Buying from dealer - only 1 service stamp

harshitguptaiitr

Hello
Posting on behalf of a friend - please delete if not allowed.

A friend wants to buy a car from a dealer.
Everything else looks good except:
- Car is 5 years old (14 number plate) and has had 4 previous owners from new. My friend will be owner #5. Too many owners in such a short period should be worrying for her?
- Car has 33,250 miles on it. Such low mileage should be worrying?
- Car has averaged 7,800 miles in first 4 years, but only 2,000 miles in the last year. No explanation of low mileage in the recent year.
- Only a single stamp in the service booklet (at year#4) and dealer will perform interim service and stamp at time of purchase - so there will be total 2 stamps when she becomes owner.

Some good things:
- Car will come with 12 months used car warranty
- Car will come with fresh MOT

What are the opinions, regarding concerns of my colleague. Is she overthinking for her 1st car?

wgl2014

I would be put off by the lack of service history and the high number of owners. Unless a reasonable explanation is forthcoming just look for a different car
.... There are many out there!

Ectophile

I wouldn't buy it unless it was unusually cheap. For me, it's not so much about the mileage as the large number of owners in quick succession.


Does the car have a cambelt? The replacement interval on those can be as little as 5 years. It's not something that would be done on an intermediate service.

AdrianC

Biggest issue for me would be the lack of evidence of any servicing at all until 4yo/30k. That's not going to be a long-term keeper.

Herzlos

With an owner a year and no service history you need to assume it's been abused and never been services.
I'd be suspicious as to why no-one wants to keep hold of it.

It might be worth asking the appropriate dealer network if they have an electronic history for It.

If you're not getting it cheap, get a different one.

DUTR

Herzlos wrote: »

With an owner a year and no service history you need to assume it's been abused and never been services.
I'd be suspicious as to why no-one wants to keep hold of it.

It might be worth asking the appropriate dealer network if they have an electronic history for It.

If you're not getting it cheap, get a different one.

I'd guess it depends on the car, my current car I've had from new and was rolling in at under 5k per year for the 1st 3 years.
The car may me a rag top that only comes out once a week in the UK summer or a 2nd car .
If it's a run of the mill then yes concerns should be considered.

JJ_Egan

Looks to be a genuine low mileage car .Goverment MOT check web site should be looked at .

Hire car would have higher in first two years.
There are owners that trade up every year/two years.
A lot of cars are serviced outside of dealerships and service not recorded .


<Car will come with 12 months used car warranty>
I would want to know what that actually covers .


As your friend is in doubt then its a no buy even if its the best car in the world . Any little noise will induce panic .

EssexExile

My worry would be "Why does everyone want to get rid of it after a year?"

Scrapit

If it's not a small "second" car for trips to the shops etc. Then I'd be worried.

worried_jim

The service record maybe kept online rather than physical stamps in a book depending on brand. Time to do the research and due diligence before the purchase so come back if you have further questions.