[tooldtocare]

Let’s be honest – yes I have been a petrolhead all of my life.

At 77 my current car is a Mazda cx5 Homura on Motability. Lovely car in all ways. Yes I am a little spoilt in that since passing my test in 1966 I have always owned privately high performance luxury cars – BMW. Alfa, Mercedes, Ford Scorpio Cosworth, Porsche etc etc up until 3 years ago.

I don’t expect Motability to offer that level of car but I can’t see why they can’t offer something that goes some way to being able to spoil us a little especially with power and comfort if we are prepared to pay for it with a higher AP?

Point to make I will NOT have an electric car! Hybrid maybe

I’m looking to sign up for my second Motability car within the next few weeks and have been trawling the garages to see what is currently on offer. I had a look at the Ford Kuga 2.5 and I wondered how many plastic milk bottles make up the interior. It was plastic everywhere.

Had a look at the two Honda SUV’s which to me looked like they were developed with the help of Ikea – the rear seat base featured two-fold out metal tubes which reminded me of the old-style camping beds.

As for the Renault SUV’s when you closed the doors the car shaked!

Then moving onto the ‘Chinese’ imports most of them don’t even have the facility to use the mobile phone hands free using Bluetooth

The worst range of vehicles came from Vauxhall. The powerplant is just the same as my old father’s 1972 Viva.

Is it that us disabled should have to accept shoddy vehicles because we are disabled?

All I can say is that I am thankful that I am now coming close to the end of my driving life.

Topic

[wmcforum]

Great first post. You will fit in perfectly here!

[kezo]

Lovong it😂

However, the general consensus from those outside the scheme is we should all be driving ministry blue invalid carriages along with Rach from accounts overseeing the removal of anything premium, along with coupe’s and the Daily Mail’s hatred towards the scheme around a decade and half ago has all but took the fun out of the scheme.

An insult to the Vauxhall Viva to, cus theres nothing Vauxhall anymore, other than by name😂

[Gazamb]

It’s because motability has a max price point of about £45,000.

”Luxury” brands have been removed due to political pressure. They were always only a couple of the cheapest base models anyway.

If you want more luxurious vehicles, you always have the option to use the pip money to lease elsewhere, or finance a used car.

[tooldtocare]

‘Luxury’ isn’t what I am actually looking for. Luxury to me is a Bentley or Aston.

What I would like is to find a car that is finished off inside properly not like the Ford with simple hard plastic everywhere you look.

The nearest to my requirements is the Hyundai Tucson Ultimate 4WD. Unfortunately, what I read about that car is that it is loaded with far too much irritating tech – I don’t understand it too well,

 

• This reply was modified 3 weeks, 4 days ago by tooldtocare.

[kezo]

Gazamb wrote:

”Luxury” brands have been removed due to political pressure

I think you are mixing up premium and luxury lol.

[MFillingham]

Welcome to the forum, although sometimes it does feel like a grumpy old man’s club.

 

The daily mail class have again successfully managed to make being disabled and in need of reliable transport a policy of what can only be described as envy.  We’re not allowed BMWs or anything they might like to have but can’t be bothered to pay for.

There are some interesting cars around but not many and increasingly fewer, almost as if one part of Motability can’t find out about them or they’ll be gone.  The current ‘hottest’ ticket seems to be the Mini JCW.

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

[BigDave]

tooldtocare wrote:

Let’s be honest – yes I have been a petrolhead all of my life. At 77 my current car is a Mazda cx5 Homura on Motability. Lovely car in all ways. Yes I am a little spoilt in that since passing my test in 1966 I have always owned privately high performance luxury cars – BMW. Alfa, Mercedes, Ford Scorpio Cosworth, Porsche etc etc up until 3 years ago. I don’t expect Motability to offer that level of car but I can’t see why they can’t offer something that goes some way to being able to spoil us a little especially with power and comfort if we are prepared to pay for it with a higher AP? Point to make I will NOT have an electric car! Hybrid maybe I’m looking to sign up for my second Motability car within the next few weeks and have been trawling the garages to see what is currently on offer. I had a look at the Ford Kuga 2.5 and I wondered how many plastic milk bottles make up the interior. It was plastic everywhere. Had a look at the two Honda SUV’s which to me looked like they were developed with the help of Ikea – the rear seat base featured two-fold out metal tubes which reminded me of the old-style camping beds. As for the Renault SUV’s when you closed the doors the car shaked! Then moving onto the ‘Chinese’ imports most of them don’t even have the facility to use the mobile phone hands free using Bluetooth The worst range of vehicles came from Vauxhall. The powerplant is just the same as my old father’s 1972 Viva. Is it that us disabled should have to accept shoddy vehicles because we are disabled? All I can say is that I am thankful that I am now coming close to the end of my driving life.

Have you not kept abreast of what has been going on  with the Motability scheme, both politically and in the media over the past six months or so?

Premium vehicles (i.e. Audi, BMW, Mercedes, Alfa Romeo  & Lexus) were pulled from the scheme in late November 2025 along with coupes and convertibles.

The scheme is a hollowed out shell of its former self. For example back in the late ‘noughties’ over 4000 vehicles were offered on the scheme  (as of today, less than 800 are offered).

The lack of choice of vehicles  is part of the reason some people hereabouts are thinking of leaving the scheme. Personally, I left the scheme a few years ago as it did not offer what I wanted.

