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Hello
I would appreciate anyone’s advice in this and I ask before hand for your understanding in my situation.
I got a ev car and was told it would all be fine without a home charger, after having the ev car for a few months, over 100 miles dropped off the range, going from 320 miles to literally 150 miles. It wasn’t enough to get me to trips to hospital and medical appointments that were over 100 miles away as I had to keep charging the car. It caused so much of an issue that it was creating stress and adding to my conditions I receive pip for.
They allowed me to swap the car upon paying the exit fee. I just wanted to change it for the same car but none electric, the most affordable one was the hybrid. I was told by the dealer that only a few things it didn’t have like no sunroof, or heated seats and no auto tail gate. The dealer didn’t call me in to test drive the car, as I thought it would very similar what I had been driving. Even doing my application I asked to see the car and they brought me to the car but it was in the evening so it was dark and the car was still wrapped up in the interior and he only showed me the outside of it. To me it just looked the same.
When I collected the car I could not believe the things it did not have that I really relied on for my conditions. Like the parking cameras, the hazard warnings of vehicles and people and the warnings on the wing mirrors. All of these help me immensely when driving and help my ptsd. It literally takes the weight off driving. I had no idea that the seats were not electric , and the seat is so unbelievably awkward to move forward. I have to really bend over and dig deep and my physical conditions make this much harder to do. I am always changing the seat position when I drive because of my neck and back impairments, and now I can’t do this whilst I drive. I drove it for two days and already I am feeling it in my neck.
I feel at a loss, because I had no idea that these would not be with the car as I never test drove the car as I was told it was missing a few things. I don’t want to cause an issue for motability and cost them money. But I am already dreading getting in the car with the anxiety it is causing me. I struggle with cognitive conditions and I’m having to work harder and it puts a stress on my nervous system and physically wears me out. I don’t want to sound unreasonable, but I am honestly panicking if I am now stuck with this car and thinking is this my fault because I thought this would be similar to drive.
I hate asking this, but does anyone have any advice if motability would consider this?
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The very least you should have done, is looked at the manufacturers spec’s for that model, which can be found in the online brochure, rather than listen to a salesman. However, it could also be said the salesman could have pointed you to the online brochure.
You could try and explain to Motability, that the salesman didn’t mention mention everything that was missing, of which some is of upmost importnt for your condition and when you asked the salesman to view the car, the interior was wrapped up from factory so it was impossible to tell. Saying you didn’t bother test driving because it was the same car won’t bode well!
I don’t hold my breath if I’m honest, but its worth trying.
The very least you should have done, is looked at the manufacturers spec’s for that model, which can be found in the online brochure, rather than listen to a salesman. However, it could also be said the salesman could have pointed you to the online brochure. You could try and explain to Motability, that the salesman didn’t mention mention everything that was missing, of which some is of upmost importnt for your condition and when you asked the salesman to view the car, the interior was wrapped up from factory so it was impossible to tell. Saying you didn’t bother test driving because it was the same car won’t bode well! I don’t hold my breath if I’m honest, but its worth trying.
@MacArthur, as kezo has said above, the onus really is on us to do our homework but it could depend on how you phrase the story to Motability.You can say that the salesman told you there were a few minor things that were missing from the replacement car but did not tell you that the things you require were also not present.
The best advice is to speak honestly to Motability and tell them how bad this is making you feel.
I don’t want to sound unreasonable, but I am honestly panicking if I am now stuck with this car
Great first post.
And best of luck with getting it sorted to your reasonable satisfaction with Motability.
Skoda Enyaq Race Blue
My current car is now my 10th car on the Motability scheme in thirty-odd years and yes, I guess you could call me a bit of a car nut which is something I have been all of my life. I just love cars!
I know it’s a bit late now as regards the OP’s original dilemma, but the one thing I do when it’s time to order a new car on the scheme is research, research, research. Practically every time I first go to any showroom to view a car and book a test drive, the salesperson always say “Crikey, you know more about the model that I do”” and that is indeed always the case. I know which options it has or hasn’t as well as what options I can add and how much they are going to cost me.
The moral of the story is always do your own lengthy research on each model and trim and never take a salesman’s word for anything. Caveat Emptor!
@MacArthur If only you had posted hereat each step, we may have helped advise you on what to do.
