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Here’s the starting point for me deciding what my next car will be. I’ve some set criteria:
Electric – if you don’t like them, good for you but this will be my 4th, I’m not going back now.
Comfortable seats – Both myself and my wife have spinal issues, sitting on the wrong chairs can be incredibly painful and rather quickly too. I’d hate to have a car that I can only drive locally because after half an hour I can’t actually get out of the damn thing. Heating and Cooling seats would be good, heated is essential though, it’s amazing how that can help the back.
Electric tailgate – again with the back issues, stretching up to pull a boot door down, especially if the gas struts put up some resistance, is a problem.
HUD – I’ve gotten used to it now, I can’t remember the last time I looked at the dash to see how fast I’m going.
Wireless Apple Carplay – Pretty much all I listen to is on the phone, it’s either music or audio books but I rarely listen to the radio as it’s usually crap down here.
As you can imagine the current selection is rather lengthy. I’ve barely began whittling them down so here we go, in no particular order:
Ioniq 5
Enyaq
Elroq
Capri (I know but it’s not a bad car)
Grandland
Scenic
Mach E
Ariya
Budget depends on just how much I can save, which means it won’t be excessive, so that will drop a lot off the list. Currently to replace what I have, thanks to the model changes, would cost something around £6.5k, which isn’t happening. If I could save that in 3 years, I’d be much richer than I am in reality.
Front runners based on budget and equipment are either of the Skodas and the Scenic at the moment. I don’t care about the Elroq dropping off the scheme next quarter, it’ll be back before it matters to me. I’m still hoping the EV3 comes onto scheme and sticks around, that’d be a nice option, although I expect KIA pricing will put it higher than the Fords.
I’ve learnt some lessons from my last search, so the infamous spreadsheet is being updated each quarter, with a new tab holding the new quarter’s pricing and leaving previous quarters for reference. I’m hoping this may provide some interesting insights once the car is chosen, looking at where prices and models have come/gone.
I’ll update as I start to whittle out some options and as new quarters add a new perspective on the search. If there’s anything anyone wishes to add, I’m always open to opinions.
I'm Autistic, if I say something you find offensive, please let me know, I can guarantee it was unintentional.
I'll try to give my honest opinion but am always open to learning.Mark
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Just wondering if you’d considered the MINI Countryman Monochrome, currently £0 AP
To be fair, I’ve never thought a Mini would be big enough for us. One unfortunate thing with being autistic is I have a real issue with things being hit by my elbows when driving, I tend to have cars with some space just to avoid the niggle that could build up on a longer journey. I’m old enough to remember driving the original mini in the 80s, complete with rusted out flooring and extra ventilation in the rear, I know they’re bigger but I’ve no idea just how much bigger they feel inside.
Cant argue with the value though.
I'm Autistic, if I say something you find offensive, please let me know, I can guarantee it was unintentional.
I'll try to give my honest opinion but am always open to learning.Mark
Lol yep I’m in my 50’s and remember them well, the back windows only opened about an inch
These are so much bigger and the boot in this one seems decent, it also has heated electric seats and a hud, might be worth having a look, not sure where you are but the dealership in Boldon are really good in the North East, I’m hoping it stays this price until the end of the year
I’m just about as far as I could possibly get, Cornwall😁
I’ll find our dealer and see if they’ve the space I need. They’re well equipped, I can’t ignore that, especially at that AP. Unfortunately, I very much doubt they’re sticking at that for the year.
I'm Autistic, if I say something you find offensive, please let me know, I can guarantee it was unintentional.
I'll try to give my honest opinion but am always open to learning.Mark
The Elroq would tick all your boxes – unfortunately does not appear to be back on the scheme yet – but a word of caution – I have the 85 sportline with the maxx – ordered second quarter – got it end of July – lovely car, but the sportline suspension would be no good for you – holds the road brilliantly for it’s weight, but you will feel the bumps – so edition or the added suspension pack.
The only extras I have ever bought are carpets and that was at least 4 cars back.
