Service history unimportant?

[JumboBeef]

Did do a search but couldn't find anything.

I've found a nice (from photos and description) Freelander. Going to see it on Monday.

It is 2004, with 93,000 miles. A trade in from a main dealer. The seller (a small dealer) tells me it is in VGC and drives well: we shall see! He will do a minor service before he sells it, and it has a full MOT.

However: there is no history whatsoever. The seller says he might be able to get it from the main dealer, but doubts it.

So, the question is: if the car drives well, how important is SH on a 9 year old/93,000 mile motor?

(This isn't a thread about Freelanders, it's about service history!)

Thanks.

[fat freddie]

Personally I wouldn't buy a car with no history whatsoever unless it was a sub £500 banger. But since I wouldn't buy a Freelander either it's a moot point.
Buy it if you like it.

[E38Ross]

if it drives well then it it's likely been serviced...but it best be VERY cheap.....resale value will be much less.

[davepoth]

It does hurt the resale value a bit.

If you intend to keep it until it dies, then there are a couple of things to think about. The main one for me would be whether the car has a cambelt. If it does then I would always assume it hasn't been done. Since the first warning you'll get is a dead engine, that's a sensible precaution.

Other than that, a thorough look at the fluids in the car (oil, coolant, etc) should tell you whether it's been looked after, as will a bit of tyre kicking - if it has mismatched ditchfinders all round, run away. If it has mid-price or better tyres matched across axles, it's a fair bet that it's been taken care of.

[jamoor]

Please don't buy a freelander.

Yes I'm ignoring what you wrote.