Ssangyong continues to add new models to it's expanding fleet of cars within the Motability Scheme.

The SsangYong Tivoli diesel as well as the petrol engine models are now available through the Motability Scheme so disabled motorists can lease a new Tivoli using their higher rate mobility allowance. 

The capacious seven seat Turismo MPV was one of the first cars from SsangYong to become available on the Scheme last year and proved extremely popular with larger families. For 2016 the car is powered by an upgraded 2.2 litre Euro 6 engine that delivers more power, better fuel economy and reduced emissions and expected to be even more successful than its predecessor.

“The Motability Scheme is unquestionably helping a lot of disabled people to get mobile, and we’re delighted to be broadening the range of SsangYong cars available. With prices starting from just £99 Advance Payment for Motability Scheme customers, there is a car to suit almost everyone,” says Paul Williams, CEO of SsangYong Motor UK.

1.6 litre Tivoli SUV

Strong on style, the Tivoli is a new and contemporary B-segment SUV that offers a comprehensive specification and sector-leading prices from just £99 Advance Payment for Motability Scheme customers -see chart below. There are three trim levels - SE, EX, ELX, the choice of 1.6 litre Euro 6 petrol and diesel engines, 6 speed manual or 6 speed Aisin automatic transmission.

There’s space for five adults to travel in comfort, a boot capacity of 423 - 1,115 cubic litres, a high level of safety with seven airbags across the range, and a wide choice of colours and stylish interior trims. The Tivoli SE is finished in a smart grey cloth trim, and includes 16” alloy wheels, cruise control, a stop/go system, Smart steering (normal, comfort and sport modes), an RDS/Bluetooth radio and seven airbags.

The EX adds the option of automatic transmission, grey or beige leather upholstery, 18” alloy Spiral wheels, dual zone climate control, 7” touch screen smart audio system with rear view camera, heated front seats, front fog lights and a luggage load cover, while the ELX features Diamond cut alloy wheels, a smart instrument cluster, smart keyless starting, front & rear parking sensors, privacy glass, rear spoiler, automatic headlamps, rain sensing wipers, full TomTom navigation system with 7” touch screen and rear view camera.

2.2 litre Turismo MPV

At over 5 metres long and with a 3 metre wheelbase, the Turismo is larger than a standard sized MPV people carrier, and is now further enhanced for 2016 with the addition of an upgraded 2.2 litre Euro 6 diesel engine. The choice of a 6-speed manual transmission or new Mercedes-Benz 7-speed automatic is also now offered.

Designed to appeal as family, leisure and business transportation, the new Turismo blends multi-role flexibility with great ride comfort and the equipment of a luxury saloon, and will transport seven adults in comfort together with their luggage. The SsangYong Turismo is almost without rival.

Thanks to its 3,000mm wheelbase, the car provides a huge interior space where seven adults can travel in supreme comfort with their luggage loaded in the back, without having to compromise on passenger accommodation. There are three rows of seats as well as a large load space which can be further increased by removing the third row completely. This gives a massive load carrying capability of between 875 litres with seven adults seated, through to two adults and 3,146 litres of load space.

While rear wheel drive features on the SE and EX, the top of the range ELX includes selectable 4x4 with low ratio as standard. This makes the Turismo ELX a car you can rely on, no matter what the winter throws at you, and is especially safe and practical whether towing a caravan, horsebox or boat trailer, or when driving on snow and ice. As with other Turismo models the ELX has an impressive 2 tonne towing capability.

A wide choice of SsangYong cars including the Tivoli petrol and diesel, Korando SUV, and the Turismo 2.2 MPV are now offered on the Motability Scheme, and available to those receiving the Higher Rate Mobility Component of the Disability Living Allowance, the Enhanced Rate of the Mobility Component of Personal Independence Payment, the War Pensioners’ Mobility Supplement or the Armed Forces Independence Payment, from participating SsangYong dealers.

