W2B-033 Car matters-0.txt
A helping hand
PENTLANDS, Ravenhill Road, Belfast, one of Northern Ireland's leading Vauxhall dealerships, recognises the indispensable part a car can play in the lives of people with disabilities and their families.

The dealership specialises in meeting the motoring requirements of disabled people providing expert advice and guidance on how to utilise the Government mobility benefit.

John Taylor, sales manager at Pentlands, said; "Statistics show that of those who receive a Government benefit, some 803,000 people do not use it to acquire transport. A vast number of the UK's disabled population is therefore missing out on the benefits of Motability."

He points out that anyone in receipt of the higher mobility component of the Disability Living Allowance (DLA) and the War Pension Mobility Supplement can take advantage of the Motability programme.

Vehicles acquired through Motability do not have to be driven personally by the recipient of this benefit so the schemes can be used for a child or anyone else unable to drive.

Pentlands are Motability approved and are also one of the leading Motability dealerships in the Province. Last year, they were awarded second place overall in the UK in the Most Improved Sales of Motability Vehicles category of the motability Awards.

John Taylor said that there are three acquisitions plans, the most popular of which is contract hire. Under the Vauxhall Motability New Car Contract Hire Scheme, customers exchange their government benefit for a three-year contract which provides a new vehicle and covers all servicing, maintenance and insurance. Dependent on the model chosen, a small one-off payment may be required at the commencement of the contract.

At present, Pentlands are offering the Corsa Merit diesel and petrol models without a deposit and all Astras come with power steering, engine immobiliser and driver's airbag as standard.

Alternatively customers may choose the Vauxhall New Car Motability Hire Purchase Plan and relinquish the benefit over a four or five year period in order to generate a lump sum to finance the purchase of a specially priced car.

Finally, preferential prices are available through the Vauxhall Mobility Plan, without the need to exchange the Government benefit and the plan can also be used to accommodate people whose DLA award is insufficient to quality for one of the Motability schemes. Lower Rate Mobility Component and Severe Disablement Allowance recipients along with OB holders also qualify for preferential prices through this plan.

Vauxhall Motors was the first manufacturer to insist that its dealers conformed to a code of conduct aimed at improving service to all Vauxhall Motability customers.

Pentlands has three fully trained Motability sales consultants - Kathy Murphy, Mike Adair, and Dougie Johnston - and the showroom is fully accessible with wheelchair ramps.

John Taylor said: "We can also arrange for a sales consultant to go to your home if you are unable to travel to our showrooms."

Pentlands will organise any conversions or adaptations that are required and when the car is delivered ensure that all the necessary checks have been made and oversee all subsequent servicing arrangements.

The showroom is open from 9am to 8.30pm Monday to Thursday, Friday 9am to 5pm and Saturday 9am to 12.30pm. Why not call Pentlands today at 01232 451422?
