Which Motability car?

Robisere

Hope I don't get flamed by the very few miserable people who seem to crawl around the floor of this forum, criticising me for being disabled enough to qualify for Motability.
However: -
I am currently running a Ford C-Max 2.0 TDci Auto and my lease is coming to an end in April, Motability have sent me a Renewal Pack and I need to choose a new car. For various medical reasons, the C-Max was perfect for myself and my wife: both of us have serious disabilities. Unfortunately, due to the effects upon the exchange rate after Brexit, and the fact that the C-Max is built outside the UK, I cannot afford the deposit, which has almost quadrupled in the last 2¾ years. Therefore I am faced with other choices. I must have an auto and a certain amount of ride height, for example. I have trawled the motoring press reviews and decided upon a choice of two: Hyundai i30 1.6 SE, CRDi, and a Volvo Cross Country Park 1.5 Petrol. There is also an alternative Volvo Cross Country, which I am investigating, waiting for a dealer to answer an email. A third but unlikely option would be the Renault Kadjar DCi Dynamique 1.5, but I think my wife would struggle to enter and exit this one as she is only 4'9" and has spinal problems like myself.

Does anyone on this forum have experience with either of these cars? I would be grateful for your thoughts, please bear in mind that we are a disabled couple in our early 70's and comfort is our first priority, but I am quite capable of handling a powerful vehicle. In my time I was an amateur rally driver and drove many types during 12 years of Army service. There is nothing wrong with my faculties and I am still a good driver: if I thought differently, I would hand in my licence tomorrow.

Grateful thanks for any advice.

Jlawson118

I apologise if this isn't the answer you're looking for, but I was just wondering if there might be any way you could raise the funds for the C-Max? My grandad has been on the Motability Scheme for about 12 years now and he's on his fourth C-Max :rotfl:
Himself and my grandma have crippling arthritis and they both seem to be the most comfortable in those models so I can completely agree with your joy for them as well. I know you said money is difficult due to import increases of Brexit..

I can't believe people actually make fun of your disabilities on this forum :eek: there does seem to be quite a few miserable people on here, they probably spend their entire lives on here just 'trolling' I've had my mistakes on here, but don't I know about it the minute I post something

weeowens

How many miles are you going to be doing & will there be some long runs ?
I ask as the diesels that you mention will possibly have DPF issues if you do not get them to high temps on a regular basis.

http://blog.greenflag.com/2014/diesel-drivers-need-know-dpf/

weeowens

What about a Honda Jazz.

Nil advance payment & quite high driving position.

http://www.motability.co.uk/cars-scooters-and-powerchairs/search/honda-jazz-se-728071?searchPageFilters=%26amp%3bResultsView%3dgrid%26amp%3bPageNumber%3d1%26amp%3bResultsPerPage%3d9%26amp%3bSortBy%3dadvpayLow%26amp%3bweb_fuel%3dPetrol%2cDiesel%2cOther%26amp%3bweb_emissions%3d1000%26amp%3bweb_number_of_seats%3d2%2c4%2c5%2c6%2c7%2c8%2c9%26amp%3bweb_transmission%3dManual%2cSemi-Automatic%2cAutomatic%26amp%3bweb_number_of_doors%3d2%2c3%2c4%2c5%26amp%3bweb_engine_size_to%3d2.49%26amp%3bweb_engine_size_from%3d0%26amp%3bweb_mpg_to%3d94.2%26amp%3bweb_mpg_from%3d0%26amp%3bweb_model%3dJazz%26amp%3bweb_rangemake%3dHonda%26amp%3ballowance_type%3ddla%26amp%3b1_wr_totalallowance%3dTrue%26amp%3b1_wr_lessthanallowance%3dTrue%26amp%3bweb_dlaadvancepayment_to%3d999999%26amp%3bweb_dlaadvancepayment_from%3d0%26amp%3bsubType%3d1%26&allowance_type=DLA&StartRow=1&EndRow=9

Mercdriver

Just don't ask about a Volvo XC60

fred246

A perfect example of why I couldn't believe motability when I first heard about it. You have a free car provided by the state that you are happy with. It has got years of life left in it but you HAVE to get a new one. It's crazy. Why does the state have to use the MOST EXPENSIVE way of running a car? They are supposed to be trying to save money. Anyway to be helpful can you not keep your current car?