Advance Payment by model	£
Tivoli 1.6 petrol SE manual	£99
Tivoli 1.6 petrol EX manual	£399
Tivoli 1.6 petrol EX auto	£899
Tivoli 1.6 petrol ELX manual	£699
Tivoli 1.6 diesel SE manual	£499
Tivoli 1.6 diesel EX manual	£799
Tivoli 1.6 diesel ELX manual	£1,099
Tivoli 1.6 diesel EX 4WD manual	£1,199
Tivoli 1.6 diesel EX auto	£1,499
Tivoli 1.6 diesel ELX 4WD manual	£1,799
Tivoli 1.6 diesel ELX auto	£1,999
Tivoli 1.6 diesel ELX 4WD auto	£2,399
Turismo 2.2 diesel SE manual	£1,499
Turismo 2.2 diesel EX manual	£1,999
Turismo 2.2 diesel EX auto	£2,499
Turismo 2.2 diesel ELX 4WD auto	£2,999

Prices correct at time of going to press. Prices based on the Higher Rate Mobility Component of Disability Living Allowance. Further information available from the Motability Scheme: http://bit.ly/1lqRQQA

The Motability Scheme has helped more than four million people into a new vehicle.

Regardless of which car is chosen, all Motability Scheme customers enjoy the same worry-free package including insurance, breakdown cover, servicing, tyres and windscreen replacement.

Nissan's Qashqai takes a well deserved Fleet News award.

The all-conquering Nissan Qashqai has been named best mid-sized SUV at the Fleet News Awards 2015. The prestigious award underlines the British-built model’s all-round appeal to fleet operators and company car drivers.

In 2014, almost 27,000 Qashqai were registered to fleet customers in the UK, helping Nissan’s corporate sales team to its best ever passenger car volume of 63,358.

The Qashqai is now the fifth bestselling fleet car in the UK.

Presenting the award, Stephen Briers, Editor-in-Chief of Fleet News, said: “The Qashqai has appeal across all sections of fleet, from user-choosers to Motability users. 

It is a compelling proposition as both new and used – with very strong residual values – and is an excellent all-rounder with competitive fuel consumption and CO₂ emissions plus a high-quality interior. New engines introduced by Nissan last year have made a great car even better.”

Barry Beeston, Corporate Sales Director at Nissan Motor (GB), said: “We are absolutely delighted to receive this award as it recognises the enormous impact the Qashqai has made in the fleet sector.”

He added: “It’s now more than a year since the Qashqai was launched and, despite increased competition, it continues to top the polls and pick up industry awards.

“But winning an award from a title like Fleet News, which understands the needs and opinions of fleet customers, is particularly pleasing.”

Hyundai continues success with record breaking sales in the UK.

• Total registrations up 7% YTD October, Hyundai UK on track for another record year
• True Fleet sales up 32% YTD September against 2013
• Best ever October for Hyundai Motability sales

After reporting the best September in the history of Hyundai Motor UK, sales growth has continued into October as the company achieved the 10^th month of consecutive growth in 2014 and heads towards another year of record breaking UK sales.

Building on the strong growth year to date, Hyundai Motor UK registered 5,892 vehicles in October, taking year-to-date registrations to 71,456. A number of records were broken last month, including the best October for Motability sales in the history of Hyundai Motor UK and the best October for ix35 sales.

Fleet registrations also showed massive growth, with Hyundai’s True Fleet sales up 32% year to date against 2013.

Tony Whitehorn, President and CEO, Hyundai Motor UK, said: “October has been another month of solid growth for Hyundai, reinforcing confidence in our product range and strong dealer network. As we head towards the end of the year, we are confident that 2014 will be another record breaking year for Hyundai Motor UK.”

Skoda Citigo Monte Carlo added to Motability line up.

• Well equipped, stylish, Citigo Monte Carlo added to ŠKODA’s Motability offer
• Fuel economy of up 62.8mpg coupled with CO₂ emissions as low as 105g/km
• Nil Advance Payments
• New-look ŠKODA Motability website provides model-specific information and offers

ŠKODA UK’s special edition Citigo Monte Carlo is now available on the Motability scheme for the first time. Originally introduced on the Fabia to celebrate 100 years of the Monte Carlo rally, the Monte Carlo name has become a firm favourite in the ŠKODA range.

