I have just left the scheme and bought a new car. The car I wanted, in the trim and engine combo is not currently on the scheme.
My local dealer could only place a factory order and said the earliest would be Late September and slots were already filled so it would have to be one of the colours available, to get one then.
However via what car, I was contacted by a dealer asking if I was still interested from a previous search and offers given to me. He said they had cars coming that was on order that would arrive in 3 to 4 weeks.
So I ordered on 12th of may and picked up the car on friday the 10th of june. Got free mats and a full tank of juice and didn’t even ask for it..
So I think it really depends on the timing.
The dealer I got the car from has ordered the cars but my local dealer has not and I can see why any surplus In the system may not be offered to the scheme users because of the discount they get from the manufacturers.
There is nothing stopping you placing an order via the scheme into the system but it depends on the manufacturer as to when it will be built and arrive, As I could of done and you’d have to wait and maybe there’s delays and dates are pushed back due to the next crisis and global supply issues.
I don’t think it’s just mb customers being pushed back.
The big problem is many cars have more orders than they can supply and the big dealers can place orders before any consumer or pickup any slack in the schedule and have no real issue selling them right now.
Personally I don’t see much changing anytime soon, it’s the new normal as the vertug roup ceo was saying recently and is one of the reason I decided now was the time for me to leave the scheme.
I am paying more than on the scheme yes, but when my Hp term is up I will have around a 12.5k asset and I’m paying no interest. Which Is a huge Incentive to me.
There’s alot more reason’s also, like the wait on the scheme and the huge Ap’s and coming legislation etc etc
So for me it was the right thing to do, before some say about not getting credit, I would consider myself on a low income, as my conditions prohibits me from working, I got approved on my income alone.
Right now also I don’t think I could wait a year+ as some are having to do, as the current scheme car was Just not suitable anymore due to condition changes not just in my condition but in my wife’s. We also annually, doing half the mileage we was doing.
So really the scales have been tipped more in favour of ownership than leasing.