AIBU to wonder how on earth do people afford new cars ?

*doing

I just checked 3 of those car manufacturers on motability. The only Merc has a non refundable advance payment of £6000 and the BMWs start at £4000. There are more affordable audis starting with an advance of just over £1000.

These people aren't just given their motability cars. They have to forfeit the £300 per month mobility element of their PIP and give the car back again after 3 years.

On 100K, if you can't afford a new car you're going something wrong

Some couple be via motorbility, we don't use it but I investigated, new car every 3 years, costs covered bar fuel for approx £180 reduction in benefits. Due to circumstances makes more sense for dsd to have the money but if she came here full time I'd take the car

Let me guess... they are living in a "deprived" area, so they must all be on benefits, but drug dealing/working cash in hand on the side to afford new cars... or they are all fraudulently claiming PIP and getting a "free" new car.
/sarcasm

My mum is in a council house, but leased a car through her company. It had to be big for all the equipment she carries, and she would have a brand new car every 3 years.
I also know people who have cars via PIP, and they also had to be large and sturdy for wheelchairs/hoists etc.

The level of blatant ignorance in many people’s comments re: this issue (and I dare say jealousy) is quite astounding. Yes, some people do exploit the Motability scheme but for many others it is a lifeline.

I am going to have to give them extra wood this winter to make sure they don’t worry about heating the house

Could you build them a wooden car? 🤔

Company car. 50 pound a month.

You’re annoyed that disabled people have a means of transportation? Wow!

Do you have a mobility car yourself? It doesn't sound like it.

In case you're wondering, although it's true that mobility customers get offered 'new' cars, they have to trade part of their PIP to get that.

Secondly, a top of the range, massive car will require you to put quite a few thousands of pounds of your own money down as part payment.

Mobility cars aren't free. DLA or PIP benefit is diverted to pay for them, and if you want a more expensive one you pay more. They often have to be adapted which can be an additional cost.

Hmm. Council houses and refugees you say? I’m pretty sure it won’t be every other driveway.

Not everyone who drives a new car gets it through work or PCP. Some of save and part exchange our previous cars.

This is me, I’m clinging on to mine for as long as I can. When I bought it it was 10 years old. Now a 10 year old car is more than double what I paid so I wouldn’t be able to buy outright.

I went through a phase of wanting to lease one just to have a few modern comforts, but thankfully that idea cooled.

No, they haven't. People who need it, ie poorer pensioners will still get it.

They haven't stripped the 'poor' pensioners of their Winter fuel payments.

They've just stopped giving it to those not on benefits.

HP combined with trading in previous car. Can bring the monthly balance down to about £200-300. DH just did this instead of buying outright. 30k car for a few hundred pounds a month

I don't know and I don't actually care, either 😁

I'm lucky to have a 16yr old car that I bought for £900 3yrs ago. And, like all the cars before it, I will drive it until it collapses and begs, 'no more!'. I try and save a bit each year for the MOT and towards a replacement fund as needed.

I mean, how lucky are we to even own a car? Who cares what it is or how new it is? We have cars, we're not worrying about HP or loans. We have a car that we can hop into and use as we like. No worries about dents, dings, scratches and subsequent surcharges when we have to return them. They are ours, they have character and we are happy.

I could have a mobility car, but, noooo thank you. If you have a company car costing you £20 pm as PP, yay, go for it! But for the rest of us...aren't we lucky?!

You have an issue with disabled people being able to get around and therefore hold down a job (amongst many other things!)? Very strange.

We bought a new car on the scrappage scheme in 2009 with a loan from PIL. Took 8 years to pay it off. It's had several new tyres but still going strong. We are on a very low income.

Yep. Nobody bats an eyelid. Yet the country is in dire straights according to the government so they’ve stripped poor pensioners of their winter fuel payments. My parents are extremely wealthy. They don’t give a toss but I know people who that made a difference to. I am going to have to give them extra wood this winter to make sure they don’t worry about heating the house

Anyway, every other driveway there was a brand new car on and I'm talking about Mercedes, bmw, audi, range rover.

Every other driveway my arse 🤣

I live in London's poorest borough and it might surprise you to learn, many of my neighbours are mortgage free and earning a fairly decent wage.

There are plenty of new cars around, but as you know, they're not on 'every other driveway'.

New cars aren't worth the cost. A nice, reliable Japanese/maybe German car, bit old, doesn't cost much but easy to maintain, spare parts in easy supply, and you don't have to worry so much about someone dinging it. Simples.

They're all company cars, everyone I know with a fancy car it is a work perk/salary sacrifice that's not extortionate/ some sprt of tax benefit for the company