The Citigo Monte Carlo, based on the SE model, has been given a trendy new look thanks to a black trim that includes 15-inch alloy wheels, door mirror covers, front and rear spoilers and grille. These details are complimented by lowered suspension for a more stylish stance on the road. Inside, the Citigo Monte Carlo gains polished metal kick plates and a leather sports steering wheel, handbrake lever and gear lever gaiter. Customers gain Bluetooth connectivity, satellite navigation and trip computer plus floor mats with red stitching and a gloss black dashboard pad with MC logo.

The Citigo Monte Carlo is available in three- and five-door forms and is available on the Motability scheme with nil advanced payment.

Power for the Citigo Monte Carlo comes from an efficient 1.0-litre 60PS engine which is capable of 62.8mpg and emits just 105g/km of CO₂.

More information is available at SKODA UK’s recently upgraded Motability website (www.skoda.co.uk/motability). The site supplies dedicated offers and product information for each model available on the scheme, in addition to a downloadable Motability Price Guide.

Andy Thomas, Sales Operations – Rental and Motability Manager at ŠKODA UK, comments: “The Citigo Monte Carlo is a very attractive, well-equipped, proposition for the right person and adds to our already popular Monte Carlo line-up.”

Skoda GreenLine range is added to Motability rage of cars.

• Motability Scheme customers now have choice of any ŠKODA GreenLine model
• Fuel economy of up 88.3mpg coupled with CO2 emissions as low as 85g/km
• Nil Advance Payments on selected variants
• New-look ŠKODA Motability website provides model-specific information and offers

ŠKODA UK is pleased to announce that every model from its GreenLine fleet of environmentally advanced cars is now available on the Motability Scheme*. Over 20 different variants offer customers high levels of safety, practicality and a generous specification.

New to the Motability Scheme, the recently-launched Octavia GreenLine III 1.6 TDI 110 hatch and Estate allows motorists to benefit from one of the lowest emissions in their class at 85g/km CO₂ (VED Band A), a combined cycle fuel economy to match at 88.3mpg as well as a substantial load capacity of up to 1,740 litres. There is ample space for the storage of luggage and mobility equipment, whilst ŠKODA’s Simply Clever storage solutions further enhance practicality.

 

Carrying a nil Advance Payment and zero road tax, the Fabia hatch and Estate line-up has also been extended on the programme to include the GreenLine II 1.2 TDI model in both guises. They join the five-door Rapid Spaceback hatch which brings nearly 1,400 litres of space whilst delivering exceptionally low running costs thanks to emissions of just 99g/km and an impressive fuel consumption of 74.3mpg. The facelifted Yeti and Yeti Outdoor 1.6 TDI GreenLine II crossover models are ideal for those requiring an elevated driving position and access to more rugged environments.

Furthermore, to help customers choose the right vehicle according to their individual needs, ŠKODA UK has launched its new-look Motability website (www.skoda.co.uk/motability). The upgraded portal supplies dedicated offers and product information for each model available on the scheme, in addition to a downloadable Motability Price Guide.

Andy Thomas, Sales Operations – Rental and Motability Manager at ŠKODA UK, comments: “The addition of the entire GreenLine model range further reinforces our continued strategy of building brand presence on the Scheme. Sales during the first quarter of this year have been extremely encouraging, a trend that we will be looking to continue as we move through 2014.”

*To qualify, individuals must be in receipt of the Higher Rate Mobility Component of the Disability Living Allowance, the Enhanced rate of the Mobility Component of the Personal Independence Payment, War Pensioners’ Mobility Supplement or Armed Forces Independence Payment, which will be taken in lieu of the four weekly allowance.

SEAT has some great Q4 consumer offers and Motability terms.

• Mii Toca only £79 per month, while Ibiza SC Toca stays under £10,000
• New Leon from as little as £165 per month, with huge specification
• Free Leon Technology Pack offer extended for a further three months
• £2,500 off the price of every new Toledo, meaning the range starts at £10,000
• 46 SEAT models available with zero advance payment for Motability customers

With SEAT UK posting its best monthly sales ever in September, the company is looking to keep the momentum going with a round of fantastic Q4 offers that truly put the customer first.

