Forum Replies Created
- Replies
I do think Motability will be around for a long while, but, as with all organisations, it will evolve and adapt to changing circumstances. I am into week 11 of a 16/17 week X1 schedule, by far the longest I have waited for any car, yet 17 weeks or 4 months is now considered a very reasonable lead time.
I have always said the Motability price guide is misleading as it appears to offer a very wide selection of cars but when you start to enquire, you find out very quickly that a number of model/engine combinations are no longer available, except from stock only then to be told there is no stock. When you move on to other models hope turns to frustration as build times in excess of 26 weeks are quoted, or, as we have seen in other posts, quoted times of 17/18 weeks suddenly jump to 30+ once an order has been placed.
I’m sure, come July we will see a good selection of cars although I suspect fewer than in this quarter and for many I think the first question (after AP) will be “how long until delivery”.
I don’t think we will see anything dramatic, save we will probably welcome a car we were not expecting and lose a couple we were not expecting either. This seems to be a pattern and is “crystal ball gazing” only.
Perhaps its time we had an EV, a proper one to offer Motability customers.
When I sought prices in 2012 and 2015 both were between the main dealer and independent dealer. This time main dealers price is £12600, Independent £11800 part x £10300 and private good £11000 and we buy any car £9500. Those are the figures. I have been offered the car for £10k which is competitive . I could buy and in theory make a small profit. I have noticed a shift this time.
I had a price to buy mine, competitive. £10k. Dealers price £12.5k, We Buy Any Car £9.5k. Only asked out of interest but on the basis we are buying without warranty and “sold as seen” I don’t think Motability can ask for dealers prices any more?
Have joined National Trust, already visited a few places. Am lucky as we have literally dozens of choices within an hours drive. Houses, Monuments, Countryside and, my favourite Coast and Beaches.
BBC article, over 700 000 cars to be recalled. When I was in the dealers today 2 private customers came in to look at New cars, both said an absolute no to diesel. Just hope EV’s will ve all they are cracked up to be. I suspect come 2019 diesels will make up a much smaller selection of motability cars and more widespread generally.
Had our car MOT today, skoda dealer said limited choice is affecting motability sales, some models now up to 34 weeks build time. New emmision rules are also having an impact. Told me its worse for VW and Volvo.
I have concluded Motability’s latest price list is to give the illusion of greater choice.
Tomorrow there are numerous votes in house of commons, will common sense prevail? Certainly the UK is a vital market fir German cars and indeed other products.
Objective, cost, features, size.
Subjective, looks, driving experience, comfort,
Perhaps there is an algorithm?
Very interesting debate which I would like to bring back to topic.
I think Motability (who are responsible for 1 in 10 new car sales) should remove all cars from the scheme which are rated red on this survey, starting at the beginning of 2019. This would send a powerful message and whilst it may draw criticism from some quarters (no pun intended!) would be very popular and illustrate their green credentials. Delaying until 2019 would give manufacturers the opportunity to have newer engines tested.
Regarding phasing out of polluting vehicles, very difficult for one country, or several, to do this and as we see each is looking out for it’s own interests.
I agree with many of the comments above regarding emission cheating but life today is predominantly about money power and big business.
As is usual in politics, everyone is looking after their own interests and we have to try and decide what is true, what isn’t and how much credibility we can place on the sources/organisation’s who provided the information.
Europcar are like many other car rental companies who all seem to struggle to provide an auto at short notice. I once took a Zafira manual a decade or so ago as it was take it or leave it. At that time I could drive a manual but not now.
I recall, as a teenager, my friends Ford Popular was rusting. It was light green and as my father had a tin in the garage we grabbed a paint brush and got to work. If didn’t quite match but the rust was gone, for a few weeks anyway.
I always use the sat nav for live traffic updates and yesterday benefitted as there was a 6 mile queue on one road and 4 miles on the motorway. Whilst I was taken on a strange route and it added 15 mins to the journey, had I chosen either of the other 2 I would have missed my appointment.
Coming back to the original question, by all means speak to the dealer, but I would recommend speaking to Motability first before cancelling. I have known of past cases where Motability have refused the re-order of the “same” car although I recollect that may have been due to lower AP. It’s best to cover all bases so whatever you decide you are fully aware of your options.
Good news. Regarding the X1, ordered mine a week after you and delivery expected latter part of July which concurs with the information from your dealer.
Couple of points.
Speak to Motability to see if they will allow you to cancel and re-order.
If you can you might have a lengthy wait for a new car.
Have similar engine in Octavia but no ACT and averaged high 40’s over 44000 miles. Octavia is bigger than Leon so 50 is realistic.
Having ordered an X1 I would be a little upset to see the X2 but I don’t think it will happen as the X2 base prices are over Motability’s £29/30.5k limits. I cannot see Motability changing these limits this year as they were set at the beginning of 2018, applied to prices at that time and ignored any subsequent increases during 2018.
This Q3 thread is up and running really early. I don’t think we will have any real info for at least another 3 weeks, maybe 4.
Two Forums are better than one! This one appears to be car related, Motability in particular, the other one is of a more general basis. Both are well worth a browse.
These are “strategic” factors which may well affect pricing and delivery depending upon the outcome of “brexit” and quite possibly the availability of certain vehicles.
It’s far too early to expect to see any prices or indications for Q3 yet. I’ll throw my hat in the ring and say very little change from Q2. There is normally something which catches most of us out so I predict a “surprise”, perhaps an Electric car or a model we thought we might not see. Crystal ball gazing, nothing specific.
VW seem to launch with SE trim and migrate it to Match a few years later, same price but better spec. I wish VW would include climate control on Golf’s.
Or in reality an extra £1200 on AP’s. £700m divided by 600k cars. I agree with POPS Motability do a pretty good job but I think they should aim to do a great job.
I think Finsoop is spot on. If Motability’s operating profit is too high the money should be returned to its customers and/or used for charitable grants. Just done some maths and my current Octavia would have cost Motability around £13000 when they purchased it, some £9k less than rrp. They want £10k for it now (much less than dealer price btw) so have lost £3k and have insurance servicing etc. With the Ap I will have paid £9.5k and that seems an awful lot given the other associated costs. Perhaps its time Motability put out Insurance, Tyres, Breakdown etc to competitive tender. I’m sure there is room for reducing costs including their own staffing budget. They have always been a good organisation to deal with but a shake up of some sorts is needed.