My understanding is the Enyaq and Elroq are very similar ie share the same wheel base – the Elroq just more chopped off at boot – but if you go sportline do make sure you test that model – when I test drove it was the edition – so the harshness of the sportline suspension was a surprise – for most roads it is fine, but local potholes and low drain covers where roads have been retarmaced you will definitely feel – good luck with your search – is it this quarter you swop?
I’ve been watching this thread from afar for a little while as we are to renew at the same time.
We are now able to order a replacement for our Hyundai Kona Ultimate Ev.
Kona has been ok, fairly reliable apart from 12v battery failure. Its quite cheaply built and noisy on motorways tho.
We have decided to leave tho as there are better deals for us on my works scheme, looked at a Mercedes EQA yesterday, felt much more premium but didn’t have all the toys the Kona has.
@Tillyman the Elroq was on the list but left the scheme. However, its place remains should it return. Thanks for the advice re suspension, it’s good to know.
@Rugbyleague that’s the problem with Mercedes, a relatively basic equipment list but lots you can pay more for. The decision is whether you want that better build over the toys.Here’s what bugs me though (getting at nobody in particular) the Motability scheme is painted as people not working getting a car either for free or heavily subsidised, yet it’s perfectly acceptable for working people to get up to 45% subsidy on their car just because they want a better car than they can afford. I struggle to think why it’s unaffordable to have disabled people getting a car with a benefit they’d still get while giving a CEO or banker 45% of his monthly payments on the Porsche or Maserati? Why can earning a quarter of a million a year and getting government assistance with buying your car be right? It’s not like they couldn’t afford one anyway.
I'm Autistic, if I say something you find offensive, please let me know, I can guarantee it was unintentional.
I'll try to give my honest opinion but am always open to learning.Mark
@MFillingham Careful now, you’ll have the hate crime police after you for not supporting these unfortunate over-earners having to struggle with only a 45% subsidy 🙂
Please excuse spelling/typos. Apart from being a clot it turns out I had one on my cerebellum that's now causing various problems!
@MFillingham Careful now, you’ll have the hate crime police after you for not supporting these unfortunate over-earners having to struggle with only a 45% subsidy
😂😂😂
I read an article the other day that people were struggling on £60,000pa. I think struggling on that just indicates a terrible attitude to spending. I know when I was a child we survived on one income, mind you we had one car and very few luxuries. That said we ate proper meals every day and had a holiday and presents for birthdays/Christmas.
Now there’s 2 cars, several tvs, subscription for streaming, gaming and Sky, mobile phones for everyone and the kitchen looks like a technology shop. Maybe that’s why people struggle.
I'm Autistic, if I say something you find offensive, please let me know, I can guarantee it was unintentional.
I'll try to give my honest opinion but am always open to learning.Mark
Why shouldn’t the high earners be entitled to allowances? Especially when they contribute more than you or I?
Why shouldn’t the high earners be entitled to allowances? Especially when they contribute more than you or I?
In a perfect economy, there’s nothing wrong with encouraging higher value sales and, maybe, getting a quicker turnover through shorter leases. However, our economy is far from perfect, with income poor due to years of reduced or negligible growth, plus expenditure running out of control to the point where welfare becomes a huge issue. In that landscape, using government money that could go to social care or health or just about any underfunded department doesn’t generate enough return for the cost. I’d be very interested to see how many are now benefiting from the salary sacrifice scheme that allows leasing cars, I’d be surprised if it wasn’t either as many or more than Motability all with 20% or more coming from government money, with many at 40% providing more financial outlay than the Scheme attracts. It’s not just about the CEO with the supercar but middle management spending more on cars that were £30-40k but are now over £50k as prices are eternally inflated.
I'm Autistic, if I say something you find offensive, please let me know, I can guarantee it was unintentional.
I'll try to give my honest opinion but am always open to learning.Mark
Have you got evidence to say salary sacrifice schemes don’t wash their faces financially?
I would suggest that they do (or they wouldn’t exist). Yes they are government supported however individuals involved contribute significantly more.
