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Hi all,
My lease is up in a few months, I am looking at vehicles the problem is this time we do not have any money for the AP. Last time we used our own car to pay the AP and was ripped off by the dealer but that’s another story.
I have to have an SUV sized car because of my disabilities I cannot get into a standard height car and it has to be automatic. I was hoping we could apply for a grant, but I have just been told because I choose optional extras like heated seats on the car we have now and the AP was high “it was only £495 over the normal AP because of deals ford were giving” I cannot apply for a grant for a new PHEV Kuga ? Even though the car would be ideal. It was suggested that we extend the lease on our current car, but we now receive far fewer benefits because our son has grown up, and we no longer receive child tax credit and are struggling with fuel costs.
Now I don’t know what to do? I don’t want to waste time looking at cars and test-driving them to be told we won’t be awarded a grant.
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Hi Ian
im not entirely sure of the exact criteria for a grant through the scheme but if as you say it doesn’t cover extras, you could draw up a short list of vehicles that have your needs as standard or as close to them and keep an eye on APs for any discounts offered.
Thanks for the reply. The lady said they won’t give me a grant because my current car is fine and meets my needs, and we will be able to remain mobile. I pointed out to her we won’t be mobile if we cannot afford to run the car as we have less money coming in.
I am currently viewing cars on this site as it gives dimensions which is very handy. The cars the motability grant team suggested are not even SUV’S and are far too low one was the Vauxhall Crossland which is tiny compared to our Kuga.
Have you considered the Toyota Corolla Hybrid Estate massive boot, 65 + MPG AP only £795, you will receive £600 good condition back from current Ford Kuga so you will only have to find £195.
Unfortunately I have suffered a brain injury and occasionally I get confused and often say the wrong thing.
https://www.motability.co.uk/products/search/cars/
not many but are 11 under 1k that are an suv or mpv
VAUXHALL GRANDLAND X VAUXHALL GRANDLAND X HATCHBACK 1.2 TURBO SE 5DR AUTO [8 SPEED] £299
RENAULT KADJAR HATCHBACK 1.3 TCE PLAY 5DR EDC £395
SKODA KAROQ 1.5 TSI SE 5DR DSG £395
all are 50 mpg or over
Iab
I understand fuel costs aren’t considered as that’s the one thing we are liable for.
If you changed to a slightly more economical vehicle you won’t be saving a massive amount in fuel cost over a year.
Don’t forget about the £600 good condition bonus on return of your vehicle, i realise it comes after you need to pay any AP.
Is it an option to pay with a credit card and then pay the balance off with your AP so you won’t be laying out anything.
Collected my new car on Monday, good condition bonus cheque arrived on Wednesday. Unbelievable!
It’s maybe worth you asking for a loan from a family member, if possible, for those few days to get the cheque, bank it and have cleared funds to pay the loan back?
Iab, At worst and if it is the heated seat option that concerns you, if it were me, I’d be thinking of a car plus buying a plug in heated seat cover.
Also, have you tried a Mini Countryman or Clubman for size? They’re higher that you think and both start at £249 with auto?? I will be remembered for nothing but had great fun doing it ?
I agree, the Mini Countryman is way higher and bigger than it looks, also a friend has a pair of those heated seat covers in his Cactus and they’re way better than the heated seats I had in my Alhambra.
Found this Suzuki Viterra SZ-T Auto it an SUV £0 AP
Unfortunately I have suffered a brain injury and occasionally I get confused and often say the wrong thing.
Thanks for the replies and suggestions it is much appreciated.
Oscarmax thanks for the suggestion but the Toyota Corolla Hybrid Estate 1445 mm is far too low I would never be able to get in and out of it. I cannot get in and out of the Peugeot 3008 and that is 1624 mm in height plus they have the worst seats I have ever sat in. I have tried the Suzuki Vitara 1610 mm but it again is too low.
rox the grandland auto is unfortunately too low 1609 mm I have tried it and struggled to get in to it. The Kadjar is too low at 1613mm so is the Karoq 1603 mm.
Philjb I do have a credit card I could use that for the AP but the cars that are suitable for me and all far higher than the £600 bonus.
Peter unfortunately most of my family have passed away the four that are still with us cannot help.
BionicRusty I have one of the heated seat covers you suggest it works off 240v and 12v but the motors dig into my legs and it is uncomfortable. Unfortunately both the minis are 1441 mm and 1557 mm both are too low.
I explained to Motability I need an SUV with a tall roof this is because I have three bulging discs L5, L4, L3, Ankylosing Spondylitis and Lordosis. The seats in a car make a huge difference as does body roll and suspension. I cannot bend very much so an SUV is not a style choice it is because of my conditions, even with the tall Kuga if the drivers side is against the curb I really struggle to get in and out.
I don’t think Motability are going to help with a grant and using the high £1895 AP against us that we paid ourselves using our own car as deposit for the Kuga seems very unfair.
ateca,arona,combo/berlingo and bmw 2 series tourer all have more headroom than the kuga.
arona 1030mm
ateca 1020mm
combo/berlingo 1072mm
bmw 2 series 1046mm
the kuga is 1013mm.
