Car swaps - good idea or not?

[mattman]

My son is selling his Impreza GX as he’s got a longer commute so is moving to a diesel.

It’s a sub £3k car so I’m thinking a straight sale is the easiest option but he’s had a few offers to swap for other cars.

Anyone actually done this in practice? I’m a little sceptical but as he doesn’t really know what he wants for the next car, other than being cheaper to tax and run, he doesn’t seem to be put off by the idea (although is refusing the offers of Corsa”s and a Mondeo)

[georgeyboy12345]

I’d say a very bad idea.

[paradigital]

Anecdotal evidence from acquaintances, colleagues and friends that have entered into these kinds of arrangements would suggest that one if not both parties have a car that would be hard to shift in a normal sale, usually due to it being a sack of crap.

[Drezza]

Always see the clapped cars getting offered for swaps, avoid.

[Jamescrs]

Tend to agree with others I have always seen it as a way of someone ofloading their car they can't sell normally.

[vikingaero]

It gets worse when other currencies are used to level up or sweeten the deal - Playstations and Xboxes!

[LankyFreak]

It's almost always scummers that look for swaps, judging by the names I recognise on my local car sale FB group

[steveo3002]

vikingaero said:

It gets worse when other currencies are used to level up or sweeten the deal - Playstations and Xboxes!

plus a Rottweiler puppy

[mattman]

Lol - I thought as much

On the plus side I’ve just received an email from a Zimbabwean Prince asking me to send pictures and videos of the car as he wants to ship it over - that sounds legit 😂

[RazerSauber]

Better off with WBAC or similar, or going to a dealer and PX'ing it. Either you'll swap for a car that's objectively worse (the other person won't want to trade down), or you'll get a haggard example of something better that will be no end of issues. For ease, PX and pay towards it. You get a guarantee of at least 3 months which can give some comfort and legal route if things turn sour. Once you swap with the fella/fellette on Facebook marketplace, you're stuck with whatever vehicle you get no matter how good or bad it is and your P&J isn't coming back.

[ingenieur]

Was going to ask the other day if anybody has ever done this.

I've always thought anyone who would want to swap would have to meet the following criteria for it to go ahead:

1. The car being offered for a swap is exactly the same value (as agreed by both parties) as the car being swapped.

2. The person offering the swap is willing to pay the difference to acquire your car in the event that a swap would leave you out of pocket.

... I just can't see how it could ever work without someone having to make some sort of massive compromise.

[Jamescrs]

steveo3002 said:

plus a Rottweiler puppy

Some cars i've disposed of over the years, being offered a Rottweiler puppy would be a good deal!

[MarkJS]

The last time I swapped anything was at school. The chances of the stars aligning in the adult world involving anything of any value are non-existent.

Sell it and put the money towards something you want/need.

[Baked_bean]

I agree, it probably isn’t a good idea and tends to happen at the lower end of the market. However, I have done it twice without issues:

1. Swapped mk2 Jetta for an e30 318is and I paid a little extra. The car and guy selling were fine, this was 12 years ago though!

2. I was selling a reasonable Merc w124 and couldn’t shift it, was offered an incredibly ropy T4 day van in swap. I swapped as I knew the VW would sell easier- managed to sell it within 4 days.