I do hope that you can find a solution to your problem. At least you will have learned a valuable lesson,
Never trust the words of a sales man/woman!
Always test drive the vehicles
Do your research
Questions? Ask here for advice before the next step.
Good Luck.
Joss
Current car: Peugeot 308 GT Premium 1.2 Pure tech Petrol.
Coming soon...BMW X2 sDrive 20i M Sport 5dr Step Auto In November 2025Like you I need certain things that really help with my condition and reduces my pain level, when driving.
The only way is to check trim levels have what I need, is on the manufactures sites via the configurator or brochures. Sales people don’t know everything about every car and the differences in the trims, bar the basics.
Personally, if you cannot do this you need to get help from someone to do this and not just accept a sales persons word, it will be ok for you….
With an EV you will lose range in colder weather or when driving on faster roads.
One can charge away from home, yes it costs more but you only need to put in enough to get back home again. The charging from home most of the time offsets the price of the longer journeys. Plus in some cases you can reclaim travel costs for nhs visits.
I’ve just gotten an EV and I looked into it all, before. So it was no shock to me when I did a 240 mile journey and only got 180 miles from the quoted 280 wltp. That a side for whatever reason you now have a car it seems that’s even less suitable for you than the EV was.
Please don’t take this the wrong way.
We all make mistakes but we must learn from them or get help to make those decisions and now this is the 2nd time this has happened. You need to speak to Motability, explain fully the situation and hopefully they are understanding. We cannot change the past only the future and don’t get stressed over it. Learn from it..
Never get a car without test driving it. Although I do understand that’s not always in the trim or engine you will be getting.
Check the trims have what you require as standard or if not can be added as an extra. I don’t do extras for the reason, if they try to give me a car without those extras.
On the day check the car before you enter the Pin. That it is the trim level you ordered, has the items you really need. Sometimes with long waits trim levels can also change or because of chip shortages etc.
Like I said we all make mistakes and It does sound like you might need help with looking into cars before you go ahead and order one, Even if that’s people on this forum. Having a car for 3 years is a long time and if not suitable it is something that you regret and are constantly reminded of, when you get in it..
Only Motability can help you with this issue and others have suggested your approach and I agree, but something has to change as Third time lucky isn’t something they’ll put up with if this continues. You can only rely on yourself to make sure any car is right for you, moving forwards or ask others to help you if it’s all to much or do it over a period of time.
EX30 SMER Ultra
@MacArthur If only you had posted hereat each step, we may have helped advise you on what to do. I do hope that you can find a solution to your problem. At least you will have learned a valuable lesson, Never trust the words of a sales man/woman! Always test drive the vehicles Do your research Questions? Ask here for advice before the next step. Good Luck.
Totally agree however, when looking for our Suzuki, they apologised they did not supply or have a vehicle to test drive, and to be honest we were the first they had never sold one, (we tested drive elsewhere), Skoda and VW refused point blank a test drive, one Ford dealer informed us they will only allow a test drive when we are ready to sign ?
Unfortunately I have suffered a brain injury and occasionally say the wrong thing.
Good advice from other posters. I wholeheartedly agree that you must do your own very thorough armchair research before even entering a car showroom, as salespersons are notoriously ill informed about the cars that they sell and, like @solent60 I always know more about the detailed spec of each model than they do. I have lost count of the times when I have had to correct them when they’ve told me something incorrect about what is, or isn’t, included on specific models.
Also, a hard lesson in why you should never enter your PIN and accept a car prior to sitting in it on the day of collection and making sure that it has all of the key features that you were expecting. Entering your PIN means that you accept the car for what it is. If it’s not what you were expecting and / or has a key feature missing, reject the car. You are under no obligation whatsoever to accept a car. Only entering the PIN accepts it. If necessary (and certainly in this case), make a checklist at home of things to check before you accept the car.
Motability are very good in these situations, so I would hope that they might help, and there’s certainly no harm in asking, but if they agree to yet another change then it will be absolutely essential to research properly and not rely on what someone else tells you (or doesn’t). Early terminations result in losses which increase the costs of the scheme for everyone, so Motability will rightly draw the line at a certain point. Good luck though and please let us know what happens. It’s always frustrating when people post asking for help and advice, which is always freely given, but never come back to say how it all ended up. Good luck.
