I always love the suggestions of just getting a grant to help with the AP’s, it’s easier said than done! I qualify on my income but when I tried to apply, it didn’t go any further than the initial phone call as my current car, although not perfect, was ok (in their view) with workarounds (someone helping me in and out of the car etc) and thus, my only option was to extend the lease and then they would look at it again at the end of the extra 2 years.
At the time, cars were arriving quicker than now, not lightning fast but certainly better than it is currently, advance payments were cheaper than now.
I had a look earlier on, there are now zero cars that are suitable and at an advance payment at even double the amount I could do even with help from family, they all seem to start at around the 3k area, are plug in varieties (which would require an investment of circa £5k on top of an AP to be viable) or just not available anymore.
The advance payments being asked now is out of kilter, it’s more than I would pay (and have paid) for a second hand car, so I think my plan now is to watch the market and when one comes up that is near me and hits the checklist, I will be handing back my car and leaving the scheme…it just makes more financial sense.