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I have a Renault austral but it’s AP is high but very comfy seats sbd ergonomics – I was a big lad when I got it but lost weight since – I still need a bigger suv for access etc… there’s some great deals on theMG HS which is a big mid size SUV , very Cindy, drives well, good economy with hybrid & a few dealers in midlands doing £0 AP this quarter . Also the Chery 7 is very conftv big seats & drives well – I test drive both recently & loved them but I’ll be ordering the MG HS , as I can’t afford an AP and the £0 AP from a dealer is worth the 3 he drive each way order in a few days – there’s a dealer doing great offer on the Chery Tiggo 7
good luck
Personally , I feel with the current , ever changing political landscape , that the ‘proposed changes’ will indeed come into force on 2st July but I think they’ll be a light touch implementation in this coming quarter , as they’ll want to test the waters , particularly as there’s be a lack of clarity or indeed engagement.
i doubt the chargers will be drastic , as the potential for people to exit the scheme is a reality & risk, nevernind knock on effect to dealerships sales targets etc….
Although I’ve been in the position to change since the end of April , I’m holding out that the new chery Tiggo 4 will join the scheme in coming weeks & although I’ll loose out because of the mileage / vat etc… changes , I’d rather get the right car for my needs. Plus’s it’s retail price is between £19995-21995, so even with vat I’m expecting a nil / low AP🤞🤞🤞
interesting, concerning times ahead – a million miles from when I first joined the scheme in 1997
good luck one and all
i think i’ve seen every youtube, tiktok, insta review & motoring press article on the Omoda 9 in recent months.
I think it’s a fantastic car with some amazing tech, space, quality and fantastic specification. Whilst the RRP pricepoint i feel when it comes onto the scheme the AP will be high for sure – probably £4-6k imho. I feel the AP may going down, if pitched too high initially and / or some Omoda dealerships will incentivise with AP reductions / discounts (as what happened with the smaller cheaper Omoda 5 & sister Jaecoo 7).
My next lease – my first choice is the Peugeot 3008 GT hybrid (i’ll be travelling 250 miles for the best service and discounts to Tim Scott at Barnsley Peugeot – unless the Omoda 9 is a realistic AP when the time comes.
As others have said when new models come on the scheme, it can be an easy win to get them on the road & visible through the scheme – moreso if new entrants in the UK market for a brand.
Only time will tell 🙂
you are right and tbh they lowered the AP’s on the sister brand Omoda, so i expect the AP may come down in the next quarter. I love the PHEV version too, i think i’ve read every review, saw every youtube etc…. on it – but i don’t change aain til next year & it’ll be on my shortlist
It will face a number of hurdles, as well as have to change some legislation in due course, which will take time, consultation, various readings in parliament and the lords. So any big changes, al conjecture at the moment, will not really come into force until 26/27 financial year.
I am on UC and just the mobility element of PIP, which obv i have my car, for which i’m grateful and makes a massive difference in my life.
As usual the words, rhetoric and media sensationalisation is to demonise and cast negative perspectives on the most vulnerable and disabled in society, an easy target.
No system it perfect and every system is open to misuse & fraud but the vast majority of people claiming UC or DLA/PIP are absolutely genuine, honest and need it. No disabled person, is deliberately disabled and the welfare system is meant to be there to protect and support us.
I think there will be understandably a call for everyone to report any change of circumstance, which has always been the case.
In terms of freezing benefit levels, they are now in the public domain for 25/26, all showing an uplift, including PIP.
I cannot see how they would ‘means test’ PIP, it’d not just have a huge impact on claimants – say for the sake of argument – PIP was means tested say based on a cut off of a income of £50k and / or having savings over £16k – it would have a huge impact, I’ve no idea the number of PIP claimants earning £50k plus or savings more than £16k, but I’d make an educated guess they’d be a high number.
The gov can’t risk putting the scheme in danger, with almost 850.000 leases on the Motability scheme alone, any drastic cuts, lowering or revoking claimants PIP, would put a number of dealerships at risk, would impact on cars sales (which includes leases/pcps etc..) and serious damage the motor manufacturing sector too. More importantly the personal, therapeutic and freedom aspects of having a lease on the scheme.
I’ve no idea the split of people on the scheme who are purely surviving on benefits like UC and those who don’t due to level of salary in work or other income / savings. Anyone know?
I stopped working 4 years ago, due to other health conditions and commodities, over and above my main disability. I’m in my 50’s never had a private pension, i have no savings / nor assets (just debt), i rent my accommodation. I receive the basic UC and LCWRA and PIP mobility component high (covers my car).
I just survive tbh, watching every penny, and with the impact of cost of living, l definitely have a limited quality of life and rely on the benefits i do recieve. I worked for 35 years, paid hundreds of thousands in tax, and became disabled at 27 years old.
I’m hoping there will be clarity from gov in the coming weeks & months on exactly what they intend to do & a lot less scare mongering in the media and especially social media
i use the imo car wash local branch – an advance bundle (£72 for 12 medium triple wash programme) – no damage to paint work etc… and i’ve used them for years on most recent leases tbh
Back in the day a delwarship would wash and vacum after a service, but not happened in the last few years.
