Partial Service History. Old car.

[MikeGoodwin]

Feel silly asking this given the low cost of an 18 year old Clio RS. 10 year gap in service history in its life. Much of a problem?

I'm only really worried about resale as I know the lack of service history will put people off, but the car has clearly been looked after and everything checks out. One hand it's a stty old clio I intend to do a few track days in, enjoy it around my local roads etc but but not abuse and maintain it as required. Other hand it's a nice example (probably up there with the best), and clearly had money chucked at it. Enthusiast owned etc. So want to keep it at that standard.

I did have an integra that was 95% there in terms of receipts and the car was very nice. Didnt bother me but potential buyers were keen to evidence the service history one way or another. That got thin on the paperwork side of things.

Would you avoid?
Or am I being daft

[Fastpedeller]

Certainly wouldn't bother me - Need to look at the condition (especially if ageing) rather than the paperwork. Any car can have stamps in a book which doesn't necessarily mean the works been done.

[Dont like rolls]

Go to a mirror, look at self, wobble head, go to car, inspect condition, drive it, asses how it drives, decide.

[strath44]

10 years is quite a gap and unlikely its had nothing done, does it fall within one persons ownership? It's worth doing some detective work, how does this fall is it no stamps in the book or lack of receipts or both? If so does it indicate clocking as this car would be fairly worthy of a roll back! If not was it serviced independently by a garage that could be tracked down?

Its amazed me over the years as to how many cars I've had cheaply because of missing history which I've been able to trace prior to purchase. Granted it is much easier now with digital records!

ps how many owners has it had?

[steveo3002]

if it checks out ok , good mot history not failing on service parts yearly then go for it

if it genuinely had no servicing over 10 years then id expect to see fails on bald tyres and stuff regularly

[MikeGoodwin]

strath44 said:

10 years is quite a gap and unlikely its had nothing done, does it fall within one persons ownership? It's worth doing some detective work, how does this fall is it no stamps in the book or lack of receipts or both? If so does it indicate clocking as this car would be fairly worthy of a roll back! If not was it serviced independently by a garage that could be tracked down?

Its amazed me over the years as to how many cars I've had cheaply because of missing history which I've been able to trace prior to purchase. Granted it is much easier now with digital records!

ps how many owners has it had?

4 owners according to the hpi.

Sounds like its stamped up till 35k and 2009. Then the seller mentioned it has some receipts and mot records onwards. At best its patchy and at worst it's got chunks missing.

Mot history stacks up. Obviously would have to comb through 18 years of receipts to see the history and see if it all works out.

Only problem is as Clios go it's expensive so kinda wanted everything to be in place if you know what I mean. Sounds like it was owned by two guys at a renult dealership so go parts on the cheap.