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If a dealer told me that I could only drive a car for 15 mins, I would say “Thank you. 15 minutes should be long enough to tell me if the car is a definite ‘no’. If I think it’s a possible, I will obviously need to go to another dealer who allows longer test drives. If I then decide that I want one, I will naturally order it there”. I somehow suspect that the 15 mins offer may immediately increase! I’m afraid that, from my experience, the majority of car salespersons deserve the reputation that they have and good ones are the exception rather than the rule. This also applies to product knowledge. I research cars thoroughly before I even go to the dealers and almost always find that I know more about the specification of cars than those who are paid to sell them!
What a joke. Absolutely impossible to make an informed decision on a car in just 15 mins on the road. An hour is the absolute minimum, and longer if you can’t cover motorways, urban and A roads during that time. Ideally a half or full day, so that you can really try it out. Always managed that before, but the World has changed, although I can’t help but feel that Covid is now being used as an excuse by many companies (not just car dealers) to cut corners. Selecting a car can be one of the worst examples of ‘buy in haste, repent at leisure’.
You said it Gloss Guy “no contest” it certainly appears to be a “no brainer”, however having had a few Tiguan I can fully understand you and the Mrs wanting a change. Assuming a VW is as far down the non marque brands as you would like to go I don’t see many options TBH. As you know we have gone for the xc40 but the boot is small and I know your not keen on the shape. It may be the time to have a look outside the scheme to see what’s available. I don’t think many foresaw the Q3 coming on the scheme in Q4 so maybe Q1 will bring another surprise.
Hi Brydo. That’s an excellent summation of where we are at present. Sounds like you know me as well as my wife ?. The process is making me realise why we keep ending up with Tiguans, even though they do nothing for me! They are spacious and very well equipped and if you select with your ‘head’ they are difficult to beat out of what we can choose from, but I find them dull and therefore I don’t choose them with my heart!
Having been spoiled with lots of very nice cars over the years and having driven literally hundreds of different cars of most marques, I have a pretty good sense of the huge difference in quality and refinement between brands. VW is a notable step down from my favourite, BMW, but a notable step up from the budget brands. Nothing wrong with the latter, but you are spot on that VW is about ‘as far down’ as I would personally go. Audi would be a definite step up from VW but the Q3 may have too many compromises, just as the X1 does, even though I love BMW’s.
We haven’t entirely ruled out leaving the scheme. We have run two cars for years, my wife’s Motability car and my private one. However, we both retired last year and my wife can no longer drive, so we sold my beloved 5 Series (just before the first lockdown – phew)! One car is all we need now and our mileage has also dropped to around 10k a year. Having run Motability cars and private cars alongside, I know from first hand experience that there’s not such a massive difference in overall costs as some would believe, and of course you aren’t restricted to price caps or certain makes and models, but we sometimes don’t use the car for 3 or 4 days at a time now and if we go private we would undoubtedly get something above what Motability permits and again, with my logical head on, it would feel a bit of a waste of money. As you say, Q1 might bring a pleasant surprise although I somehow doubt it. With the current uncertainty over a trade deal / no deal, I anticipate a relatively stable period. I think the most we can expect is a rise in the price caps, which I believe is overdue, but I’m not holding my breath. Q1 in previous years has seen some significant changes but I don’t see that happening this time. Surely we must only be a few days before people start picking up rumours as the new quarter is just 3 weeks away (assuming it will be 1st Jan – wouldn’t be surprised if there’s a slight delay).
We went to Audi Crewe to see it today, really small car and the boot with an auto box absolutely tiny, you’d need to slide the rear seats forward all the way to make it work with wheelchairs etc The price inc options, the lack of lumbar support and keyless entry/start etc really made our mind up and we will be ordering the Ateca next week!!!
Thanks for posting your feedback Chris. Last night we were quite keen on the Q3 but today I have done a detailed spec comparison of the Q3 S-Line (to which we would add the Comfort & Sound Pack, Leather and extended Ambient Light package) versus the face lifted VW Tiguan Elegance (to which we would add Harmen Kardon sound system with space saver spare wheel and driver assistance plus pack).
The Q3 scores over the Tiguan in being a more premium brand, inexpensive leather and far superior Sat Nav. However, the Tiguan scores over the Q3 in far more areas, namely;
Bigger in almost all dimensions – some significantly.
