Previous owners
Discussion
Hi All,
I’m off to see an approved used car today from a Mercedes main dealer. I have already paid a deposit and transferred some of the cash. This has all been done over the phone.
I did a HPI check last night and it has come back with 8 owners on a 6 year old car. They didn’t disclose this to me however I didn’t ask. I think naively I thought an approved used car would have low owners so didn’t ask the question.
Do you think it would be the wrong thing to do to back out of the deal on this basis? I just feel it’s going to reduce the price when I come to sell it on. The car itself may be perfect and ok but I’m just a bit wobbled by the previous owners.
Opinions would be appreciated.
Thanks
I’m off to see an approved used car today from a Mercedes main dealer. I have already paid a deposit and transferred some of the cash. This has all been done over the phone.
I did a HPI check last night and it has come back with 8 owners on a 6 year old car. They didn’t disclose this to me however I didn’t ask. I think naively I thought an approved used car would have low owners so didn’t ask the question.
Do you think it would be the wrong thing to do to back out of the deal on this basis? I just feel it’s going to reduce the price when I come to sell it on. The car itself may be perfect and ok but I’m just a bit wobbled by the previous owners.
Opinions would be appreciated.
Thanks
Depends upon the type of car.
If, for example, it's an 'ordinary' C class it may suggest an unsolved issue as mentioned above.
If, it's a V8 AMG, it could be previous owners have purchased it without considering the running costs and as soon as they realise the cost of servicing, tyres, brakes etc they have got rid.
(I'd also presume the first owner was an MB dealer and it was a demonstator)
If, for example, it's an 'ordinary' C class it may suggest an unsolved issue as mentioned above.
If, it's a V8 AMG, it could be previous owners have purchased it without considering the running costs and as soon as they realise the cost of servicing, tyres, brakes etc they have got rid.
(I'd also presume the first owner was an MB dealer and it was a demonstator)
Check the service history. That sort of ownership pattern can indicate previous owners who just wanted to try out the car but not maintain it.
ETA: based on the OP’s previous posts, my guess is that this is a 2019 AMG C63 S estate - the V8 6 litre car. If so, my view would be that that sort of car gets bought to be used (because: estate) and if it has been moved on on average every 9m over 6 years there is a red flag somewhere. I’m not a huge believer in the idea that main dealer approved used means a lot.
ETA: based on the OP’s previous posts, my guess is that this is a 2019 AMG C63 S estate - the V8 6 litre car. If so, my view would be that that sort of car gets bought to be used (because: estate) and if it has been moved on on average every 9m over 6 years there is a red flag somewhere. I’m not a huge believer in the idea that main dealer approved used means a lot.
Edited by BlackTails on Thursday 17th July 09:12
So when you come to sell it'll be 9 previous owners.
Most delaers won't buy it.
And as already been mentioned, maybe issues that haven't been resolved.
Regarding getting your deposit back, dealers are not allowed to with hold information that may have affected your desicion to buy .
And 8 owners on a car certainly qualifies.
Either that, go to view, and simply say "not for me"
As it's a distance sale until you've visited.
Most delaers won't buy it.
And as already been mentioned, maybe issues that haven't been resolved.
Regarding getting your deposit back, dealers are not allowed to with hold information that may have affected your desicion to buy .
And 8 owners on a car certainly qualifies.
Either that, go to view, and simply say "not for me"
As it's a distance sale until you've visited.
Could also have been through the hands of 'traders'/not traders who had it registered to them for a few months before selling on?
Although not sure how it works with approved used - would every one of those owners have been a sale from the main dealer?
What's the service / MOT history like - all on time and consistent or anything like MOT'd again after 6 months?
Although not sure how it works with approved used - would every one of those owners have been a sale from the main dealer?
What's the service / MOT history like - all on time and consistent or anything like MOT'd again after 6 months?
As the poster above stated I'm also fairly relaxed about the number of previous owners and in fact it can be a good thing as the vehicle has likely been serviced / prepped for sale hence looked after.
On a 6 year old vehicle with say a pre-reg and a new owner every couple of years that would be explainable. However, with 8 PO's on a 6 year old car and with one eye on resale I'd have to pass I'm afraid.
On a 6 year old vehicle with say a pre-reg and a new owner every couple of years that would be explainable. However, with 8 PO's on a 6 year old car and with one eye on resale I'd have to pass I'm afraid.
BlackStang5point0 said:
As the poster above stated I'm also fairly relaxed about the number of previous owners and in fact it can be a good thing as the vehicle has likely been serviced / prepped for sale hence looked after.
