New car - Motability - what would you choose?
Discussion
I've been tasked with helping the in-law's choose their new motability car and we are looking to have an initial dealer-scout this weekend
They currently have a 1.4 petrol Zafira and have had Zafira's for the last 15-18 years. Their current one their first of the "new" shape and has been seen as a very backward step (in their eyes) versus the prior ones for build quality, spec and performance (previous were 1.7 CDTi's), that coupled with a look-toward something "different" (and a good bit of passenger time in my wife's M135i) have made them consider something else - where I come in.....
The car generally clocks up 15-20k miles over the 3 years and is mostly used for short urban trips, most <4 miles.
The key requirements are:
Advance payment (inc. £250 bonus) of <£1,000 (less the better)
Easy to get in and out of given user needs
Manual/Auto irrelevant - latter likely preferred as would allow the MIL to continue learning
Good passenger and luggage space - 7 seats have been useful but are not essential this time, a decent sized boot for airport runs/carrying stuff is however
Ideally not as "gutless" as the Zafira - petrol/diesel irrelevant as motability sort DPF issues (prior zafira had the light on permanently)
My thoughts so far are pretty wide but if there is anything missing from the below or any that are genuinely a bit crap please let me know!
BMW 2 series/X1 - would likely only be the manual 18i model in SE/Sport in budget here
Hyundai Tucson/Ford Kuga/Kia Sportage - All have a broad mix of spec/engines in budget but beyond sitting in them I can't really differentiate
Mazda CX-5 - where my current preference is given the spec/engines on offer for budget - a little different too most too
VW Tiguan/Seat Terraco - only the 1.5TSi engine available - much difference between?
Citroen C5 Aircross/Peugeot 5008 - depreciation irrelevant, peugeot is quite expensive relative and both only the 1.2 - gutless?
Skoda Superb estate - bit of a wild-card and potentially a bit long? - 1.5 petrol
They currently have a 1.4 petrol Zafira and have had Zafira's for the last 15-18 years. Their current one their first of the "new" shape and has been seen as a very backward step (in their eyes) versus the prior ones for build quality, spec and performance (previous were 1.7 CDTi's), that coupled with a look-toward something "different" (and a good bit of passenger time in my wife's M135i) have made them consider something else - where I come in.....
The car generally clocks up 15-20k miles over the 3 years and is mostly used for short urban trips, most <4 miles.
The key requirements are:
Advance payment (inc. £250 bonus) of <£1,000 (less the better)
Easy to get in and out of given user needs
Manual/Auto irrelevant - latter likely preferred as would allow the MIL to continue learning
Good passenger and luggage space - 7 seats have been useful but are not essential this time, a decent sized boot for airport runs/carrying stuff is however
Ideally not as "gutless" as the Zafira - petrol/diesel irrelevant as motability sort DPF issues (prior zafira had the light on permanently)
My thoughts so far are pretty wide but if there is anything missing from the below or any that are genuinely a bit crap please let me know!
BMW 2 series/X1 - would likely only be the manual 18i model in SE/Sport in budget here
Hyundai Tucson/Ford Kuga/Kia Sportage - All have a broad mix of spec/engines in budget but beyond sitting in them I can't really differentiate
Mazda CX-5 - where my current preference is given the spec/engines on offer for budget - a little different too most too
VW Tiguan/Seat Terraco - only the 1.5TSi engine available - much difference between?
Citroen C5 Aircross/Peugeot 5008 - depreciation irrelevant, peugeot is quite expensive relative and both only the 1.2 - gutless?
Skoda Superb estate - bit of a wild-card and potentially a bit long? - 1.5 petrol
The prices have just been updated on October the 1st, so have a good trawl through the website, however be aware that not everything is usually listed.
The Seat's are usually good value; I have the Leon ST and it's decent for the money, although my delivery took nine months (estimated at three months when we ordered), so factor that in.
I'd say the Superb Estate will be far too long if they're used to a Zafira!
Whatever you do, just go and try out everything in the price bracket for accessibility first!
The Seat's are usually good value; I have the Leon ST and it's decent for the money, although my delivery took nine months (estimated at three months when we ordered), so factor that in.
I'd say the Superb Estate will be far too long if they're used to a Zafira!
Whatever you do, just go and try out everything in the price bracket for accessibility first!
Big Nanas said:
The prices have just been updated on October the 1st, so have a good trawl through the website, however be aware that not everything is usually listed.
The Seat's are usually good value; I have the Leon ST and it's decent for the money, although my delivery took nine months (estimated at three months when we ordered), so factor that in.
I'd say the Superb Estate will be far too long if they're used to a Zafira!
Whatever you do, just go and try out everything in the price bracket for accessibility first!
Thanks - think this one reaches its 3 year period in about 6 weeks time but know that they've had the letter telling them to go and look early last month. The Seat's are usually good value; I have the Leon ST and it's decent for the money, although my delivery took nine months (estimated at three months when we ordered), so factor that in.
I'd say the Superb Estate will be far too long if they're used to a Zafira!
Whatever you do, just go and try out everything in the price bracket for accessibility first!
geeks said:
The CX-5 is nice but ideally you'd want the Sport Nav over the SE, Mrs geeks used to have a petrol Sport Nav, excellent bit of kit, she misses it still!
Yep - one that seems to be most reaonable is the CX-5 165ps 2WD SE-L Nav+ at a £499 initial - dthe sport is £1k more (£1500) on the initialMazda was where I was leaning (the FIL likes Jap cars - potentially owing to the old Izuzu sourced 1.7cdti he had in old Zafira's/Cavelier's that he liked).
Main issue for the CX-5 was the boot size - not sure whether it'll be judged by them to be as big as needed/wanted.
Also thanks on the Caddy Max but think it'll be too big/van like - they like 7 seats but with only 4 of them I'm telling them that they don't need it - got a little abused/used by others as a taxi service - plus have access to a 17 seat minibus when needed too.....
skeggysteve said:
kiethton said:
...
Advance payment (inc. £250 bonus) of <£1,000 (less the better)
When you say £250 bonus do you mean the good condition bonus? If so the GCB is now £600! Advance payment (inc. £250 bonus) of <£1,000 (less the better)
To be honest though, I doubt it'd increase things massively - they aren't really car people and had previously only put an extra £250 tops in so the top bound is unlikely to change too much, may help with an extra spec level/auto upgrade though.
Went and viewed them all today, needless to say the budget’s been stretched slightly.
First choice was indeed the Mazda CX-5 sport technology, a £1,500 advanced payment.
Second was a Seat Alteca FR 150 (£1,100 for auto) then the Kuga ST line 150 (£900 for auto).
Booked in for test drive and paperwork with Mazda next weekend
First choice was indeed the Mazda CX-5 sport technology, a £1,500 advanced payment.
Second was a Seat Alteca FR 150 (£1,100 for auto) then the Kuga ST line 150 (£900 for auto).
Booked in for test drive and paperwork with Mazda next weekend
Edited by kiethton on Saturday 12th October 16:09
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