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I think it is incredible that AP have risen so much in the last couple of years. I’m not here to judge who can and can’t afford AP and what car they should be getting.
Seems as though there is a public outcry at Electricity, Gas and train fares amongst others going up and rightly so but Motability customers are expected to sit back and do nothing about the massive increase in prices. My Kuga cost £1749 in Q2 and is now £2200.
I feel sorry for anyone ordering at the moment. When will the price increases stop?
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The complexities of finance, greater servicing and repair costs increasing with age, coupled with the erosion of VAT free purchasing suggest that the shorter the lease, the greater financial benefit to Motability. Unknown factors, especially predicting future resale values impacts too.
There are currently 120 cars on Motability that do not require an AP, I have looked through them all and there is quite a variety. What do you basically need from a car but to get you from A to B (even for most people on the scheme). There are people that will need specific adaptations and I do not know what the situation is regarding that – although I do know that Motability also offer help in certain instances. There is a variety in car size, car type, boot space, performace etc.
The car that we have ordered has fallen £3,000 from Q3 to Q4 (VW ID.3) and I believe it is incredible value and we get a free 7kWh charger fiited. Now I was looking at the AWD Plug in Hybrid Hyundai Tucson which is about £4,500 AP – but did I really “need” that or did I just “want” it? I could not justify paying £4,500 AP on a car so I looked at the options and instead paid £1,500 AP (which is still a lot).
Motability does have problems and there should be more pressure placed upon it by its members. I believe that we should have more say and that Motability should at least start doing an annual survey of its members. I would be concerned about breaking up Motability, resulting in several smaller leasing companies and the problems that this would bring. However, having said all of that, I do think it would be nice if Motability used a percentage of the cash that they have to subsidise AP’s on specific cars that had certain features that “members” needed that where not available on any of the “nil” advance payment cars available.
YorkMan – Fair enough if Motability gave out completely free cars, but they don’t. A car with a nil AP still costs you around £10,000 in sacrificed benefits. People seem to forget that critical point. That’s a huge chunk of money. An even bigger chunk of money if you pay an AP and need / want optional extras. After 3 years you hand it back with nothing to show for it. Surely, in that case, it is perfectly reasonable to seek to get what you ‘want’ as well as what you need?
Many Motability customers need automatics, higher driving positions and big boots for wheelchairs, hoists, scooters etc. Once you factor all of that in, choice reduces dramatically. Yes, there may still be a few lower priced options, but there’s no way I’d pay £10k to drive a budget car for 3 years, just to hand it back at the end when for a few grand more I could have a premium one.
EV’s aren’t for everyone yet. Reading this forum you would think that most people drive them now. I heard the other day that EV’s still only represent 5% of the cars on the road. That’s just 1 in 20. I’d hope to possibly get an EV next time or the time after when range, infrastructure and charging times have improved, but there isn’t one on the scheme at present that remotely appeals, or would suit our requirements.
The main point of course being that we are all different, all have different needs, likes, dislikes, preferences etc etc. That’s why we need as much choice as is possible. The scheme used to have a choice of over 4,000 cars and is now looking like it will drop below 1,000. That’s rubbish and can’t be blamed on chip shortages etc. It’s a conscious decision.
Not too many years ago there were 2 choices of company car, a Ford Focus and for more senior management, a Ford Mondeo, and just one trim level with no choice of options or colours. Many were happy to have a company car. I think there was no automatic option. Contrast this with what is currently available on Motability. Accepted different people have different and wider ranging needs and there is still a decent choice. I agree with YorkMan that the ID.3 is great value at present, along with the Kona and other electric offerings. I drive a Tuscon and the new PHEV offers many benefits over my ICE, however I cannot justify to myself an AP of 5k vs 1k for an electric Kona. At present Motability is sitting on a fleet of cars worth far more than would have been forecast a couple of years ago, however prices rise and fall, so I imagine the accountants will be advising a cautious approach. As commented before, the vast majority of members would be unable to meet the costs of a private lease or purchase, so the scheme, despite higher AP´s still remains the only viable option, however we are reaching a “tipping point” where many could decide to go down the 2nd hand route.
