Is this a good idea? Car swap
Discussion
Right, my sister is turning 17 soon and will inevitably be learning to drive. She's getting mum's hand me down Citroen C3 (as she's just bought a new Golf). It's a 53 reg 1.4 C3 Desire with around 45k on the clock. Granted, there have been a few issues with it (like needing the entire front suspension replacing) but all this was done under warranty (the garage she bought it from last year provided a 1 year warranty, very good of them!) and according to mum and dad, its pretty much in perfect condition.
Looking at insurance quotes however, the C3 is a group 6, and for my sister it'll be way too pricey, she also thinks the car itself is a bit big. Now, here's the interesting bit:
Many of you probably know I drive a Fiat Panda right now. It's an 04 reg 1.2 Dynamic with 35k on the clock. I've had a few issues with it recently, but on the whole they've been easy fixes. It's group 1 insurance too, as cheap as you can get, yet for me there is no difference in premium between this and the Citroen, and my dad said if I wanted to, we could do a swap, I'd end up with the C3, and my sister would inherit my Panda.
Is this a good idea, or would I be mad as a hatter? I'm getting conflicting results looking at classifieds, some are pretty evenly matched prices, and others suggest the Panda is worth a few hundred quid more, but so far the parents have offered a straight swap, so if I do go for it would it be worth asking for a bit of cash + the Citroen?
Looking at insurance quotes however, the C3 is a group 6, and for my sister it'll be way too pricey, she also thinks the car itself is a bit big. Now, here's the interesting bit:
Many of you probably know I drive a Fiat Panda right now. It's an 04 reg 1.2 Dynamic with 35k on the clock. I've had a few issues with it recently, but on the whole they've been easy fixes. It's group 1 insurance too, as cheap as you can get, yet for me there is no difference in premium between this and the Citroen, and my dad said if I wanted to, we could do a swap, I'd end up with the C3, and my sister would inherit my Panda.
Is this a good idea, or would I be mad as a hatter? I'm getting conflicting results looking at classifieds, some are pretty evenly matched prices, and others suggest the Panda is worth a few hundred quid more, but so far the parents have offered a straight swap, so if I do go for it would it be worth asking for a bit of cash + the Citroen?
Yeah that's always been a reservation I've had about them (and most Citroens actually), everything inside felt flimsy and like it would break, surprisingly the Panda feels really solid. Apparantly the other option is that I stick with the Panda, parents sell the C3 and give the money from that to my sister to pick her own car. Annoyingly she wants a VW Polo, which is what I'm tempted by after the Panda.
BlueMR2 said:
Its french, they had to replace the front suspension and you still want it 
.
I'm not mad keen on it, but I am getting to the point where the Panda is a bit small and I want something bigger, dad offered it to me, I initially laughed down the phone, have considered it a little bit though, just wondered what the PH masses thought. .Well, you know the Citroen has had its suspension done, so it's one part you'll get at least another 6 years/45k out of, going by how long it lasted from new. As for unreliability, I would guess a 6 year old Panda will start needed little bits and pieces, so I'm not sure about the logic of one being that much better than the other...
So, bigger car... Maybe better on the motorway. I'd probably swap!
But what do I know? I've not owned either.
So, bigger car... Maybe better on the motorway. I'd probably swap!
But what do I know? I've not owned either.
chickenkebab said:
Rather the C3... Personally think the Panda looks a bit ghey. C3 would handle better too I would have thought with being lower.
C3 deinitely looks the girlier car IMO and as said the build quality isn't up to much. As for the handling I couldn't really say but how big is the difference in height really? an inch? if that...samdale said:
chickenkebab said:
Rather the C3... Personally think the Panda looks a bit ghey. C3 would handle better too I would have thought with being lower.
C3 deinitely looks the girlier car IMO and as said the build quality isn't up to much. As for the handling I couldn't really say but how big is the difference in height really? an inch? if that...dpbird90 said:
HereBeMonsters said:
Driven both? I have, and I know which one I'd have.
sadly not, won't get to have a go in the C3 till Christmas (along with my parents its in Leicester, I'm in Scotland). Mum would never let me use it when she first got it. Which one did you find better?dpbird90 said:
would it be worth asking for a bit of cash + the Citroen?
This wouldn't really occur to me. These people are your family - as long as you get on with them then I wouldn't bother too much about 'a bit of cash'.The issue is whether you like the C3 better than your Panda, and whether you want to do your sister a favour. I've never driven either car, but the Panda's better looking, IMO.
DannyVTS said:
jw golf mk4 said:
sell them both! 
In all fairness either keep the Panda, or if you fancy something different swap it to do your sister a favour, and sell the C3
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