How many owners ?
Discussion
Its amazing how scared we are of cars with more than a couple of owners.
Why is it so offputting ?
Does it mean a money pit people keep moving on, or does it mean more new owners with more enthusiasm and willingness to spend ?
Some cars seem to just end up with loads of owners, usually anything aspirational.
If a car was otherwise spot on, would you reject it at 7 years old for example because uts had five owners ?
Why is it so offputting ?
Does it mean a money pit people keep moving on, or does it mean more new owners with more enthusiasm and willingness to spend ?
Some cars seem to just end up with loads of owners, usually anything aspirational.
If a car was otherwise spot on, would you reject it at 7 years old for example because uts had five owners ?
J4CKO said:
Its amazing how scared we are of cars with more than a couple of owners.
Why is it so offputting ?
Does it mean a money pit people keep moving on, or does it mean more new owners with more enthusiasm and willingness to spend ?
Some cars seem to just end up with loads of owners, usually anything aspirational.
If a car was otherwise spot on, would you reject it at 7 years old for example because uts had five owners ?
I've owned 4 one owner cars at ten years old. Fastidious retired school teacher types. 3 of them off my father in law, who provided me with cars which had been properly looked after. Why is it so offputting ?
Does it mean a money pit people keep moving on, or does it mean more new owners with more enthusiasm and willingness to spend ?
Some cars seem to just end up with loads of owners, usually anything aspirational.
If a car was otherwise spot on, would you reject it at 7 years old for example because uts had five owners ?
Wife has an Astra that came from.a main dealer at 9 years old with one stamp in the book every year at the same dealer. All 4 have been great.
I'll be getting one of my father in laws old cars back from my son, and it will have 3 previous owners and 60k on the clock. 21 year old Astra. It's no longer perfect due to my son actually using it.
I bought a 10-year-old Boxster a few years ago. It had had 11 previous owners. It was in near-perfect condition and was faultless. I kept it for six months before moving onto a 911. Sports cars can change hands swiftly, more mundane cars with less frequency. I certainly wouldn’t buy a Ford Focus that had changed hands on a yearly basis or less.
Main concern would be short term owners may skip some important jobs and leave for next owner who just does the same, or not fix other issues etc.
Of course you can try and figure this out before buying by looking at the service history in detail, but some random issues might not be obvious from a test drive/short inspection. i.e heating isn't effective during winter would be easily missed if bought in summer.
Where possible I try and buy privately low owner examples, especially as I keep my cars 4-5 years. exceptions to every rule but a rate of 1 owner per year would put me off.
Of course you can try and figure this out before buying by looking at the service history in detail, but some random issues might not be obvious from a test drive/short inspection. i.e heating isn't effective during winter would be easily missed if bought in summer.
Where possible I try and buy privately low owner examples, especially as I keep my cars 4-5 years. exceptions to every rule but a rate of 1 owner per year would put me off.
As long as the car has been looked after, the number of owners wouldn't worry me at all.
My recently purchased E63 has had 4 owners, its a 2015, seems to be very well looked after, and all serviced carried out at the right time.
I've had some lower owner cars that don't seem to have been looked after very well,
I did once have an Evora, with a large number of owners, that really was a money pit, and not surprised it had so many!
My recently purchased E63 has had 4 owners, its a 2015, seems to be very well looked after, and all serviced carried out at the right time.
I've had some lower owner cars that don't seem to have been looked after very well,
I did once have an Evora, with a large number of owners, that really was a money pit, and not surprised it had so many!
Buyers will always pay more for 1 owner cars whether mainstream or right up to high end. Anyone claiming otherwise and saying a 5 owner car is worth as much as a 1 owner car is talking b
ks. Can make around a 10 percent difference in price to some higher end stuff as buyers with money will always pay for the best. Similarly mainstream £10k 1 owner cars are worth quite a bit more than multi owned stuff thats why ex lease 1 owner cars are always valued highest in the trade and through the auctions.
Reduces risk, potential for mileage tampering etc and always easier to sell on too.
ks. Can make around a 10 percent difference in price to some higher end stuff as buyers with money will always pay for the best. Similarly mainstream £10k 1 owner cars are worth quite a bit more than multi owned stuff thats why ex lease 1 owner cars are always valued highest in the trade and through the auctions.Reduces risk, potential for mileage tampering etc and always easier to sell on too.
With trade experience, I would suggest that for everyday cars I.e. the great majority, the fewer owners, the better. Thus, at 7 years, you might reasonably expect 3. This is sometimes complicated, as some will be pre-reg, hence 1 extra owner. I know that it’s a commonplace on here, but remain unconvinced that Boxters etc with ten owners are somehow desirable. A one owner example for those 7 years (say) is a cliche, but remains a good sign.
I rarely even consider or look at how many owners a car has had - prime example the TT I bought in December, didn't think to look or ask about this and had totally forgotten id still not checked till now (for reference its 4 on a 2013 plate).
I always consider each car on its condition alone. Ive had cars ive needed to move on quickly for various reasons/circumstances adding and owner - its just not clear cut that more owners=worse
I always consider each car on its condition alone. Ive had cars ive needed to move on quickly for various reasons/circumstances adding and owner - its just not clear cut that more owners=worse
I think I’m the seventh owner of my car. (2005 model). It didn’t bother me at all. I’ve now had it for 5 years. I bought it on condition and because of the huge file of paperwork it came with which showed each owner had taken great care of it.
It might be different for certain cars but I suspect struggling to crack 20mpg might have been a reason mine changed hands a bit when it was probably used as a daily driver earlier in its life.
It might be different for certain cars but I suspect struggling to crack 20mpg might have been a reason mine changed hands a bit when it was probably used as a daily driver earlier in its life.
