Ex Motability

Hoof_Hearted

Son is currently looking to replace his car and has seen a lot of three-year-old ex-motability vehicles, many of which seem very good value. Basically, it is possible to buy a low mileage car with FSH, as-new for half price.

Now I was wondering whether it is possible for Joe Public to buy these vehicles direct from motability as the dealers obviously do. I know a lot of the knocked about ones go to auction but what about the good ones?

robotrobo

Hoof_Hearted wrote: »

Son is currently looking to replace his car and has seen a lot of three-year-old ex-motability vehicles, many of which seem very good value. Basically, it is possible to buy a low mileage car with FSH, as-new for half price.

Now I was wondering whether it is possible for Joe Public to buy these vehicles direct from motability as the dealers obviously do. I know a lot of the knocked about ones go to auction but what about the good ones?

I know that a lot of the good mobility cars also go to the auctions, dont just think that only the bangers go through,
if you google your local auction, then mobility sales usually have a weekly day slot.

colino

I think it is BCA who currently have the disposal contract for mobbi cars. There isn't a cheap way to get one.

chrisw

The car user has the opportunity to buy the car at the end of the lease but in my experience, motabilty want over the top money for them.

Hoof_Hearted

For example, we saw a top of the range Nissan Note (around £!6,000 new) for £7,500 with 3,000 miles on the clock. Completely unmarked. 3 years old. Unfortunately, he doesn't want a Nissan Note.

colino

The hierarchy for sell-ons of these cars is.
1. To the current driver. They charge mental money as they don't want any future warranty problems. Motability may well extend the hire anyway if asked, but it makes no sense as the driver should just sign up for a shiny new one.
2. Direct closed auction to traders, the cream of the crop. Get, deservedly, big money.
3. Direct general auction, not too bad, but will need refinishing before resale.
4. General auction. Middling trader has bought from 3., found it is a plug and re-entered immediately to let some privateer buy a, "bargain".
In my experience, with far too many people still eligible to get their hands on these cars, they are not the gems that once had trade fighting over.

OddballJamie

A friend of mine bought an ex Mobility Fiesta with very very low miles on it. Had to go back several times in the first few months to the supplying dealer for a new clutch and gearbox work, amongst other things.

Worth remembering that some Mobility cars are used by relatives too who may or may not look after the car as well. I don't feel they are worth paying a premium over a similar private owned car.

motorguy

robotrobo wrote: »

I know that a lot of the good mobility cars also go to the auctions, dont just think that only the bangers go through,
if you google your local auction, then mobility sales usually have a weekly day slot.

I was registered with them to buy cars direct when i was trading. The cars appear at a "buy it now" price. The cleanest and well priced cars sell this way.

The cars that are overpriced, or are roughish and the dealers dont want go to auction. They will take market price for them at that point (ie, if they had been asking £5,500 for it and it only makes £4,400 at auction they'll generally cut their losses at that point).

There are plenty of three year old cars about for sale - privately, auction (ex fleet), dealers, with loads of variance in price. I wouldnt be willfully seeking out "only" a motability car as you could be missing say, a private sale bargain.

motorguy

OddballJamie wrote: »

A friend of mine bought an ex Mobility Fiesta with very very low miles on it. Had to go back several times in the first few months to the supplying dealer for a new clutch and gearbox work, amongst other things.

Worth remembering that some Mobility cars are used by relatives too who may or may not look after the car as well. I don't feel they are worth paying a premium over a similar private owned car.

+1

Plus only a very small minority are nursed like babies. Most at best get a wash once in a blue moon, some get neglected and abused.

OddballJamie

motorguy wrote: »

+1

Plus only a very small minority are nursed like babies. Most at best get a wash once in a blue moon, some get neglected and abused.

Unless you know the previous owner, no one can ever be certain how any car has been used or looked after. At least with a private sale you can get a feeling about the current owner.

Although we bought a KA from a local advert, the guy lived in a stunning seven figure house, selling due to just having twins. Couple of luxury cars on the drive along with a new Golf for the wife.

However it turned out to be an unreliable bag of crap, guess it has just been abused by his wife for 5 years and ran on a shoestring budget.

motorguy

OddballJamie wrote: »

Unless you know the previous owner, no one can ever be certain how any car has been used or looked after. At least with a private sale you can get a feeling about the current owner.

Although we bought a KA from a local advert, the guy lived in a stunning seven figure house, selling due to just having twins. Couple of luxury cars on the drive along with a new Golf for the wife.

However it turned out to be an unreliable bag of crap, guess it has just been abused by his wife for 5 years and ran on a shoestring budget.

Indeed

And its part of the problem with buying "any" used car from a dealer - its got through their "refurbishment" processes so its going to be shining like a new pin and you wont have any idea why the previous owner got rid.