Panoramic Sunroof
Park Assist (Fully automated parking)
Fully adaptive LED headlights (Q3 has regular LED’s)
High Beam assist
Adaptive & Predictive Cruise Control (works with Sat Nav)
Keyless entry, exit and Ignition
Auto Hold
Dynamic Front & Rear indicators (Q3 just rear)
Heated Steering Wheel
Foot operation of power tailgate
Option for lighter interior at no additional cost
Finally, when the 2.0TSi 190PS 4Motion (4 wheel drive) DSG Tiguan comes on the scheme, if it is £2,499 AP as predicted, that model would be the same price (with options) as the 1.5 TFSi 2WD Q3 S-Line Auto (also with options), so as well as being bigger and with a good few thousand pounds worth of extra kit as standard, it would be significantly quicker and have the added benefit of 4 wheel drive. Much as I desperately fancy a change from the Tiguan (having had a few of them), it seems to be a no contest.
The 1.5 Auto is now a mild hydrid and as this is something of an afterthought they have positioned the battery pack in the boot and not under the passenger seat as that space was taken by the ‘JS24 Digital Sound Package control unit’. This means that the boot floor on this model only is not able to ‘drop’ hence the reduction of quoted litres. As most will be choosing the S&C pack for the heated seats, this also adds a subwoofer in the boot where the spare wheel would usually go so this may affect the ability to drop the boot floor in other models too. It’s a case of seeing a car with the ‘pack’ fitted or a Q3 with the mild hybrid batteries fitted but the figures are correct.
Many thanks wmcforum. That’s extremely useful information.
Gloss Guy, I think the 410 litres mentioned might be a motability mistake. Every thing I’ve read states 530 litres for the Q3 and the old model 2018 has a sliding rear seat which increases the boot size too well over 600 litres. I don’t know if the sliding rear seat is standard or fitted to the new model.
Hi Landyman. For once, Motability info is correct! I was looking at the Audi website in detail this morning and under boot capacity of 530 litres there is an asterisk and below it says that this is reduced to 410 litres with the 35TFSi S-Tronic versions. The rear seats do slide as standard. Unfortunately there is no detail (or photos) as to how the 120 litres are lost If it’s hidden space under the boot floor that wouldn’t be an issue, assuming that my wife’s wheelchair would fit in the first instance!
Seen several reviews on the 35 tfsi and the auto box and none of them give it a raving review saying its strained under pressure and the auto box is very hesitant at junctions and around town but i guess the proof is in the pudding and only a test drive will prove that so good luck. Beautiful looking car inside and out but i would want the diesel version as i had it before but unfortunately they dont do the sline in diesel.
That’s interesting as I read a couple of reviews last night and they described the 35TFSi as ‘all the power you would need’ and the only criticism regarding transmission concerned the manual! Having been used to 2.0 diesels I share your concern though. Of more concern to me is that fact that the boot capacity in the 35TFSi S-Tronic auto models is reduced from 530 to 410 litres. That’s a massive reduction and I would need to know where the reduction is and whether or not it means I can fit my wife’s wheelchair in. I would really love a change from the Tiguan and the Audi would be a definite step up in quality, not least with the MMI Sat Nav etc which is a huge step change from the dire system in the Tiguan, but I have a feeling that when the 2.0TSi 190PS 4Motion Tiguan Elegance comes on the scheme it’s going to be hard to make a case for the Q3.
Ordered a black edition today. Ecstatic with the order because I was vindicated in holding out for better options and securing our dream car and it’s going to be our first brand new car ever so me and my partner are incredibly excited. Thanks to all here for their advice and opinions and I look forward to tracking my build alongside others x
Well done. Lovely looking car. There’s nothing like your first brand new car and yours will be a prestige marque as well (mine was a Vauxhall Astra ?). Out of interest, did you drive it and, if so, how did you find the performance? Did the engine feel (or sound) strained at all?
Didn’t realize the black edition was available
It’s just come on the scheme, but only in 1.5 petrol 2WD. £2149 AP for the auto.
