What It's Like To Drive An AMG Mercedes With Hand Controls
Matt Farah tries out a Mercedes E55 AMG belonging to a paraplegic car enthusiast
What’s particularly interesting about the hand control system in Andria’s W211 E55 is that it’s relatively simple. In this fascinating video she mentions previously using a more elaborate carbonfibre system, before switching to a $200 setup, which she prefers.
It’s operated with the left hand, and is pulled to actuate the accelerator, and pushed to operate the brake. It seems to be a relatively easy thing to learn to use, if quite hard work for your arm!
Growing up on a diet of World Rally Championship highlights and lengthy Gran Turismo 2 sessions, a life in cars was as good as inevitable for Matt.
Comments
I watched the video
I still can’t understand what is this witchcraft
I actually had a chance to drive a merc with similar hand controls. you have a second “steering wheel” behind the main one, you pull it to accelerrate and push it away to brake. was fun but I hope none of us ever has to drive a car like that.. ..
another milion mile car
This system seems a bit dangerous no? One hand off the steering wheel at all times? Driving instructors would be having a fit!
It’s honestly amazing how far developments have come for disabled car drivers. They dont have to miss out on the joy of driving a car and it just makes their life a whole lot easier.
You could also say it’s… handy
I’ve driven my dad’s van with hand controls, it’s weird
It must be quite cool to drive these but god forbid any of us ever needing. My friends uncle (who lives in spain) has a similar issue and when he put forward a claim to the spanish govt which said he needed a car to go to work with .. they could only find one New car that met the requirements.. Now he goes to work in an all expenses paid Corvette C6. Still though would you rather have one over the ability of your legs… not me thats for sure