[Monkeytennis]

Hi, I’m newly eligible for motobility but while good in theory actually using the scheme is a nightmare. I need help as close to giving up on it.

Looking for a small SUV like a Q3 XC40 GLA X1 and have spent weeks actually trying to speak to dealers who never call back and seem totally disinterested. APs go up and down over 500 to 100 for no reason each quarter.  Huge demand apparently despite industry sales down to 1959 levels??!?and they only include lower selling models and spec?  Have bought new cars in past and completely different when spending ‘real’ money.

To those dealers I have managed to speak too I’m told delivery in September October time and veryuch made to feel that motobility is hardly worth them doing! It’s a discounted lease but it ain’t free.

Have also asked about APs and they all claim fixed never discounted never offers etc. etc etc blah blah blah. I live in the Midlands and Audi the worst but consistent from all these brands?!?

Hello and Help, it’s like the worse of car dealer cliche with added rubishness

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Topic

[wmcforum]

I am not sure that being a retail customer is any better at the moment. Certainly not when it comes to build times. Presumably you have a vehicle at the moment and everyone on here would recommend that you test drive the vehicles on your shortlist prior to making a decision. Patience is key at the moment, mid pandemic.

[Landyman]

The lead times are going to be worse because of the pandemic so you can’t really expect anything else.

As far as dealers are concerned I totally agree about some dealer’s attitude about motability but at the moment you again have to factor in the pandemic but saying that, the dealer I use, which is a BMW dealer, still contact me at regular intervals.

Going back to the dealers Subject I’ve found in the past if you only want info about a particular car or a test drive don’t mention motability, you do seem to get a better response. Shouldn’t be a like that I know.

As far as discounts are concerned I didn’t get any off the app but I did get 25 percent off the few extras I did have fitted without really trying, I’m sure some of the guys on here will be able to help more.

[simon]

Call around dealers further afield to see if they have new cars in stock. If you are interested in Tiguan a dealer local to me has several Elegance and R Line DSG’s ready to go now. I picked mines up 6 days after ordering.

[ChrisK]

I know it must be frustrating for you but sales are not down because nobody wants to buy cars.
Discounts are not as many, granted, as when I ordered my last car back in 2018 and it was easy to get £500 off a VW however the AP is a set price and dealers are not supposed to give discounts if they were to follow Motability rules.

I’m not going to be chasing car discounts on my next car in July unless there very close to home because last time I got £500 off the AP but the dealer was 80 miles away and things started to go wrong with delivery times and they were too far away just to pop in and have a word or two and as always they rarely return phone calls.

Lead times are an industry problem for manufactures at this moment in time so like WMC / Landyman said everyone is in the same boat but yes I agree with you that some, but not all, dealers give the impression they don’t really care about your business.

[matt]

i went on autotrader and looked at new cars then called them up and said i see you have a car am after in stock then told the car a wanted when they said yes its in stock then i told them i was a motabilty user and get my cla that way or i would have been waiting ages

[Dante]

Welcome and good luck, the pandemic has made things more difficult all round & as dealerships still closed, it doesn’t help.
in 20 years in the scheme i can honestly say I can only rate one dealer experience as good – the rest where mediocre or inept & unfortunately I’ve had to complain about two historically.
as someone  else mentioned get the test drives in when you can & push for extended test drives if you have a shortlist etc… .
Historically I’ve found that stating your a Motsbility customer is often a case of disinterest or inadequate service. In recent years I just get test drives out of the way then liaise with the ‘Motability Specialists’ , which vary significantly & im often much more knowledgable about the car I want & scheme. I have queued Motsbility operations in several occasions about there ‘accreditation process for dealers and specialists.
the scheme dies need a thorough  strategic overhaul and rethink, to make it fit for purpose and more focussed on the needs of the Motsbility customers.
Transparency on their profits, their senior management but also clarity in the formulae / data they use to assess the ‘Advance Payments’ etc….

having a Motability car has been a massive help for me, my disability and quality of life but it also means I need to not just accept ‘business as usual’ but question it – the DLA/pip money is a significant amount to many Motability customers & I need confidence that it’s being used to the best benefit of Motsbility customers, not just to boost their multi million pound profits going back to the banks that bankroll them and the big saleries /bonus’s of the senior management team.
sorry rant over & good luck in choosing and securing the vehicle you need

[Azzy]

It’s the same for everyone, lead times and not getting a call back is not exclusive to motability customers.

parts shortage has a lot to do with delivery times and not getting a call back could be for various reasons.

I picked up my motability xc40 in December and was kept updated up to every 14 days from order. My sisters both ordered brand new BMWs not motability and didn’t hear a peep from the dealer after order until it was time to pick the vehicle up, their cars were £65k and £50k respectively, so it seems it also doesn’t matter how much money you are spending.
you just have to keep on trying, it is long but it’s the same for most right now.

[Author]

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