How about this as it’s a sporty looking model which usually goes down well with youngsters. https://www.motability.co.uk/products/search/ford-fiesta-st-line-edition-686559?searchPageFilters=%26amp%3bResultsView%3dgrid%26amp%3bPageNumber%3d1%26amp%3bResultsPerPage%3d45%26amp%3bSortBy%3dadvpayLow%26amp%3bweb_rangemake%3dFord%26amp%3ballowance_type%3dpip%26amp%3bsubType%3d1%26&allowance_type=PIP&StartRow=1&EndRow=45
Boy, wouldn’t I have loved one of those at 18, especially if fully expensed! I had a Hillman Avenger that cost me £370, I used a sticky black substance to patch over the rust on the sills and used to run out of petrol due to fuel leaks. Those Fiesta’s are superb and if you can get a nice sporty one too then that must surely tick every box. God call Elliot.
The point I was trying to make, not very clearly is: He’s not in employment,doesn’t receive any means tested benefits and yet isn’t entitled to any help regarding AP’s . Which if i follow op advice means he should count himself lucky to get a car? So do you think others asking for help should feel the same. Many of the cars for under 25’s aren’t suitable for a 6ft 4 teenager with size 14 feet. Not to mention his disabilities.
Hi Joe. If your son has disabilities that render him unable to use a conventional car, then it would be advisable to discuss this with Motability who might be able to provide a grant. However, with all due respect, being 6ft 4 and having big feet doesn’t warrant assistance. He could still fit in a Ford Fiesta and the vast majority of small cars. I knew a guy who was that tall and always had a Fiesta with no problems. ‘Need’ and ‘want’ are very different things and I don’t think you will find a lot of sympathy on here if his demands relate to the latter. And yes, to answer your question, I would say the same to anyone else of any age. Everyone should cut their cloth according to their means and I don’t believe that anyone should get help with AP’s just because they want a ‘nicer’ car but can’t afford it. I think that’s morally wrong for those who have to pay their own AP’s in full. That’s why Motability provide a good range of cars at zero AP for those who cannot, or choose not to, pay an AP. I stress again, if his disabilities (not height) genuinely warrant a different type of car that’s different, and I wish you luck with a grant application, but I’m not sensing that’s the case here. It also sounds as though you could assist but don’t feel you should have to. In that case, why should Motability? Many of us support our kids financially through Uni and well beyond and it’s never too young to learn that you shouldn’t go through life expecting something for nothing. Sorry if that sounds a bit blunt, but you did ask for opinions and those are mine.
Farid : Make sure that the dealer shows you the colours available and choices of Options available. My dealer went at 100mph and did not even ask me if i wanted any options. He wanted me in and out as fast as possible, it could be due to covid or just thourght i was a motorbility customer, so not worth the time.
That approach would make me see red I’m afraid. I would stop the conversation in it’s tracks and ask to see the new car sales manager and insist that I deal with a sales person who treats us with respect. I pretty much did just that at a VW dealership once. Car salesman still get around £100 personal commission on each Motability sale, on top of the dealer commissions and the contribution that each Motability sale makes towards their new car registration targets (which are big bucks for them), so a few hours of good quality time is very little to ask for in return for all of that. My wife dies a death whenever something like that happens and I ‘go off on one’ but will always concede after the event that I was right to have done so and that we got a better outcome as a result!
My son has just been given enhanced mobility and is eligible for a vehicle. He’s 18 and in college. My wife is also on mobility and we are due to order a new car in the next 2 weeks. I’m not able to finance 2 vehicles and think my son being 18 should be exempt from my financial position. In applying for a grant for him it seems that I should be footing the bill, even though he has no income of his own. How can him being in education mean he can’t get any help with the AP towards a suitable car. I pay for our vehicle and have no issue with that at all.
There are plenty of shiny new cars with no AP and any 18 year old I know would be delighted with any of them, given that most run around in old bangers and pay thousands for insurance for the privilege! Perhaps I misunderstood your question and, if so, I apologise, but I think it would be unreasonable to expect a grant for something above zero AP, unless he has a disability that means that none of those cars are suitable for him. BTW, my kids are now 26 and 22 and both working, yet they still cost me a fortune ?
Hi Glos Guy, We actually have our test drive booked for tomorrow, a 1.5 auto, and I do like the look of the black edition so thats a no brainer. Apparently the cost to upgrade to full leather is an extra £250, so we may go for that. They also do an upgraded alloy wheel, for an extra £150, a design we really like. At first I bulked at the idea of paying an extra £1200 for the comfort and sound pack (especially as all these come standard on our other choice, the Volvo Xc40 inscription pro, with an AP of £1900). But I am coming round to the idea that for a car we will keep for 3 years its worth having for an extra 35 quid a month or whatever it works out to be. So with the leather, alloys and comfort and sound upgrade, we are looking at a total AP of £3750!!
