Citroen Xsara Picasso

kazd

I am thinking of buying a Picasso but am held off slightly by the new C4 Picasso due to come out soon. Very torn, do I wait to find that the new one is really expensive or just go ahead now and order the older model.

Also does anyone have any experience of the cashback offer, do you physically get cashback or is it applied to your finance thereby reducing your monthly payment (preferred)

taxiphil

It's a real dilemma. The new C4 Picasso will undoubtedly be better all round but I read in Auto Express that it's going to be quite a bit more expensive than the current Picasso. Still, Citroen always give great value so I expect it'll still be competitively priced. They've got to compete with the likes of the Nissan Note which is around the £10k mark.

The current Picasso is still a lovely car, though, and doesn't look at all dated.

You could wait for the new one to be launched and if you don't think it's worth the extra money, there will be plenty of pre-registered 56-plate old Picassos knocking around with just a few miles on the clock which the dealers have registered in September to meet their targets.

The cashback offer is just a marketing gimmick really - they call it cashback but it's really just a discount which is knocked off the price you pay.

kazd

I tried to get the Sales guy to explain to me why they do that and not just market the car at the lower price but he couldn't. They like to tell you that you are getting a £17k car but in reality its really only a £13k car.

I know the C4 Picasso 7 seater is being launched at the Paris Car Show in September but I am not sure when the 5 seater will be launched.

Re the Pre-reg, I am after an automatic (knee is playing me up) so it might be more difficult for me to get a pre-reg.

I might have a look at the Nissan Note, to be honest I haven't really looked at much else. I was originally looking at MPV's but found the only one worth while was the Grand Voyager and I just could not bear to part with that kind of money for a hunk of metal that sits rusting on the drive. Plus I decided that if I bought one of the others, then the car would spend most of its life with the back two seats out to gain luggage space so thought whats the point.

I have three children and in the normal day to day one would be in front and two in the back but I think that the Picasso would win over our Peugeot 406 for long distances as all three kids in the back would have their own seat and the youngest would not be stuck with the hump.

The other thing I like about the Picasso is that slightly high up feeling, so if you have any suggestions of any other makes/models, then your input would be gratefully received.

Willxx

I've no idea about the cost but my missus has a xara picasso and its quite nice but I recently had a galaxy on hire for a weekend asnd that just blows it away, power comfort and fuel economy it was far superior! :T

I do assume it would be much more expensive though!:sad:

kazd

The new Galaxy is just out but not yet as an automatic, plus its a seven seater and I have decided now that a 7 seater is wasted on me because I would always have the back two seats out. Plus the new Galaxy has a slightly lower profile (one of my wishes is the slightly higher viewpoint of the mpv's). It seems pointless for me to spend more money on a seven seat mpv when I would rarely use it with all the seats in. The starting price is £19.5k and I just cannot justify that sort of money for a car (especially not the way my kids treat them). When I eventually get my new car I am considering getting an electric field put around it to stop them scratching it with their bikes, green machines etc!!!!!!

MarkyMarkD

Whilst the new model will be better, the old one is very well written up and has the benefit of the faults having been ironed out. It will also be far cheaper to buy the current model.

So unless you need the extra seats, or intend to sell in the near future (in which case the depreciation on the old model might be quite bad) I'd buy the current model.

kazd

You are absolutely right of course but have you seen the spec of the new one, will I end up with I wish I had waited feeling!

Lob_Rockster

S-Max might be an option for you? Close to £16k tho'

kazd

Lob_Rockster wrote:

S-Max might be an option for you? Close to £16k tho'

Have looked at the S-Max and I have come to the conclusion the back seats would always be down to make boot space, also the rear seats in this car are not proper seats ie thinner, harder and knees by your ears, plus there is very little room to actually access these seats.

michaels

My normal answer to this question is the fiat multipla which wins hands down on interior space (3 realy good seats in the back - and same in the front plus useable boot and similar prices as the picasso - via negotiation rather than 'cash back') but I don't think there is an automatic option...

plane_boy2000

We just sold our old picasso for a Sharan - we needed the 7 set option plus wanted more room for camping weekends. The Picasso was an OK car, but the Sharan is far better, but then again its in a different league.

If your purchase is price led than I would buy the current model - the new one ist out until next year and WILL be thousands mor ethan the old one. The old one is VERY cheep because its an old model and all the non recurring costs have long sine been covered - new models need to sell for a premium when launched.

The cashback is just a dicount i.e. knocked off teh price of the car, but dont except that its the best the dealer can do for you. WHen we bough ours they were offering £2K cashback and our local garage told us "that was all he profit in the car" Found another dealer who was willing to offer £4.4K discount - and this was not a pre reg or anything - my choice of spec / colour etc. Dealer explained to me that they get a bonus from Citroen for shifting loads of cars so the more he sold the bigger his monthly bonus - he didnt need to make much profit on each car.

Alway try and buy at the end of the month to - they will be more keen to ensure that they hit their monthly budget - also if you buy one now ensure that the garage dont register it until 1st september so you get the new reg unless they offer you a discount to take it this month.