AUC - 3 previous keepers in less than a year, should I run!!
Discussion
I'm looking at an approved used car (VW Golf GTI Edition 35).
It's the right spec and mileage. FSH. Comes with 3 years Das Welt warranty. It drives very well, bodywork definitely needs some work which I hope 90% will come out with a proper detail (and it appears to have original paint other than a dodgy respray on the rear spoiler). It has a few little niggles but nothing you wouldn't expect from an 8 year old car (although not what I'd expect from an AUC).
However, after doing an HPI it's had 4 owners, the worrying is:
30/03/2016
19/09/2014
02/04/2014
22/02/2014
Three very quick successions in 2014 when the car was less than 2 years old, all within a 7 month window. The dealer couldn't explain and just said sometimes these things happen. I'm not convinced.
I've physically checked the car out myself and it all appears good, but the fact it's bothered me means it'll bother other people when I come to sell. What's your take on it?
Is there anyway I can verify the owners, maybe via VW somehow? I could be something innocent like a ex-demo or company car etc.
Thanks in advance.
It's the right spec and mileage. FSH. Comes with 3 years Das Welt warranty. It drives very well, bodywork definitely needs some work which I hope 90% will come out with a proper detail (and it appears to have original paint other than a dodgy respray on the rear spoiler). It has a few little niggles but nothing you wouldn't expect from an 8 year old car (although not what I'd expect from an AUC).
However, after doing an HPI it's had 4 owners, the worrying is:
30/03/2016
19/09/2014
02/04/2014
22/02/2014
Three very quick successions in 2014 when the car was less than 2 years old, all within a 7 month window. The dealer couldn't explain and just said sometimes these things happen. I'm not convinced.
I've physically checked the car out myself and it all appears good, but the fact it's bothered me means it'll bother other people when I come to sell. What's your take on it?
Is there anyway I can verify the owners, maybe via VW somehow? I could be something innocent like a ex-demo or company car etc.
Thanks in advance.
ZX10R NIN said:
He's right sometimes these things do happen 3 owners over two years isn't a big deal as long as the condition & paperwork checks out then buy it.
They do happen, but 3 owners in 7 months (not two years) is a tad extreme, no? Matt-il77s said:
I doubt you can verify owners with GDPR etc, it may have just been in the same family, swapped between brothers or something
Yeah, that's it, it could be innocent. it's more the doubt more than anything. But as below...Sheepshanks said:
Be of more concern if it was recent, but any issues should be apparent after 5yrs, and the last owner has kept it for 3yrs.
Old for an AUC, isn't it?
I agree, if it was recently I'd be out. But being 4 years ago and the fact the car looks honest and drives well suggests if there was a problem it's no longer a problem. Old for an AUC, isn't it?
It is old for an AUC, the dealers told me they put a punt on it being low mileage and a special edition.
Edited by EnthusiastOwned on Wednesday 24th July 11:29
Sheepshanks said:
Be of more concern if it was recent, but any issues should be apparent after 5yrs, and the last owner has kept it for 3yrs.
This - if it was three owners in a year and you’re about to be number four, I’d walk away. Given that the last two owners held it for a reasonable amount of time it’s probably fine. It does have a high number of owners anyway, mind you, so it would need to be keenly priced in my view...Could be
22/04/2014 Retailed as VW Approved Used Car
02/04/2014 Proud second owner wants to put a private plate on it but the retention certificate is in his wife's name. or car insurance is cheaper in wife's name so re-registers the car unnecessarily.
19/09/2014 He's had his intended summer of fun with it and moves it on. Car lives happily with next owner until 2016.
Or
22/04/2014 Retailed as VW Approved Used Car
02/04/2014 Disgruntled second owner finds out the original owner, Ragged to Death Ltd, is not a trendy hipster clothing company as he was led to believe. Car has been track damaged, reshelled but not as an insurance job, and he rejects the car. VW Dealer takes the car back, burns any service invoices with previous owners' names and re-registers in their own name to disguise the car's history.