Yes, that’s a nice spec. I would definitely add the Comfort & Sound Pack (couldn’t be without heated seats at this time of year) and the leather upgrade (although I thinks it’s artificial isn’t it)? I don’t like all black interiors, especially with black roof headlining (which I really dislike) so I would probably go for the grey leather to lighten it very slightly. I would also go for the extended ambient lighting package as it’s just £100 and might lift the otherwise drab interior with some nice highlights.
I’ve just gone through my current shortlist with my wife and of the 7 cars on the list the Audi Q3 appeals to her the most. I have warned her that I think the boot might be too small for her wheelchair and that I’m a bit concerned about the 1.5 litre engine, as we haven’t had anything less than 2.0 litres for decades! That being said, modern engines can surprise. With these two ‘concerns’ in mind I will be very interested to hear your feedback on your test drive, in particular if the engine feels adequate for rapid overtaking. I work on the basis that when you need to get past something, the least time spent on the wrong side of the road the better! Also, would you be kind enough to have a look at the boot space in the petrol version, as somebody posted that it’s less than in the diesel versions due to something to do with the mild hybrid gubbins that they use these days? Many thanks and enjoy the test drive.Thanks Gloss Guy, vinalspin, the more I thought about it the more I convinced myself that, if it didn’t fit, I would just get a new wheelchair for the wife. Maybe for her Christmas lol. We ordered the xc40 last quarter for an AP of £2,200ish plus £275 for the white paint and just seeing it again today just reminds of how much of a bargain it is.
Yes that’s a good price. Gone up around £800 now I think. Out of interest, why did you have to pay for the paint?
Vinalspin I’m at the dealer just now and it fits. Shopping will go on the back seat, as it does with the xc60. Unfortunately we don’t get to do much with my wife’s conditions so this was my only concern. The boot is small and if you store lots of stuff or go on regular holidays or outings it would be a concern. I’m a happy man at this point
Hi Brydo. I am so relieved and pleased for you. As a fellow ‘wheelchair pilot’ I could completely understand your concerns and anxieties and am delighted to hear that your wife’s chair fits. As the handles don’t fold on my wife’s chair, I suspect that we will have to rule the XC40 out as the boot in Vinalspins photo does look tiny, but undoubtedly it’s a good quality car and you are very familiar with the brand. What a relief. You can now relax and look forward to driving it!
Although I’m still surprised that heated seats aren’t standard on the Q3, I’ve just noticed that the option price of £1,195 for the Comfort & Sound Pack includes quite a bit of valuable kit and seems quite good value;
Bang & Olufsen 3D Sound System / Rear View Camera / Heated Front Seats / Front Parking Sensors / Cross Traffic Assist Rear
Glos Guy I have learned that the one certainty with motability is nothing is certain. I hope the Q3 is on for many years ahead, but I also know it could come off the scheme as quickly as it’s come on. I would recommend that anyone who can order just now should order as you may be left disappointed if you don’t. it’s just part of the motability lottery I’m afraid.
I agree that there’s no rhyme nor reason to Motability’s logic on many things and, as you say, cars come and go for no sensible reason at all. However, in the case of the Q3, which is a fairly new model (so not an end of run clear out) and has only come onto the scheme a few weeks ago, with more variants added just today, I would be absolutely amazed if it was removed just a few weeks later, which is all it is now until Q1. That being said, I should think that the best case scenario is that prices in Q1 would remain the same, so if the Q3 ticks every box for someone and is their dream car, and they can order now, then I agree it’s best to get the order in, perhaps with an option to change it in a few weeks time if a better spec model is added. All a bit cosmetic for us anyway, as we can’t order until the end of Q1 and I don’t think that the Q3 will end up ticking all our boxes, much as I’d like it to.
Another 6 models added,including the black edition.
Good spot Andy. Thanks for posting. Nice to see that a few more variants have been added, although a shame that they are all still fairly low powered engines, especially when you can get much more powerful BMW X1’s (the Q3’s direct competitor) on the scheme. I shall definitely be looking at the Q3 in the New Year (even though I fear the boot will be too small) but am still struggling to get my head around the fact that a premium car doesn’t have heated seats as standard in 2020!