It is not that scary ‘off-piste’ and your posted list of previous vehicles shows you have ‘ploughed your own furrow ‘ in the past.

You say you are in the ‘twilight’ of your driving life. Providing you have the necessary wherewithal, do you want a vehicle that will put a smile on your face for a final time, or accept your perceived dull mediocrity of the scheme?

[Mack2024]

Welcome to the forum

I certainly agree, the choice should be more plentiful, but they don’t have any say in what’s available, it’s what the manufacturer wants to offer them for the scheme I got told.

 

But as for the “Chinese” cars not being able to connect phone via Bluetooth, that information is wrong as they all have Wireless Android Auto and Wireless Apple Carplay as standard

And some have descent HP ( BYD Seal U DM-i Design is over 300bhp )

It’s a pity the Omoda 9 wasn’t put on the scheme as that’s over 400bhp.

I'm blunt and straight to the point and I make no apologies for it!
Bipolar, OCD and a multitude of other MH issues and physical disabilities

[Woodpecker]

Well, that would do the scheme a lot of good press, Motability giving a 77 year old a car with excessive horsepower and dodgy eyesight and reactions.

Am sure that would float well with the Daily Mail.

We all had brilliant and exotic cars when we were younger, they were death traps, but at that age you were oblivious to the dangers.

Its getting to the stage now, where over 70’s will practically have to resit a driving test every 3 years.

As for your perceived treatment, that is from your perspective, if you let them do that to you.

If you are not happy with their service, ask to see the manager.

[Spyder]

Welcome my friend.

 

My advice is look at the emerging Chinese brands again- all bar none will offer bluetooth handsfree calling (you’re mistaken) and they have some of the most plush and best finished vehicles even if their safety systems are a bit over-zealous.

 

 

[Bowly101]

The Volvo XC40 is a great car and very well presented and put together. I’ve had many Volvo’s, including an XC40 through the scheme, and it was a lovely car. I know it’s Chinese owned but you’d never guess by the design!

[jojo22]

tooldtocare wrote:

The worst range of vehicles came from Vauxhall. The powerplant is just the same as my old father’s 1972 Viva.

Seems you over exaggerate your claims imo

I drove many of your mentioned vehicles and it wasnt all roses

We are very lucky to be offered some of the best cars out there

Perhaps a classic car auction may suit you better

 

 

 

 

[72 dudes]

@jojo22.

I think you missed the tongue in cheek bit.

Having said that the 1256cc engine in the old Viva was a weak wheezy old thing and is definitely not the basis of any modern engine!

In 1978 my then girlfriend’s mother had one and it struggled to get up Greenhow Hill in “Noth Yocksher” without dropping to second gear.

Even my elderly Austin 1100 could just about manage it in third.

2024 - BMW i4 Grand Coupe eDrive 35 Sport
2020 - Volvo XC40 T4 Inscription
2017 - Audi Q3 TFSi Sport S-Tronic

[kezo]

72 dudes wrote:

@jojo22. I think you missed the tongue in cheek bit. Having said that the 1256cc engine in the old Viva was a weak wheezy old thing and is definitely not the basis of any modern engine! In 1978 my then girlfriend’s mother had one and it struggled to get up Greenhow Hill in “Noth Yocksher” without dropping to second gear. Even my elderly Austin 1100 could just about manage it in third.

Dad had a 1976 2.3l Laydon (lime) green? Viva Magnum, with the twin round headlights each side and the 6/7 dials rather than the the standard elongnated speedo. I fondly remember my mum loving the colour, as it matched the bathroom😂

How times have changed! – and of caurse Vauxhall is now a 3cyl Stellantis:-)

[Mike 700]

It really does not make too much sense financially, but it makes a lot of sense politically?

As long as Motability has sufficient funding in place, and the power to negotiate a purchase at the right price, and it makes a surplus on each car leased, then it does not make much sense to limit vehicle availability, nor have a low price cap?

In fact, the more luxurious, and / or well equipped, the higher the potential for a greater profit I guess ?

Being disabled does not mean being poor, being old , being unable to live a life you want – being disabled reflects the whole of Society so why shouldn’t car choice be the same – as long as it is not costing the rest of us” and as long as those who need assistance are provided with it!

If , however, you are a politician or news reporter, your interest lies in getting as many poor gullible souls to either vote for you or buy your newspaper – truth is immaterial , jealousy is promoted and the disabled , well they are-not your concern?

 

[kezo]

Mike 700 wrote:

It really does not make too much sense financially, but it makes a lot of sense politically? As long as Motability has sufficient funding in place, and the power to negotiate a purchase at the right price, and it makes a surplus on each car leased, then it does not make much sense to limit vehicle availability, nor have a low price cap? In fact, the more luxurious, and / or well equipped, the higher the potential for a greater profit I guess ? Being disabled does not mean being poor, being old , being unable to live a life you want – being disabled reflects the whole of Society so why shouldn’t car choice be the same – as long as it is not costing the rest of us” and as long as those who need assistance are provided with it! If , however, you are a politician or news reporter, your interest lies in getting as many poor gullible souls to either vote for you or buy your newspaper – truth is immaterial , jealousy is promoted and the disabled , well they are-not your concern?

Perfectly put Mike 🙂

[Fastbike1000]

Well said.

[Author]

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