Starting with the Mii, it remains possible to get into a brand new SEAT city car for less than the price of a fancy gym membership: just £79 per month for a Mii Toca on a PCP, which comes with satellite navigation and rear parking sensors. The small print is below, but there are no surprises.

Next up is the Ibiza SC, which is available in Toca specification for just £9,995. So for less than ten grand, a customer can drive away with a stunning supermini including satellite navigation, Bluetooth, 16-inch alloy wheels and dark tinted windows. That’s a £2,700 saving on the RRP. Across the rest of the range, all Ibiza FR models have £2,000 off, as does the very rapid, range-topping Ibiza Cupra – now just £16,765.

Moving up the SEAT range, all Toledo models have £2,500 off the retail price, meaning the Toledo begins at just £10,000. Meanwhile, the free Technology Pack offer for the Leon continues, meaning all SE and FR cars can have satellite navigation, DAB digital radio and full-LED headlights for nothing, as opposed to the pack’s £1,075 retail price.

SEAT is also offering a £1,000 deposit contribution across the Leon range when purchased on a PCP, and 4.9% APR – which means the monthly payment on a new Leon SC SE 1.2 TSI, including Technology Pack, is just £165.

For the Altea and Altea XL ranges there’s a £2,500 deposit contribution across the range, with a PCP, and every model is available with five years 0% on hire purchase, with a 35% deposit. And it’s exactly the same story with the multi-award winning Alhambra line-up.

Motability drivers will be able to enjoy a SEAT Leon with no advance payment on certain models, while there’s also no advance payment on certain Mii, Ibiza and Toledo variants; in total, SEAT is offering 46 vehicles with £0 advance payment, including the very highly equipped and fuel-efficient Leon 1.6 TDI SE.

SEAT is looking to achieve a record-breaking year in 2013, and started in the best possible way. Having put the all-new Leon on sale in March, the company posted its best ever half-year sales at the end of June, with 22,752 cars registered. Following that, the third quarter of the year was the company’s best ever, with 12,716 cars registered, and September was its best ever single month.

The (not so) small print…

The Mii Toca offer is a 36-month PCP with 4.9% APR, and requires a £2,719 deposit, while the £165 per month Leon offer requires a £4,771 customer deposit, £1,000 of which is paid by SEAT.

TMW - Marshall's Motor Group, how to lose sales and alienate people.

Today is the second busiest day of the year for car sales, each year the 1st of September and the 1st March are number plate change days, so it is no surprise to find that a number of new cars are going to be handed over to eager and happy new owners, but before anyone hands over any money there is the usual tooing and froing of haggling, and freebies and so on, before the dealer then tries to get you to take out finance and various other high price low value extras that can be had elsewhere for far far less than the finance and extra packages the dealers try their damned hardest to sell you.

It is here then that my experience with a large motor group begins, I was some while ago registered disabled and therefore was unable to do a lot of the usual things that i loved to do, track days, road tests etc until I stabilised enough to be able to drive comfortably again, I was given a benefit that enabled me to get a car on what is called the motability scheme, a scheme that gets people back on the road in cars more suitable for their needs, and it was this scheme that got me into my first motability car.

I collected my MINI Countryman 2.0 Cooper SD ALL4, now that's a mouthful, about 14 months ago, and initially it was fine, it wasn't until a few weeks later that my back and hips began to hurt again, and after trying to work out why, it always happened after i had driven the car, it turned out that the MINI dealer that allowed us to have an extended drive in a Countryman had failed, on purpose I suspect, to advise that, that car had the run flat tyres removed, and on my car they would be added.

Over the following months i drove the car less and less until I was advised to contact motability to see if they could help, and they did, they advised that I could hand back the MINI at a nominal fee to me £100 (admin charges) and I could then locate another car that would now be better suited to me new needs, this was brilliant, the two people I spoke with at motability could not have been more helpful and pleasant, so I decided to take my time and locate a number of vehicles through the Internet, car magazines and personal taste that I think might be suitable and then go from their.