Isn’t Motability completely government funded?
Have you got evidence to say salary sacrifice schemes don’t wash their faces financially? I would suggest that they do (or they wouldn’t exist). Yes they are government supported however individuals involved contribute significantly more.
Isn’t Motability completely government funded?
No Motability isn’t completely funded by the government.
Motability Operations is a not-for-profit private limited company.
Motability Foundation is a charitable organisation.Motability Operations supply fleet vehicles, where the monthly lease is paid for by the mobility part of the persons disability benefit, paid for by the DWP, thus the government.
Advanced Payments are privately funded by the individual or the Motability Foundation.Motability Operations profits are put back into Motability Operations and the Foundation.
The Motability Foundation is responsible for providing grants to help with APs.
So the government does not own Motability, run the scheme, set car prices or directly fund vehicles.
Hence, why I brought up months ago, if you let the government control what Motability Operations LTD can do. Then that sets the president that the government can overreach into the running of other private companies. So what’s stopping them with interfering with the company car schemes?
I have ASD and thus have difficulty with social and understanding information, written and verbal. I process information in logical blocks, before I reply. Sometimes I'm right and sometimes I'm wrong.
I also have a corneal visual condition, which makes me visually impaired without daytime, or daytime bulbs, among other disabilities/conditions.Government funding of Motability depends on how you look at the enhanced PIP payment. On one hand, it’s a government expenditure for people who qualify, which also qualifies that person to Motability. That payment would be made for as long as the recipient qualifies, regardless of whether they drive or are driven in a Motability vehicle. As such many argue it’s not to be counted as government funding of the car.
The other argument is that this payment plus tax reliefs all come from the government coffers as could the AP if the recipient only has benefits as income. That’s clearer to see as government funding.
However, the argument then goes as to how much of a civil servant’s car is government funded if they earn from the government purse? If you follow that once you’ve been paid the money it’s yours, the same goes for PIP, does it not?
If you subscribe to the “Free Cars” then income from government coffers counts as government funding, whether it’s given as entitled benefits or earned salaries.
I'm Autistic, if I say something you find offensive, please let me know, I can guarantee it was unintentional.
I'll try to give my honest opinion but am always open to learning.Mark
Thats an interesting set of points you make however surely Motability only exists because of Government funding? Ie if there were no payments there would be no need for Motability?
Salary sacrifice schemes are offered to employees as part of their employment offer and are delivered from company profits.
I do not think one can be compared to another, they exist for different reasons.
Thats an interesting set of points you make however surely Motability only exists because of Government funding? Ie if there were no payments there would be no need for Motability? Salary sacrifice schemes are offered to employees as part of their employment offer and are delivered from company profits. I do not think one can be compared to another, they exist for different reasons.
I don’t want to get overly financial as I’ve a tendency to go full accountant without realising.
Motability was put together by banks, there should always be funding to support those who incur extra expenses and inconvenience in getting around due to disability.
I hate to break it to you but a salary sacrifice scheme has nothing to do with the finances of the company. It’s a benefit offered by finance companies making use of the company’s ability to retain people. A finance company won’t look favourably at a company with a high staff turnover. Yes the employee perceives a benefit from employment and might look at the offer as an advantage over another job that doesn’t offer it, although the number of suitably sized companies not offering it are diminishing. It’s not something the company has any financial input other than the staff time administering the scheme and dealing with the payroll implications. A large company offering salary sacrifice schemes for, say, cars, bicycles and tech, could have a dedicated member of the payroll team working the scheme, that’s all the company pays for.
I'm Autistic, if I say something you find offensive, please let me know, I can guarantee it was unintentional.
