The Motability changes could be good news for all
- Thread starter robfosters
- Start date
Back on the original point of it lowering prices.....no it wont, ever, never, not a chance!
IF there is any change at all, it will be that manufacturers will simply have a price list for you and me, and a lower one for motability to allow them to squeeze more cars into their budget.
IF there is any change at all, it will be that manufacturers will simply have a price list for you and me, and a lower one for motability to allow them to squeeze more cars into their budget.
I know its a little off the thread, but was looking at some car websites today. Its possible to lease a car for about the same cost as motability. Of course you have to find Insurance and Sevicing on top. Additionally list prices are in some cases meaningless, for example an Astra Elite which lists at over 25000 can be purchased for under 19000, a discount of almost 25%. If a private buyer can get a 25% discount I imagine fleets like Motability may get perhaps 35%. Do the maths and knock off the VAT and you are looking at a discount of 45%.
better deals in 2012?
Thought others might like to know the new Merc B class is now on the Motability car list. This is a car I was not expecting to see as its predecessor had an AP around the £2-6000 mark (from memory). You can have a manual from £799, with 4 choices and there are 2 auto's at £1799 and £1899. The car has a very comprehensive standard spec and the diesel does up to 64.2mpg, better than the C MAX and Golf Plus. I wonder how many who are looking at Renaults , Fords, Vauxhalls etc may be tempted by the B class. If mercedes can get a £22000 car on the scheme for an AP of £799 I wonder if we can look forward to a few pleasant surprises come January?
Thought others might like to know the new Merc B class is now on the Motability car list. This is a car I was not expecting to see as its predecessor had an AP around the £2-6000 mark (from memory). You can have a manual from £799, with 4 choices and there are 2 auto's at £1799 and £1899. The car has a very comprehensive standard spec and the diesel does up to 64.2mpg, better than the C MAX and Golf Plus. I wonder how many who are looking at Renaults , Fords, Vauxhalls etc may be tempted by the B class. If mercedes can get a £22000 car on the scheme for an AP of £799 I wonder if we can look forward to a few pleasant surprises come January?
I read this on the dailymail and they made it sound like it was costing the tax payer billions and that dirty disabled people were stealing all the monies.
Really made me ashamed that they are digging for anything to moan about these days. Gone so far as to moan about disabled people
Stop reading the Daily Mail.
They recently got caught out after writing an article claiming that 30,000 parents of children with ADHD (which they described as "naughty child syndrome") were getting "free" luxury cars on the motability scheme, with the article published alongside a picture of a shiny picture of a BMW M3, to make you think that this is what they were all getting.
The actual figures were 30,000 people who are eligible to claim the motability component of DLA due to ADHD and "other behavioural disorders", many of which are more severe than ADHD.
Of these 30,000 people, about 1/3rd actually claim DLA, and of those 10,000 people only a few hundred of them choose to get a car through the motability scheme.
Of those few hundred, some may well choose to add their own money on top to get a nicer car, but most of them will be getting a base model diesel Ford Focus or equivalent.
So we've gone from an article saying that 30,000 people with naughty children are getting a free BMW M3 off the state due to an (implied non-existant) illness; to about 30 or so people driving around in nice cars, slightly subsidised by the state giving them enough money to run around in a Ford Focus; and a few hundred more actually running about in a "free" Ford Focus, and these people are parents of children with a variety of behavioural disorders, ranging from ADHD through to severe autism and probably many others that the likes of you and I have never even heard of.
The Tories, aided by the Daily Mail, have been pulling this sort of crap for a while now, trying to paint all disabled people as fakers and scroungers in order to get away with cut the funding without getting any significant amount of protest from able bodied people.
Please don't fall for it.
(And don't even get me started on the whole ESA / ATOS fiasco)
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When the new rules were announced on 21st October, Motability said the new car selection rules and the Max £2000 AP would take effect straight away but they would honour existing commitments, fair enough. Basically you had until 31st December if you wanted to order a car over the £2k limit. But in November they allowed a new car on the scheme, the Mercedes B class with several models over £2k and £3699 in one case. This is contrary to their own rules and must throw confusion as to how or if the new rules will actually come into force?
Glad I moved from my Volvo S40 R-Design Sport 1.6 to the new Ford Galaxy 2.0l (165) Titanium X when I did!
And please don't make the assumption that entitlement to High Rate Mobility component of DLA means you are automatically on benefits... I get the DLA whether I earn £0 and claim benefits or make £1M per annum...
Learn the difference between means-tested benefits and non-means tested Allowances...
And please don't make the assumption that entitlement to High Rate Mobility component of DLA means you are automatically on benefits... I get the DLA whether I earn £0 and claim benefits or make £1M per annum...
Learn the difference between means-tested benefits and non-means tested Allowances...
Yup. Best part is you need to be getting DLA to qualify for so many other things, such as blue badges which are a PITA to get otherwise, that people who may otherwise not bother claiming end up needing to claim it anyway. Perhaps the Tories could look into fixing that situation if they want to reduce the benefits cost, rather than their current plan of taking away benefits from people who really really need them.
