718 Cayman S - How many owners is too many?

718 Cayman S - How many owners is too many?

Author
Discussion

SK555

Original Poster:

103 posts

43 months

Friday 3rd November 2023
quotequote all
I feel like this shouldn't bother me but I have a demon on my shoulder about a lovely 718S I have seen. Its a a 2018 car with mileage a bit higher than I was initially looking for (37k) but spec wise it's spot on.

However it has had 3 owners. I know this would be a concern on a "normal" car given the age but how much should I be worried about this. I don't have the reg so can't see length of ownership/ miles of each owner but wanted to ask the audience about things I should potentially look out for?

Jellyfishfields

260 posts

227 months

Friday 3rd November 2023
quotequote all
Personally, the amount of owners would give me no concern whatsoever.

Some will have had 3 owners in the first year.

Fnumber1user

411 posts

59 months

Friday 3rd November 2023
quotequote all
Non-issue for me either - far more other things to consider. Potentially 5 years plus old and only 37k that's 7.4k miles per annum... you could argue each new owner is likely to have cherished their new acquisition, no?

If it is a deal stopper for you just keep searching.

Ed.Neumann

608 posts

15 months

Friday 3rd November 2023
quotequote all
Non issue for me.

More is how quickly the last 2 owners are getting rid of it. If both only had it for a few weeks that would make me wonder. But if both have kept it a year or more, great.

LiamH66

840 posts

98 months

Saturday 4th November 2023
quotequote all
Not completely non-issue for me, but have bought a few “too many owners” cars in my time, and sold a few new ones a bit earlier than is rational. Main things to check are condition and service record.

My 981 GT4 had been flipped quite a few times by the time it came to me, so it had tyres near the end of their serviceable life, and some gravel rash on the bodywork from exuberant use. The bit I hadn’t noticed (and in fairness nor had the dealer, I am certain) was a less than “Porsche approved” paintwork repair. Cost me about £1000 to get that back to where it should have been when it was noticed. I bought it at 2 1/2 years old, and I’m the 5th, maybe even 6th owner. It’s a really nice example, and I can’t see myself wanting to move it on while general health and faculties mean I can use it.

Main point is that there may be some issues that you need to spot, but most will be pretty obvious. Check the service record, give the car a good look over, but remember that one careless owner will do far more damage than 3 conscientious ones. Most people buy Porsches with an interest in looking after them, so if it looks like it has been cared for, it probably has been.

Liam

SK555

Original Poster:

103 posts

43 months

Sunday 5th November 2023
quotequote all
Thank you all for the reassurance! It really is a great car smile

rawenghey

523 posts

28 months

Tuesday 7th November 2023
quotequote all
So 7.4k miles per year, over 5 years and 3 owners, on a car that might well be someone's second car / weekend car. Sounds about right to me.

Get it bought smile

burman

357 posts

220 months

Wednesday 22nd November 2023
quotequote all
Wot Liam said, I am the 6th owner of my GT4 and have the full history of the car. The first 2 owners were flippers the next 2 very low milers,and the car had only done 4500 miles in about 5 years when the 5th owner from whom I bought from completed another 5000 miles in 18 months and I bought it at 9500 miles with full history and PPF applied in the second year and 2years OPC warranty.