Also (not sure if this would be the right thread, sorry if it isn’t): Why are so few few cars with a large enough boot for two wheelchairs and walking aids WITH 4×4 available? When the the Q3 became available again (we had one on Motability before) we thought we are on a winner, just to be bitterly disappointed when we got told by AUDI UK (management) to buy our Q3 in the eye watering “Vorsprung” equipment level privately, since electric seats ARE ONLY AVAILABLE WITH LOTS OF OTHER RUBBISH IN THAT EQUIPMENT LEVEL! I had to find out since that not only does Audi offer electric seats here in the UK (on the “Vorsprung” = not available on Motability) AUDI OFFERS ELECTRIC SEATS THROUGHOUT THE Q3 RANGE IN GERMANY FOR AS LITTLE AS 800 EUROS!!! electric seats in my case are not a lifestyle choice but an essential God sent, as adjusting seats manually causes me severe discomfort, and if a seat is left forward by another driver I will be unable to get behind the wheel! The rather poor choice of rather small Audi’s on Motability (compared with BMW and Volvo for example), and the heartless comments from Audi UK Management makes me wonder why they even bother selling to disabled customers (since Audi does not care for disabled customers and their needs). I thought this kind of discrimination was a thing of the past, especially since recent anti disability discrimination legislation in the UK and the EU!
Car manufacturer’s have a somewhat strange reasoning on which markets need what equipment. Take the new Peugeot 208 for example. You couldn’t have heated seats on the UK models – not even as a stand alone option. Heated seats were standard on the German versions however. I can sometimes understand why heated seats aren’t required for warmer climates – like Mediterranean countries for example – but for a cold/freezing island nation like Britain??? Likewise, the black roof on the GT Line versions is standard on UK versions. In France however – you have to pay €300 for the black roof. Don’t get me started on “packs” either – the car manufacturer’s modern day method of robbery! You need one specific extra… but end up with 2 or 3 more that you’re never gonna use or need. Nothing winds me up more!!! :/
The latter was the main reason my Mother chose an X2 over the Mini Countryman because we needed electric folding door mirrors and electric boot lid – neither came as standard in the Mini and both in £1,500 + packs which would contain equipment we didn’t need.
I understand the reasons for bundle packages are to lower production costs, complexity, changes to consumer demand and tastes.
Motability cars:
2015 RR Evoque AWD 2.0 TD4 SE Tech - written off
2017 Toyota CH-R 1.2T Dynamic CVT AWD - written off
2019 BMW X2 2.0L Sport
2023 Nissan Qashqai e-Power N-Connecta