Anyone ever managed to negotiate any optional extras on motability car?

mitchyjules

Mojo_Fones wrote: »

That's a very good point, and one that I have been thinking about recently. I looked at a Skoda and the optional satnav system was about £1500 which I thought was expensive, but also I'd have to give it up after 3 years. If I paid £1500 for something else, say a TV for my living room, I would at least be able to sell that on and get something back.

On the other hand though, Motability is a charity and perhaps this is how they can gain extra funds and thus offer the cars in the first place.

That's a good point - never thought about it like that.

Skirge

Here's a little bit of info.. MOST car manufactures deliver the cars to the dealers WITH the mats in the boot, the dealers then remove them let you haggle a bit and make out like they have bent over and given you the mats as an extra.
Its a disgrace.

Popped into our local Nissan dealer yesterday just to have a quick look at a few cars, as we are still waiting to hear from the DLA and did not have a conformation letter we were soon made to feel very unwelcome.
Fact us right now the motability scheme is propping up the motor industry and most dealers would be in a big mess without it. They say there is no profit margin on mobility cars, if that were true then why would they even take part in the scheme.

easy

jonnypb wrote: »

Still some very good deals

Just looking at the smax and metallic paint doesn't seem to be included on the motability site but on the ford site it is!?

I believe Motability always specify metallic paint, as apparently it has a significant effect on the residual (2nd hand) value of the vehicle.

A few years back I tried to order a car in white, but motability wouldn't allow it, as it wasn't a metallic paint !!

easy

Well would you believe it !!

Having placed my order at the end of March, received confirmation that the car should be delivered on time, the dealer rang me yesterday to say that they can't supply the colour I ordered.

So, thru all this, I couldn't get a test drive in the car I really wanted (Grand Scenic Auto) from any dealer within a 100 miles. I had to wait over a week to get a test drive in my 'compromise car' - the clio - and then they couldn't let me see a new Sport Tourer (estate) version.

In the last week my old Renault dealer rang to arrange the MOT - required by motability - but they can't do it at a time convenient to me - early morning any day except Tuesdays - because "Nissan use the MOT bay in the mornings".

And now the new dealer can't honour an order they accepted and confirmed 5 weeks ago.
I know colour isn't really important - although the remaining colours for the Clio ST are all pretty boring - but this is the last straw.
I have been on to Renault customer relations, just to see if any new colours are coming available, but sadly they are not. I'm hoping for a goodwill gesture of some sort, cos the dealers have seriously made me cross

smw100

Skirge wrote: »

Here's a little bit of info.. MOST car manufactures deliver the cars to the dealers WITH the mats in the boot, the dealers then remove them let you haggle a bit and make out like they have bent over and given you the mats as an extra.
Its a disgrace.

Popped into our local Nissan dealer yesterday just to have a quick look at a few cars, as we are still waiting to hear from the DLA and did not have a conformation letter we were soon made to feel very unwelcome.
Fact us right now the motability scheme is propping up the motor industry and most dealers would be in a big mess without it. They say there is no profit margin on mobility cars, if that were true then why would they even take part in the scheme.

All dealers are allowed up to £150 to use at there discretion for haggling over mats,mudflaps and so on,but some like to make it look as if they are doing you a favor my local dealer said she adds parking sensors to all HER cars,when it states on the Vauxhall web site they are fitted as standard on all Motability cars,some dealers are really getting away with murder and motability dont seem to car anymore.

Scuttsy

Hmmm gave up posting on here for a while due to the level of abuse anyone who works for a dealer seemed to get. We're only running a business trying to earn a fair profit like anyone else.

But back to topic, as a Nissan dealer motability pay £100 for every car plus £2 per month for every car on the fleet. Nissan pay the dealer £350 as a handling fee, and that is all the money that is made.

The cars are delivered without mats whatever anyone else might think, the profit margin on a £20,000 car is only about 3%. The vehicles do not count towards any manufacturers targets, so if we appear a little tight about extras this is why. (I can only speak for one brand btw others may be different)

Don't get me wrong we are grateful for the business and the money adds up as the fleet grows, and the majority of motability customers are often extremely loyal to the brand and often vocal to friends and family about the good level of service we strive to offer in our dealership (usually succeeding) so we do pay a referral fee to encourage this further. Motability also vitally helps build our customer service score with Nissan.

pstuart

Thanks for that Scuttsy, however, when my brother worked for Fiat all Motabilty cars DID count towards manufacturers targets and could contribute a considerable sum to the dealer at certain times of the year.
I know that I'm talking historically but a unit is a unit, otherwise as someone on here said "why would they bother".

On our quest to choose our current car (Ford) two years ago, only the Vauxhall dealers would not 'discount' - forget mats and half full fuel tanks - we were offered £200 minimum on many cars from various manufacturers

pstuart

alsoinhd wrote: »

Have you heard yourself? Really? A free BRAND NEW car and you moan about colour. and dont say its not free because they take it from your benefit - that's free too. God this country is a mess.

Who let Ian Duncan Smith back on here?

Parva

alsoinhd wrote: »

well I'm sorry but do you not think its mental that I cant afford to buy let alone run and insure a car on the 20k I earn and work very hard for? Then to see someone annoyed that their free car isnt the right colour?!

Hey, I would suggest that you go through years and years of severe leg pains, break your femur whilst going down a waterslide of all things and after 2 months in various hospitals both abroad and back home here in Blighty and finally return home minus your entire right leg having found that you have bone cancer. Getting around can be a real beatch though, the phantom pains are a nightmare and long gone are the days of playing snooker, ice-skating or 10-pin bowling. Getting around shops is a nightmare too, it's amazing how many of those quirky little shops you used to go in that have merely two steps outside that are now impossible to get in to, much less actually get around in a wheelchair. Hell, I can't even carry my own pint of beer from the bar in my self-propel wheelchair. Oh I forgot to mention the regular hospital visits and scans for cancer, the car is a real life-saver in this respect!

Still, you too could choose the colour you desire.

I better be careful else Andy will be discussing euthanasia plans with me.