There are currently 120 cars on Motability that do not require an AP, I have looked through them all and there is quite a variety. What do you basically need from a car but to get you from A to B (even for most people on the scheme). There are people that will need specific adaptations and I do not know what the situation is regarding that – although I do know that Motability also offer help in certain instances. There is a variety in car size, car type, boot space, performace etc.
The car that we have ordered has fallen £3,000 from Q3 to Q4 (VW ID.3) and I believe it is incredible value and we get a free 7kWh charger fiited. Now I was looking at the AWD Plug in Hybrid Hyundai Tucson which is about £4,500 AP – but did I really “need” that or did I just “want” it? I could not justify paying £4,500 AP on a car so I looked at the options and instead paid £1,500 AP (which is still a lot).
Motability does have problems and there should be more pressure placed upon it by its members. I believe that we should have more say and that Motability should at least start doing an annual survey of its members. I would be concerned about breaking up Motability, resulting in several smaller leasing companies and the problems that this would bring. However, having said all of that, I do think it would be nice if Motability used a percentage of the cash that they have to subsidise AP’s on specific cars that had certain features that “members” needed that where not available on any of the “nil” advance payment cars available.