Convertible Motability cars

The eligibility for a Motability car is far reaching, while a convertible car might seem at odds with a Scheme for disabled people but not everyone has to have room for a wheelchair.

The options are limited but roof down motoring is a joy.

BMW 2 Series Convertible

The BMW is the largest convertible on the Scheme, it has a fabric roof that folds neatly into the boot in around 20 seconds at speeds up to 30mph, reducing the boot size to 335 litres. The rear two seats are small – adults will struggle for knee room and, if the roof is up, head room is restrictive too. The 2 Series Convertible is more about style and enjoyment for two. And it delivers the goods, with a classy, high quality finish and thoroughly enjoyable, yet still very comfortable driving experience. Trims avaialble are the SE and Sport paired to the 1.5 litre 3 cylinder 134 bhp petrol, 0-62 mph is a respectable 8.8 seconds and economy a claimed 48.7 miles per gallon.

 Summer Best Buy – BMW 2 Series Convertible 218i (Petrol) SE Manual  –   £1599 Advance Payment (£519 wpms) or £1899 (£817 wmps) in Sport

 Summer Best Buy – BMW 2 Series Convertible 218i (Petrol) SE Automatic  –   £2199 Advance Payment (£1119 wpms) or £2399 (£1319 wmps) in Sport

 

 

Mazda MX-5

The Mazda MX-5 is a two seat sports car, the standard car has a fabric roof and the RF (Retractable Fastback) an automatic retracting metal roof. The fabric roof is a manual operation to drop and it can be carried out with one hand, the RF roof retracts in 13-seconds at speeds of 6mph or below, you are also left with the rear section in place even with the metal roof majestically stored away. Three trim lines are avaialble, SE, SE-L and Sport, SE cars have 16 inchAlloy wheels, LED headlights , steering wheel-mounted audio controls, leather-wrapped steering wheel and gear knob, engine start/stop button, CD player and manual air-conditioning. SE-L cars add LED daytime running lights, climate control air-conditioning, cruise control, 7 inch touch-screen display with Sat Nav and DAB radio. Sport trim adds 17 inch alloys (2.0 litre only, you also get aŸ limited slip differential in the 2.0 litre manual car) rear parking sensors, dusk-sensing lights, black leather seats, heated seats, rain-sensing front wipers, keyless entry, lane departure warning system Ÿand Bose sound system with nine speakers.

Power comes from a 129 bhp 1.5 litre petrol engine which has been roundly praised for its high revving and smooth acceleration and a 2.0 litre with 158 bhp, neither engine is turbo charged giving excellent midrange torque. The smaller engine can reach 62 miles per hour in 8.3 seconds and economy from the six speed manual gearbox is 47.1 miles per gallon. The manual or automatic 2.0 litre can hit 62mph in 7.3 seconds and return 40.9 mpg (39.2 as an auto), The extra weight of the metal roof does slow the RF version, but only by 0.3 seconds for the 1,5 and 0.1 for the 2.0 litre.

Price reduced from previous quarter price Summer Best Buy – Mazda MX-5 Convertible 1.5 SE L Manual  – £999 Advance Payment (£66.74 + £106 wpms) or £1899 (£817 wmps) in Sport

The ‘targa top’ RF in the same engine/trim is Price reduced from previous quarter price£1399 AP, the only automatic car is the 2.0 litre RF at Price reduced from previous quarter price£2499.

 

 

 

Fiat 500c – best of the rest

Other options are only semi convertible, the Vauxhall Adam Air, Peugeot 108 Convertible and Citroen C1 Airscape are fitted with a fabric roof, but only open along the roofline, like a large sunroof. The Fiat 500C is the exception as the roof can be dropped to include the rear window, prices for the Fiat 500c start at £57.25 per week. (you keep £2.50 of your mobility payment per week) or Nil Advance Payment for an automatic.