RE: PH Service History: Stamped Out
Discussion
I run my cars on a rolling service/maintenance basis. Apart from oil and filters that get done as recommended (or earlier in the case of my Aero) I constantly fettle and check my cars. Brakes, pollen filters, tyres, bushes and linkages etc all get regularly checked over and renewed as required. I think a lot of enthusiast owned cars are DIY maintained this way and are probably looked after better than a annual trip to the stealers.
The only car in our fleet that will be service more towards the manufacturer's recommendations is our GT only because it's new and has a warranty.
The only car in our fleet that will be service more towards the manufacturer's recommendations is our GT only because it's new and has a warranty.
When I sold my old car the person who bought it wasn’t interested in even looking at the service history, and didn’t want to go for too long a test drive. The car didn’t even warm up! Seemed like total madness to me.
My current car has full main dealer history and had a file with receipts in it for absolutely everything, in date order from when it was new! When I saw that I knew I had to buy it
My current car has full main dealer history and had a file with receipts in it for absolutely everything, in date order from when it was new! When I saw that I knew I had to buy it
I've just been helping my eldest daughter buy a car over the last few weeks.
On Friday we bought an old 2006 318ci cabriolet. The owner was an old bloke who'd had it for the last 6 years.
He kept every bit of paper relating to the car and it was a good sign of how he'd cherished it.
The icing on the cake was a little brown leather notebook full of fuel receipts and the time, date and mileage of each fill up. It doesn't guarantee anything but it sure adds a good feeling that it's likely to have been looked after by him.
On Friday we bought an old 2006 318ci cabriolet. The owner was an old bloke who'd had it for the last 6 years.
He kept every bit of paper relating to the car and it was a good sign of how he'd cherished it.
The icing on the cake was a little brown leather notebook full of fuel receipts and the time, date and mileage of each fill up. It doesn't guarantee anything but it sure adds a good feeling that it's likely to have been looked after by him.
PSH said:
..a wad of receipts to show the work that's been done during the current owners ownership is of much more importance. ...number of owners is a good guide to how well the car has been throughout it's history too...the fewer the more likely that the owners loved their cars, you tend to keep a car that you enjoy and has few faults..
^^ This exactly. I wouldn't want a car that's had "5 owners" (i.e. keepers) and "no (or part) service history".Edited by PSH on Sunday 18th March 10:43
A 1- or 2-owner car with some invoices is worth a huge amount to me.
I went to look at a Ferrari a couple of weekends ago.
The car was a 2004 360 and There was only 3 stamps in the book.
The car had done 80k and the first 'stamp' was just some scribbled handwriting that said "Car serviced every 6 months in-house at Silverstone Driving Experiemce 2004-2014"
The current owner had it serviced a couple of times at an independent place after that.
There was almost no paperwork with the car at all, just a couple of reciepts for things.
The seller wasn't bothered in the slightest and said he never keeps paperwork for cars.
I've found that quite a lot recently. Been to buy cars and there's been the V5, the service book (if it hasn't been lost) and that's about it.
Bought an Aston DB9 last year though the trade and the dealer that it was traded into just chucked away all the paperwork and receipts that came with it.
I don't think anyone is arsed anymore.
The car was a 2004 360 and There was only 3 stamps in the book.
The car had done 80k and the first 'stamp' was just some scribbled handwriting that said "Car serviced every 6 months in-house at Silverstone Driving Experiemce 2004-2014"
The current owner had it serviced a couple of times at an independent place after that.
There was almost no paperwork with the car at all, just a couple of reciepts for things.
The seller wasn't bothered in the slightest and said he never keeps paperwork for cars.
I've found that quite a lot recently. Been to buy cars and there's been the V5, the service book (if it hasn't been lost) and that's about it.
Bought an Aston DB9 last year though the trade and the dealer that it was traded into just chucked away all the paperwork and receipts that came with it.
I don't think anyone is arsed anymore.
M4cruiser said:
I wouldn't want a car that's had "5 owners" (i.e. keepers) and "no (or part) service history".
A 1- or 2-owner car with some invoices is worth a huge amount to me.
You'll find when you go to look at things like Porsches/Ferrari's/Lambos etc that they have had a lot of owners.A 1- or 2-owner car with some invoices is worth a huge amount to me.
It's just the nature of ownership of those kind of things.
People own them for a 12-24 months or whatever, enjoy them, then buy something else to have fun with.
I know someone recently who had an F430, Cayman GT4, and Nissan GTR in 18 months! Just liked trying different cars.
It isn't anything to be concerned about.
Lord Marylebone said:
The dealer that it was traded into just chucked away all the paperwork and receipts that came with it.
Why the hell would anybody, especially a 'professional' do that?It baffles me. It's akin to running a key down the side.
I would not buy from any dealer or trader that could not provide the paperwork with the car.
I especially avoid the ones that promise they'll post it on!
I've personally never been bothered about:
Service history;
Mileage:
No of owners:
Distance from me.
Of far more importance is how much research I put into the type of car I'm looking at buying and how the phone call with the current owner goes. If those two go well then a viewing, face to face and quick drive and I'm done!
Of the 49 or so cars that I've bought only two have shat on me. The first I bought from a solicitor and the second was one my dad sold me!
Service history;
Mileage:
No of owners:
Distance from me.
Of far more importance is how much research I put into the type of car I'm looking at buying and how the phone call with the current owner goes. If those two go well then a viewing, face to face and quick drive and I'm done!
