Haggling with a motability dealer?

I_know_my_ABC_and_my_CMYK

Pete268 wrote: »

Unfortunately Ford stopped the 'Ford Magic' vouchers some time ago.

It is possibly to try to haggle the dealers down a bit but it is difficult. Particularly as dealers do not make the same margin on a Motability sale as on a private sale, but they do make some profit or they wouldn't deal with Motability. In anycase Motability sales do count towards the dealerships overall bonuses from manufacturers. The dealership will also 'make' on the servicing costs over the three year period which is also a bargaining chip. (A relative works at a dealership although not where I got my car from - wrong make unfortunately).

It is more usual to get the odd freebie such as a tank of fuel or car mats or an odd option or two thrown in. . Don't forget to play one dealer off against another, even travelling further afield to find a better deal if necessary. For example I got free bluetooth and Cruise Contol on my Motability car by playing the dealers against each other.

Good luck.

Peter

Can you remember when they stopped the vouchers? Last one I received was in Jan 2007.

irrelevant

We had a Citroen C8 off Motablity almost three years ago. Top of the range model, cost us about £5,500 advance payment (paid from competition winnings..). Salesperson at the time said they only made £40 on the sale!

The rough equivelant now is about £3K more! Far more than we have saved up. So, we've been looking around for the last couple of weeks (got to see a Galaxy this afternoon) so I hope I can haggle some extras - you get used to things like parking sensors and bum warmers!

bluebird

well i never knew we could haggle, our first car is nearing its 3 year old stage we have a VW polo lovely car,I shall make sure i ask for reversing sensors or mats to be thrown in,may start shopping around to see who offers the best deal.

one question how easy is it to change dealership?
can someone tell me what i'd need to do.thanks in advance.

Guapa1

ezglide1450 wrote: »

I am recently disabled folowing a motorcycle acident and in receipt if higher rate DLA I could get a motability car but I chose to have my own existing carconverted to hand controls which cost me approx £325 I get free tax through an exemption certificate cheap insurance due to my age and pay very little for servicing as I use a non franchised self employed mechanic (who used to work for the main dealer anyhow) rather than have a brand new car every 3 years which I have to give back and pay another deposit I keep my DLA allowance and use it to run my own car and save up to update it when required with the residual. Motability is a good scheme but dont just jump in without doing the maths as it isnt the best option for everyone

I wanted to do this. I'm very conscious that it's a 3 year deal and I've only got DLA for 2 years. Unfortunately, I need a car with height, which my car doesn't have. I'm looking at an A class, Jazz, or a Yaris. The Jazz is the only car on the scheme that doesn't have an advance payment, so I'll be test driving it, weather permitting, on Monday.

I've been looking around to see if I could afford to part exchange my old one and put the balance on my virgin card that I have 0% on until August, but they are so expensive, I can't afford to do so even if I take into account haggling down a price.

So motability it'll have to be.

anguk

bluebird wrote: »

well i never knew we could haggle, our first car is nearing its 3 year old stage we have a VW polo lovely car,I shall make sure i ask for reversing sensors or mats to be thrown in,may start shopping around to see who offers the best deal.

one question how easy is it to change dealership?
can someone tell me what i'd need to do.thanks in advance.

It's very easy to change dealerships you just go into the new garage and order your car from there. My OH's last car was from a vauxhall dealer and his new one is from a volvo dealer, he just went to the volvo garage, found the car he wanted, had a test drive and signed the forms, the salesman did the work. Then when his new car was ready he went to pick it up and left the old vauxhall at the volvo garage, I think Motability make arrangements to pick it up.

My OH is now onto his 5th motability car and they've all come from different dealers.

Pete268

I_know_my_ABC_and_my_CMYK wrote: »

Can you remember when they stopped the vouchers? Last one I received was in Jan 2007.

Hi,

A friend asked Ford for one in June 2007 but he was declined and told the voucher scheme had finished earlier that year. I enquired in 2008 and was told it ended 'early 2007'. Seems you must have been one of the last few to have got one.

Peter

Rks0

bluebird wrote: »

well i never knew we could haggle, our first car is nearing its 3 year old stage we have a VW polo lovely car,I shall make sure i ask for reversing sensors or mats to be thrown in,may start shopping around to see who offers the best deal.

one question how easy is it to change dealership?
can someone tell me what i'd need to do.thanks in advance.

As has been answered, very easy.
You can actually order your new car, from any other dealer, upto three months before the lease on your current car finishes. This should ensure that you get your new car on your swap date.
Just walk into the dealer of your choice, with relevant paperwork (proof of higher rate of DLA, and driving licences for nominated drivers), order your car and away you go!

portlandboy

Guapa1 wrote: »

I wanted to do this. I'm very conscious that it's a 3 year deal and I've only got DLA for 2 years. Unfortunately, I need a car with height, which my car doesn't have. I'm looking at an A class, Jazz, or a Yaris. The Jazz is the only car on the scheme that doesn't have an advance payment, so I'll be test driving it, weather permitting, on Monday.

I've been looking around to see if I could afford to part exchange my old one and put the balance on my virgin card that I have 0% on until August, but they are so expensive, I can't afford to do so even if I take into account haggling down a price.

So motability it'll have to be.

Hi Guapa1,
I had the same concerns as you regarding length of DLA award. I also wanted a car with height so test drove a Daihatsu Terios from my nearest main dealer (Yeovil, Somerset). The dealer was very helpful and I ended up buying the demonstrator with 68 miles on it. He informed me that as I am disabled I could purchase the car minus the VAT! That was a saving of about£2,500 on its own, then I had a discount as it was a demonstation model and he put mats in as well. I then got a deal on a luggage cover and wind deflectors for the windows and he PX'd my old Astra. I paid about £10,000 in the end and it works out at about £150 per month (over 5 years) but it is mine and I can sell it if I need to, for nearly what I paid. The VAT made all the difference, so ask your dealer.

Rks0

Another quick point folks, is to look out for 'special offers' from manufacturers.
The advance payment of any given car, is determined by the manufacturer in conjunction with Motability, and one of the major factors that is considered, is the depreciation that the car suffers in three years.
Sometimes, however, this all goes out of the window, and the manufacturer may artifically lower the advance payment on a model to shift more of them for any given reason, e.g. it may be a new model that the manufacturer wants more of out on the road, or it may be a discontinued model that is being replaced, so the manufacturer drops the advance to shift any remaining old stock e.g. Vauxhall Vectra is an absolute bargain at the moment, starting at Nil A/P, and that's for a diesel!
Furthermore, if any of your drivers are 24 years old or under, then Motability will pay for them to have 'Pass Plus' driving training. This not only leads to a reduction in the insurance excess for the Motability provided insurance policy, but is also taken into account by many other insurance companies as and when said person wants insurance on their own car.

strong96

ok ordered new nissan quashuai ascenta today, instead of 499 down its only 300 so 200 quid discount even persuaded them to throw in some roof bars and floor mats, always worth having a laugh, bit of banter and amazing what you can get, also told him i werent taking no for an answer lol.
new car is deivered 12 march.