911 - Significance of the Number of Previous Owners on Value

[jezzaaa]

Hi guys,

I'm looking to buy a 997 C2S in the coming weeks, and have been looking around at various cars. Most of the 2005 ones (which is where my budget takes me) are 4-5 previous owners. One or two have had 2 owners. One I've seen, that's had an engine rebuild due to a bore scoring failure, has had 9 owners. This high number of owners really puts me off, but I've found myself wondering why. I guess I have a suspicion that any car which has had nearly as many owners as years of age indicates that it's a bad'un/friday afternoon car. But is it a perception that other people share, or is it just me?

Thx,
J.

[jezzaaa]

md4776 said:

High number of owners would also be alarming to me but i suppose there's an element with cars like this of people buying them without fully appreciating the cost to run? when they realise the fuel and maintenance bulls they have it a year then punt it before the next major service plus spark plugs or whatever is due.

Yeah, that's what I was thinking too...and it's an argument for buying the best car regardless of the number of owners.

[Cheib]

5 owners on a 10 yr old car is fine....9 owners isn't ! You sometimes see GT3's with a high number of owners but I think that can often be explained by people buying them and finding that the reality is more "engaging" than they wanted...

[was8v]

Lots of people buy a 911 as a bucket list kind of thing.

Own for a year, ticked that box, but really need a more comfortable / practical car, or couldn't really deal with the finance payments.

I wouldn't worry, just check the car out as you would anyway.

[Jefferson Steelflex]

12 former keepers on my 14-year-old car.

Immaculate and full service history, superb condition.

I bought it because it was the best I had seen.

[Buggyjam]

When I've heard people talk about getting something like a Porsche it's often associated with more like a toy purchase (I daily mine can't afford not too). And people do get bored of toys/move onto the next thing quite quickly if they're not really an "enthusiast". Wild wild guess here, but take a Morgan- seem to be more dedicated beardy enthusiast lead as a total percentage of purchasers than Porsche, so imagine they don't get shifted on so quickly. An expensive non vital item in the garage that seemed fun a year ago might be tempting to let loose when babies show up, or the house needs a new kitchen. So personally I'd alway assumed higher numbers of previous owners on a Porsche isn't the same red flag as with a more mundane car.

[chriscoates81]

FWIW my 2002 996 turbo has had either 4 or 5 previous owners, however there is a school of thought that more owners means more care has been taken due to more honeymoon periods.

[El Cid]

I'm looking for a 997 at the moment (2006-2008) and want a 2-3 max' previous ownership. My theory being that the longer the owners have had the car the more likely its had its regular services and been maintained regardless of cost. However service records should be an indicator of this. Maybe I just don'y like the idea of too many bums sitting in it