Looking to buy a small, used car. Help!

Mercdriver

That sounds like the plate is on retention.  Not a fraud issue, just that the car has a private plate on it, or that is the private plate and the owner has it on retention pending replacement car.

Thurrafork

Here's a pic of the HPI check summary screen.
As you can see it says there have been no plate changes.
I don't know. Maybe I'm being overly cautious?
But, again, what about the discrepancy regarding previous owners?

Thurrafork

Any more thoughts on this?
Or in general, any opinions on my having decided on trying to find a nice Ford Fiesta 1.25 Zetec?
Thanks

Gsaver1

You could always phone up HPI and ask about the concerns flagged up in the report. However if it is putting some doubts in your mind, walk away. This is a buyers market just now and if you are patient you will get a car that will give you peace of mind. One thing about Fords in general are the brake pipes. Had them done on my Mondeo and Fiesta then no sooner had they been done they were on the advisories again. I've gone over to VW and Skoda and my maintenance costs have been less each year. Although I would never buy one of these cars with an electric handbrake, costly and worth avoiding.

Grumpy_chap

Hi Jamie,
I cannot comment on what the HPI report really means as I truly do not know.  It looks like no-one else on here is sure either, except maybe the number plate query means the car had private plates at some time?
With regard to finding other cars, that is also difficult, as I do not have the search criteria that are important to you, but there do seem to be other similar cars available:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202006200342126?maximum-mileage=60000&onesearchad=New&onesearchad=Nearly%20New&onesearchad=Used&radius=20&advertising-location=at_cars&exclude-writeoff-categories=on&year-from=2012&make=FORD&price-to=5000&sort=relevance&model=FIESTA&postcode=cm14lp&page=1

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202008082252464?year-from=2012&price-to=5000&onesearchad=New&onesearchad=Nearly%20New&onesearchad=Used&radius=20&advertising-location=at_cars&make=FORD&maximum-mileage=60000&sort=relevance&model=FIESTA&postcode=cm14lp&exclude-writeoff-categories=on&page=1

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202008112348624?year-from=2012&price-to=5000&onesearchad=New&onesearchad=Nearly%20New&onesearchad=Used&radius=20&advertising-location=at_cars&make=FORD&maximum-mileage=60000&sort=relevance&model=FIESTA&postcode=cm14lp&exclude-writeoff-categories=on&page=1

You will need to read these in details and check how many owners etc.....

Thurrafork

Hello! Me again!
So in terms of previous owners...
A 2013 Fiesta Zetec with 5 previous owners... that's not ideal right?
(For further detail... it's done 64000 miles and is priced at £4.4K)

Grumpy_chap

7 years old and 5 owners is not ideal.

Thurrafork

Grumpy_chap said:

7 years old and 5 owners is not ideal.

As I thought. Thanks Grumpy-chap.
Infinite variables aside, what would you say is a reasonable maximum number of owners a 7 year old car should've had?

Grumpy_chap

The important thing with buying a used car of this sort of age is to take into account the full condition of the car and not be unduly fixated on any one parameter.  Use all the parameters as a guide to narrow your selection, but accept that it is likely something or other will fall outside your "ideal". 

I recognise that is easier said than done as a car is a big purchase and without knowledge on cars, no-one wants to be travelling, say, 40 minutes to see a car that then falls on something that could have been established in advance and avoid wasting everyone's time.

Do you have any one (family member) that is local and can advise you, or even come with you to see a car and provide support?  Support can either be the comfort that a car is "OK", or the confidence to walk away.

In terms of owners for a 7-year old car, I would suggest 2 or 3 is probably typical.  Here are some scenarios:

Scenario 1 = 2 owners

1. Company car or private (PCH) lease car for 3 - 4 years
2. Private owner

Scenario 2 = 2 owners

1. Pre-reg dealer car or manufacturer fleet 6 months
2. Private owner

Scenario 3 = 3 owners

1. Pre-reg dealer car or manufacturer fleet 6 months
2. Private owner, 3-4 year PCP finance deal
3. Private owner

Scenario 4 = 3 owners

1. Driving school or hire fleet 1 year
2. Private owner 3-4 year PCP finance deal
3. Private owner

Obviously, there are lots of alternative scenarios that are all reasonable and not a concern.

Ultimately it is the overall condition that makes the most important factor.  I did once buy a cat that had far too many owners and could see they had all bought the car, had a big bill, got rid.  It was very local to me (2 minutes walk) and I investigated the history to find out what had been done by previous owners, the current owner had just put in a new engine.  I got that, bit of a gamble, but it did the job perfectly, never gave me any trouble and I sold on after three years for the same as I purchased and the next owners was still driving around locally for a further few years.  That was a £500 car though, not £5k car.

ontheroad1970

Grumpy_chap said:

Ultimately it is the overall condition that makes the most important factor.  I did once buy a cat that had far too many owners and could see they had all bought the car, had a big bill, got rid.  It was very local to me (2 minutes walk) and I investigated the history to find out what had been done by previous owners, the current owner had just put in a new engine.  I got that, bit of a gamble, but it did the job perfectly, never gave me any trouble and I sold on after three years for the same as I purchased and the next owners was still driving around locally for a further few years.  That was a £500 car though, not £5k car.

Depends how good a 'ratter' the cat was, and whether you like being brought one as a present