19/09/2014 VW successfully find another buyer for the car who lives with it in blissful ignorance until 2016.
Could be either, or any other set of circumstances that anyone could reasonably imagine. You can't rely on the number of owners to determine whether or not it's a well looked after car.
If you bought a different car with 3 owners rather than 4 but then needed to sell it in 6 months because you had had a promotion at work / new addition to the family / opportunity to buy your dream car etc would that then be viewed with suspicion also?
Martyn76 said:
Quick turn over of owners might be to do with the MPG , running costs, etc? From what I remember the Ed35 had the same engine & power as the previous Ed30 model albeit in a heavier body, maybe it just wasn't what they thought it was gong to be like performance wise?
Maybe, but at a car that new (at the time) there would be a hefty loss - one person doing it, fine, but three?DanL said:
This - if it was three owners in a year and you’re about to be number four, I’d walk away. Given that the last two owners held it for a reasonable amount of time it’s probably fine. It does have a high number of owners anyway, mind you, so it would need to be keenly priced in my view...
Price is hard. Factoring it's very high spec, low mileage and from the main dealer, I'd say it's on the money. Private or small dealer I'd be expecting 1-2 grand cheaper. edthefed said:
1 ) Dealer pre reg ?
2) First retail owner ?
Maybe, but the first owner was 14 months, then 2 months, then 5 months. Doesn't add up. 2) First retail owner ?
Matt_E_Mulsion said:
How do you get three years warranty on an eight year old car???
All Das Welt VW's come with a year and extendable to 3.As wooda says above, could be genuine and nothing to worry about.
But.
8 years old?
So is 2014 about the time it had it's first MOT?
Many clocked cars I've seen get clocked just before the first MOT.
I'd find out the supplying dealer and call them to see if they have any early history before the MOT was done.
But yes OP, it'd prompt me to do some digging into the history.
8 years is a lot for a VW AUC.
I thought limit was 6 years, but I guess that's just a guideline.
But.
8 years old?
So is 2014 about the time it had it's first MOT?
Many clocked cars I've seen get clocked just before the first MOT.
I'd find out the supplying dealer and call them to see if they have any early history before the MOT was done.
But yes OP, it'd prompt me to do some digging into the history.
8 years is a lot for a VW AUC.
I thought limit was 6 years, but I guess that's just a guideline.
Trevor555 said:
As wooda says above, could be genuine and nothing to worry about.
But.
8 years old?
So is 2014 about the time it had it's first MOT?
Many clocked cars I've seen get clocked just before the first MOT.
I'd find out the supplying dealer and call them to see if they have any early history before the MOT was done.
But yes OP, it'd prompt me to do some digging into the history.
8 years is a lot for a VW AUC.
I thought limit was 6 years, but I guess that's just a guideline.
23/05/2019 MOT (passed) 45,047But.
8 years old?
So is 2014 about the time it had it's first MOT?
Many clocked cars I've seen get clocked just before the first MOT.
I'd find out the supplying dealer and call them to see if they have any early history before the MOT was done.
But yes OP, it'd prompt me to do some digging into the history.
8 years is a lot for a VW AUC.
I thought limit was 6 years, but I guess that's just a guideline.
14/05/2019 Interval Inspection 45,047
14/05/2019 Brake Fluid Change 45,047
14/05/2019 Used Car MPC 45,047
17/10/2016 MOT (passed) 26,351
15/08/2016 Oil Change Service 25,397
31/03/2016 Used Car MPC 22,936
09/10/2015 MOT (passed) 21,250
14/08/2015 Interval Inspection 20,370
31/07/2014 Used Car MPC 15,557
31/07/2014 Oil Change Service 15,557
28/02/2014 Used Car MPC 14,176
16/08/2013 Oil Change Service 9,567
Hows that?
Wooda80 said:
Could be
22/04/2014 Retailed as VW Approved Used Car
02/04/2014 Proud second owner wants to put a private plate on it but the retention certificate is in his wife's name. or car insurance is cheaper in wife's name so re-registers the car unnecessarily.
