Car swap dilemma on my hands...
Discussion
Hi guys, looking for a bit of direction here.
I currently have an Mk2 MX5, but am starting a new job in September which will be 26 miles commuting a day. The car currently has 100,700 miles on it, but has a new roof, and has had quite a lot spent on it since I got it in February.
My friend has offered me her 2004 (i think, could be 2002) black Honda Civic (breadvan style), 1.4, MOT and Tax, 10,500 miles as a straight swap for my car. I've looked at market values for these and they're around £2.5k.
Obviously I know the Civic wont live up to the fun of the MX5, but is this a fair deal?
Or shall I politely decline as truthfully the MX5 wont be too bad to commute in? I suppose I'm worried about running the MX5 into the ground, and resale value as I don't want to sell it on eventually as a total loss!
I currently have an Mk2 MX5, but am starting a new job in September which will be 26 miles commuting a day. The car currently has 100,700 miles on it, but has a new roof, and has had quite a lot spent on it since I got it in February.
My friend has offered me her 2004 (i think, could be 2002) black Honda Civic (breadvan style), 1.4, MOT and Tax, 10,500 miles as a straight swap for my car. I've looked at market values for these and they're around £2.5k.
Obviously I know the Civic wont live up to the fun of the MX5, but is this a fair deal?
Or shall I politely decline as truthfully the MX5 wont be too bad to commute in? I suppose I'm worried about running the MX5 into the ground, and resale value as I don't want to sell it on eventually as a total loss!
Is the MX5 really worth more than 2.5k with 100k miles on it though?
I'm thinking about insurance too - I'd love a RWD barge or something, but I imagine insurane wouldn't be too friendly on that as I'm only 22! I already pay £60 a month for the MX5, and I'm looking at comprehensive renewal of c. £600
I'm thinking about insurance too - I'd love a RWD barge or something, but I imagine insurane wouldn't be too friendly on that as I'm only 22! I already pay £60 a month for the MX5, and I'm looking at comprehensive renewal of c. £600
It'll be the road that goes from Salisbury to Bournemouth going past Downton - I want to say the a36 but not sure that's right? Lovely road admittedly! I'm just worried about the mileage being put on the mx5 there's no denying he can't handle it but it's whether I can afford to put right what goes wrong lol
anyone used a mx5 as a commuter before? I only do 8 miles a day in it at the mo which is nothing! Not too good on the engine mind
anyone used a mx5 as a commuter before? I only do 8 miles a day in it at the mo which is nothing! Not too good on the engine mind
The MX5 will probably be more reliable. The 10,500 mile civic will have sat around for most of its life, so the brakes could be seized, the suspension bushes perished (they will wear quickly if you start using the car properly) and it might even have eight year old tyres on it. Its probably just coming up to it's first service interval too 
CatfishCKY said:
It'll be the road that goes from Salisbury to Bournemouth going past Downton - I want to say the a36 but not sure that's right? Lovely road admittedly! I'm just worried about the mileage being put on the mx5 there's no denying he can't handle it but it's whether I can afford to put right what goes wrong lol
anyone used a mx5 as a commuter before? I only do 8 miles a day in it at the mo which is nothing! Not too good on the engine mind
Loads of people use their 5s everyday. It'll be fine! Most stuff is cheap to fix anyway.anyone used a mx5 as a commuter before? I only do 8 miles a day in it at the mo which is nothing! Not too good on the engine mind
Epic Bumpage. I am sorry to say that I have decided to go ahead with the swap, depending on when my friend comes to see the car on Sunday.
I was wrong about the Civic, it's a 2003, 104,000 mile, black one, full service history, 1.4 Inspire S (yeah, it'll inspire a lot, I'm sure.) Worth about 3k according to t'internet.
In comparison, the MX5 is a shed really. It's beginning to rust, the aerial doesn't work, and the ABS light is now permenantly on. Not to mention I need to renew the tax and rear tyres this month too, sigh. It's now on almost 103,000 miles too!
The reason I'm going ahead is that the MX5 has cost me £90 in petrol this month already, and I still have two weeks until payday. It's costing £50ish to fill every week. In reality, I can't sustain almost £200 in petrol every month, not when I have a mortgage to pay and a wedding to pay for.
