[F34415]

I’ve been a longterm Motability Customer. I know all about the chip shortages, the wars and all the other reasons proffered for why some cars are harder than others to get on the scheme, but 4WD is a drivetrain option that some of us who live in extremely rural areas (God forbid we might be farmers with a disability?!) NEED and the options for all wheel drive on there at the moment are laughable.

Why have Motability taken this decision and why do their advisors think it’s ok to say “Four Wheel Drive isn’t something we class as an essential” when seeking support? Erm, when I live on a farm, in the middle of the mountains all year round surely I get to decide what’s “essential” in my vehicle, no?

So, how do we get this message through to the people at MTowers?

Electric vehicles, small city vehicles etc etc they’re all fine and dandy but some of us need automatic estate cars with 4WD capability – they’re abundantly available to the wider public, so why not to those of us with a physical disability who choose to use the scheme?

Topic

[Macca]

I hear yer buddy.

Personally I’ve been campaigning for Subaru to rejoin the scheme for some time now. Most of their vehicles have permanent symmetrical AWD, and we would happily give up our current XC40 for a Subaru Forester.

I’ve absolutely no doubt that Motability, Subaru, and the Subaru importer IM Group, are thoroughly sick of me raising it ?, but its with thoroughly good intentions.

Our living situation is very different to yours.

Our circumstances are such that a particularly horrendous car crash involving a private taxi and an articulated wagon, saw my wife extremely fortunate to come away from it with a life left to live, albeit its certainly left its mark on her, and likely always will as she’s now an extremely nervous passenger.

For us, the stability of the Subaru AWD system, coupled with their Eyesight safety system, would help considerably with the need for my wife to feel safe and protected.
Plus we’re not expecting to have this opportunity for nothing. If it does happen (and talks are ongoing currently) then it’s for us to fund the appropriate AP.

?

[Fastbike1000]

F34415 wrote:

I’ve been a longterm Motability Customer. I know all about the chip shortages, the wars and all the other reasons proffered for why some cars are harder than others to get on the scheme, but 4WD is a drivetrain option that some of us who live in extremely rural areas (God forbid we might be farmers with a disability?!) NEED and the options for all wheel drive on there at the moment are laughable. Why have Motability taken this decision and why do their advisors think it’s ok to say “Four Wheel Drive isn’t something we class as an essential” when seeking support? Erm, when I live on a farm, in the middle of the mountains all year round surely I get to decide what’s “essential” in my vehicle, no? So, how do we get this message through to the people at MTowers? Electric vehicles, small city vehicles etc etc they’re all fine and dandy but some of us need automatic estate cars with 4WD capability – they’re abundantly available to the wider public, so why not to those of us with a physical disability who choose to use the scheme?

Totally agree with you, living as I do in rural Shropshire.

[Rbdo]

I concur, for what it’s worth. I don’t even live rurally – but I do live on the edge of a moor – and could have used 4×4 several times over recent years. My first thoughts when we qualified for the scheme was ‘now I can get something with 4×4 to make sure we can get out when it’s icy/snowing. Then I discover that – suitable to our needs – we have the choice of waiting a year for an Ateca, or suffer the lack of spec in an Accenta Premium X Trail. Though we don’t know what the AP will be until April, and I’d have to go 30 miles+ to test it (which obviously isn’t MB’s fault, but demonstrates the lack of availability. I really can’t fathom MB’s vehicle selection process. Maybe it’s just down to manufacturers not offering them to MB because they are shifting enough in private sales. But you’d think MB would do the honourable thing for its customers and offer better prices to get them on to the scheme. It’d be fine if we had a lease to extend; we could wait the year for an Ateca. But we need something now. Out of the hundreds of cars on the scheme, we have 2 cars – 4 models – which would suit our needs, if you remove anything we’d have to wait 9 months+ for.

[Macca]

My view is that it’s always worth continuing to bang the drum with motability, but you shouldn’t be shy of communicating directly with manufacturers. Some have dedicated motability teams and giving them direct feedback can be quite useful in shaping the scheme offerings

[Macca]

We were very fortunate to have leased a Hyundai Santa Fe 4WD through the scheme. It was a huge diesel SUV and we kept that for 4 years. There were a few times in North Wales where the weather turned and if it wasn’t for its 4WD capability we would have been screwed. I actually miss that big machine …

[volkswin]

Or even the option of specifying A/w or winter tyres would be a help.

[Jojoe]

volkswin wrote:

Or even the option of specifying A/w or winter tyres would be a help.

Video below shows a front wheel drive car with winter tyres and a 4 wheel drive car with summer tyres driving up an indoor ski slope in the UK, very interesting results.

Enyaq EV

[kezo]

I had the Kuga awd on the scheme. Whils’t it was ok I’d much prefer selectable 4wd with hi and lo.

[volkswin]

Jojoe wrote:

Or even the option of specifying A/w or winter tyres would be a help. Video below shows a front wheel drive car with winter tyres and a 4 wheel drive car with summer tyres driving up an indoor ski slope in the UK, very interesting results.

Ha yes I still remember the look of bemusment on the face of 4×4 driver stuck in a blizzard on a back road a few years back, while I bounced past him in  a two wheel drive C4 equipped with winter tyres on the front axle, while his stuck 4×4 uselessly spun the 4 low profile tyres in the snow.

[Macca]

Am I missing something obvious or does the new motability search engine no longer give the facility to display 4WD vehicles specifically ? ?

[MickC]

That new search engine is pants,has it been designed for the simpletons who work at Motability Charity Grants team.

@Macca nothing in the search criteria lets you choose 4WD / AWD

[Author]

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