19/09/2014 He's had his intended summer of fun with it and moves it on. Car lives happily with next owner until 2016.
Or
22/04/2014 Retailed as VW Approved Used Car
02/04/2014 Disgruntled second owner finds out the original owner, Ragged to Death Ltd, is not a trendy hipster clothing company as he was led to believe. Car has been track damaged, reshelled but not as an insurance job, and he rejects the car. VW Dealer takes the car back, burns any service invoices with previous owners' names and re-registers in their own name to disguise the car's history.
19/09/2014 VW successfully find another buyer for the car who lives with it in blissful ignorance until 2016.
Could be either, or any other set of circumstances that anyone could reasonably imagine. You can't rely on the number of owners to determine whether or not it's a well looked after car.
If you bought a different car with 3 owners rather than 4 but then needed to sell it in 6 months because you had had a promotion at work / new addition to the family / opportunity to buy your dream car etc would that then be viewed with suspicion also?
Very aggressive second list 22/04/2014 Retailed as VW Approved Used Car
02/04/2014 Proud second owner wants to put a private plate on it but the retention certificate is in his wife's name. or car insurance is cheaper in wife's name so re-registers the car unnecessarily.
19/09/2014 He's had his intended summer of fun with it and moves it on. Car lives happily with next owner until 2016.
Or
22/04/2014 Retailed as VW Approved Used Car
02/04/2014 Disgruntled second owner finds out the original owner, Ragged to Death Ltd, is not a trendy hipster clothing company as he was led to believe. Car has been track damaged, reshelled but not as an insurance job, and he rejects the car. VW Dealer takes the car back, burns any service invoices with previous owners' names and re-registers in their own name to disguise the car's history.
19/09/2014 VW successfully find another buyer for the car who lives with it in blissful ignorance until 2016.
Could be either, or any other set of circumstances that anyone could reasonably imagine. You can't rely on the number of owners to determine whether or not it's a well looked after car.
If you bought a different car with 3 owners rather than 4 but then needed to sell it in 6 months because you had had a promotion at work / new addition to the family / opportunity to buy your dream car etc would that then be viewed with suspicion also?
But I see your point.
EnthusiastOwned said:
23/05/2019 MOT (passed) 45,047
14/05/2019 Interval Inspection 45,047
14/05/2019 Brake Fluid Change 45,047
14/05/2019 Used Car MPC 45,047
17/10/2016 MOT (passed) 26,351
15/08/2016 Oil Change Service 25,397
31/03/2016 Used Car MPC 22,936
09/10/2015 MOT (passed) 21,250
14/08/2015 Interval Inspection 20,370
31/07/2014 Used Car MPC 15,557
31/07/2014 Oil Change Service 15,557
28/02/2014 Used Car MPC 14,176
16/08/2013 Oil Change Service 9,567
Hows that?
Looks genuine for the miles.14/05/2019 Interval Inspection 45,047
14/05/2019 Brake Fluid Change 45,047
14/05/2019 Used Car MPC 45,047
17/10/2016 MOT (passed) 26,351
15/08/2016 Oil Change Service 25,397
31/03/2016 Used Car MPC 22,936
09/10/2015 MOT (passed) 21,250
14/08/2015 Interval Inspection 20,370
31/07/2014 Used Car MPC 15,557
31/07/2014 Oil Change Service 15,557
28/02/2014 Used Car MPC 14,176
16/08/2013 Oil Change Service 9,567
Hows that?
Shame about the gap 2016 to 2019 buy hey, it's a used car, you can't always get a perfect history.
EnthusiastOwned said:
Trevor555 said:
Looks genuine for the miles.
Shame about the gap 2016 to 2019 buy hey, it's a used car, you can't always get a perfect history.
It was an independent specialist for those years (documented) - but yes, shame it's not got FVWSH. Shame about the gap 2016 to 2019 buy hey, it's a used car, you can't always get a perfect history.
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