Number of owners.
Discussion
Im looking at an early 90's 911 at the moment which is in great condition(barring a few details) and has perfect service history,mot's,paperwork etc...only problem is it has had 9 owners...anyone think this makes the car totally undesirable or do i just need to buy it cheaper to reflect the amount of owners,also is this amount of owners reasonably normal on such an old 911?
Only your due diligence can tell whether the number of owners has been a good or a bad thing: either the car has been a load of trouble and each successive owner has wanted to get shot of it as soon as possible (maybe after spending lots trying to rectify faults), or the car has been owned by a succession of enthusiasts who have each lavished excessive care and attention on it. 
I wouldn't say that simply the number of owners itself is cause to beat the price down, but then I don't live in the mysterious world of kayc.
I wouldn't say that simply the number of owners itself is cause to beat the price down, but then I don't live in the mysterious world of kayc.
jeremyc said:
Only your due diligence can tell whether the number of owners has been a good or a bad thing: either the car has been a load of trouble and each successive owner has wanted to get shot of it as soon as possible (maybe after spending lots trying to rectify faults), or the car has been owned by a succession of enthusiasts who have each lavished excessive care and attention on it.
I wouldn't say that simply the number of owners itself is cause to beat the price down, but then I don't live in the mysterious world of kayc.
I think the latter..it looks like the car has been really well looked after.Its just that my immeadiate reaction to so many owners was its too many,just wanted to know if other people think the same! I wouldn't say that simply the number of owners itself is cause to beat the price down, but then I don't live in the mysterious world of kayc.
Depends what you want the car for.....if it is a keeper then over time it should be less of an issue.......Obviously I have no clue, but I tend to buy secondhand cars which have few owners, low miles, full service history and are in good condition...this works for me and am more than happy to walk away from a car if I have found a reason NOT to buy it.
If the car is good enough to buy, I would certianly use the number of owners as a bargaining tool pre purchase, if you do decide to sell in the not too distance future it may well be used against you
If the car is good enough to buy, I would certianly use the number of owners as a bargaining tool pre purchase, if you do decide to sell in the not too distance future it may well be used against you
That does seem a high number of owners, even for a toy - but then i'm probably unusual in keeping may cars average 5 yrs.
Have a detailed look at the list of owners, is it same surnames - eg father to son etc. Maybe give the previous owners a call.
PPI should tell you the rest.
cheers
Have a detailed look at the list of owners, is it same surnames - eg father to son etc. Maybe give the previous owners a call.
PPI should tell you the rest.
cheers
I have a 1990 C4, believe I am owner 11 or 12. Don't think this is a particularly bad thing but I would recommend you consider how long the previous owner has had the car. The reason I say this is because so many 964's are bought and then run on a relative shoe string until something nasty starts to go wrong and then it is sold on before a major service. I thought I had bought a good one (off a friend) the reality is that I have spent £7,000 in the first year making it very good one.
wanta996 said:
Ignoring the number of owners is like ignoring the mileage - You are guaranteed that at least 1 out of 9 owners would have clocked the car or at least been invloved in an accident that has not been recorded.
You could be right but the service book and mot's all tie up with the mileage etc..accident damage i presume hpi could confirm? Agree to an extent Kayc but i bought an SLK at auction that had been stolen and recovered but it came up HPI clear??, what gave it away was the Vin number under the windscreen was different to the one stamped on the engine, and the sticky label on the door peeled off to reveal the original Vin number that was the same as the one on the engine. As for mileages, "A" company i know takes 5k miles off each company car before MOT time as they get billed 5p a mile over the agreed 10k miles a year allowance so dont kid yourself on mileages of older cars - I also believe the Parkers Guide even comments on how easy it ease to re-adjust 911 mileage clocks.
Edit - Also bear in mind that if you do ever try and sell it and are asked - How many owners has it had? - And you say 10! with a straight face then i know i would be walking away. Friend was offered a Gallardo E gear with 13k on the Clock (Bentley Birmingham)but it had 4 owners?? 4 owners under 13k miles? Hmmmmmmmm - It was the lowest priced Black UK E-Gear in the UK - I wonder why??
Edit - Also bear in mind that if you do ever try and sell it and are asked - How many owners has it had? - And you say 10! with a straight face then i know i would be walking away. Friend was offered a Gallardo E gear with 13k on the Clock (Bentley Birmingham)but it had 4 owners?? 4 owners under 13k miles? Hmmmmmmmm - It was the lowest priced Black UK E-Gear in the UK - I wonder why??
Edited by wanta996 on Wednesday 14th March 09:59
wanta996 said:
Agree to an extent Kayc but i bought an SLK at auction that had been stolen and recovered but it came up HPI clear??, what gave it away was the Vin number under the windscreen was different to the one stamped on the engine, and the sticky label on the door peeled off to reveal the original Vin number that was the same as the one on the engine. As for mileages, "A" company i know takes 5k miles off each company car before MOT time as they get billed 5p a mile over the agreed 10k miles a year allowance so dont kid yourself on mileages of older cars - I also believe the Parkers Guide even comments on how easy it ease to re-adjust 911 mileage clocks.
Edit - Also bear in mind that if you do ever try and sell it and are asked - How many owners has it had? - And you say 10! with a straight face then i know i would be walking away. Friend was offered a Gallardo E gear with 13k on the Clock (Bentley Birmingham)but it had 4 owners?? 4 owners under 13k miles? Hmmmmmmmm - It was the lowest priced Black UK E-Gear in the UK - I wonder why??
As i said though it is price reflective surely?I agree buyers will knock the price but by how much is the important thing ,to use your Gallardo example there is a price that someone will buy it compared to a one owner car..its how much that discount is that is important..i thinkEdit - Also bear in mind that if you do ever try and sell it and are asked - How many owners has it had? - And you say 10! with a straight face then i know i would be walking away. Friend was offered a Gallardo E gear with 13k on the Clock (Bentley Birmingham)but it had 4 owners?? 4 owners under 13k miles? Hmmmmmmmm - It was the lowest priced Black UK E-Gear in the UK - I wonder why??
Edited by wanta996 on Wednesday 14th March 09:59
Edited by kayc on Wednesday 14th March 10:07
If you are getiing it at a good price and you get the neccessary checks done and more importantly are not planning to sell it then by all means go for it - It may be bargain.Why not get an OPC or similar 111 point check done on it? I just found the following wear & tear thread interesting on a newer 996 with i assume had less than 9 owners.
www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=366816&f=48&h=0
www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=366816&f=48&h=0
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