I think Motability would be more likely to offer you an extension of lease upto 5 years on your current car, than give you a grant, particularly if your current vehicle is still suitable disability wise.
Fuel cost isn’t a consideration with grants as Phil has pointed out above, thus any grant would probably be for a standard diesel as opposed to the more expensive PHEV varient , so you may be back at square one with fuel cost.
Another way maybe to see if you maybe able to get a grant from a charity other than Motability. For example if you have served in HM Forces, there are a multitude of ex-service charities who maybe able to help. Or is there a charity specifically connected to your disability?
Or search here:
https://grants-search.turn2us.org.uk/
I think Motability would be more likely to offer you an extension of lease upto 5 years on your current car, than give you a grant, particularly if your current vehicle is still suitable disability wise. Fuel cost isn’t a consideration with grants as Phil has pointed out above, thus any grant would probably be for a standard diesel as opposed to the more expensive PHEV varient , so you may be back at square one with fuel cost. Another way maybe to see if you maybe able to get a grant from a charity other than Motability. For example if you have served in HM Forces, there are a multitude of ex-service charities who maybe able to help. Or is there a charity specifically connected to your disability? Or search here: https://grants-search.turn2us.org.uk/
I always look at the 3 year lifetime costs when shortlisting a car, here is my example, the AP and the fuel costs over the 3 year lease period, my current car a Ford Kuga 2.0 Diesel Powershift original AP £1295 plus fuel costs estimated @ 7,000 miles a year (including towing a caravan 1500 miles a year) £3450 = £4745.
Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV AP £1699 fuel cost @ 7,000 including towing £1905 = £3600.
That a saving over the 3 year lease £1145
Unfortunately I have suffered a brain injury and occasionally I get confused and often say the wrong thing.
ateca,arona,combo/berlingo and bmw 2 series tourer all have more headroom than the kuga. arona 1030mm ateca 1020mm combo/berlingo 1072mm bmw 2 series 1046mm the kuga is 1013mm.
Thanks for the reply it is not headroom that is the problem it is getting into the car it is the height of the car because I cannot bend down to lower myself into the vehicle.
I think Motability would be more likely to offer you an extension of lease upto 5 years on your current car, than give you a grant, particularly if your current vehicle is still suitable disability wise. Fuel cost isn’t a consideration with grants as Phil has pointed out above, thus any grant would probably be for a standard diesel as opposed to the more expensive PHEV varient , so you may be back at square one with fuel cost. Another way maybe to see if you maybe able to get a grant from a charity other than Motability. For example if you have served in HM Forces, there are a multitude of ex-service charities who maybe able to help. Or is there a charity specifically connected to your disability? Or search here: https://grants-search.turn2us.org.uk/
Thanks for the reply diesel is not an option our journeys are mostly 5 miles or less but frequently several times a day. Modern diesels have DPF’S fitted and the filter will block up with short journeys, the vehicle will then need to driven at a constant speed without stopping to clear the filter. Our last car was a diesel, and we had a nightmare with the DPF. I have spoken to turn2us about a grant before I don’t qualify for help I tried for a grant to buy a scooter and was turned down.
Yes I agree about the extended lease I wish I had not used our car as deposit and sold it privately.
Vauxhall Combo Life seems to be much taller than Kuga
Thanks for the reply yes the combo is taller but the seats made my legs and back ache, I didn’t even test drive it because just sitting in it was painful after a few minutes. The 3008 was even worse.
I would not worry to much about short journeys and DPF as during the Winter I do many days of not more than 5 miles if that and never had any problems in my Seat Leon with 1.6 Tdi engine though I suppose its something that niggles in the back of our minds. My previous car to the current one was petrol but only switched to that because the council want to ban diesels in town but I’ve switched back to diesel on my current car simply because nothing else was suitable for what I need.
With your grant for a scooter I wonder if you were turned down because the government in all there wisdom does not recognise mobility scooters as a disability aid like they do with wheelchairs. It’s one of those discriminating things where they see no problem discriminating against we scooter users (I assume because a lot of bone idol non disabled folk use them too) but not having the use of my left arm/hand/fingers I can’t use a wheelchair with one hand but I can push and pull the speed controller on my scooter.
I’m thinking of going the grant way myself next year because of the lack of suitable cars but as long as the VW Touran holds it’s AP price I might just about manage its AP along with the adaption I have to have that Motability are proud to say “are free” when in reality they maybe subsidised but there nowhere near being free.
There’s a Tiguan Match for £1,049 petrol/ £1499 diesel less a hefty discount being offered by some dealers (£600 off from JCT600).
It’s 1654mm high, I’m 6′ 5-1/2″ with mobility problems, had a Kuga and I managed getting in/out of the Tiguan without any problem.
Please excuse spelling/typos. Apart from being a clot it turns out I had one on my cerebellum that's now causing various problems!
Iab
the car I had in mind for you was the Tiguan match petrol with the £600 cash back discount with your £600 gcb you’ll have payed out nothing and come away with £50 for fuel too.
You should see better mpg then your current car. But as I said If your not doing many miles a year the money saved on fuel won’t be that much.
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