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The days of motabilty charging a premium AP for an automatic should be long gone. The difference between manual and auto is quite staggering. When you look at the difference when leasing privately it is quite small. Some companies are selling more auto’s than manual. The amount of AP can be the same as the difference in new car price between the versions.
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It’s entirely disappointing that some manufacturers are even still making manual cars in 2023. They have probably been discontinued in other countries, but it seems like Europe is a dumping ground for low spec cars. If you pay attention, cars produced for European countries often have lower grade base specs than the same model produced for countries abroad. For example there are many models which are sold with cloth seats in the U.K. whereas only leather as a base spec abroad etc. Anyway I’m rambling. Yes you’re right, paying for an automatic should not warrant a premium anymore
<p style=”text-align: left;”>Interesting views,</p>
I was Module Leader, Transmissions and Driveline for two prestigious car manufacturers.One looked at the amount of manuals sold vs Automatics and we concluded there was no profit in developing any manuals any further, in fact, for the last few years of one manual midel, we took the Ford Transit gearbox and modified ut (not as easy as it sounds, we hit a few problems)
Tge other manufacturer, a prestigious sports car manufacturer, had a demand still for manual options and when selling tge car for £200,000, there was sufficient reasons for continuing them
Whilst new manual gearboxes did gave significant development costs, the actual units are quite cheap to produce with much less parts than a auto box.
auto boxes are developed outside car manufacturers, tge bixes I dealt with were ZF gearboxes, but they had an element of “black box” technology, I.e. computer control which ZF controlled and we had to pay to use over tge box itself and any changes ZF would request payment to do any modification.
This Auto gearbox, the 8HP goes into many different manufacturers cars, but still has a premium price on ut
So you have two issues, low volume of manuals, making manufacturing costs higher, and high manufacturing fonts of auto boxes.
The push to EVs is helping manufacturers, as the electronic single speed units are much more easy to develop and implement.
Yes, there are talks about geared evs, but the will usnt there and will ve nich.
finally, again, development if drive by wire manuals us costly compared to drive by wire auto boxes
Surely even more disappointing that Motability aren’t closing the gap? I’d assume many folks with disabilities need an auto and many more find life easier with an auto vs manual.
Ultimately, I guess the choice is nearly over and everything will be automatic soon except for niche performance vehicles. Even if EVs start to have gears in future, I’d guess that would likely be automatic anyway? If it’s good enough for F1…..
It’s an old chestnut this one.
I have raised it with MB and get nonsensical replies.
But don’t let that stop you from raising it with MB.
Skoda Enyaq Race Blue
Paying extra for an automatic on Motability is nothing less than a disgrace if your a disabled driver as were being put at a disadvantage because of our disability.
This is something I’ve taken up with Motability many times over the years only to have someone playing a Stradivarius in the background while I’m talking to them. ???
The only grace we have is in future nearly all cars will be auto’s anyway.
I too have been on at Motability every chance I got over the years about being financially punished for being a wheelchair user and needing an automatic, got nowhere with it ☹️
I used the Ford Focus as an example years ago that there should be a difference in price for a base, mid or top spec model but manuals and autos should have no financial penalty.
I recently paid £1250 AP for my Ford Kuga (manual gearbox)
I really wanted the automatic Kuga but that would’ve set me back another £1000 AP which i could neither afford or justify so i went with the manual.
I guess i’ve just gotta hope that my arthritic fingers, wrist & shoulder can hold out for another three years.
I recently paid £1250 AP for my Ford Kuga (manual gearbox) I really wanted the automatic Kuga but that would’ve set me back another £1000 AP which i could neither afford or justify so i went with the manual. I guess i’ve just gotta hope that my arthritic fingers, wrist & shoulder can hold out for another three years.
Firstly its just simple maths along with a prediction of value after 3 years, claiming discrimination is not going to work (as mentioned in a different post).
Main problem as we move more towards EV is that manufacturers are only producing automatic models in EV or hybrid rather than petrol, thus resulting in higher prices for automatic versions
The Ford Kuga is a good example of this where auto versions are hybrid with a list price of around £3k more, hence the higher AP rather than discrimination against disabled people (mentioned in another post). Its extremely frustrating for those who need an auto, but I would say is going to become even more widespread as manufacturers move to only producing autos in EV/Hybrid
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