YorkMan – Fair enough if Motability gave out completely free cars, but they don’t. A car with a nil AP still costs you around £10,000 in sacrificed benefits. People seem to forget that critical point. That’s a huge chunk of money. An even bigger chunk of money if you pay an AP and need / want optional extras. After 3 years you hand it back with nothing to show for it. Surely, in that case, it is perfectly reasonable to seek to get what you ‘want’ as well as what you need? Many Motability customers need automatics, higher driving positions and big boots for wheelchairs, hoists, scooters etc. Once you factor all of that in, choice reduces dramatically. Yes, there may still be a few lower priced options, but there’s no way I’d pay £10k to drive a budget car for 3 years, just to hand it back at the end when for a few grand more I could have a premium one. EV’s aren’t for everyone yet. Reading this forum you would think that most people drive them now. I heard the other day that EV’s still only represent 5% of the cars on the road. That’s just 1 in 20. I’d hope to possibly get an EV next time or the time after when range, infrastructure and charging times have improved, but there isn’t one on the scheme at present that remotely appeals, or would suit our requirements. The main point of course being that we are all different, all have different needs, likes, dislikes, preferences etc etc. That’s why we need as much choice as is possible. The scheme used to have a choice of over 4,000 cars and is now looking like it will drop below 1,000. That’s rubbish and can’t be blamed on chip shortages etc. It’s a conscious decision.
Totally agree with you Glos Guy.
I’m going to add one thing. Having the best car I can get and afford gives me pleasure and helps me forget my disability.
I tend to agree.
A car is a necessity, but can be a luxury as well. There’s cars that cover the necessity, and then there’s cars “above” that that also cover the “want” part that most if not all of us have (including us, we’re going for a GTE rather than a R-Line or Style Golf, because we want the GTE).
Personally my issue is the argument that everyone is entitled to the “want” part. If i can’t afford the AP for a Merc, then i can’t afford that Merc. That’s how it goes in life. You’ll not see me argue that Porsche should reduce their prices by 50% so i can afford a base model Taycan, otherwise they’re discriminating against us. Of course that’s a hyperbole, but a very similar argument gets made over and over again here, and i certainly do not agree with that.
In our situation, the Golf comes up to over £4500, and we’re in the lucky situation to be able to afford it. If we had half the money, we’d go for a normal Golf (or an A3 or similar), not complain in the forums and elsewhere that we’re priced out of a GTE.
Not too many years ago there were 2 choices of company car, a Ford Focus and for more senior management, a Ford Mondeo, and just one trim level with no choice of options or colours.
You must have been in a very penny pinching company Fwippers! I had company cars from the 1990’s with different companies and we had huge choice. We had a monthly allowance and could chose from a vast choice of cars. Each car had a monthly cost, which was recalculated with any options you wanted added on. If the car you wanted was more than your allowance you paid the extra each month. If it was less, you received the difference as a salary supplement. Pretty much like an AP but monthly, not up front. If you wanted a car that wasn’t on the list you could ask for a quote and they would price it up for you. Far more flexible and far greater choice than Motability.
if youve got 4.5k and you find it a good use of your capital then its no different to someone who can afford 1.5k and does so. everyone is financially different; just look at the homes we all have, from council abodes to nice private homes.
this is how it works, but there is no doubt that in general the ap’s have mostly risen by huge amounts which is unfair. its mostly to put people on motablity off.
Current Car: Hyundai Kona Premium EV...2 way 40kg hoist
Last Car: Toyota C-HR Excel Hybrid...4 way 80kg hoistif youve got 4.5k and you find it a good use of your capital then its no different to someone who can afford 1.5k and does so. everyone is financially different; just look at the homes we all have, from council abodes to nice private homes. this is how it works, but there is no doubt that in general the ap’s have mostly risen by huge amounts which is unfair. its mostly to put people on motablity off.
I absolutely don’t think it’s a good use of our money. A good use of our money would be to get a Golf Style and be done with it.
That’s what i mean: there’s cars you need, and there’s cars you want.
Again, the argument from me is that (almost) nobody is priced out of the scheme. There are issues of course, like basically no option for low price (base or lower spec) big SUVs, or little choice for under 25 year olds – but no, prices being increased is absolutely not unfair. It’s annoying as fck, of course – but how is it unfair?
Do you not see the entitlement there? They can charge whatever they want. It’s not unfair. They’re not charging you MORE than a private customer (in which case you certainly could claim unfairness). If you ask me to sell you my.. whatever, my Playstation 5, and i tell you “sure, £600 please” (they’re £400 new), then that’s not unfair. Take it or leave it, go buy a different, cheaper console. You’re not entitled to a cheap price.