Edited by adf83 on Tuesday 22 June 09:20
The only reason I like a one owner car is because they’ve usually bought it new, and treat is as it is an expensive item (there are exceptions). As the price becomes lower, and the owners purchase it for less they can lavish less care. However there are exceptions to this. My current daily I’m the fifth keeper and two of the former keepers are on here and all keepers have kept up the maintenance regime very well.
It’s also easier to prove ‘motorway miles’ or ‘garage kept’ if it’s a one owner vehicle.
It’s also easier to prove ‘motorway miles’ or ‘garage kept’ if it’s a one owner vehicle.
When I buy cars to drive for pleasure I will always spend time and money fixing any issues, such as road rash, dings in paintwork, mechanical problems, and give the car a full paint correction. I may only keep the car six months but getting them back to near perfection is, for me, half the fun. The cars I’ve bought for my weekend driving over the years suggest I’m not alone on this. Besides, without fail I always get a full inspection carried out. The number of owners is completely irrelevant.
adf83 said:
I think I’m the seventh owner of my car. (2005 model). It didn’t bother me at all. I’ve bowed had it for 5 years. I bought it on condition and because of the huge file of paperwork it came with which showed each owner had taken great care of it.
It might be different for certain cars but I suspect struggling to crack 20mpg might have been a reason mine changed hands a bit when it was probably used as a daily driver earlier in its life.
Did you buy my car? Several owners... 2005... 20mpg!It might be different for certain cars but I suspect struggling to crack 20mpg might have been a reason mine changed hands a bit when it was probably used as a daily driver earlier in its life.
Chubbyross said:
When I buy cars to drive for pleasure I will always spend time and money fixing any issues, such as road rash, dings in paintwork, mechanical problems, and give the car a full paint correction. I may only keep the car six months but getting them back to near perfection is, for me, half the fun. The cars I’ve bought for my weekend driving over the years suggest I’m not alone on this. Besides, without fail I always get a full inspection carried out. The number of owners is completely irrelevant.
Side topic, who do you use for inspections? It's something I need to consider for my next car as the value is higher than I usually spend. Whilst it's clear the market value does recognise a difference here, I personally have found that low owners cars can go one of two ways:
1) They're fastidiously maintained and have been cherished with a folder full of receipts for everything that was a bit less than perfect, or;
2) They've had a basic service once a year but it's mechanically worn out, needing fully rebushed and all balljoints, springs, dampers and CV joints replaced plus stuff like new clutch or the "sealed for life" autobox is overdue an oil & filter change etc
In other words, it can be just as bad as a high owners car. High owners is often associated with someone selling it on at the first sign of a repair coming. Low owners cars are often kept until it can no longer stagger through an MOT.
1) They're fastidiously maintained and have been cherished with a folder full of receipts for everything that was a bit less than perfect, or;
2) They've had a basic service once a year but it's mechanically worn out, needing fully rebushed and all balljoints, springs, dampers and CV joints replaced plus stuff like new clutch or the "sealed for life" autobox is overdue an oil & filter change etc
In other words, it can be just as bad as a high owners car. High owners is often associated with someone selling it on at the first sign of a repair coming. Low owners cars are often kept until it can no longer stagger through an MOT.
I think i’m the 7th owner of my 993. Does that make it bad?
It had 6 owners in the first 12.5 years of its life and i’ve now owned it for 13.5 years.
I’ve not had any issues with it. Certain types of cars will possibly have more frequent owner changes as people want to experience owning the car then move on to the next thing that takes their fancy.
As long as its been maintained then don’t see an issue.
It had 6 owners in the first 12.5 years of its life and i’ve now owned it for 13.5 years.
I’ve not had any issues with it. Certain types of cars will possibly have more frequent owner changes as people want to experience owning the car then move on to the next thing that takes their fancy.
As long as its been maintained then don’t see an issue.
mrdanbartlett said:
Chubbyross said:
When I buy cars to drive for pleasure I will always spend time and money fixing any issues, such as road rash, dings in paintwork, mechanical problems, and give the car a full paint correction. I may only keep the car six months but getting them back to near perfection is, for me, half the fun. The cars I’ve bought for my weekend driving over the years suggest I’m not alone on this. Besides, without fail I always get a full inspection carried out. The number of owners is completely irrelevant.
Side topic, who do you use for inspections? It's something I need to consider for my next car as the value is higher than I usually spend. I had a V10 M5 that had averaged one owner per year for its 7 year life, I was a long term owner by comparison (18 months),
I suspect it was because it was the type of car that you bought with your heart but then realised it was a liability and best offloaded once you came to your senses.
As long as the previous owner has not been ultra short term (indicating they've become aware of a problem) then what has happened before them doesn't matter too much.
I suspect it was because it was the type of car that you bought with your heart but then realised it was a liability and best offloaded once you came to your senses.
As long as the previous owner has not been ultra short term (indicating they've become aware of a problem) then what has happened before them doesn't matter too much.
Fat hippo said:
I think i’m the 7th owner of my 993. Does that make it bad?
It had 6 owners in the first 12.5 years of its life and i’ve now owned it for 13.5 years.
I’ve not had any issues with it. Certain types of cars will possibly have more frequent owner changes as people want to experience owning the car then move on to the next thing that takes their fancy.
As long as its been maintained then don’t see an issue.
Exactly. Fancier cars are things to be enjoyed and cherished, regardless of how long they stay with the owner. I find it’s the single owner cars that are driven as dailies that tend to be ragged and neglected, save from the annual service and MOT. It had 6 owners in the first 12.5 years of its life and i’ve now owned it for 13.5 years.
I’ve not had any issues with it. Certain types of cars will possibly have more frequent owner changes as people want to experience owning the car then move on to the next thing that takes their fancy.
As long as its been maintained then don’t see an issue.
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