[Rbdo]

Question as per title: Has anyone been able to convince a dealer to supply a car they have had in stock on MB in the last 3 months?

We are looking for our first vehicle though MB and I just sold our 70 plate PCP’d Corolla last month because I could release £5k in equity I’d need for AP. Stupidly thought MB would make accessing stock easier or help with “clout” re lead times – didn’t do the relevant research. Due to this, we are without a vehicle and therefore rather than the dream specifications I have been toying with, are likely to have to take whatever Kuga/QQ/X-trail/3008 the local dealers have that they are willing to part with. And my worry is that even this might be too much to expect in the current climate of shortages and demand.

So; anyone had any luck in this regard? Many thanks in advance for replies.

Topic

[Robbie]

I managed to actually nab one today after a couple weeks of constant phoning round different dealers round Scotland and asking the question.

Ordered a Vauxhall Grandland in Feb last year and been completely fobbed off by both Vauxhall and Arnold Clarke. Spoke to an extremely helpful woman at Evans Halshaw last week, who promised to do what she could to source me a car. Called me back this morning and I pick up a brand new Ford Puma ST Line (magnetic grey) tomorrow afternoon. Persistence seems to be the key here. Don’t give up and you will find someone willing to help you out.

[Pswoff]

In March 2021 I managed to find a brand new Peugeot 5008 in stock and picked it up within 2 weeks. My tactic was to search Autotrader for new cars with photos of the actual car to show they had it in stock. Most new cars on Autotrader just have stock pictures which means the car will in most cases be a factory order. Once I had found a few I emailed the dealers about getting the car on Motability. Of course you will have less choice of colours and added options but you may get a car much quicker.

Good luck.

 

[Rbdo]

Thanks for the reply.

 

Good for you! Glad you found something. How far are you having to go to collect? I have the added complication  that my wife’s disability is likely going to prevent her from getting to the dealership to do the forms and handover etc. I suspect offsite handover is going to be unattractive to dealers who aren’t local, and this may limit my options. I may have to arrange appointee-ship to be able to sign the forms etc myself.

Still; good to know it can be done – thank you.

[Robbie]

Rbdo, have to travel 30 miles to collect the car today. I have family to help out thankfully.

The dealer was great and done all the paperwork over the phone with me yesterday to have the car ready for today. I appreciate how hard it is just now to find someone who will be as helpful as the lady I have been dealing with, but don’t give up keep phoning around.

[Rbdo]

Pswoff, I am so sorry; I completely missed your reply! Thank you so much.

That is indeed a tactic I have begun using. Some dealers even have their own ‘new in stock’ pages on official websites. But autotrader has assuaged my anxiety quite a bit: Nationally there seems to be a reasonable selection of cars we could live with, if not ideal. Just have to find one that the dealer is desperate enough to MB. I just have to find out whether MB will make it possible for me to collect remotely for on my wife’s behalf (different problem; different thread!)

 

I live in a city with all the major dealers and most of the lesser ones, but it’s at least an hour to the nearest cities/towns for alternatives, and if MB can make things as tricky for remote order/collecting as I have heard, I may be stuck with much less selection than autotrader provides. Again – different problem and thread.

[Rubble]

Yes. I recently had an offer to take an ‘in stock’ Nissan Qashqai e-POWER in Tekna trim, from my local dealership.  I saw the car in the flesh and sat in the drivers seat but in the end decided not to go for it as, I thought the boot was a little on the small side for my needs. At that point, I was then offered an ‘in stock’(again the car was present) X-Trail in N-Connecta trim as an alternative but unfortunately the spec didn’t fill my requirements.

[Rbdo]

Thanks Rubble! That’s good to know – and encouraging. Sorry it didn’t work out for you.

[Rico]

In December I  physically Ned around and got in the megane stench within 10 days

[Rico]

I phoned around (stupid phone auto correct)

[kezo]

Rico wrote:

I phoned around (stupid phone auto correct)

??

 

[coruro]

Yes, sort of!

Handed my 71 plate Tiguan back due to a known fault with the steering wheel and travel assist issue. Expected me to wait 5 months possibly more for a fix and listen to persistent pinging! It drove me insane and my son has sensory issues.

Anyway

I got in contact with my local Ford (it helps I do know them) I managed to get a cancellation/ stock order which had already been built but is at the port awaiting a transporter. This was last week had to compromise on colour and the extras (spare wheel and wireless charging)

however within 24 hours of order they arranged for my collection for the 9th March! So not long can’t wait. (I had a Kuga before which I owned sold it and got a Tiguan on the scheme- will never have a VW again with all the tech issues and unhelpful dealership giving me a dirty car supplied with mud, stones, sweet wrappers, post it note with a phone number on and a lovely bag of peanuts in the boot!) thankfully we have no nut allergies however we do have sensitivities and the car clearly wasn’t cleaned the amount of dust in it. Coincidence I came down with sickness 2 days later?

But call round ask if they have it in stock and when can they get it, then tell them your a motability customer and would like to reserve it.

?

[Author]

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