Within the motability website it clearly states and I quote 

"To find out whether a car is suitable, it’s worth taking more than one test drive and to take your time during the session. A quick drive around the block may not be enough to get an idea of whether the car is right for you. It’s best to test out different types of roads, especially those you regularly use, including dual carriageways, minor roads with speed bumps and even places to park. If you regularly travel long distances, you will need a long test drive."

So off we went, I initially emailed a number of dealers Marshalls, Ford, Peugeot, Volvo Vindis Skoda and Cecil & Larter Volvo, all local dealers to me, the only one that ever got back to me was Vindis Skoda, and they refused point blank to allow me to have an extended test drive, stating their insurance does not cover it, but will sit beside me while i drove around, now don't get me wrong, for some that would be acceptable, but I don't like being in a car with car dealers as they talk to you and constantly want to point out the cars good points while getting you to avoid the poor points.

I get uncomfortable in the company of people I don't know, so driving with strangers does not make for a good combination, so I had to leave that, which was very unfortunate as I really liked the Skoda Yeti, and the 1.2 DSG SE would have been an ideal car, as long as was able to drive it comfortably, which I was not able to do, I have never come across ANY other dealer that wont do extended test drives especially for a motability customer.

Now on to Marshall's, for those not in the know, they are one of the biggest privately owned dealership chains in the UK, with many brands from Ford to Jaguar, Citroen to Land Rover and many more in between, the company started life in Cambridge and has the biggest multi-chain dealership area's with Land Rover, jaguar, Ford, Citroen, Volvo, SEAT, Mitsubishi, Peugeot, a used car site as well as commercial sales located behind the main sales area.

It has to be seen to be believed, and for the consumer it is great to have so much choice in a smallish area, but i digress, I visited all the dealers and narrowed it down to Ford and Volvo, I visited both, and spoke with sales staff at both, advised of what I wanted and why, both agreed that an extended drive would be no issue, but neither had the cars that i wanted to try, The Volvo V40 Cross Country D2 auto, and the Ford B-Max Titanium powershift and C-Max Powershift.

Both dealers agreed that they could get a car/s for me to try and that was that, I thought great, can't wait, I got an email later in the day from the Ford dealer with a C-Max brochure attached which I was aware would be coming, and that gave me plenty to read along with the B-Max literature I was given there, I was also given the V40 CC booklet to read whilst i waited for a car to arrive.

So I thought right, all I need to do now is wait to hear from the dealers, they have all my details, all my requirements, so there should be no issues, how wrong could I be, I got a call from the Volvo dealer the next day, asking why i visited the day before, and could he assist, I suppose it didn't help when he said he had no idea why I called in, and had no details about my visit, less than 24 hours previously, he was not aware that a car was being sourced for me to try or even that I was a motability customer, he said that he would locate the details and call me right back, that was nearly two weeks ago.

Ford on the other hand, was ok initially, i again advised what i needed and why, and the young lady said that she could locate the relevant cars for me to test, she even got online to show that these cars were available, she gave me the relevant costs involved, and was more than happy to assist, as I said above i got an email with the C-Max info attached, and that has been that, not a peep since, and again that was nearly two weeks ago.

The Ford dealership at Cambridge Marshall's used to be Rover-MG and I purchased a brand new MG ZS their back in 2004, the salesman  then was not to bright to be honest, he tried to fob off a damaged car (bonnet was dented) and said that if we waited he would swap with another one they had, WHAT, you serious, try and fob it off on another customer, was not happy, needless to say I did not do that and they never fixed it at first service like they said they would, I should have realised that, that dealership was not up to snuff.

Today 01/09/2013 we went for a walk, as it helps keep my muscles and other bits and pieces active, along the Marshalls dealerships, we popped into Volvo to see if the person i saw originally was there, which they were not, but the three guys in there, inspired little, they looked miserable and we never had a smile out of any of them, so we left and tried the new SEAT Leon, a lovely looking car, but i could not get in or out of it with ease, but the salesman there tried his best to gloss over that fact and encouraged us to buy the car.

