high owners - cause for concern?
Discussion
Hi all,
Just wondering what people thoughts are on number of owners of a car? Im about to buy a 2005 car that has had 4 previous owners. Should this be a cause for concern? If so why? the car is a Golf GTI. I have just been on an extensive drive in it and had it checked out by a mechanic who found a bit of water around the spare tyre but no problems other than that and thought it looked and drove very well. The number of owners is the only thing on my mind to be honest but I dont know why?? It has covered 65k.
any help appreciated!
Just wondering what people thoughts are on number of owners of a car? Im about to buy a 2005 car that has had 4 previous owners. Should this be a cause for concern? If so why? the car is a Golf GTI. I have just been on an extensive drive in it and had it checked out by a mechanic who found a bit of water around the spare tyre but no problems other than that and thought it looked and drove very well. The number of owners is the only thing on my mind to be honest but I dont know why?? It has covered 65k.
any help appreciated!
I suppose it's the luck of the draw!
My old Peugeot 106 ended up having me banging 900 miles a week on it - whilst i bet there are similar models of that car out there that don't do much more than that a year!
My only slight worry with what you've said is that when people know they're going to sell, do they start to care a bit less? Then again, if they know they're selling imminently, perhaps they care for them ever more to get a good PX/Sale value.
My old Peugeot 106 ended up having me banging 900 miles a week on it - whilst i bet there are similar models of that car out there that don't do much more than that a year!
My only slight worry with what you've said is that when people know they're going to sell, do they start to care a bit less? Then again, if they know they're selling imminently, perhaps they care for them ever more to get a good PX/Sale value.
Generally people with modern VWs and Audis tend to keep them for at least a year or two. They are expensive cars and usually nice to drive and own, I know it usually takes me about three years before I strart getting irritated with them and want something new. This many keepers might suggest some niggling or expensive problem that people can't afford to get investigated or fixed properly... so they move the car on (water ingress perhaps??? Always an absolute bugger to fix!
oar911 said:
V said:
I wouldn't buy a 2005 car knowing I'll be the 5th owner, thats too many in that period of time. At that age I'd be expecting 2-previous owners max.
but whats the reason?!? am i missing something???If the car checks out this is no reason to be alarmed.
This is a Golf GTI that a lot of people will buy as a toy. Same for all sorts of daft/impractical/fast/expensive/fun/roadster type cars that people will have for a year and move on.
Sounds like you've done your due diligence, if it's private you need to budget for potentially a water leak and cam belt change. If it's trade then the dealer should either do these or discount accordingly.
This is a Golf GTI that a lot of people will buy as a toy. Same for all sorts of daft/impractical/fast/expensive/fun/roadster type cars that people will have for a year and move on.
Sounds like you've done your due diligence, if it's private you need to budget for potentially a water leak and cam belt change. If it's trade then the dealer should either do these or discount accordingly.
I think that I might have had a lucky escape here!!!!!
The seller seemed genuine enough, but when the doorbell rang an hour or so ago with me ready to hand over a bankers draft (that he had already got checked as he should have) he tells me that the engine management light has come on.
Went out to have a look at the problem, and it turns out the exhaust system warning light was on. We were both gutted to be fair.
He's taking it to the local VAG in the morning to evaluate the problem and see where we go from there. As much as I like the car I'm thinking walk away is the only sensible decision, especially with the high number of owners coupled with the bit of water in the boot.
Thoughts?? Is it still worth considering if it turns out to be a minor issue?? Im confused - and gutted!
The seller seemed genuine enough, but when the doorbell rang an hour or so ago with me ready to hand over a bankers draft (that he had already got checked as he should have) he tells me that the engine management light has come on.
Went out to have a look at the problem, and it turns out the exhaust system warning light was on. We were both gutted to be fair.
He's taking it to the local VAG in the morning to evaluate the problem and see where we go from there. As much as I like the car I'm thinking walk away is the only sensible decision, especially with the high number of owners coupled with the bit of water in the boot.
