Would you buy a car without service booklet

rammster

I have a hospital intranet on which one of nhs employees is trying to sell a car .. its an astra 1.6 03 model - but 52 reg, with 57k on clock , 2nd owner, black , mot march 2010, road tax for a year. for 1800 , but no service booklet, has receipts of all services though. Would u buy it.
Do u think there is something fishy.

gilbert_and_sullivan

If it comes with all previous MOT's and the inspection you do confirms the mileage and condition as thereabouts then i would find genuine reciepts to be much better evidence than a fully stamped service book alone which can be purchased with the stamps of your choice from a certain auction site.

The car you are buying isn't really likely to have been a minicab for it's first 3 years, if it was an Octavia or similar i'd be more wary, and as such the MOT trail is my first choice in proof of a cars mileage.

I think you should be looking for evidence of a cambelt change in those receipts (assuming the Astra has one), if not evident budget the cost of such into your offer, and HPI or similar it before parting with your hard earned.

SailorSam

I'd expect a service record for a newer vehicle but as it got older would only see it as a bonus.
As others have said it's good to have previous Mots, to prove the mileage, and nice to see some receipts for work done, but many people, probably the majority would never think about putting their car into the agents for a service. People do work themselves or get it done by a trusted friend or neighbour who often does a better job.

cardinalbiggles

I gave up getting my serice book stamped years ago on my 03 Punto. I do however have all the receipts from servicing from new. They have the dates, mileage etc. etc and are a far better record than a service book stamp.

A service book is just a stamp, detailed receipts would be more difficult to fake.

Pssst

Just buy one off Ebay if it worries you.

Service booklets for mainstream older cars are no big issue. If it was something much newer or specialised then it might be.

The only thing that really matters is that you trust the seller,that it clears HPI (on line check),that it appears to be in serviceable condition.

My elderly Golf (1992) stopped getting dealer stamps many years ago but still its engine is in tip top trim becuase i serviced it every year without fail. It never lets me down and it just wont die.

Whos to say the stamper of the book serviced it anyway?

Last year OH took her car for a service at a garage and a couple of months later,it started coughing. Checked air filter..black....never changed. It was the original from new as the date was on it..then nearly 5 years old!

The only stamp worthwhile is one which is put in the book by a garage who you know,trust and has a proven track record of good service.

goldspanners

my 5 year old focus according to the service booklet has only ever had its first service done,but i know it is the case as ive always carried out my own servicing,usually before its recommended to be done,and also do all my own maintenance or get a local garage to do it,i dont bother with receipts from him either. im intending keeping the car for a good few years yet so it shouldnt be an issue when i come to sell it.

dan_essex

I wouldn't really expect a full service history for anything under 2k to be honest. Lots of cars don't have it and it is usally reflected in the price. So long as it has a long MOT, you should be fine.

Ranger8

Agree with most of whats been said, the car in question is bordering on `Banger` motoring and while a service book would be welcome its not a necessity.
As with all secondhand cars buyer beware

Thomas_Crown

Ranger8 wrote: »

....... the car in question is bordering on `Banger` motoring ......

What nonsense!

The car in question is only 6 years old (52 Reg/2003). I have a car that is 52 Reg/2002 & it is absolutely mint with low mileage & not a speck of rust to be seen. Due to cavity wax injection etc. cars generally last longer than they used to.

vikingaero

My 7 year old Zafira has 3 stamps in the service book. After that I took it to a trusted independent. The independent never stamped the service book, but I have an A4 binder with a brochure, price list, original invoice, tyre invoices, every service invoice including credit/debit card receipts, every repair invoice, every accessory invoice, every expired MOT and tax disc - I have the Zafira serviced once a year with a 6 month oil and filter change. I'd argue that my car has more provenance than a car with no invoices and a stamped service book.

CHR15

I agree a binder full of receipts mean much more than a bunch of stamps in a book.

Have you ever noticed when you trade cars in?
the salesman asks if there is a fully stamped book, say no and it's all teeth sucking and head shaking "will be difficult to shift this" etc.

Say Yes and all of a sudden it doesn't matter because nobody takes any notice anyway so it's ignored.

Literally not worth the paper they are written on compared to a binder full of receipts.