Unusual car history - advice needed

AdrianC

Since it was a lease firm, it's entirely likely that whoever leased it suddenly realised they were getting close to the mileage cap - and that it actually worked out cheaper to have it sit about unused than to pay for the excess mileage or to terminate the lease early (with proportional mileage cap reduction, of course)

CKhalvashi

AdrianC wrote: »

Since it was a lease firm, it's entirely likely that whoever leased it suddenly realised they were getting close to the mileage cap - and that it actually worked out cheaper to have it sit about unused than to pay for the excess mileage or to terminate the lease early (with proportional mileage cap reduction, of course)

This seems the likeliest option IME.

Our entire commercial fleet is on HP/owned outright now, but in our leasing days we'd keep the vehicles outside the office for few months at a time if they were sailing very close to the limit.

I order my cars in a 'cool' colour/spec to avoid being unable to shift it, and they seem to have done a reasonable job at that, so there should be nothing to worry about, other than asking for the battery to be changed.

harveybobbles

When did Alphabet (which is part of BMW/MINI UK) dispose of the car?

marlot

I'd get a decent bodyshop to have a look and see if there is any accident damage, but then go ahead.

topdaddy_2

It would worry me. Are the tires misshapen? Has anything seized? Fuel decaying is so much of a problem cos its diesel but has any lubed parts gone dry? Many, many questions.

SunReader

topdaddy wrote: »

It would worry me. Are the tires misshapen? Has anything seized? Fuel decaying is so much of a problem cos its diesel but has any lubed parts gone dry? Many, many questions.

Agreed, a lot of unknowns which may be of little concern to the trade but worth considering as a prospective long term owner.
There is one thing putting a classic vehicle into storage for a year, quite another thing leaving a modern car parked up outside and unused...saying that, this happens quite a lot with 'new' cars.

cars.http://www.theaa.com/motoring_advice/laying_up.html


Another option is that it has done significantly more miles and was clocked down a little too well by a money saving expert fleet manager before returning to alphabet leasing to avoid hefty mileage surcharges.

As a minimum I'd get a proper independent inspection, often the costs are offset by finding faults that you wouldn't have noticed and these can be fixed before you take it. The salesman won't like it and will assure you about their warranty plan but it is unlikely he has even lifted the bonnet.