Cars with lots of previous owners to be avoided?
Discussion
Mine has loads of previous owners and has apparently been pulled apart and fiddled with by most of them. There's a few obvious bodges I've had to put right and it's obviously suffered a bit of abuse, but it is no less reliable than other similar cars with less owners.
The way I look at it is it's like a woman. Some have had lots of boyfriends but still look good and are great fun. Some have had one or two and already look a bit ropey and have funny ideas/habits.
The way I look at it is it's like a woman. Some have had lots of boyfriends but still look good and are great fun. Some have had one or two and already look a bit ropey and have funny ideas/habits.
cuprabob said:
Depends what they are and who the owners were.
For example, exotic cars tend to change owners quite a lot.
This. For example, exotic cars tend to change owners quite a lot.
If it was a boggo diesel hatchback or something that's frequently bought by people who don't quite understand what it takes to run it properly (like, say, older M3s) I'd run. Something like a TVR it's almost normal.
.. And still on the road according to DVLAs website. The way I see it is that if you can get hold of a car with just one previous owner, it is going to have (more often than not) been looked after better than multiple owner cars. Why? Well, if you buy a car from new, you tend to treat it with it's new value in mind, whereas a car that is constantly changing owners is valued only at what each consecutive owner purchased it at (less and less each time).
All of my three current cars are one previous owner cars, two of which are twenty years old! Their condition is testament to this theory.
Over the last ten years, I have owned twenty five cars. Most of these were one previous owner cars, needless to say they were the best condition wise and needed the least maintenance.
I do agree however that super cars are slightly different though as they are a luxury purchase and tend to change hands more frequently.
All of my three current cars are one previous owner cars, two of which are twenty years old! Their condition is testament to this theory.
Over the last ten years, I have owned twenty five cars. Most of these were one previous owner cars, needless to say they were the best condition wise and needed the least maintenance.
I do agree however that super cars are slightly different though as they are a luxury purchase and tend to change hands more frequently.
I am suffering from this problem with looking at E46 M3's.
Even the coupe ones seem to go through owners very fast. My cut off is 3 previous owners on the V5. Not always true the car is cleaner with fewer owners, looked at a 1 owner one on the weekend and it was tatty, the 3 owner one was cleaner.
Even the coupe ones seem to go through owners very fast. My cut off is 3 previous owners on the V5. Not always true the car is cleaner with fewer owners, looked at a 1 owner one on the weekend and it was tatty, the 3 owner one was cleaner.
david_h said:
I am suffering from this problem with looking at E46 M3's.
Even the coupe ones seem to go through owners very fast. My cut off is 3 previous owners on the V5. Not always true the car is cleaner with fewer owners, looked at a 1 owner one on the weekend and it was tatty, the 3 owner one was cleaner.
Lots of people aspire to owning an E46 M3, after reaching the 'goal'interest can soon be lost when faced with service bills, fuel bills etc.At least they have 'scratched that itch'.I think this applies to most specialist/sports vehicles, hence usually high V5 previous keepers.So not always a bad car.Even the coupe ones seem to go through owners very fast. My cut off is 3 previous owners on the V5. Not always true the car is cleaner with fewer owners, looked at a 1 owner one on the weekend and it was tatty, the 3 owner one was cleaner.
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