Definitely, as always, for the right deal i’d travel and it’s great to see some, one, dealers over free hotel for those travelling large distances (over 100 miles).
For my current car i travelled over 100 miles and previous one, i travelled from East coast to Wales twice for the deal.
I’ve 17 months left on my current lease and will, as always, do my extensive research – long list / short list / final 3. And look at the every deal at the time available available everywhere, but none of the dealers in my county, come close to the mark & one large national dealership group i avoid at all costs (from my experience over many years of dealership groups & I’ve been a Motability customer 28 years, last 24 in my county).
There are almost no deals in my county and varying levels of customer service, CRM and knowledge – i personally feel the ‘scheme accreditation’ needs to be more robust.
I’ve found well run dealerships, staff and schemes elsewhere though, in other counties / regions.
Obviously, there’s more and more heavy discounting , incentives and stock for full electric cars on the scheme. partly as there’s a slow down in the private / wider leasing EV market, residuals are tanking, slow infrastructure roll out (plus many can’t have home chargers) and the increase in investment and strategic development of hydrogen cars. The pressure from government, and the big banks that invest in the scheme, for the electric agenda is huge, hence the high number of electric cars on / coming onto the scheme – helps the gov with their numbers.
But respect & thanks, to the dealers who aren’t just discounting electric and / or incentivising Motability customers.
i like the look of the J7 but not the AP’s but will be interesting to see what others they bring to the UK / EU territory as already well established in Africa, middle east and Asia markets, The J8 looks even better and will be coming t o the UK market later this year, so may make it on the scheme too. As it’ll push hard to establish the brand here, the scheme gives big established foreign manufacturers a springboard into the UK territory. There’s been mixed reviews but mostly good. ‘the common mans velar’, but like all manufacterers, some blips with on board tech and apps (usually ironed out in software / firmware updates). It’ll be interesting to see how this and co-brand, Omoda, get on.
Omoda have very strong social media presence & now good discounts in the retail market & in recent weeks on motability AP reductions too, if i were changing soon it’d tempt me excepty for the mpg on the petrol version of the Omoda 5. Thankfully mild and full hybrids will come onstream at some point.
Has anyone test driven / ordered a Omoda or Jaecoo?? What are peoples thoughts on theses new brands on the scheme ?
NB if you test drive a Jaecoo 7 between 20/23 February you get 12 car washes credited to an IMO car wash app
i;d say have a look at
Renault Austral hybrid (my current lease – good size medium SUV / extremely comfy / good access/ amazing mpg and tech laden)
Omoda 5
Jaecoo 7
New Vauxhall Frontera (currently touring the country)
new Dacia Duster
this page has very u to date offers thread but also motaclarity too – good luck – it’s the same with availability / stock / lead in times – my last few cars i’ve travelled hundreds of miles to order / then pick up. Like the ever changing AP’s – deals and availability are also down to luck, right place and right time tbh.
Good luck to you – renault (I’ve had a few over the years ), have come a long way and i’ve had my renault austral since july 23 and it’s so congy, great access, brilliant mpg and top notch tech
Another vote for the Renault Australe – I’ve had mine since July 23
Its a great mid size SUV – very comfy, great access and space, great responsive top end spec, intuitive and quick. If i had waited I’d have gone for the Renault Rafaele, which appeared briefly on the scheme – which in essence is a sportback version of the Australe.
The hybrid system married to a 1.2 petrol engine, producing 200bhp, is efficient and economical , average 55mpg on 80% town / urban driving & on a full tank of petrol average between 600/650 mile range on average – having done 15000 miles to date.
Good luck whatever you decide
It’s a lovely looking car, had a look at one when i had my Austral in for it’s service / updates a few weeks ago.
To many happy, safe and comfortable miles ahead
Renault are definitely on a roll with tech, refinement and hybrid tech & so very comfortable / access too.
I had the mid spec austral, as it was before the top spec model came on.
I’ve done 13000 miles now and average 55.6 mpg with 80% local urban / extra urban & 20% dual carriageway / motorway NB the austral is obv petrol / hybrid – average 620-650 on a full tank of petrol.
i’ve had my austral since july last year and as my local dealer is inept (i will ise for servicing) i ordered and collected from a renault dealer over 100 miles away – who were amazing and i highly recommend – Motorvogue Renault in Bedford, I’ve dobe over 7500 miles so far, Very economical, comfy and has all i want, albeith the top spec wasn’t on the scheme when i ordered last july. I’m on the variois Austral social media groups, and as with all groups a mix of views and opinions. but eith way i’ve had an excellent experience of the austral and lomg may it continue
I’ll do an update after a month of having it, as only picked mine up 3 days now, but to add to what i said above and also reiterate what others have said – there’s good progressive power, the EV mode is excellent and seamless & the heads up unit (HUD) is the best I’ve ever seen, very clear and useful & i think a real safety bonus imho.
I was very lucky to get mine in just 3 weeks from order to delivery (was in stock in the uk) but it is my understanding that any new orders will be factory orders – with private sales being prioritised over Motability and other lease providers. Renault are promoting very widely a ‘fast track’ 3o day order to delivery for private buyers, i guess this has impacted on access by Motability customers.