Rest assured, as soon as my pay goes up, I will look to sell the Civic, and think about a nicer car. I've fallen in love with Mk1 MX5s now, so one of those may be on the cards next year!
I was wrong about the Civic, it's a 2003, 104,000 mile, black one, full service history, 1.4 Inspire S (yeah, it'll inspire a lot, I'm sure.) Worth about 3k according to t'internet.
In comparison, the MX5 is a shed really. It's beginning to rust, the aerial doesn't work, and the ABS light is now permenantly on. Not to mention I need to renew the tax and rear tyres this month too, sigh. It's now on almost 103,000 miles too!
The reason I'm going ahead is that the MX5 has cost me £90 in petrol this month already, and I still have two weeks until payday. It's costing £50ish to fill every week. In reality, I can't sustain almost £200 in petrol every month, not when I have a mortgage to pay and a wedding to pay for.
Rest assured, as soon as my pay goes up, I will look to sell the Civic, and think about a nicer car. I've fallen in love with Mk1 MX5s now, so one of those may be on the cards next year!
CatfishCKY said:
Civic, it's a 2003, 104,000 mile, black one, full service history, 1.4 Inspire S (yeah, it'll inspire a lot, I'm sure.) Worth about 3k according to t'internet.
But how do you that the Civic doesn't have a shed [pun] load of problems that will need to be fixed (DW suspension bushes alone will be £500) .. perhaps this is why she wants to swap it? Everything in life is a trade according to Gordon Gecko!Well she'll be bringing it Sunday for me and my dad to have a good look over then anyway - obviously, if there is a problem I won't go ahead with the swap and will either have to stick with the MX5 until next year when I can sell it, or get her to fix the problems (which I will sort with the MX5 anyway) - unless she still wants the '5, then I'll ask for 2.5k 
CatfishCKY said:
Epic Bumpage. I am sorry to say that I have decided to go ahead with the swap, depending on when my friend comes to see the car on Sunday.
I was wrong about the Civic, it's a 2003, 104,000 mile, black one, full service history, 1.4 Inspire S (yeah, it'll inspire a lot, I'm sure.) Worth about 3k according to t'internet.
In comparison, the MX5 is a shed really. It's beginning to rust, the aerial doesn't work, and the ABS light is now permenantly on. Not to mention I need to renew the tax and rear tyres this month too, sigh. It's now on almost 103,000 miles too!
The reason I'm going ahead is that the MX5 has cost me £90 in petrol this month already, and I still have two weeks until payday. It's costing £50ish to fill every week. In reality, I can't sustain almost £200 in petrol every month, not when I have a mortgage to pay and a wedding to pay for.
Rest assured, as soon as my pay goes up, I will look to sell the Civic, and think about a nicer car. I've fallen in love with Mk1 MX5s now, so one of those may be on the cards next year!
What MPG does the MX5 get? 30-35? According to Parker's the Civic will get 44. I wouldn't think there's going to be a major difference in your running costs tbh.I was wrong about the Civic, it's a 2003, 104,000 mile, black one, full service history, 1.4 Inspire S (yeah, it'll inspire a lot, I'm sure.) Worth about 3k according to t'internet.
In comparison, the MX5 is a shed really. It's beginning to rust, the aerial doesn't work, and the ABS light is now permenantly on. Not to mention I need to renew the tax and rear tyres this month too, sigh. It's now on almost 103,000 miles too!
The reason I'm going ahead is that the MX5 has cost me £90 in petrol this month already, and I still have two weeks until payday. It's costing £50ish to fill every week. In reality, I can't sustain almost £200 in petrol every month, not when I have a mortgage to pay and a wedding to pay for.
Rest assured, as soon as my pay goes up, I will look to sell the Civic, and think about a nicer car. I've fallen in love with Mk1 MX5s now, so one of those may be on the cards next year!
That said, she obviously wants your car, you obviously want hers. As such, the switch sounds good to me, and your MX5 probably isn't worth as much as the Civic. When she realises what a shed your MX5 is though, I'd expect some complaining/request for a trade-back.
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