- This topic has 47 replies, 9 voices, and was last updated 4 years, 8 months ago by
.
- Topic
Picking a brand new car can be exciting but also very stressful so how do you actually go about getting the car you want and crucially the car that’s right for you.
Do you have free choice to go for any car on the scheme no matter the size of the AP or is the AP the most important factor for you.
Are you restricted to certain types of vehicle due to health reasons like an SUV or a van.
Do you only want diesel or petrol or an EV?
What are your must haves, irrespective of cost, such as ACC, reversing camera, electrically adjustable seats, automatic etc?
What about power/engine size/ 0-60 figures are they important?
And then what about looks, would you pay extra for a car you really like the look of.
The chances are the car you end up with will be a compromise, especially now with the reduced numbers on the scheme, but getting to that choice can be a bit of a struggle.
The only person who got all his work done by Friday was Robinson Crusoe.
Anything i post over three lines long please assume it is an article lol.
- Replies
I posted an April Fool, in which I said most Motability customers found the process stressful rather than exciting and I am wondering if there was actually a large degree of truth in that!
Fwippers second guessing yourself is an art form when picking a car ?
The only person who got all his work done by Friday was Robinson Crusoe.
Anything i post over three lines long please assume it is an article lol.
As you highlighted Brydo there are a myriad different reasons for choosing a particular vehicle. In my case it was man made climate change and pollution that for the first time influenced my choice.
I have relatives and friends who have children and grandchildren and I fear for their future. So I compromised on the size of the vehicle and in particular the boot so that I could get a BEV. I am very happy with my decision and am happily replacing my savings that went on the ap with the huge savings made on running costs.
it is stressful mainly due to the on again off again list of vehicles the poor search site etc etc.
it could be so much easier if the initial search was easier.
basically mine is automatic, easy to get in /out of, mainly suv although the i3 and mokka would do and apparently they are not an suv ,and as low an ap as poss.
Can I get in/out easily. Does it have the features I want (auto, cruise, parking sensors at the minimum) what other features does it have. Can I justify the price. That usually leaves me with a good few cars to choose from so after that I’ll go and check them out and see what I like best.
(I can see this thread turning into an argument pretty quickly)
There will be no argument here, there is simple choice of power: petrol, diesel, hybrid, PHEV and BEV. In the days of only petrol and diesel there were some people who would not touch one or the other, we have just expanded the choice that’s all. What used to drive my choice, before the WAV days, was the fear of buyers remorse.
Wmc. Those are the power options available, it is true, but people choose cars for other reasons. In some case, the motive power becomes the least consideration, surely?
the fuel choice is usually self fulfilling depending on your mileage etc, when i was doing a lot of miles diesel was the sensible option as the mileage has dropped its not a choice really. next time it will be between petrol and electric but again well down the list.
Covid is a limiting factor for many. The thought of visiting an array of dealerships is not a pleasant one.
<p style=”text-align: left;”>There’s no reason anyone should argue really, it’s an individual choice…</p>
(Oh no that’s it?)For me it’s seat height and comfort, heated and electric seats a must, big boot for regular long distance uk family holidays also needed as we don’t go abroad. Built in sat nav also a necessity.
Anything else is a bonus, prefer estate cars tbh.
Not making the switch to electric just yet but will do when boots are routinely bigger and range issues resolved, manchester to cornwall plus the driving in between IMO not doable in the current electric choice on the scheme, well not stress free anyway.
Please don’t anyone post how it could be done right now cos it’s not happening ??
Height of the car and if I can get in and out of it.
Size of the boot and if it will fit my wheelchair and mum’s scooter.
Electronic handbrake
Front/rear sensors and reversing camera (restricted neck movement)
Low to reasonable advance payment (the lower the better, anything over 1k is eek but possible if not too far over)
Non plug in.
Prefer diesel or (non plug in) hybrid as petrol is quite expensive to run but not a deal breaker.
0-60 or anything else like that I’m not fussed by. Electric adjustable seats, heated seats etc would be a very handy bonus but are not deal breakers nor on the have to have list. A hands free boot would be great but I’ve managed without (by not actually using the boot and just using the back seat) before – in the 3 years I had my 5008, I opened the boot once, discovered I couldn’t close it again and didn’t repeat the experience, others of course opened it every time they got my wheelchair out.
Oh and it has to be auto these days, forgot to say that ?
Sorry folks ??
Also in the 25 years I’ve been on the scheme I’ve never paid more than £2000 AP, this time round only £995 and I’ve always managed to get everything I was after across a wide range of makes and models although admittedly this time round that was deffo harder ?
Can I ask guys and girls to say which car you went for in the end, we went for a Volvo xc40 SUV.
An SUV as Mrs brydo couldne get in and out our previous car.
Heated seats are fantastic for her back, them being leather also help to slide her in and out and she loves the look of the car apart from those three the rest of it was down to me.
The only person who got all his work done by Friday was Robinson Crusoe.
Anything i post over three lines long please assume it is an article lol.I forgot the automatic bit too….
First car was a Peugeot 5008 with a £1400 advance payment
Current car is a Skoda Karoq which had a £695 (or £645, can’t remember) advance payment.
Due to order again as lease ends at the end of next month but nothing in budget that is suitable, so will be extending the lease.
countryman
was going for the base cooper classic as i was changing early and didnt expect any gcb etc and wouldnt get the veterans auto grant. but then they said they had changed the rules so i got a prorata gcb and a prorata refund on the ap and the local mini dealer did a £500 towards the ap so was able to get the cooper s exclusive wth the comfort nav pack and all it cost me was about £50. so was well pleased.
Looks are important to me. If I’m going to ‘own’ it for 3 years – I want it to put a smile on my face every time I walk up to it. Same goes for the colour. I honestly don’t think there is a better looking small car on the market currently than the Peugeot 208 GT – and in metallic Faro Yellow – which is what I’m currently driving.
The car has all the kit I could ever need – including heated alcantara sports seats, a terrific 8-speed auto box (with paddle shifters), as well as Peugeot’s brilliant iCockpit. MPG is good too. I actually swoon over it every time I walk up to it and the doors & mirrors unlock automatically! It’s not too low, it’s so comfortable to drive, it’s great fun (especially in Sports Mode), and at the end of the day, the car is everything I could want – and more.
I’ve had it just over 3-months and put 2,700 miles on the clock… each and every one of them with a big grin on my face lol.
This time round I’ve gone back to Ford – focus active x crossover estate 1.5 diesel, good middle ground not as high as an SUV but higher than standard focus estate, £995. Bargain I think for a good looking practical car with tons of standard kit even a full panoramic sunroof which I’ve never had before ?.
Not bothered one bit to be returning the X1, the suitability of the car is key to me, sometimes a ‘premium’ brand hits the spot every 3 years depending on what’s available, sometimes it doesn’t, I think flexibility is important ?
But not physically cos I’m very inflexible and generally physically knackered ?
I tried out the Focus active x crossover in the hope it would be OK for me…it was (yet) another rescue from a car in a dealership affair lol.
6 points to consider:
AP is the clincher.
‘Suitable’ and ‘Beautiful’ come in at 2 and 3.
4 – Power! (Muwa-ha-ha-ha-ha . . . )
5 – It has to be manual drive, and
6 – preferably petrol, but my first car was a diesel so it’s not a Deal Breaker.
£1000 on AP price if I could’ve done without it, would’ve saved me a grand..
That’s a great point @ajn
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.