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I reckon the guy that suggested drugs testing benefits claimants was on to something...
On topic, the £2000 AP limit shouldn't be applied to wheelchair accessible vehicles and the grant scheme (means tested) should factor in essential optional extras such as parking sensors, cruise control etc...
What about the various conditions out there where the only thing that actually does a decent job of relieving the pain is cannabis?
Hah! you wish that was the case. Read up on the ATOS ESA fiasco and you might change your mind on that.
I'll post some links later. Short version is they put together a test designed to fail 70% of claimants, of which the majority who appeal (if they can afford legal representation) go on to win. Problem is there's a 9 month backlog on appeals in some areas and while you're waiting you need to claim JSA and comply with the rules that come with it.
There have been a number of cases of bedridden people dieing of their terminal illness before the appeal comes through, and these people are still expected to go down the job centre and attend interviews and all the other crap that comes with JSA.
I'll post some links later. Short version is they put together a test designed to fail 70% of claimants, of which the majority who appeal (if they can afford legal representation) go on to win. Problem is there's a 9 month backlog on appeals in some areas and while you're waiting you need to claim JSA and comply with the rules that come with it.
There have been a number of cases of bedridden people dieing of their terminal illness before the appeal comes through, and these people are still expected to go down the job centre and attend interviews and all the other crap that comes with JSA.
Soldato
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I would just hope you do the honourable thing if you earned £1M and stop getting DLA then
Your comments have just shown how utterly out of touch you are.
I'm sorry but you've actually managed to annoy qyuite a bit.
It does NOT cost the taxpayer a penny more for a motorbility car to be £50k than £10k.
If you get DLA mobility component at the higher rate (IIRC £39 a week), you can use that to get a Motorbility car.
The car is LEASED, with the DLA paying the lease cost. If you go for a more expensive car, you pay an ADDITIONAL up front, non refundable fee which covers the excess cost.
The only exception is if you need a more expensive car specifically because your disability requires it (IE you need a vehicle with adaptations, or a particular size). The extra cost in that case is usually by a specific, needs tested grant. (IIRC there is a very good argument that the higher end cars actually make the Motorbility scheme money, as they often sell for more than expected at the end of the lease).
Why should anyone have to settle for the cheapest option?
The range of disabilities is huge, as are the individual circumstances.
Someone who is disabled and *shock* has a Family may need a car that can suit their disability, but also allow them to go out with the family.
A truly shocking idea, but it makes sense to let them get one car that does that, than have a car that only takes the disabled person and maybe one other...(seriously, get a couple of different wheelchair types, basic hand propelled and try putting them in the boot of a small, cheap car with a lot of them you can't fit the wheelchair in the boot without losing the use of the boot for anything else, and in some cases the back seats as well).
It's also not uncommon for people with some disabilities to have quite serious problems getting into some vehicles, so it makes sense to have a range of vehicles available that they can choose from - Someone who has a bad hip may desperately need an extra few inches in height to get into a car without problems, whilst someone who is Taller might need more leg room to be able to comfortably drive without pain (and conversely someone who is short or has limblolss may need a seat that is higher).
If you ever break a leg or do your knee in, then try getting into a cheap, small car and see how well you manage (and for extra fun, try getting a wheelchair into the boot of some of them whilst your leg is immobalised.
Sorry for the rant, but I get well and truly sick and tired of the idiiots who are fortunate enough to never have had an injury or illness that makes them have to consider things like how practical a given car is for a disability, giving their opinion on how the disabled should be limited to a single, or very limited range of vehicles.
There are many, many different disabilities, and oddly enough the cheapest and easiest way to cater for them is to offer a wide range of often standard vehicles (much cheaper than customising a specific type of vehicle for every use).
I very nearly replied with a comment that would have seen me suspending myself.
Soldato
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It's a rant that needed to be said, and one that should be spread beyond this forum.
I typed a long reply but closed the tab by accident, but basically said although I don't have anything officially classified, the one thing that I recon would ease my pain and discomfort would actually be heated seats, as heat soothes my bones and muscles the most.
But till/if that ever happens I'll try and enjoy being young and have my heart on a 172.
Soldato
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The family currently on xfactor are proof that every family's needs are different.
They have three children in wheel chairs.
Clearly the cheapest option wouldn't suffice, they need that Merc Vito to move the kids around.
They have three children in wheel chairs.
Clearly the cheapest option wouldn't suffice, they need that Merc Vito to move the kids around.
Could not have put it better myself. A Motability car is one of the few pleasures many disabled people have. In some cases they have No holidays, a restricted social life and poor health. Many of the things the able bodied take for granted are beyond many disabled so please don't deny them a decent car and a degree of independance.
I would just hope you do the honourable thing if you earned £1M and stop getting DLA then
I will if the wealthiest peers & MPs refuse to claim expenses... (Pigsmightfly Smiley)