On a 6 year old vehicle with say a pre-reg and a new owner every couple of years that would be explainable. However, with 8 PO's on a 6 year old car and with one eye on resale I'd have to pass I'm afraid.
I have to agree. I would give it a miss. Even if it s all fine, it will be hard for you to sell later on. Dealers can, of course, be very different when you are selling, as opposed to buying. There have been previous discussions about this ( including the snide one previous owner meaning two owners.) A view emerged that with certain Porsches and exotics, lots of owners may be explained by the need to scratch an itch but this would not apply to fairly everyday cars. There is an additional point that long term owners will be likely to have sorted out problems unless totally apathetic and insensitive ,which you probably sense upon meeting them.On a 6 year old vehicle with say a pre-reg and a new owner every couple of years that would be explainable. However, with 8 PO's on a 6 year old car and with one eye on resale I'd have to pass I'm afraid.
Edited by Lester H on Thursday 17th July 12:06
Outside this specific car I'm always torn on how to see different numbers of owners.
I'm looking at 650S and R8s at the moment, and some over 15k miles have 4 owners, then the same age car has 40k miles and 1 owner.
It's really hard to balance miles, owners, age etc. and know where to draw the lines.
Frustratingly I kinda want a car that's done 5k a year not 2k a year, because it will have been used and maintained (looking with full manufacturer service history or named respected specialist history). But then if owners have put 2k on a supercar then moved it on after 18 months, isn't that also kinda normal?
It's a hard one to balance.
I'm looking at 650S and R8s at the moment, and some over 15k miles have 4 owners, then the same age car has 40k miles and 1 owner.
It's really hard to balance miles, owners, age etc. and know where to draw the lines.
Frustratingly I kinda want a car that's done 5k a year not 2k a year, because it will have been used and maintained (looking with full manufacturer service history or named respected specialist history). But then if owners have put 2k on a supercar then moved it on after 18 months, isn't that also kinda normal?
It's a hard one to balance.
No help to the OP, but it illustrates that you need to do your own HPI/similar check on a car, and also do it as soon as you've secured it (with as little deposit as possible). Any sooner and you may well be doing multiple HPI checks on unavailable cars; and any later risks more money being lost.
I can't agree that number of owners alone, is a reason to reject a car, unless its been misdescribed (eg the advert said 2 owners but it has 4).
Also bear in mind, if you look at a V5 and it shows 2 previous owners, these are PREVIOUS ones, the current (selling) owner (or the one previous to it coming to a dealership, if its now in trade) will mean its had 3.
I can't agree that number of owners alone, is a reason to reject a car, unless its been misdescribed (eg the advert said 2 owners but it has 4).
Also bear in mind, if you look at a V5 and it shows 2 previous owners, these are PREVIOUS ones, the current (selling) owner (or the one previous to it coming to a dealership, if its now in trade) will mean its had 3.
Hi All,
Conclusion: whilst the car was beautiful (and AMG of 63 ilk) I couldn’t move past the owners and declined the car. Dealership was great about it and offered a full refund. In the end I found a similar car of 43 spec with one owner and newer. It won’t be the same and the itch of a V8 will remain but happy with my decision. One day I will own one!
Appreciate everyone’s views and echo’d my thoughts. Thanks
Conclusion: whilst the car was beautiful (and AMG of 63 ilk) I couldn’t move past the owners and declined the car. Dealership was great about it and offered a full refund. In the end I found a similar car of 43 spec with one owner and newer. It won’t be the same and the itch of a V8 will remain but happy with my decision. One day I will own one!
Appreciate everyone’s views and echo’d my thoughts. Thanks
119 said:
Free basic checks, but under high risk it does flag up ‘there could be serious issues with this car’ check further. It wants you to pay. I am actually checking my own car and there are no issues. You can spend a lot of money on each category to check fully.Hi All,
Conclusion: whilst the car was beautiful (and AMG of 63 ilk) I couldn’t move past the owners and declined the car. Dealership was great about it and offered a full refund. In the end I found a similar car of 43 spec with one owner and newer. It won’t be the same and the itch of a V8 will remain but happy with my decision. One day I will own one!
Appreciate everyone’s views and echo’d my thoughts. Thanks
Conclusion: whilst the car was beautiful (and AMG of 63 ilk) I couldn’t move past the owners and declined the car. Dealership was great about it and offered a full refund. In the end I found a similar car of 43 spec with one owner and newer. It won’t be the same and the itch of a V8 will remain but happy with my decision. One day I will own one!
Appreciate everyone’s views and echo’d my thoughts. Thanks
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