I'll try to give my honest opinion but am always open to learning.Mark
Wife has an Ioniq 5 Ultimate RWD 2024 and personally after 22 months I don’t enjoy driving it. Much prefer German car manufacturers / Tesla build & interiors. Have had problems with blockages in battery coolant lines in hot weather leading to no A/C and battery overheating, car showing errors and faults. Hyundai dealer could not diagnose fault until I done some online research and suggested technician to check the battery coolant lines as someone in America had this problem. The faults would clear after a while and obviously when he plugged in computer it said there was no fault, but the blue link app would show that there was a fault in the battery system. Service agent stated Hyundai didn’t actually run the app and it was by a third party who did. Whether that is true I haven’t looked into it. Not encouraging. Recalls for iccu and 12v to be replaced. Charge flap replaced due to being warped from factory. Tyre sealant kit under boot floor had burst from factory, ipedal system is very poor, not real 1 foot driving in my wife’s car anyways. Wired apple carplay is poor / dated. Hyundai infotainment is laggy and poor, having to press accept/ok every time you enter the car is tedious. Having to turn off lane warning every time you want to drive, ipedal disengaging every time you change drive mode, again annoying. RWD is very skittish in any moisture, even with Michelins & Pirelli’s on. Suspension is too soft for my liking, N line would be stiffer which is needed in my opinion. Bose sound system is terrible, had multiple cars with Bose, Harmon Kardon, B&O, Logic 7 and this is by far the worst. Bluelink app remote services is laggy and the scheduled climate only works if the car is plugged in, which you don’t want to plug in every night and we have 2 EVs so rotate who requires charger. Just don’t think the car lives up to its 50k RRP. We will be moving on from Hyundai Feb 2027. Just giving some opinions, some peoples car has been fine and yeah it’s ‘nice and new’ but even without the faults and recalls I still wouldn’t recommend it as the APs are not cheap. Thought we would try Hyundai from watching & reading reviews. Had worse, had better.
Thats an interesting set of points you make however surely Motability only exists because of Government funding? Ie if there were no payments there would be no need for Motability? Salary sacrifice schemes are offered to employees as part of their employment offer and are delivered from company profits. I do not think one can be compared to another, they exist for different reasons.I don’t want to get overly financial as I’ve a tendency to go full accountant without realising. Motability was put together by banks, there should always be funding to support those who incur extra expenses and inconvenience in getting around due to disability. I hate to break it to you but a salary sacrifice scheme has nothing to do with the finances of the company. It’s a benefit offered by finance companies making use of the company’s ability to retain people. A finance company won’t look favourably at a company with a high staff turnover. Yes the employee perceives a benefit from employment and might look at the offer as an advantage over another job that doesn’t offer it, although the number of suitably sized companies not offering it are diminishing. It’s not something the company has any financial input other than the staff time administering the scheme and dealing with the payroll implications. A large company offering salary sacrifice schemes for, say, cars, bicycles and tech, could have a dedicated member of the payroll team working the scheme, that’s all the company pays for.
Sorry you are not correct on Salary Sacrifice schemes
Salary sacrifice schemes exist to maintain/attract staff to companies to make the companies profitable. The company chooses whether they want to offer it. The company I work for has a large team delivering salary sacrifice. It is purely an employee/employer benefit. It is absolutely a companies choice whether they offer it or not.
Google Gemini explains it better than I
Here is the value of the scheme from the employer’s perspective:
1. Significant National Insurance (NI) Savings
This is the primary financial benefit. Employers pay Class 1 National Insurance Contributions on the salaries they pay to staff.The Logic: When an employee “sacrifices” £500 of their gross salary, the employer no longer has to pay NI on that £500.
The Math: With employer NI rates set at 15.0% (from April 2025), a company can save roughly £900 per year for every employee sacrificing £500 a month.
Reinvestment: Many companies use these savings to offset the cost of administering the scheme, making it entirely free to run.
2. Boosts Recruitment and Retention
In a competitive job market, high-value benefits are a differentiator.Retention: Because the lease is tied to the employment contract, employees are statistically more likely to stay with the company for the duration of the 3- or 4-year term.
Recruitment: Offering a “company car” benefit to the entire workforce—not just senior management—makes your job offers much more attractive to candidates.