@MacArthur If only you had posted hereat each step, we may have helped advise you on what to do. I do hope that you can find a solution to your problem. At least you will have learned a valuable lesson, Never trust the words of a sales man/woman! Always test drive the vehicles Do your research Questions? Ask here for advice before the next step. Good Luck.
Totally agree however, when looking for our Suzuki, they apologised they did not supply or have a vehicle to test drive, and to be honest we were the first they had never sold one, (we tested drive elsewhere), Skoda and VW refused point blank a test drive, one Ford dealer informed us they will only allow a test drive when we are ready to sign ?
That would be a massive NO NO for me if a dealer refused a test drive.
Amongst others, I have test-driven the Ford Explorer and Capri, Mazda CX5, Hyundai Kona and Ioniq 6, Mini Electric, Skoda Karoq, VW Tiguan, Nissan Qashqai and Ariya.
It is vitally important to actually drive the car you are going to order before you order it.
This is another reason I’m in no rush to replace my 70 plate the absolute nonsense the sales staff come out with, it’s borderline pathetic, every concern my wife showed was right after reading up, but the sales man assured us her facts wouldn’t apply to us 🤥
first time I’ve ever ordered a new car, been put off for life…
Even if I win the rollover jackpot I wouldn’t want to set a foot in a new car showroom, just my honest opinion..
Nothing worse than a know it all, knowing nothing of truth..
Skoda and VW refused point blank a test drive
We had our Golf GTE for a five hour extended test drive, only had to put the fuel that we used back in (which we of course gladly did).
It sounds like a huge stroke of bad luck to me, i genuinely have never been refused for a test drive. Not everyone does humour the thought of extended test drives, or nowadays even unaccompanied test drives – but the only time i came close to rejection was when the Cupra Born just came out and i asked my SEAT dealer (combined SEAT/Cupra dealership) if i could test drive it. He said “it’s not on the scheme, so i’ll let you test drive it once the initial wave of test drives (of potential buyers) dies down, but not now”, which i thought was understandable/reasonable since at that point, it actually would’ve been just a joyride out of curiosity.
Did you try more than just the closest dealership? Sounds like those two are simply awful. We went to a VW dealership 35 miles away over the two closer ones, since while they didn’t refuse a test drive (did an ID3 drive there), they got a funny attitude when we mentioned Motability, so “fork ’em”, i believe the term we used was.
In regards to the topic at hand.. buying a car is such an important (and “big”) thing, i don’t understand how someone would be so laissez faire about it. By the time i order a car, i usually know more about it than the average salesman. As for resolutions, the only way i could see this happen somewhat satisfactory is if you reject the car as “not as advertised”. I’m not sure if “lack of info” is reason enough to successfully reject a car (as in, the dealer didn’t give you a detailed list of what the car doesn’t have, which is a bit backwards) – but through Motability, i’m not sure if you’re going to be happy with the solution. It definitely would cost money (i think £250?), and i’m not sure about future applications, i’d argue to talk to them, explain your situation calm and friendly (instead of demanding things/blaming them, like i’ve seen here before) and hope that the agent on the other end agrees to find a solution with you.
Best of luck.
Prior: SEAT Ateca Xcellence Lux 1.5 TSI DSG MY19, VW Golf GTE PHEV DSG MY23
Current: Hyundai Ioniq 6 Ultimate
Next: we'll see what's available in 2028.You really must take some responsibility. I research the heck out of my future cars and sometimes I still get it wrong but that’s on me. My present car hasn’t got ACC and I thought regular CC would be OK. I hate it but I have got used to it. If someone needs overhead parking instrumentation and 360° cameras then I would question their ability to drive. How have you managed without this feature previously as it is a relatively new thing? The same goes for the blind spot warning. Only my present car has ever had that and I got along just fine without it for several decades.