Mercdriver

fred246 wrote: »

A perfect example of why I couldn't believe motability when I first heard about it. You have a free car provided by the state that you are happy with. It has got years of life left in it but you HAVE to get a new one. It's crazy. Why does the state have to use the MOST EXPENSIVE way of running a car? They are supposed to be trying to save money. Anyway to be helpful can you not keep your current car?

Let's keep the debate about the whys and wherefores to one thread rather than jump on any thread about it. Keep your rabble rousing for that thread, please.

Richard53

weeowens wrote: »

How many miles are you going to be doing & will there be some long runs ?
I ask as the diesels that you mention will possibly have DPF issues if you do not get them to high temps on a regular basis.

http://blog.greenflag.com/2014/diesel-drivers-need-know-dpf/

Just an observation: my wife had a C-Max 2.0 Tdci for three years (mainly local drives with some longer journeys) and it never once gave a problem with the DPF. I put this down to her, er, brisk driving style. However, she has replaced it with a Skoda Octavia and this has already thrown up a problem after 3k miles*. So my guess is that the Ford copes better with shorter journeys than the Skoda. She found the Ford very comfy (serious spine problems) whereas I didn't (normal 60+ old bad back). But the C-Max was well-built and very reliable.


*DPF light, easily cured by a 10-mile drive on a fast road in third gear, although I fail to see how this is 'good for the environment'.

Car_54

Mercdriver wrote: »

Let's keep the debate about the whys and wherefores to one thread rather than jump on any thread about it. Keep your rabble rousing for that thread, please.

Agreed.

And for probably the 97th time, Motability is NOT the state, it's an independent charity.

loskie

the Volvo and I presume you mean a V40 CC is a nice car but very compact, ride height is not much more than a regular V40, very small boot too if you need mobility aids.
What about a Citroen C3 Picasso or Belingo, Skoda Yeti, Dacia Sandero Stepway.
I presume you have looked at this?
http://www.motability.co.uk/cars-scooters-and-powerchairs/search/cars/?subType=1&originalTotalRows=420&allowance_type=DLA&1_wr_lessthanallowance=True&1_wr_totalallowance=True&web_dlaadvancepayment_from=0&web_dlaadvancepayment_to=0&web_transmission=Manual&web_transmission=Semi-Automatic&web_transmission=Automatic&web_fuel=Petrol&web_fuel=Diesel&web_fuel=Other&web_number_of_seats=2&web_number_of_seats=4&web_number_of_seats=5&web_number_of_seats=6&web_number_of_seats=8&web_number_of_seats=9&web_number_of_doors=3&web_number_of_doors=4&web_number_of_doors=5&web_mpg_from=0&web_mpg_to=94.2&web_emissions=1000&web_engine_size_from=0&web_engine_size_to=2.49&Find=#SortBy=makeModel&EndRow=9&subType=1&web_dlaadvancepayment_from=0&web_dlaadvancepayment_to=0&1_wr_lessthanallowance=True&1_wr_totalallowance=True&allowance_type=dla&web_mpg_from=0&web_mpg_to=94.2&web_engine_size_from=0&web_engine_size_to=2.49&web_number_of_doors=3,4,5&web_transmission=Manual,Semi-Automatic,Automatic&web_number_of_seats=2,4,5,6,8,9&web_emissions=1000&web_fuel=Petrol,Diesel,Other&ResultsPerPage=45&isAjax=1&isSearchRefinementForm=1

It does seem like you can get a c max with nil deposit
http://www.motability.co.uk/cars-scooters-and-powerchairs/search/ford-c-max-zetec-726853?searchPageFilters=%26amp%3bResultsView%3dgrid%26amp%3bPageNumber%3d1%26amp%3bResultsPerPage%3d9%26amp%3bSortBy%3dadvpayLow%26amp%3bweb_transmission%3dManual%2cSemi-Automatic%2cAutomatic%26amp%3bweb_model%3dC-MAX%2cEcoSport%26amp%3bweb_rangemake%3dFord%26amp%3ballowance_type%3ddla%26amp%3bsubType%3d1%26&allowance_type=DLA&StartRow=1&EndRow=9

loskie

Just saw you need an auto.
That being the case I would seriously consider the Yeti or a Honda Civic Tourer. Both available with nil deposit according to the above website..