Motobility - Better For Mum?

[hc4361]

My mother is thinking of buying a new vehicle and she has the cash to buy outright if that gets her a better deal.

She is entitled to lease a car on the Motobility Scheme which means she would be spending her £220 a month mobility allowance but would keep her capital.

What is better for her, financially?

[whistonian]

What is your mothers average mileage.If she only does a very small mileage ie 3-5000 per year then I would buy the car over a 3year period on a good deal.New cars today should give 5-7 years trouble free if well looked after.
My neighbour has had a mobility car for years and will be changing it in April and he has only covered 9200 miles.

[sir.prize]

paddywak - Yes you are right, but also as long as the car has done less than 15,000 miles then it can be extended for a further two years.

http://www.motability.co.uk/cars-and-wavs/customer-area/extending-your-lease

[sir.prize]

whistonian - unless your neighbour WANTS to change his car, show him the link I just posted.

[paddywak]

Also If you return the car in a nice clean,undamaged condition you get a cash back payment which was £200 the last time I changed but i believe it has just gone up to £250.

[EDDIE51]

Cash back is upto £350 now, you can have it as cash or towards the next car

[whistonian]

sir.prize, I don't see the point of extending the lease at the same monthly cost,might as well have a new one.

[EDDIE51]

One point about insurance is that though you get fully comp insurance it does not allow you or your nominated driver/drivers to drive any other car and no one else is allowed to drive the motability car even if they have fully comp policy that allows them to drive other cars. Nominated drivers must live within 5 miles of the disabled person, up to 2 nominated drivers are allowed free more can be added at extra cost. The insurance does not count towards the drivers NCB but motability will give details of claims history to other insurance companies if the drivers get other insurance's.

[hc4361]

Thanks again, all.

Now, which car is the next question.

[EDDIE51]

The cheapest is the Kia picanto which is the same apart from the badge as the new Ford Ka. The kia does not even use the entire weekly allowance and has a zero advance payment. We were going to get one until we found the Vauxhall Zafira 7 seater was just £35 advance, we have 12 grandchildren so the full 7 seats get used.

[EDDIE51]

here is the Kia motability price page
http://www.kia.co.uk/new-cars/motability/motablility-car-prices.aspx
You can get a new car for under £46 a week which still gives you the other £10 a week or so as cash.

[hc4361]

She's more concerned about refinements than price, Eddie

[EDDIE51]

This is Motabilitys home page it has information on every car available and reviews of each model, this is what I used to compare models.
http://www.motability.co.uk/

[hc4361]

Thanks, Eddie, just the ticket

[hc4361]

Another question - can she have optional extras if she pays for them herself?