How best to trade in our old SEATs?

Hi,

We have a 2005 SEAT Toledo with 150,000km on the clock, costing regularly with repairs, and a 2011 SEAT Ibiza ST with 100,000km on the clock. We want to get a new relatively spacious but cheap car and a 2006+ Audi or BMW. Which of our two cars should we trade in for which of our two planned buys to get the most value and for the purchases to cost us least?

Joan Cleary

Sep 2015 Filed under: choosing used car

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Expert answer

Hi Joan,

It's a bit of a quandary to be honest. You'll get more for the Ibiza - probably around €7-8k as a trade in. But with the Toledo costing you money, your best bet might just be to keep the Ibiza and use that as your small car, chop the Toledo in for whatever you can get for it (€2k max and that's with a following wind).

Actually, better yet, why not avail of one of the scrappage schemes still being offered by some car makers? Opel, for instance, has a good one going - up to €4,500 - and you could then trade in your Toledo against a new Insignia; far more affordable than a BMW or Audi, and with a shiny new warranty to boot. Reliable and nice to drive too. Nissan also has a similar offer (potentially €4k against a nice new Qashqai perhaps?), or potentially €3k scrappage off a Hyundai ix35?

Lots of good options out there.

Neil Briscoe - Complete Car Adviser
@neilmbriscoe