So i was extremely lucky to get my Austral in just 3 weeks. And for what it’s worth the dealership i dealt with 100 miles from me, was the best dealer experience ever, not just Renault, with Motorvogue Renault Bedford and their executive Otis White – exemplar service from start to finish.
Even in this middle spec it has everything – most importantly the access and comfort and benefit of the electric heated massage drivers seat – & off course the top spec would’ve been a bonus – particularly the added light through the panoramic glass roof and the impact of the Harman Kardon audio system (as an audiophile) but the standard audio system in this middle spec is still very impressive.
i do understand but as usual the test drive is essential, and try and get as long as you can for your test drive or like me 2 or 3 test drives. the electric drivers seat is very flexible plus has a memory function too. The car is a 200bhp petrol hybrid and can achieve up to 60.1 mpg & up to 638 miles on a full tank,, impressive for a heavy medium size suv. Good luck whatever you decide
i’m soorry it’s not for you Pheadra.
I’ve test driven three times, there was an early opportunity when renault uk did a brief tour of some dealerships, and I have one on order.
Over the last few months I’ve test driven the few mid size automatics on my short list, made notes against me access, comfort and specs required to ensure I’m as comfortable, pain free and relaxed as can be & the important access and ergonomics. The Austral won hands down against the quashqai, kuga, tuscon, cx-5, c-hr and sportage (second choice now autos back on the scheme).
it’s a million miles away from the kadjar it replaces and Renault is definitely upping its game recently.
There are a few demonstrators around and my local dealership was no help whatsoever but motorvogue renault in bedford, were exemplar with their approach and customer service, hence they got my custom.
Finally, some very good detail and reviews via youtube and google.
sorry to hear the hassle you’ve had but it’s rare to find a decent dealership and I’ve had some terrible experiences with dealerships but there are some good ones too. Courtesy cars are indeed rarer than ever.
I think the criteria for and membership to be an Accredited Motability Specialist Dealer, should be more stringent. And a ‘mystery shopper’ programme for it too, both i’ve suggested to motability operations in the past.
Anyway, on a positive, my experience today with Motorvogue Renault in Bedford was exemplar & I’ll be writing to Motability Operations to sing their praises – credit, where credit due.
one hope is the return of the Sportage auto and another hope is that the new Renault austral AP comes down – less pushing the full electric agenda – I think it’ll be interesting to see how many of the emerging Chinese models come onto the scheme (although these are major players in china / far east – no china banging please, as most of what you own is either made in or has components from china) following the contently on/off Ora Cat. It’ll also be interesting to see if AP’s begin to stabilise more and if component/logistics improve going forward too, as the chip shortage, components etc.. is wearing thin
Polite notice – do not patronise
My dyslexia withstanding – does anyone think the new “Qashqai” will come onto the scheme in Q2 – considering it will be in dealerships / available for private order from June?
That’s great about the insurance rebate this year too & the online account with the online direct payments function too 🙂
I have an MG HS exclusive auto – in reality it’s the most comfortable and well specd Motability car I’ve had
I hace had problems with the gearbox albeit more as hoc now & a few other minor nighties
but most importantly it’s best for my access and comfort & has all the tech one needs – the mpg has finally improved considering it’s a big heavy suv
I was going to be giving it back but trying to find a replacement car recently has been a nightmare & the car I had too of my shortlist went from a very decent £795 AP in Q1 to an eye watering & unaffordable (for me) £2545 AP in Q2
looks like I’m be sticking with the MG after all now unless the gearbox issues become more frequent – most people on the MG HS dedicated social media have had no problems
I’ve been a tenant at the house I rent for almost 11 years and the landlord has been good but tech not their thing & tbh I’m not sure the house electrics / RCD are up to the capacity of a home charge point. I’ve still to test drive the Kona but this forum & my research has been very encouraging – all feeding into me making an informed choice in time ?
‘In stock’ should mean in stock at the dealership or dealer compound etc..
it sounds as if they are either needing you around or don’t know what they are doing – which can hopefully be sorted and you get your car quickly – with or without Motability Operations input. ??
As I was able to change vehicle from March – I emailed each dealer (on my shortlist) to ask for the exact model / trim (flexible on colour) new, pre Reg and in stock that they had.
the answers either came quick or not at all and/or confused but, as always, I ensured a paper trail.
for the few that had stated they had the model / trim I wanted ‘in stock’ – the VW dealer was the clearest with respect to details / timeframe I.e. vehicle in a regional compound, 7-10 days from compound to dealerships, 3-5 days prep and PDI etc….
now I’m interested in the Kona Electric Ultimate, my local Hyundai dealer inept, but I need them for at least a test drive.
Following glowing reviews on the forum of Lings Hyundai – they’ve been clear, professional and supplied information on the one match in stock & that a factory order would be 2-3 weeks. If I’m happy with test drive locally, I’ll order through Lings even though over 100 miles away.again this thread, and several others, highlight the inconsistency & often inept service from many notability ‘accredited’ dealerships and poor knowledge / below par CRM from many ‘Motability Specialists’ (that title becoming more of an oxymoron each year)!!
