Is it time for Motability ?

Herzlos

MouldyOldDough said:

Herzlos said:

Does your wife use the car for anything unrelated to your mobility? That was one of the reasons we kept the money and bought a car, because whilst almost everyone I know seems to use their mobility cars for non mobility stuff, I would do too many miles to/from work to be able to get away with it and it seemed wrong.

In the end we went for a 9 month old Berlingo rather than a new one for about the same monthly figures, since tax and insurance aren't too bad. I also like the flexibility of being able to change when I want rather than when the lease expires, but there was no obligation for motabilty to provide a replacement when it broke down.

If absolute reliability is a concern for you, I'd be more inclined to keep the older car you seem to like (and isn't that old), and just have a rental company and taxi company number saved in your phone. New cars can fail and will likely take longer to fix than older cars, so you may be best just 'self insuring' for the occasion you're without car.

That'll give you more control over the gear box options, and given you're doing virtually no miles you should get a long time out of any car if serviced properly.

If you have off street parking you'd almost certainly be best getting a small EV like the spring, it'll be much better to drive than most small autos.

We only use the car once a week for shopping and occasional trips local
Twice a year trips to her parents, say 300 miles 
But hospital visits most weeks are vital less than 5 miles 
We do have off street parking 

You're very much skirting on taxi territory there. Whilst it feels like losing independence, look at it more like luxurious chaffeuring. Driving, parking (especially at hospitals) sucks terribly.

If you do need to drive, then something like the Dacia Spring would work pretty well. Better to drive than a similar sized auto, and with local driving you'd never need to use a petrol station which I understand is difficult for you due to mobility). The only difficulty would be the 300 mile parent trip since it's only got about 150 miles range and the base model doesn't charge very fast. The higher spec one is a lot faster both charging and moving, but you'd still need to stop twice on the way and have a coffee.


That said, there are lots of small hybrids now like the Yaris, that'll give you most of your local driving on battery and then petrol for the longer stuff. They tend to be a bit bigger though.

I found this page with dimensions for plug in hybrids that might be useful:
https://www.automobiledimension.com/plug-in-hybrid-cars.php

MouldyOldDough

Herzlos said:

MouldyOldDough said:

Herzlos said:

Does your wife use the car for anything unrelated to your mobility? That was one of the reasons we kept the money and bought a car, because whilst almost everyone I know seems to use their mobility cars for non mobility stuff, I would do too many miles to/from work to be able to get away with it and it seemed wrong.

In the end we went for a 9 month old Berlingo rather than a new one for about the same monthly figures, since tax and insurance aren't too bad. I also like the flexibility of being able to change when I want rather than when the lease expires, but there was no obligation for motabilty to provide a replacement when it broke down.

If absolute reliability is a concern for you, I'd be more inclined to keep the older car you seem to like (and isn't that old), and just have a rental company and taxi company number saved in your phone. New cars can fail and will likely take longer to fix than older cars, so you may be best just 'self insuring' for the occasion you're without car.

That'll give you more control over the gear box options, and given you're doing virtually no miles you should get a long time out of any car if serviced properly.

If you have off street parking you'd almost certainly be best getting a small EV like the spring, it'll be much better to drive than most small autos.

We only use the car once a week for shopping and occasional trips local
Twice a year trips to her parents, say 300 miles 
But hospital visits most weeks are vital less than 5 miles 
We do have off street parking 

You're very much skirting on taxi territory there. Whilst it feels like losing independence, look at it more like luxurious chaffeuring. Driving, parking (especially at hospitals) sucks terribly.

If you do need to drive, then something like the Dacia Spring would work pretty well. Better to drive than a similar sized auto, and with local driving you'd never need to use a petrol station which I understand is difficult for you due to mobility). The only difficulty would be the 300 mile parent trip since it's only got about 150 miles range and the base model doesn't charge very fast. The higher spec one is a lot faster both charging and moving, but you'd still need to stop twice on the way and have a coffee.


That said, there are lots of small hybrids now like the Yaris, that'll give you most of your local driving on battery and then petrol for the longer stuff. They tend to be a bit bigger though.

I found this page with dimensions for plug in hybrids that might be useful:
https://www.automobiledimension.com/plug-in-hybrid-cars.php

What's the auto gearbox like on the Yaris?
I would try a new Suzuki Swift but the gearbox has put me off
I need a good smooth auto box and have enjoyed my 6 speed Suzuki baleno TC box for 7 years 

daveyjp

Yaris uses a very smooth CVT.  Press and go.

You will read comments about engine noise when pushed hard, but its a city runabout, so if there is an intention to push it hard its not the car to buy.

EnPointe

Wonka_2 said:

photome said:

Havent we been here before

Indeed we have - and still no clearer why a TC auto box is essential  https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6517583/motability#latest

misplaced geekery  and/or a 'Clarkson Syndrome' fixation against 

EnPointe

MouldyOldDough said:

Herzlos said:

Does your wife use the car for anything unrelated to your mobility? That was one of the reasons we kept the money and bought a car, because whilst almost everyone I know seems to use their mobility cars for non mobility stuff, I would do too many miles to/from work to be able to get away with it and it seemed wrong.

In the end we went for a 9 month old Berlingo rather than a new one for about the same monthly figures, since tax and insurance aren't too bad. I also like the flexibility of being able to change when I want rather than when the lease expires, but there was no obligation for motabilty to provide a replacement when it broke down.

If absolute reliability is a concern for you, I'd be more inclined to keep the older car you seem to like (and isn't that old), and just have a rental company and taxi company number saved in your phone. New cars can fail and will likely take longer to fix than older cars, so you may be best just 'self insuring' for the occasion you're without car.

That'll give you more control over the gear box options, and given you're doing virtually no miles you should get a long time out of any car if serviced properly.

If you have off street parking you'd almost certainly be best getting a small EV like the spring, it'll be much better to drive than most small autos.

We only use the car once a week for shopping and occasional trips local
Twice a year trips to her parents, say 300 miles 
But hospital visits most weeks are vital less than 5 miles 
We do have off street parking 

 your use case is one where  taxis  / car club  may be the better  option  for 50 weeks of the year and a   normal hire car for the  2 off  long trips