Um, no, I cant get in or out without discomfort or without ease, so no, I am not getting this car, at which point he just walked away, no thank you, or if there is anything else etc, just walk away mid sentence, how bloody rude is that. I was losing the will to live by now, with rude salesmen, and three that really did not want to be there, let alone have anything to do with a customer, we walked past Citroen and got a hello and can we help, which we politely declined, but we still got a sweetie each.

Then to Ford, as We got to the wide opened door, I saw the salesman that sold me my MG, he saw me and slammed the door to the office he was in and the guy he was talking to turned to look our way and laughed, so Marshall's Ford, you can get stuffed, your attitude is diabolical, your staff are rude and ignorant and as far as I am concerned I will advise anyone that asks to avoid you, I am a customer, I have caused you no issues, I have never complained about you, or made any comments that would cause such rudeness.

The only thing that you did I did not like was to try and fob me off with damaged products and then to get round it swap it with someone else's car so they have a damaged one, and that's just not on, so i declined, on the assumption you would repair it which you never ever did, how is that these people are still employed, why is that the customer has to put up with such blatant rudeness, and why is that these dealers at marshall;;s never do what they say they are going to do.

For a supposed family run business, it is more like a couldn't care less about the customer business, and for someone that has issues which require specific needs it makes the whole episode stressful and one that now requires me to go further afield to get a car that i should be able to get just two minutes up the road,.

Nissan's LEAF added to growing list of cars on the motability scheme

• 100% electric UK-built LEAF joins Motability Scheme
• Available from just £999 Advance Payment
• Free 16Amp Home Charging Unit installation by British Gas

The new Nissan LEAF has become the first 100% electric vehicle to join the Motability Scheme, allowing the scheme’s 620,000 current users the opportunity to explore zero emission motoring.*

The new UK-built LEAF is now available from just £999 Advance Payment (AP). For £1,299 AP customers can upgrade to the Acenta model featuring Nissan’s CARWINGS telematics system as well as useful features such as auto lights and wipers, cruise control and a colour reversing camera. At the top of the range, Tekna grade adds BOSE audio, 360° Around View Monitor and leather heated seats and is available for £1,999 AP.

Whichever LEAF model customers ultimately choose, they can look forward to waving goodbye to petrol stations and saying hello to instantaneous power delivery and a peaceful driving experience. A full charge on the LEAF gives up to 124 miles range and costs from around £2 (depending upon time of day and tariff) meaning that over a distance of 10,000 miles drivers can expect to save around £1,000 that would otherwise have been spent on the forecourt.

What’s more, British Gas is currently offering a 16Amp data-enabled Home Charging Unit (HCU) which will charge LEAF from empty to full in 8 hours.

Having been designed as a purpose-built electric vehicle from the ground up, the neat packaging of its lithium-ion batteries means there is no compromise on boot space; in fact, with 370 litres on Visia and Acenta grades it has more luggage space than a Ford Focus.

Nissan cars are a popular choice on the Motability Scheme with a range well suited to a variety of mobility needs. The introduction of the new LEAF brings something fresh and innovative to the scheme’s existing customers, combining the practicality of a normal medium hatchback with running costs that are a fraction of the price of a petrol or diesel car of its size.

The Motability Scheme is directed and overseen by Motability, a national charity, and enables those people receiving the Higher Rate Mobility Component of Disability Living Allowance or War Pensioner’s Mobility Supplement to lease a vehicle through the scheme.

As a Motability Premier Partner, each of Nissan’s 200 plus dealerships has a minimum of two trained Motability sales and aftersales specialists who will use their Motability Scheme experience with Juke, Micra, Note, NV200 Combi, Qashqai and Qashqai+2 to discuss options with interested customers.

Jon Pollock, Nissan GB sales director said: “We’re proud that the Nissan LEAF has delivered another first ahead of its rivals to become the first 100% electric car on the Motability Scheme. With a starting Advance Payment of just £999 and Motability Scheme specialists at each of our dealerships, getting behind the wheel of an electric vehicle and enjoying low running costs has never been easier.”