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I asked some days ago about the possibility of an AP going up. The same things happened when I spoke to the dealership today. They said they would ask Vauxhall if they could take my order (whenever it’s likely to be built) at the same AP as was listed on my order back in August.
There is a feeling that due to the delays caused by Covid, an updated “facelift” version of the car may be taking place and they’re using this to get more money out of me in the region of an extra £1500.
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it will say on your order paperwork what the ap is, they cannot charge you more.
in fact dealers will usually cancel an order and reorder if the ap goes down. never heard of one trying to increase an ap.
Motability do have a bit of a ‘get out’ clause about this situation though – from their website:
Please note that if the specification of the car changes after the application, the price may be subject to change.
https://www.motability.co.uk/contact/faqs/what-happens-when-prices-change
However, should the dealer no longer be able to supply you with the vehicle you ordered at the AP at the time of order, they cannot force you to pay more for the revised specification. You need to speak with Motability who may well release you from your order leaving you free to choose another vehicle on the scheme.
Not ideal if you had set your heart on a particular vehicle, but as manufacturers update vehicles with new specs, coupled with Covid related delays, it is, sadly, likely to happen on occasions. Particularly if there is a long time span between order and the vehicle being built.
What you could do as well, is see if any other dealers have your chosen vehicle ‘in stock’ at the current AP.
Alternatively see if you can get a Motability Grant to cover the diffference, particularly if it is a substantial difference.
If, say, you ordered a Vauxhall jive se, but now that model has been replaced with an SEL, then yes, the AP will change as the car you ordered does not exist anymore.
in that case, the order should be cancelled.
if, however the SE us replaced by an SE, then no, the AP us fixed. Model years shouldn’t effect the AP
Hi BigDave
Is that something new as I’ve always thought the AP received on the Motability order form a week or so after you order was Gospel.
This sort of leaves we disadvantage folk at the mercy of the dealer / manufacture.
It’s one thing going into Dixon/Curry’s asking for one of those coffee machines they’ve been advertising at £30 for months only to be told “sorry we sold the last one yesterday but we’ve got this brand new model just come in for £50”. Easy to take your business elsewhere with washing machines and TV’s but not when it comes to cars that we have no say on T&C.
Personally i’d say for example a golf mk 7.5 was ordered but because of covid and delays they now making the mk8 it’s not just a new model year also vw did change lower trim model names but infact a mk8 is a different specification than the mk7.
so is the new tiguan r-line alot less is as standard than on the olde model and are now added extras £££. So then you getting a newer model but with less on it but maybe more technology. So in both those case the T & C can be used to get out of any deal agreed by either side or you could come to an agreement, which would be a new one..
Hi BigDave Is that something new as I’ve always thought the AP received on the Motability order form a week or so after you order was Gospel. This sort of leaves we disadvantage folk at the mercy of the dealer / manufacture. It’s one thing going into Dixon/Curry’s asking for one of those coffee machines they’ve been advertising at £30 for months only to be told “sorry we sold the last one yesterday but we’ve got this brand new model just come in for £50”. Easy to take your business elsewhere with washing machines and TV’s but not when it comes to cars that we have no say on T&C.
Hi ChrisK,
It has been around for a few years at least.
I fell foul of it about 6 years ago, when I ordered a vehicle on the scheme (factory order) and shortly afterwards the manufacturer announced a ‘facelift’ with different specifications for the facelift.
By the time my build slot came around, they were only producing facelifted versions (with much less kit and different nomenclature for the trim levels).
Bearing in mind during the wait for the vehicle, two new quarterly pricing periods had started (with much increased AP’s for the facelifted model) I was more or less told to pay the increased AP by the dealer (who were not very good to deal with).
Motability’s view was either pay for the new model or they would cancel the order. I decided to think about it – just until I knew the vehicle was at the dealership – then asked Motability to cancel the order!
I had to start my car search over again. However Motability did extend the lease on the then current car more or less indefinitely until such time as I chose and received a new vehicle.
What BigDave points out above appears to be correct.
After speaking with Motability I was told that their price guarantee would honour the AP on the order form. The only other thing that was pointed out was this could be changed if the manufacturer updated (facelift) the model on order.
To be honest, it does rather put one off ordering a vehicle knowing there is long ‘lead time’ before it will be built.
If the manufacturer happens to facelift or otherwise change the vehicle (or even delete it – I know someone not so long ago who ordered a ‘factory build’ Renault Koleos only for Renault to cease production of the Koleos before his order was even built) you could be forced to select another vehicle (or pay an increased AP for the ‘new’ model if different to the ordered model).
With Covid causing delays to factory orders, it is a risk customers take.
I know from experience that it is not a pleasant experience and some dealers maybe better than others at being able to source ‘pre-facelift’ models, but if the manufacturer changes the vehicle and your particular model/trim/engine is no longer available, you go back to ‘square one’!
Only you are not exactly back at square one in some cases. For example, the AP of your ‘second choice’ vehicle may have risen in the period since your cancelled order was placed. Which means you have to pay more for your second choice!
Overall, it boils down to doing your ‘homework’ on your chosen vehicle before you order it. If it is a new model or recently facelifted, you should be okay. However, if it is due to be facelifted (or even deleted) and there is a backlog of orders, you may wish to assess your appetite to risk, as your ordered vehicle (at the ordered AP) may not materialise!
Every car i have ordered on the scheme has been ready for the 3 month exchange and it is one thing i make clear before i order and if a dealer did say longer I’d not order or cancel.
When i got my mk7 golf back in 2017 it was from stock left in the uk as the mk 7.5 was being made but not out as yet, he managed to find a black mk7 but it may of had to of been another colour if one could not be found. This time there was no chance at all getting a golf as was no 7.5’s or mk 8’s back last jan to order.
My current car was ordered in jan for april handover but covid came along and it was june before i got it, but it had been at the dealers since early feburary and it was the newer part refreshed civic model for 2020.
Thats how it’s always worked for me because at the end of the day we pay the same for a car after having it for 3 years so i got no insentive to keep it any longer. This time might be different i paid more AP so i might consider extending, but still got over 2 and 1/2 years to go on the lease..
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