2nd hand car without service in 4 years

[Wizard1992]

Hi all, first time poser (long time lurker)

Been looking for a car for my partner and came across a really nice mk2.5 focus with decent mileage (mot and early service history stacks up)

The only thing that concerns me is that the last service was completed at 46k miles about 4 years ago.

The car is now at 66k miles.
The car has been offered to me for 1.5k which is shed money and after a test drive drives well.

Would the lack of history be a major concern ?
I was gonna change the cambelt and do a oil change regardless.
Would the lack of service history for the last 4 years put anyone off ?
Brakepads and discs looked fairly new and oil looked OK so I'm confident it hasn't been completely abused

[KTMsm]

On cheap cars history is generally patchy - if it's ok now that's all you can go on and it's hardly a highly strung car

[Lincsls1]

At 1500 quid its a cheap car. And I'd reckon pretty cheap to keep on the road too.
So, I'd buy if its condition as seen and tested was acceptable to you.
If you're planning on keeping it a few years, then that lack of history would be even less of a concern to me.
At 1500 quid, its worth a gamble, but then again, its not my money!
Good luck

[Wizard1992]

macron said:

A 4 year old car at £1500???????

There are naff all cars available at £1500 which are 20 years old, buy it, service it, enjoy it.

I suspect the WBAC price is an awful lot higher than that.

Sorry mate i don't think I explained it very well (been a long weekend )
It's a 2008 ford focus, 1.6 engine. The car is a cat n but the damage is a scuff and some paint on the passenger door

[OutInTheShed]

It could have had several DIY oil changes.
Or not.

Personally, if it was what I wanted and clean and tidy, I'd take a punt on it, but I can afford to be wrong, at this level.

[SFTWend]

If it drives well, recent mot's not too bad and you can do your own maintenance, I'd buy it.

I think £1500 is 'good runner' money nowadays.

[Arnold Cunningham]

I’d have no issue with this for that price, but I’d change the oil
Immediately and then again within a few months.

[georgeyboy12345]

How long is the current MOT? Any mentions of rust, oil leaks or emissions failures on the MOT history?

[Mr Tidy]

I wouldn't be too bothered about no evidence of a service for 4 years on a 2008 car for that sort of money.

If it drove OK and I liked it I'd buy it but then get a proper service done and keep evidence of that for when sale time came around.

[ChrisH79]

My car has no history after 6 years old. But I’ve owned it since then and it’s been serviced every 10k miles and wanted for nothing. The history is nice for the next buyer, the car is being kept for me. There’s plenty of people with the same attitude

[joropug]

I often suspect Cat cars are clocked. They are always suspiciously low miles and the absence of service history could easily be to hide the mileage it’s gone through over the past few years. But then I suppose you’ve done an MOT history check?

Also recommend the 2.99 Vcheck as this will probably show you the damage pictures and mileage.

[Jamescrs]

I’d buy it based on the condition as you find it for that money and service it myself with new oil and filter, air filter and plugs on my driveway

[Truckosaurus]

georgeyboy12345 said:

How long is the current MOT? Any mentions of rust, oil leaks or emissions failures on the MOT history?

Indeed. It is a different prospect if it has a week old MoT with no advisories or one month left and last year's had War & Peace written in the advisories section.

[Belle427]

Should be ok, just service it when you get it.

[Whataguy]

It’s only done 20k since the last oil change - that’s the same as many cars mileage service intervals now.

I’ve driven a few VWs that should have been serviced at 18k but had been run to 25/30k without an oil change - they still ran ok.

[Giantt]

Wouldn't bother me, depending on condition of car if you view n drive it,often left full oil change 20+k miles on fully synthetic ,doing upto 40 k miles a year

[Philvrs]

If i was buying and being overly cautious, I’d buy a service kit and and extra oil filter, 2 quantities of oil (a basic version and a premium version of the correct spec from a brand like millers).
Do a full service using the basic oil, then after 1000 miles replace the oil again for the premium version.
Quite probably wasteful over-maintenance, but it sounds like you need peace if mind in your decision to buy a car.

[valiant]

1.6 is a tough old engine on these and can take abuse pretty well. Not the most refined lump but I wouldn’t be overly concerned if it looks and drives well.

As others have said, first job is give it a good service and go from there. You don’t find a lot for £1500 nowadays so if it looks and sounds ok it could be a decent wee car.

[Wizard1992]

Thanks for all the advice. I'm gonna service it once I pick it up and hopefully it be a decent runner!

Cheers!