As an update, I’ve just contacted Motability and things seem to have changed. I am now told that the GCB will NOT be paid until vehicles are handed back to the dealership. The GCB was being paid out on three years but now you have to wait until such a time as your new, replacement vehicle is ready to be handed over.
Apologies Mike – I think I might have misunderstood. Are you referring to the fact that Motability assisted people who had been relying on the GCB but couldn’t return their car due to lockdown, when sales departments in garages were mostly closed? If so, I guess it’s only reasonable that they remove that temporary assistance now that garages are open again. As I said previously, it makes no sense to me that GCB’s should be paid out whilst the driver still has the car and will do for some time. Perhaps it’s me, but I would think that would be tempting fate!
Yes, I’ve had condition checks done at MOT’s but only ever received the good condition bonus once the car has been returned and had its final end of lease hand back check.
As an update, I’ve just contacted Motability and things seem to have changed. I am now told that the GCB will NOT be paid until vehicles are handed back to the dealership. The GCB was being paid out on three years but now you have to wait until such a time as your new, replacement vehicle is ready to be handed over.
Is that really a change Mike? It seems illogical to me that Motability would ever pay out a GCB before you return the car. It’s quite normal for delays to new car orders to mean that you have your previous car for a little over the 3 years (even before Covid) but makes no sense that a GCB could be paid just because the arbitrary 3 months has been reached, as you may damage the car in the weeks or months between the 3 years and handing the car back. The car condition is assessed at the point you hand it back and not before and I thought that had always been the case?
It may well be me, but I am confused by the question and some of the answers ?. As far as I understand it, the bonus is £600 at the end of a 3 year lease and £900 at the end of a 5 year lease. You don’t get the bonus until the car is returned, whenever that might be. Obviously they can’t assess the condition before you have finished with it. If your new car turns up before your existing 3 year lease is up, you can’t pick up the new car until the end of your existing lease anyway, so as long as the car meets the criteria, your £600 will be sent after you return the car. If you agree to extend the lease to 5 years you still have the ability to order a new car at any time between years 3 and 5. You don’t have to keep it the full 5 years unless you want to. If you decide to order at such a time that your next car is available before your 5 years is up, my guess is that you can have it straight away but would get the £600 bonus rather than £900 as you haven’t gone the full 5 years but, as I say, that last comment is what I would think would happen whereas the other comments are factual. See link for more details;
https://www.motability.co.uk/your-lease/car/good-condition-bonus/
Interesting thing on the actual Motability price list on the actual VW web pages. https://www.volkswagen.co.uk/files/live/sites/vwuk/files/offers/Motability/motability-price-guide.pdf under new Tiguan, it’s showing 190bhp 4 motion models under Elegance and R line, with the AP being TBC, but they have Motability released VTN numbers. also under life there is a manual 150 BHP SCR also with TBA, wonder if tgese are being added Q1? Or did Motability take them off? Or, and this has happened before, they have been missed off Motability web site?
Yes, I highlighted this on another thread some weeks back. When the ‘face lifted‘ Tiguan first appeared on Motability, another member kindly posted prices for the 2.0TSi 4Motion DSG Elegance and R-Line. The Elegance (which was the one I was interested in, having discounted the R-Line due to the lack of kit versus the Elegance) was £2,499. The latest VW Motability price list that you posted the link to confirms that these two models will join the scheme but the 2.0TSi petrol engine versions aren’t out yet (you can’t configure them on the VW app), hence prices showing as TBA. As soon as this engine becomes available it looks as though it will appear on the scheme immediately. No idea of date but likely to be during Q1 I would think, if not on 1st Jan.
How likely is it for the Q3 to be removed in January-March? I’m thinking about waiting to see if the Sportback will be added in in January, but don’t want to risk it all..Any info on whether sportback is being added?
As the Audi Q3 only came on the scheme 5 days ago, I would be staggered beyond belief if it is removed at the start of Q1. It would be a lot of work for nothing. I should think it unlikely that the AP would change either. I wouldn’t be surprised if more variants of the regular Q3 appear in Q1 but, as for the Sportback, it’s anybodies guess. Dealers may have some idea but most car dealers are clueless about such things.
