Would I be daft to pass on this?
Discussion
Background: Had a Megane 265 stage 1. Decent car but never really liked it. It was a bit of an impulse buy and really I thought it was too expensive for what you get vs other stuff in that price bracket. Plus it was pretty thirsty and at speeds where it was interesting to drive it was a case of “if this goes wrong I’m not going to be very well” - couple that with the fact that the opportunity to reach those speeds didn’t come up that often without going on track, and the interior was rubbish, I punted it off, paid off some loans and a credit card and am currently using my old EP3 as my daily driver. Nothing wrong with it but I’ve fallen out of love with it and messing around with cars in general for the time being.
I could probably get about 2500 for my Civic, and the opportunity has come up to get an X Trail. Normally I wouldn’t really consider this but it’s been in the family 8 years, 06 plate, 2.2 diesel on about 100k. Fsh, top spec, the works. It’s surplus to requirement so I could get it for 1400. Even if I ran it for a year I could probably sell it for more than I paid for it and if the intercooler went before I had the chance to change it I don’t think I’d lose too much as spares or repairs.
Current thinking with my sensible hat is to get the X Trail, get the Civic sold and save a bit of money on insurance etc. and save for when my girlfriend and I relocate back down South next year (hurrah!). Can chuck bikes, wakeboards, people, pretty much anything I like in it too which would be a bonus. My annual mileage isn’t a lot as I work from home but when I do venture out it’s mainly motorway for work. Yes the egr valve will probably need cleaning with light domestic use.
Non sensible hat is a 3.0 e89 Z4 which was the initial plan but that’s a whole different thread.... sensible hat says that can wait until we’re settled down south in about 10 months.
TL;DR:
X Trail. Fsh. Top spec. Car in the family surplus to requirements. 100k £1,400 (plus a new intercooler just to be safe). Too cheap to miss?
I could probably get about 2500 for my Civic, and the opportunity has come up to get an X Trail. Normally I wouldn’t really consider this but it’s been in the family 8 years, 06 plate, 2.2 diesel on about 100k. Fsh, top spec, the works. It’s surplus to requirement so I could get it for 1400. Even if I ran it for a year I could probably sell it for more than I paid for it and if the intercooler went before I had the chance to change it I don’t think I’d lose too much as spares or repairs.
Current thinking with my sensible hat is to get the X Trail, get the Civic sold and save a bit of money on insurance etc. and save for when my girlfriend and I relocate back down South next year (hurrah!). Can chuck bikes, wakeboards, people, pretty much anything I like in it too which would be a bonus. My annual mileage isn’t a lot as I work from home but when I do venture out it’s mainly motorway for work. Yes the egr valve will probably need cleaning with light domestic use.
Non sensible hat is a 3.0 e89 Z4 which was the initial plan but that’s a whole different thread.... sensible hat says that can wait until we’re settled down south in about 10 months.
TL;DR:
X Trail. Fsh. Top spec. Car in the family surplus to requirements. 100k £1,400 (plus a new intercooler just to be safe). Too cheap to miss?
Nothing wrong with your plan.
Sounds like it will be cheap motoring for a year and you may make money when you come to sell.
It will then give you the opportunity to save up for the car you really want next year.
They are decent cars IMO.
If you don't like it you could always sell it earlier.
Sounds like it will be cheap motoring for a year and you may make money when you come to sell.
It will then give you the opportunity to save up for the car you really want next year.
They are decent cars IMO.
If you don't like it you could always sell it earlier.
I've done this a few times and am just about to do it again coming out of a Cupra 290 lease. A few previous "downgrades" have been S3 Sportback to jobby brown Honda HRV and Z4 3.0Si to Citroen Xsara Picasso.
As you can see, it could be a lot worse than an X-Trail. However, those slum wagons have been some of the most loveable and memorable cars I've owned. I say go for it then if you get bored sell the X-trail at the first sight of snow and make a profit.
As you can see, it could be a lot worse than an X-Trail. However, those slum wagons have been some of the most loveable and memorable cars I've owned. I say go for it then if you get bored sell the X-trail at the first sight of snow and make a profit.
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