@eckst3 Well done for getting your home charger sorted. As you say, it’s pointless getting an EV if you can’t charge at home, as 100% public charging will end up costing you more than running an ICE car and you will have a load of added hassle that would make you yearn for a 5 minute petrol stop!
Sorry to hear about your problems with the order. As per my previous post, this is sadly yet another example of why it’s always best to deal in person at each stage rather than over the phone or via email. Dealers are far less likely to palm people off or lie to them if you are stood in front of them. I appreciate that you were 4 hours from the dealership, but a few pointers for next time;
When a dealership chain offers a discount off the AP, it is always worth checking if your nearest dealership will match it. Again, don’t ask over the phone or via email, as they won’t take you seriously and will almost always say no, but visit them. Look at the car, express an interest and then finally deliver the line that another dealership is offering £x off and it’s obviously worth you travelling to get that discount. I have managed to get 2 different dealerships from 2 different manufacturers to match offers by adopting that approach. Neither was offering AP discounts at the time and were completely different groups to those that were. One wouldn’t quite match the discount but also offered me 15% off the options, which more than made up for it. In your case, where a long journey and hotel stay was needed, a lesser discount (and discount off your option pack) could have still made it worth your while ordering locally. You may, of course, have tried all of this, in which case I apologise, but it may serve as a useful tip for others.
The second point is that it is wise not to agree to paying any money up front, even for optional extras. I have added lots of options to Motability cars over the years and not paid for them until the day I take delivery. Dealerships are quite at liberty to ask you to pay up front but many don’t so, again, challenge it or shop around.
To answer your final question, you will pay the AP that applied at the point that you ordered the car, as long as the dealership actually ordered it at that time. Some people get unstuck by trusting that the dealership placed the order immediately, when many don’t. Always check your online Motability account for confirmation of your order and AP. Bizarrely, the Motability system showing that your car has been ordered does NOT actually mean that the car HAS been ordered, just that Motability Operations have agreed to the dealership ordering it at an agreed AP, which is shown. The actual order is between the dealership and manufacturer and you need to ask the dealership for a manufacturer order tracking number to ensure that the car has actually been ordered. Dealerships often ‘sit’ on orders for several months as they don’t have available build slots, yet people trust that the car has been ordered as it shows as such on the Motability system. It’s all very confusing!
Finally, if all else fails and you arrive to pick up the car and it’s not exactly what you were expecting (colour, specification, options etc), you can refuse to enter your PIN and walk away with no obligation. You have not entered into a legally binding contract until you enter the PIN and, even then, the contract is between you and Motability Operations. At no stage do you enter into a legally binding contract with a dealership so they have to refund you any money that you have paid to them, but some make it very difficult, hence why it’s best not to pay anything until the day you take delivery. Hope that helps.