Modern Perk: Research suggests that Gen Z and Millennial workers specifically value sustainable, forward-thinking benefits like EV schemes over traditional corporate perks.
3. Strengthening ESG and Net Zero Goals
Many companies now have strict Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) targets.Scope 3 Emissions: Employee commuting is often a huge part of a company’s carbon footprint. By moving staff from older petrol/diesel cars into EVs, the business can report a measurable reduction in its “Scope 3” emissions.
Corporate Image: It signals to clients, investors, and the public that the company is serious about sustainability.
4. Reduced Risk and Admin (with the right provider)
Modern salary sacrifice providers (like Octopus EV, Zenith, or Tusker) handle the “heavy lifting,” which includes:All-inclusive Management: They manage the insurance, maintenance, and breakdown cover, so the HR team doesn’t have to.
Lifestyle Protections: Providers often include “protection” for the employer if an employee leaves, goes on maternity leave, or is made redundant, so the company isn’t left paying for an empty car.
Grey Fleet Risk: It reduces the “Grey Fleet” risk—the legal liability an employer has when staff drive their own (potentially unmaintained or uninsured) personal cars for business trips.Had a look at the Countryman today, it’s not big enough. I don’t have enough space to be comfortable and the back didn’t pass the Mrs’ test either.
It’s going to be a long year, all this upheaval around VAT and scheme use changes just isn’t sitting well with an autistic and disabled adult.
I'm Autistic, if I say something you find offensive, please let me know, I can guarantee it was unintentional.
I'll try to give my honest opinion but am always open to learning.Mark
Much prefer German car manufacturers / Tesla build & interiors.
Tesla build quality is often critised and its interiors pair well with the Nothing smartphone 😂
Had a look at the Countryman today, it’s not big enough. I don’t have enough space to be comfortable and the back didn’t pass the Mrs’ test eithe
Its looks bigger than is, which I found when looking at the Countryman JCW
Have MG IM gone off the boil?
MG IM would be on the list but with everything going on with the Scheme, I doubt it’ll join the scheme unless corporate leasing fails.
At the moment if I didn’t have to worry about APs it’d be the EV5 GT Line but we’ll never be in that position.
As it is, the options still remain at finding something on the scheme that’s useful and affordable or looking for something more suitable at 2-3 years old and buying outright.
I'm Autistic, if I say something you find offensive, please let me know, I can guarantee it was unintentional.
I'll try to give my honest opinion but am always open to learning.Mark
Salary sacrifice schemes are offered to employees as part of their employment offer and are delivered from company profits.
Can you explain why you think salary sacrifice schemes are delivered from company profits, as that certainly is not the case?
MG IM would be on the list but with everything going on with the Scheme, I doubt it’ll join the scheme unless corporate leasing fails. At the moment if I didn’t have to worry about APs it’d be the EV5 GT Line but we’ll never be in that position. As it is, the options still remain at finding something on the scheme that’s useful and affordable or looking for something more suitable at 2-3 years old and buying outright.
MG have come on leaps and bounds since you last owned one, how about the S5 (just a shame it didn’t have a bigger battery and I thought the S6 was also available).
Alternative, is to look away from the scheme and not get hit with £700 VAT on a £3.5k car ontop of ever increasing sacrified benefits?
Salary sacrifice schemes are offered to employees as part of their employment offer and are delivered from company profits.
Can you explain why you think salary sacrifice schemes are delivered from company profits, as that certainly is not the case?
Sorry poor choice of words on my side. It should have read salary sacrifice schemes could be used to increase company profits via staff retention, reduction of NI costs etc.
The s6 would definitely be worth a look, I’m surprised it’s not already available. The Trophy is both well equipped and spacious, it’ll be the biggest boot on the scheme in anything that doesn’t look like a van.
Given MGs tendency to discount, I’m sure it’ll be a decent AP unless Motability prepares for a low sales value.
I'm Autistic, if I say something you find offensive, please let me know, I can guarantee it was unintentional.
I'll try to give my honest opinion but am always open to learning.Mark
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