Haggling with a motability dealer?

Fantabulous

The Advanced Payments have indeed rocketed

I looked at an Astra Automatic earlier in the year and the AP was £200. It is now over £1000!!!!

I am seriously considering haggling over the AP at the dealership for the vehicle I want and see what happens.

Fantabulous

kevinyork wrote: »

My Mum ordered her third Citroen C3 in January. Because of delays at Citroen its taken till now for her car to arrive. We did speak to Citroen H.O. and managed to negotiate free parking sensors on Mums car because of the delay.

We have had a nightmare with the dealer Evans Halshaw in Sheffield. Their communication has been appalling form the start. They have changed responsibility for dealing with Mums order through 3 different salesmen who have all seemed more interested in selling new cars than dealing with Motability. Weve had months of failed call backs and at one time we asked where the car was as it was due to have left the factory and the saleman said they had no idea and we just had to be patient and wait for it to turn up.

Final straw came when they rang and said they could deliver the car to Mum this week. We said could they deliver it on a certain day as she would definately be in then and yhe saleman said 'no we cant deliver it, by deliver they mean hand it over at the dealership'. When we said this was a bit confusing since delivery normally means delivery they said we were 'nit picking'.

I have my present Ford Focus on Motability from Evans Halshaw and they have been appalling.

When the Service was not carried out correctly and I complained I was told that "since the car is motability and you don't pay for it, you have no right to complain"

I put a formal complaint in to Motability whom were not in the least bit interested. I changed the service contract to another dealership.

I need to change my car in December - all the garages around me are Evens Halshaw - they bought out Reg Vardy.

I want a Nissan Note and am going 40 miles away just so that it isn't Evans Halshaw.

SuzySF

refreshing this thread, I have had a change in circumstances, and need to change my car, Motability said its no problem when I called them, but the big problem is the fact that the costs have shot up - considering car sales are cutting thousands off forecourt prices to shift them, yet Motabilitys downpayments have trebled in some cases.

I now need an automatic (or semi) diesel car, when i got my diesle car there were so many on offer with downpayments of 2 - 5 hundred. the car i have, now has a downpayment of 1000 ( 249£ when i had it) the BMW i almost chose was 999, now its 2999 !!! the kia sportage was 1500, now its 4000 - what is going on?? It now makes more sense to buy a car (not even a motability dealer) doing it on loan (cheap interest rates) and that way at least you do have an asset for your outlay - with motability and the up front costs after 3 years you have no asset.:(

and i asked our local motability dealerships if they would haggle - they said no as the prices are set by Motability ??? anyone know that for sure ?

xanix

Let me tell you my story...

I ordered my motability C4 Grand Picasso the first week in January 2010.

well... I got a very disappointing call from Lookers the other day. They told me that my C4 had arrived... not a C4 Grand Picasso or even a C4 Picasso but a standard C4!
I told them I had ordered a GP and not the standard car, they even had the cheek to ask me if I was sure!! I said YES CHECK ON YOUR COMPUTER!!

After ten thousand apologies and the butteriest of butterings up! I was told it would be another 10 weeks before I would see the car!!

This has annoyed me to death as on at least two occasions I've called them to confirm everything was going OK and I was told there were no problems.

I called motability and they basically couldnt have cared less! the first thing they said to me was to make sure the dealer cancels the order properly or I may not see the mobility payments for weeks!!

I thought ok I'll go see the guy at Lookers who took my order...
when I finally got to see him I said to him... well heres how it went... (I wont use his real name)

me: This is a major f*** up isnt it!?!
Delboy: (laughs) yeah pretty much as big as they come!
me: so how long now till I get the car?
Delboy: May/June
me: (stunned)
me: so what are you going to do to stop me cancelling?
Delboy: well I cant stop you cancelling if thats what you want to do
me: no... I mean what can you offer me as lay compensation?
Delboy: compensation?
me: yes you know a sweetener for me to keep the order and having to wait another 12 weeks
Delboy: I dont have to offer you anything. Somebody here has ordered the wrong car, for that we apologise but we dont owe you anything!
me: so you dont have another C4GP available that I can drive away in a day or so?
Delboy: as a matter of fact yes! but its not in icare and its petrol
me: ok what colour?
Delboy: Arctic Silver
me: I'll take it!
Delboy: £345 please!
me: what??
Delboy: thats the advanced payment on the petrol version
me: yes but couldnt that be waved seeing as YOU have messed up big time?
Delboy: absolutely no chance! we only make £3, thats three pounds stirling on every mobo car we sell
me: so your not budging?
Delboy: sorry!
me: but this is a major screw up on your part!

he then produces a file LOADED with a list of other screw ups as long as my leg, from other customers who either got the wrong colours, the wrong engines, the wrong trim, massive delays and other disasters, thinking it would make me feel better!!
in the end he offered me a lookers keyring and air freshener.

I left completely stunned shocked and dismayed at what had happend. The truth is there is NOTHING you can do if this happens! you dont have a legal leg to stand on. The Governement asses your needs decide you are disabled award you a monthly amount to assist your mobility needs, if you join the motability scheme you are gauranteed a vehicle for as long as you are paying your award towards it. It doesnt matter if its the same vehicle after the first 3 years as long as its road legal and serves its purpose.

In short I feel like Ive been well and truly shafted! I will never use Lookers again ever!
Tomorrow I shall begin my search for either a mobo car from a dealer that has some stock or look around for a used car that will suit my needs.

Let this be a lesson to anyone who deals with Motability, and especially Lookers as they screwed up my first mobo car 3 years ago with a 5 week delay!!