Exact same here. There’s a reason the prices went up, people acting like it’s pure malice against disabled people are just delusional. It’s either that the prices go up to slow down orders, or they remove the cars entirely of the scheme (Merc isn’t just off of Motability, their entire Fleet business is suspended – SIXT doesn’t get Mercs either).
It’s not unfair, it’s not even bad since there ARE, for the most part (apart from the examples earlier), cars available for everyone. Just not necessarily the one they want. We wanted a Tucson PHEV when the normal petrol got released, we saw that it’s £5k without the extras that we were looking forward to most (BSM, DCC etc) – bringing the car to around £6500. We can’t afford it, so we’re not gonna get one, there’s nothing unfair about it. They lose a sale, and we’ll still be mobile in the end.
Prior: SEAT Ateca Xcellence Lux 1.5 TSI DSG MY19, VW Golf GTE PHEV DSG MY23
Current: Hyundai Ioniq 6 Ultimate
Next: we'll see what's available in 2028.thats assuming the retail cost went up as much as the ap tho. think its a case of selling to retail first. that may of course be what they think fair, or may be in the contract they have with main dealers etc. whether its fair depends on ones’ outlook i suppose.
i was prepared to spend up to 3k,(if i fancied something like anX1 and initially agrred to spend 2400 on a nice nissan but hurting my leg further meant i wont be driving so much and fact i’d still not been given a build space, i changed to a 500 ev. i might have issues with the charger for a while, but it should get sorted at some point; that saves me more than the ap. i can always granny charge on occasion and use a rapid on and off so i should be quids in. Its not what i wanted but needs must and i will be delighted to have been lucky enough to be able to get a new car in my position.
Current Car: Hyundai Kona Premium EV...2 way 40kg hoist
Last Car: Toyota C-HR Excel Hybrid...4 way 80kg hoistLet’s not forget Motability is a business, it makes money on “Most” cars and has a reserve of £2 billion.
No way am I going to feel grateful for Motability when I know that!
cost aside, but when the ionic 5 ever gets on the scheme (i dunno if it will) but it looks like a game changer. just accidentally watched a review vid.. a smart motor.
Current Car: Hyundai Kona Premium EV...2 way 40kg hoist
Last Car: Toyota C-HR Excel Hybrid...4 way 80kg hoistcost aside, but when the ionic 5 ever gets on the scheme (i dunno if it will) but it looks like a game changer. just accidentally watched a review vid.. a smart motor.
Agreed. According to my local Hyundai dealer it’s unlikely to be on Motabiliy any time soon. My earlier reference to the 2 company car options was to illustrate that in many cases choice was and is very limited compared to what is still available. Let’s see what happens in a couple of years if Motability’s coffers continue to swell.
A lot of interesting and varied views, this is why I think that Motability should send every lease holder a survey every year (and maybe publish the feedback and any actions they are undertaking regarding the feedback).
I am pretty sure though that if they asked the question: “Do you think the AP was too high for your car” that everyone would tick the “yes” box (even me!)
It’s also worth remembering that only one-third of those who are eligible to join Motability choose to do so. The other two-thirds have decided that they cannot (or will not) splash out £10k of their benefits over three years to have a new car. Many probably run a second hand car or no car at all (or source a new car privately, perhaps one they can’t get on Motability) and others simply need their benefits to pay for basic living costs. You would think that Motability would try to make the scheme more affordable in order to tempt more of the 1.2m people who could join but don’t. Those patronising TV ads certainly aren’t the solution, but much wider choice and lower AP’s would definitely help!
It’s also worth remembering that only one-third of those who are eligible to join Motability choose to do so. The other two-thirds have decided that they cannot (or will not) splash out £10k of their benefits over three years to have a new car. Many probably run a second hand car or no car at all (or source a new car privately, perhaps one they can’t get on Motability) and others simply need their benefits to pay for basic living costs. You would think that Motability would try to make the scheme more affordable in order to tempt more of the 1.2m people who could join but don’t. Those patronising TV ads certainly aren’t the solution, but much wider choice and lower AP’s would definitely help!
Have to agree, a more direct TV ad, pointing out the benefits would be more productive in my view. Maybe they could pay the DWP to include a Motability brochure in the annual benefits letter to all eligible?
@yorkman you mean you’re not one of the 98% who are very happy with the motability scheme? No me neither I’ve never heard anyone say they’ve been asked for their views on motability!
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