Because we are all not in the same position. Not all disabled are unemployed, or have no other income.Originally Posted by tinker
Others save up for theAP for they want just more than a basic car, as is their right I would say, some others spend money on the AP instead of something else in their life.
Thats what was good about Motability pre Daily Mail times, whatever your individual needs, a vehicle was available to suit you.
I'm just over 6' 5" with mobility problems and have a 6' 3" autistic son who sometimes will not sit in the front seat, he insists on sitting behind me where he can't be seen by anyone.
My first car was a C-Max Zetec and had loads of room, after some nice lady crashed into me I ended up with more problems and couldn't get down low enough to get into it, Motability agreed to swap it and after almost 3 months of phone calls and trying everything I could find I ended up with the CR-V, AP then was £1600 but as I'm on IS grants agreed to give me a grant towards it and I had to pay £200 towards it.
After 3 years when it was due back grants wouldn't do the same again so I would have to find £1,300 to £1,999 for a car I could fit into with space for my son (not a lot of choice) as I simply don't have that money I ended up choosing a Renault Grand Scenic for £595 that had enough room for me in the front (just) and a very tight squeeze for my son, also none of the useful bits the CR-V has like fornt and rear parking sensors and reversing camera. When I talked to grants again they offered to let me keep the CR-V instead and sorted it out with operations (who had said I couldn't).
So, 2 more years of driving a car that perfectly suits our needs but after that who knows?.
Last edited by phaedra; 03-21-2012 at 12:53 PM.
Phaedra,
have you looked outside the Motability operations field at a second hand car? There are auctions of ex motability cars all over the country, or one of the other "just add fuel" schemes available?
or see about buying the HR-V (sorry CR-V I meant!!) from Motability, 24K on the clock is only 2 years average mileage.
I have a friend who is 6ft 5" and although he does not have a child so his position is totally different toy yours, it has always amazed me that he will only buy Fiestas as he can actually get comfortable in it!
Last edited by warkman; 03-21-2012 at 02:01 PM.
What about the Nissan qashqai, 1.6 Acentia available for £199 AP Phaedra, easy to get in and out of?
Please don't think I was having a go at people who pay higher AP for extras, it was more a comment on the BMW post and all the extra costs tacked on for glossy woodwork etc.
If I could afford it I would but in light of the news that another 10 billion is to be cut from benefits I think I'll have to stop driving.
I'd take a guess that your 3 kids cost more per year than the AP I'm looking to spend (<£2000) - We don't have any kids, although we are hoping to adopt soon.
The point I wanted to make, which would apply to any manufacturer, is that showroom cars should broadly speaking be a standard spec particularly in relation to trim, finishes etc. That particular car bore no resemblence to a standard spec one. also it bore no resemblence ti its so called £22k price tag.
Its down to the dealer wanting to make some money Paul. Uts like putting the sweets in a supermarket on a low shelf so the kids can see and get to them.
Essentially the way the process works is all dealers are franchises and as part of that franchise they agree to take a certain amount of cars per year from the manufacturrer to keep the franchise.
They are given in most cases 90 days before they have to pay for the car, swap it with another dealer or register it on their own fleet.
A standard car does not show off the shiney extras that the dealer can make a profit on, as the actual profit they make on the car sale is not that large and as the servicing times get longer, another area of profit is removed.
If they show a person a cqar with sat nav say, then they show them teh standard car,lots of people will want the sat nav addition, especially if it is paid through a three year lease.
There is no big profit in a basic car.
Also, if they cannot sell te car in the 90 days, they have to register it and give it to one of the salesmen to put some miles on to sell as an ex demo, and as part of the "perk" they want a fully specced car.
If the price sticker was £22,000 thats what they are selling it for. If they put one price on the car and you then go to buy it and they say "actually you have to add xxxxx" then that is a breach of selling rules. Any price shown on the car has to include all extras fitted to that model.
Just a heads up everybody.
As the Honda CR-V is being replaced in the Autumn, Honda are doing a special offer of an upgrade in the spec. I have been told this will apply next Quarter to Motability cars as well.
So, should be able to get the ES-T (with sat nav) for the price of the SE :-)
Here is some info about it for off the street customers :-)
http://www.sytner.co.uk/new-cars/new...-upgrades.aspx
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