If you absolutely need electric seats then you should make sure that any cat has got them before signing up for it. All I can say is that 3 years passes very quickly and you will soon be looking for a new car!
i have been biting my tongue on this as it really annoys me when these tales come up.
i will try to be polite.
firstly the one thing everyone knows is electric vehicle lose at least 25% of their range in winter and the manufacturer estimated range is nonsence. also no home charger means much higher costs the tiniest bit of research would have prevented the entire problem.
as for the rest well all i will say is who buys any car without a test drive??? my lease is up may 26 and on my list is a mini countryman now i had one on my previous lease before the juke i will still test drive it several times before ordering one.
sorry but its a good job i am not motability.
i have been biting my tongue on this as it really annoys me when these tales come up. i will try to be polite. firstly the one thing everyone knows is electric vehicle lose at least 25% of their range in winter and the manufacturer estimated range is nonsence. also no home charger means much higher costs the tiniest bit of research would have prevented the entire problem. as for the rest well all i will say is who buys any car without a test drive??? my lease is up may 26 and on my list is a mini countryman now i had one on my previous lease before the juke i will still test drive it several times before ordering one. sorry but its a good job i am not motability.
I’m with you here Mitch. Imagine being a private buyer and asking the dealership if you can have your money back because the car doesn’t meet your needs.
Definitely a case of ‘buyer beware’ or in our case ‘leaser beware’
I know some hospital appointments can be a pain but over 100 miles away… is that the norm in England (I’m presuming that’s where you are?) so a 200+ mile round trip without properly researching the car you’re going to be spending hours in at a time.
However you went for an EV with no research which was a mistake, don’t blame the salesmen as they just want a sale but in saying that I don’t believe (& prove me wrong please) that you’re getting less than 50% of the range, 320 down to 150… what speed are you driving at, how were you charging it, what car was this? But to compound the first error you accepted another car without testing it to see if it was suitable, I can only say Why 🤦♂️
What car did you have before these two and if that was suitable why not stick with what worked to save any unnecessary stress, or go back to it if they let you change again.
Motability let you change the first one, if you speak to them they might let you change this one but I doubt you’ll get a third chance so make very sure you get it right next time.
I’ve got no idea how to cope with any anxiety the thought of driving it causes, maybe give each journey more time. Stop frequently to chill, relax, adjust the seat and stretch out, accept that it’s not forever or a lifetime issue and it’ll get rectified soon enough.
I really don’t fancy your chances of getting another car changed so soon into the lease but good luck anyway 🤞
Every car ive had on motorbility since 2001, i test drive before order and really test drive on collection day,which to me is far more important due to that being the car i will have for 3years.Surpsies me that people test drive then order ,then look round it on collection day but dontt re test drive it.
Every car ive had on motorbility since 2001, i test drive before order and really test drive on collection day,which to me is far more important due to that being the car i will have for 3years.Surpsies me that people test drive then order ,then look round it on collection day but dontt re test drive it.
So you would order a car, get the dealer to register it, PDI it and plate it up….then on collection day demand to take it for a spin before signing for it? Crikey.
Noticeable that the OP hasn’t been back.
Very similar tale to the one a few weeks ago (now removed) where the the message came from a proxy server.
Could this be a repeat?
2024 - BMW i4 Grand Coupe eDrive 35 Sport
2020 - Volvo XC40 T4 Inscription
2017 - Audi Q3 TFSi Sport S-TronicEvery car ive had on motorbility since 2001, i test drive before order and really test drive on collection day,which to me is far more important due to that being the car i will have for 3years.Surpsies me that people test drive then order ,then look round it on collection day but dontt re test drive it.
I’m staggered that any dealership allows this. As @Injector says, in order for you to be able to drive the car it has to be registered. From that point, and certainly once you drive it, it becomes a pre-registered used car which the dealership could make a loss on. The only exception would be if they allow you to run it on trade plates but, in that scenario, they would only let you drive it for a few miles, which would tell you nothing. Whenever we have picked up a new car (private and Motability), we look over the car in detail before accepting it. Once we have said that we are happy with it, the sales person contacts their department that registers cars and it is immediately registered. If, for some reason, we rejected the car, they wouldn’t do this and they would sell it to someone else as a new car. Are you saying that you ‘test drive’ the car before you input your PIN?
Noticeable that the OP hasn’t been back. Very similar tale to the one a few weeks ago (now removed) where the the message came from a proxy server. Could this be a repeat?
To be fair, the OP posted less than 48 hours ago and replies are still coming in, so they may be waiting to respond. Hopefully @wmcforum will be on the case if it’s dodgy, as they did before. As with the recent post, I am at a complete loss as to why anyone makes such posts, as they gain nothing whatsoever from doing it unlike, say, a scam where people make money out of it?