Thoughts?? Is it still worth considering if it turns out to be a minor issue?? Im confused - and gutted!
No of owners wouldn't bother me however I found it to be a real issue come resale time with a 2002 E46 330i I had.
I was the 6th or 7th owner of a very good condition, spec and historied car.
It went through 4 owners in its first 2 years from new and then 3 more in the next 5 years.
All BMW history but the number of owners put lots of people off.
I was the 6th or 7th owner of a very good condition, spec and historied car.
It went through 4 owners in its first 2 years from new and then 3 more in the next 5 years.
All BMW history but the number of owners put lots of people off.
Dr G said:
If the car checks out this is no reason to be alarmed.
This is a Golf GTI that a lot of people will buy as a toy. Same for all sorts of daft/impractical/fast/expensive/fun/roadster type cars that people will have for a year and move on.
Sounds like you've done your due diligence, if it's private you need to budget for potentially a water leak and cam belt change. If it's trade then the dealer should either do these or discount accordingly.
sure, but all these owners wouldn't have bought it as a toy.. I think it's a big problem. Some people won't get on with it, but not all of them. There's a reason .. walk away, I say.This is a Golf GTI that a lot of people will buy as a toy. Same for all sorts of daft/impractical/fast/expensive/fun/roadster type cars that people will have for a year and move on.
Sounds like you've done your due diligence, if it's private you need to budget for potentially a water leak and cam belt change. If it's trade then the dealer should either do these or discount accordingly.
ETA and it's not really a toy .. my Barchetta's a toy, I bought my GTI as the practical car!
Edited by johnvthe2nd on Wednesday 17th March 20:58
johnvthe2nd said:
Dr G said:
If the car checks out this is no reason to be alarmed.
This is a Golf GTI that a lot of people will buy as a toy. Same for all sorts of daft/impractical/fast/expensive/fun/roadster type cars that people will have for a year and move on.
Sounds like you've done your due diligence, if it's private you need to budget for potentially a water leak and cam belt change. If it's trade then the dealer should either do these or discount accordingly.
sure, but all these owners wouldn't have bought it as a toy.. I think it's a big problem. Some people won't get on with it, but not all of them. There's a reason .. walk away, I say.This is a Golf GTI that a lot of people will buy as a toy. Same for all sorts of daft/impractical/fast/expensive/fun/roadster type cars that people will have for a year and move on.
Sounds like you've done your due diligence, if it's private you need to budget for potentially a water leak and cam belt change. If it's trade then the dealer should either do these or discount accordingly.
ETA and it's not really a toy .. my Barchetta's a toy, I bought my GTI as the practical car!
Edited by johnvthe2nd on Wednesday 17th March 20:58
wouldnt concern me in the slightest, you are buying the car if its right its right,Is it any different to how many previous keepers your girlfriend has had 
Lots of cars are dealer registered so the first owner becomes the second straight away, some company cars are regiestered in the company name then second owner the guy that is leasing it and sometimes they put it back in the companys name as they pay for the road tax! so although the car has had one driver it can have3 registered keepers! I see it all the time.
Fwiw Ive noticed in the vw range that Bettles tend to have a high turn over of keepers, people buy them realise how bad they are and sell on, same story with minis.
Lots of cars are dealer registered so the first owner becomes the second straight away, some company cars are regiestered in the company name then second owner the guy that is leasing it and sometimes they put it back in the companys name as they pay for the road tax! so although the car has had one driver it can have3 registered keepers! I see it all the time.
Fwiw Ive noticed in the vw range that Bettles tend to have a high turn over of keepers, people buy them realise how bad they are and sell on, same story with minis.
Edited by JeffC on Thursday 18th March 08:31
I bought my TT at 4yrs old, 21k on the clock and 4 previous owners. They'd all traded it in at the same main dealer for a newer model after 12 months. It's now 9yrs old, with 112k on the clock, and other than a clutch pedal assembly go, consumables and a few other little bits and bobs, it's been great.
So no, the number of previous owners wouldn't especially bother me.
So no, the number of previous owners wouldn't especially bother me.
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