Motability Q1 2012 Prices Available

**Paul** · 02-19-2012 08:31 PM

The Countryman S - we test drove a 2.0 Diesel Auto and the ride was fine but the box was jerky and the road noise very loud.

**Djay** · 02-22-2012 12:26 AM

Originally Posted by Radiomusicola

Interesting forum

I'm changing my motability car as my needs have changed and my current car too uncomfortable and has become painful to drive no matter how many different permutations of seating

I looked at the BMW x1, 1 coupe and convertible - beautiful but I couldn't't get out of them without help!
I've got my short list down to two - mentioned a lot here

1/ the new Mercedes B class diesel sport or 2/ the Kia Sportage 3 diesel

I've test driven both twice and both on slightly longer test drives - though this weekend will test them back to back

The reviews and the spec on the Kia have been brilliant and a beautiful car with great specification list adding to overall comfort though AP quite large
The Merc is smaller much nicer than the old b class and more economical too - the spec list on the sport is much less than the Kia 3 spec - though there is defo a much more premier feel to the merc - the most appealing aspect apart from the modern look is the standard safety features

Reviews in the motoring press gave been good for the Kia but not as good for the merc - the right hand drive review forte merc in next weeks Auto Express magazine ( which I personally consider a great little amateur car mag) though I found a new review on what car.com tonight which doesn't read well

I hope the back to back test drives and taking along my son and girlfriend will help me make a final informed decision

What have others thought who test driven these cars - unfortunately the Mercedes dealers I've visited all had just left hand drive demonstrators!

I want to decide soon, as I'm concerned the APs may go up in April

Thanks

Hey, have you managed to decide between the Kia and B-Class yet..?

**paul1234** · 02-24-2012 06:06 PM

For the Eco- Friendly, the BMW 1 series Efficient Dynamics is available at £1899, but only in manual. Am waiting to see if the M sport makes the list this quarter. Comes with nicer quality sports seats, climate control and a few other nice touches but will it make it under£2k?

**Lighttouch** · 02-24-2012 06:15 PM

Originally Posted by paul1234

For the Eco- Friendly, the BMW 1 series Efficient Dynamics is available at £1899, but only in manual. Am waiting to see if the M sport makes the list this quarter. Comes with nicer quality sports seats, climate control and a few other nice touches but will it make it under£2k?

Anything that says 'Sport version' usually means low profile tyres and a hard uncomfortable ride. I'm all for comfort than looks.

**paul1234** · 02-24-2012 07:09 PM

Its possible to remove the M sport suspension as a no cost option which results in the standard sports suspension which I found comfortable on a test drive. If the M sport is available at a reasonable AP I will consider it given its superior spec.

**warkman** · 02-29-2012 08:42 AM

Well, I went to terst drive the Mercedes B-Class yesterday.
Hmm.
So my thoughts on iot.
It is larger than I thopught it would be, also "fatter".
I test drove the 200 Sport deisel and was expecting a fidgity hard drive and was pleasently surprised that it was niether. it held the road well and coped with city centre potholes and bumps very well.
The unusaul stalk setup would take some getting used to, however I only once tried to wash the windscreen with thge park button LOL
I did not really take much notice of the ipad screen in the middle, i suppose thats good news really, it does not dominate the car. This car came without the moon roof and had a dark headliner, but did not feel dark inside.
The engine was quite smooth, not a pocket rocket, but that's not really what the sport is about in this model. This however had enough power for standard driving and accelleration across roundabouts and that was without having to go to the manual "flappy paddles"
There were a few things however that I did find a bit of a problem.
First of all, how they get such good MPG is that this auto and all the models are fitted with stop start, so when you put your foot on the brake and hold it there, the engine stops. I just personally dont like this in any car, but the good news is that at a cost of the 60MPOG fule figures is that you can turn this off. I would do this in creeping driving conditions, as the stop start would mnake the engine go on an off like a yo yo.
The front seat rear squab angle knob is behind the B pillar and to get teh rifght angle was a contortionist game to trun the knob, difficult with arthritus in the shoulder :-0
I caught the control button for the screen a couple of times, its a bit close for teh driver. In all the car whilst wide, did seem a bit small inside with both front seats occupied.
I have to wear wide shoes due to the Charcot and the footwell is quite narrow and small and I found myself scraping the edge of the brake pedal when using the accellerator. Not a major situation of braking and accellerating at the same time, but a bit uncomfortable nontheless.
Overall not a bad car and will be a big seller to those in Motability who want a premium badge on their drive or currently get a BMW for the badge, but there are one or two items that should be standard which are quite expensive on costs which pumps up the cost and I would personally say the people like Ford and Nissan do a better package or driving satisfaction but without the poseur badge of course.
Not a bad effort though.

**Lighttouch** · 02-29-2012 08:48 AM

I think I'd be more interested to see the new A class that comes out later this year as it's shorter.

**warkman** · 02-29-2012 08:56 AM

Originally Posted by Lighttouch

I think I'd be more interested to see the new A class that comes out later this year as it's shorter.

Ah! this is why they cannot shove us into the same cars LOL
I hate small cars, the bigger the better for me :-)

The merc dealer was saying to me that the A class was coming off the scheme until the new one was available next year and he was hoping that they would put the C Class on as they wont have much to sell.

**paul1234** · 02-29-2012 01:21 PM

Originally Posted by warkman

Ah! this is why they cannot shove us into the same cars LOL
I hate small cars, the bigger the better for me :-)

The merc dealer was saying to me that the A class was coming off the scheme until the new one was available next year and he was hoping that they would put the C Class on as they wont have much to sell.

I would be amazed if MB could get a C class under £2k as the cheapest was over £4k in december. I have been told BMW have no plans to have the new 3 series saloon on Motability and this always had lower AP's than the C class, BUT I will check this out with Motability at the end of March before I sign up.

**Paul** · 02-29-2012 03:04 PM

Thanks for the review of the B-Class, I'm still undecided between my choices and have put off ordering for last couple of weeks (the VW dealer has rung me every week for a month, as I keep saying "I'll be in on the weekend" but I don't turn up).

My Choices are:

£AP (£AP inc Options), in order of preference...

1. £1549 (£2019) VW Touran SE 1.6 Diesel DSG - economical 7 seater but a bit on the slow side.
2. £1999 (£1999) Chevrolet Orlando Exec 2.0 Diesel Auto - fast 7 seater but not very economical.
3. £1799 (£2109) Mercedes B180 SE Auto - economical and fast 5 seater but less seating options.
4. £1595 (£2120) Ford CMax Titanium 2.0 Diesel Powershift - economical and fast 5 seater but less seating options.
5. £2495 (£2774) Ford Grand CMax Titanium 2.0 Diesel Powershift - economical and fast 7 seater but VERY HIGH AP.

I think I need to take a trip to the Mercedes dealer again, haven't seen the B-Class since the middle of January.