In my response I specifically requested that the OP came back to tell us what the outcome was, and that would require a call to Motability which they won’t be able to do until tomorrow. Hopefully they will, as it always annoys me when many of us go to the trouble of offering advice and the person asking the question never has the courtesy to come back and say what the outcome was.
Hello I would appreciate anyone’s advice in this and I ask before hand for your understanding in my situation. I got a ev car and was told it would all be fine without a home charger, after having the ev car for a few months, over 100 miles dropped off the range, going from 320 miles to literally 150 miles. It wasn’t enough to get me to trips to hospital and medical appointments that were over 100 miles away as I had to keep charging the car. It caused so much of an issue that it was creating stress and adding to my conditions I receive pip for. They allowed me to swap the car upon paying the exit fee. I just wanted to change it for the same car but none electric, the most affordable one was the hybrid. I was told by the dealer that only a few things it didn’t have like no sunroof, or heated seats and no auto tail gate. The dealer didn’t call me in to test drive the car, as I thought it would very similar what I had been driving. Even doing my application I asked to see the car and they brought me to the car but it was in the evening so it was dark and the car was still wrapped up in the interior and he only showed me the outside of it. To me it just looked the same. When I collected the car I could not believe the things it did not have that I really relied on for my conditions. Like the parking cameras, the hazard warnings of vehicles and people and the warnings on the wing mirrors. All of these help me immensely when driving and help my ptsd. It literally takes the weight off driving. I had no idea that the seats were not electric , and the seat is so unbelievably awkward to move forward. I have to really bend over and dig deep and my physical conditions make this much harder to do. I am always changing the seat position when I drive because of my neck and back impairments, and now I can’t do this whilst I drive. I drove it for two days and already I am feeling it in my neck. I feel at a loss, because I had no idea that these would not be with the car as I never test drove the car as I was told it was missing a few things. I don’t want to cause an issue for motability and cost them money. But I am already dreading getting in the car with the anxiety it is causing me. I struggle with cognitive conditions and I’m having to work harder and it puts a stress on my nervous system and physically wears me out. I don’t want to sound unreasonable, but I am honestly panicking if I am now stuck with this car and thinking is this my fault because I thought this would be similar to drive. I hate asking this, but does anyone have any advice if motability would consider this?
Here again we seem to have the same issue, unfortunately not all of understand, for some it is a very daunting task. Mobility and the dealer’s need to provide a detailed form outline the disabled customer need, short coming etc, this then needs to be signed of by Mobility, the dealer and the customer before placing a lease.
Unfortunately I have suffered a brain injury and occasionally say the wrong thing.
Every car ive had on motorbility since 2001, i test drive before order and really test drive on collection day,which to me is far more important due to that being the car i will have for 3years.Surpsies me that people test drive then order ,then look round it on collection day but dontt re test drive it.
What a load of 💩
Noticeable that the OP hasn’t been back. Very similar tale to the one a few weeks ago (now removed) where the the message came from a proxy server. Could this be a repeat?
To be fair, the OP posted less than 48 hours ago and replies are still coming in, so they may be waiting to respond. Hopefully @wmcforum will be on the case if it’s dodgy, as they did before. As with the recent post, I am at a complete loss as to why anyone makes such posts, as they gain nothing whatsoever from doing it unlike, say, a scam where people make money out of it? In my response I specifically requested that the OP came back to tell us what the outcome was, and that would require a call to Motability which they won’t be able to do until tomorrow. Hopefully they will, as it always annoys me when many of us go to the trouble of offering advice and the person asking the question never has the courtesy to come back and say what the outcome was.
Also noticeable that the OP only registered a little more than 48hrs ago and has not commented or been seen since.
Last week and this are halfterm weeks throughout the UK!
About the only car on the scheme that gives 320 miles WLTP as electric (on 17″ wheels) and also available as a hybrid would be the Hyundai Kona.
Deepest winter would be around 200-220 miles at 65-70, basically should be a bit better than what I got out of my Kia Soul. To get 150 you’d have to either drive at 80 everywhere or have the heater blower on full blast the whole way (mine just needed at start, once at 20 deg in a couple of minutes, back off to lowest fan speed, cabin stayed warm at that. Bung heated seat or steering wheel on if needed).
In life, it's not who you know that's important, it's how your wife found out.
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