Of the 49 or so cars that I've bought only two have shat on me. The first I bought from a solicitor and the second was one my dad sold me!
QuattroDave said:
Of far more importance is how much research I put into the type of car I'm looking at buying and how the phone call with the current owner goes. If those two go well then a viewing, face to face and quick drive and I'm done!
Is pretty much exactly how I do it.A chat with the owner on the phone is always revealing and usually answers all the questions I have.
Also, I don't discount a terrible advert. A few times I have gone to see a car that has been dreadfully described and photographed and it has been a good car.
Just because someone can't spell, take good photos, or use internet sales pages very well doesn't mean they haven't looked after a car.
I hear many people say "I didn't even go and look at it becuase the advert was terrible".
Makes no sense to me.
I think a lot of enthusiasts take these things into account more than Joe Public.
I bought a 1972 Triumph GT6 with no paperwork that was great, but a Golf GTI that was ok but later I realised - clocked.
After that I knew that I would try and get as much paperwork as possible when buying in future. You have to be like a detective trying to build the story of the car and the type of owner. The older the car the more difficult this can become.
I think a main dealer warrantied history is an advantage, so is buying from people like ourselves who have an interest in getting their cars to run spot on. I always have a list of maintenance jobs on the go for my cars and keep the receipts. If I ever sell them those buyers that appreciate it will more likely pay a fair price, knowing exactly what maintenance jobs have been done.
I bought a 1972 Triumph GT6 with no paperwork that was great, but a Golf GTI that was ok but later I realised - clocked.
After that I knew that I would try and get as much paperwork as possible when buying in future. You have to be like a detective trying to build the story of the car and the type of owner. The older the car the more difficult this can become.
I think a main dealer warrantied history is an advantage, so is buying from people like ourselves who have an interest in getting their cars to run spot on. I always have a list of maintenance jobs on the go for my cars and keep the receipts. If I ever sell them those buyers that appreciate it will more likely pay a fair price, knowing exactly what maintenance jobs have been done.
Lord Marylebone said:
M4cruiser said:
I wouldn't want a car that's had "5 owners" (i.e. keepers) and "no (or part) service history".
A 1- or 2-owner car with some invoices is worth a huge amount to me.
You'll find when you go to look at things like Porsches/Ferrari's/Lambos etc that they have had a lot of owners.A 1- or 2-owner car with some invoices is worth a huge amount to me.
It's just the nature of ownership of those kind of things.
People own them for a 12-24 months or whatever, enjoy them, then buy something else to have fun with.
I know someone recently who had an F430, Cayman GT4, and Nissan GTR in 18 months! Just liked trying different cars.It isn't anything to be concerned about.
but mine has been a true gem and over the years an example that others try to replicate. She's a great car....
Pete
Rick101 said:
Lord Marylebone said:
The dealer that it was traded into just chucked away all the paperwork and receipts that came with it.
Why the hell would anybody, especially a 'professional' do that?It baffles me. It's akin to running a key down the side.
I would not buy from any dealer or trader that could not provide the paperwork with the car.
I especially avoid the ones that promise they'll post it on!
I kept every receipt to show the main dealer had not only serviced but done all the parts. I went to trade it in and they made a point of giving them all back. I asked didn’t they want them to go with the car. They explained that as the receipts and service print outs where all main dealer they had my full name and address printed on them. They said it was against the data protection act to pass any of those pieces of paper on and if I didn’t want them they would just go in the bin.
My next experience was I got a car serviced that I knew I would be selling the next week. I had pre payed for the service and thought it would add to the trade in price. Had it done and they pointed out about £900 worth of work that needed doing. None of which was gear box or brakes type stuff. So the service print out showed everything as being in top condition and didn’t point out any of the other parts that were needed.
Flumpo said:
This happened to me which is why I’ve lost faith in the service history. I had the car from 2 years old and kept it for 3 years.
I kept every receipt to show the main dealer had not only serviced but done all the parts. I went to trade it in and they made a point of giving them all back. I asked didn’t they want them to go with the car. They explained that as the receipts and service print outs where all main dealer they had my full name and address printed on them. They said it was against the data protection act to pass any of those pieces of paper on and if I didn’t want them they would just go in the bin.
That'll be why they chucked the V5 into the bin too. Can't be too careful with bits of paper that show your address. I kept every receipt to show the main dealer had not only serviced but done all the parts. I went to trade it in and they made a point of giving them all back. I asked didn’t they want them to go with the car. They explained that as the receipts and service print outs where all main dealer they had my full name and address printed on them. They said it was against the data protection act to pass any of those pieces of paper on and if I didn’t want them they would just go in the bin.
Cold said:
Flumpo said:
This happened to me which is why I’ve lost faith in the service history. I had the car from 2 years old and kept it for 3 years.
I kept every receipt to show the main dealer had not only serviced but done all the parts. I went to trade it in and they made a point of giving them all back. I asked didn’t they want them to go with the car. They explained that as the receipts and service print outs where all main dealer they had my full name and address printed on them. They said it was against the data protection act to pass any of those pieces of paper on and if I didn’t want them they would just go in the bin.
That'll be why they chucked the V5 into the bin too. Can't be too careful with bits of paper that show your address. I kept every receipt to show the main dealer had not only serviced but done all the parts. I went to trade it in and they made a point of giving them all back. I asked didn’t they want them to go with the car. They explained that as the receipts and service print outs where all main dealer they had my full name and address printed on them. They said it was against the data protection act to pass any of those pieces of paper on and if I didn’t want them they would just go in the bin.
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