtain FREE food, clothing, personal care items, haircuts, massages, acupuncture, counseling, legal services; and services and  advice related to employment & training, housing, healthcare, and a career fair  on Friday. Veterans should bring a DD-214 or VA card as proof of veteran status.

D-Day

D-Day Invasion at Normandy – June 6, 1944

Invasion at Normandy – June 6, 1944

Invasion Date

June 6, 1944 – The D in D-Day stands for “day” since the final invasion date was unknown and weather dependent.

Allied Forces

156,000 Allied troops  from The United States, The United Kingdom, Canada, Free France and Norway

Areas of Invasion

The Allied code names for the beaches along the 50-mile stretch of Normandy coast targeted for landing were Utah, Omaha, Gold, Juno and Sword. Omaha was the costliest beach in terms of Allied casualties.

The Armada

5,000 ships and landing craft

50,000 vehicles

11,000 planes

Commanders

United States – Dwight D. Eisenhower, Omar Bradley

The United Kingdom – Bernard Law Montgomery, Trafford Leigh-Mallory, Arthur Tedder, Miles Dempsey, Bertram Ramsay

Germany – Erwin Rommel, Gerd von Rundstedt, Friedrich Dollmann

Casualties

Numbers represent total killed, wounded, missing or captured

United States – 6,603 (1,465 killed)

United Kingdom – 2,700

Canada – 1,074 (359 fatal)

Germany – Estimated between 4,000 – 9,000

The Outcome

By June 11, with the beachheads firmly secured, more than 326,000 troops had crossed with more than 100,000 tons of military equipment. Paris was liberated on August 25. Germany surrendered on May 8, 1945.

Veterans Today

The number of remaining D-Day vets is estimated anywhere between 8,000 and 60,000. The Veterans Administration has detailed numbers on total WWII vets remaining available at www.nationalww2museum.org/the-greatest-generation

The National World War II Museum tells the story of the American Experience in the war that changed the world – why it was fought, how it was won, and what it means today.  Dedicated in 2000 as The National D-Day Museum and now designated by Congress as America’s National World War II Museum, it celebrates the American Spirit, the teamwork, optimism, courage and sacrifice of the men and women who fought on the battlefront and the Home Front. For more information, call 877-813-3329 or 504-527-6012 or visit www.nationalww2museum.org. Follow us on Twitter atWWIImuseum or visit our Facebook fan page.