Potential Mazda service history flaky - should I run away?

[cb31]

I'm looking to buy a small car as a pool car for the kids to run-around/learn in, airport runs etc. Found a seemingly nice Mazda 2, 2015, 1 owner, 50k miles, FSH. Drives well and looks good, only issue was a battery management warning which looks like it is due to battery being low from being on the forecourt so not too worried about that.

I got the MOT history, usual advisories over the years such as brakes and tyres, had a new MOT very recently by the selling garage. No MOT in 2018 though which is very strange and potentially pointing to a clueless owner.

Put the VIN into the MyMazda app and it only shows 1 service at 20k from a kiwi-fit type of garage, not a main dealer or Mazda independent. I would normally run away now but I put my MX5 into the same app and it only shows 2 services since 2014 which I know is absolutely false. I had it serviced last May at the main dealer, every year before that it had a main dealer service so it makes me question the MyMazda app.

So what do I do? Really taken with the car and put down a £1k deposit before I knew the full history as I took the dealer at his word, they have a digital history so not having any paperwork didn't seem suspicious. I don't know if it has been serviced or not, dealer is going to service it anyway and offering an 18 month warranty(not that I expect that to be worth much in practice).

[samoht]

Since the dealer are claiming FSH, I would ask them to provide some kind of evidence of that, whether paperwork, printouts off an online system, whatever. They should be able to offer some kind of evidence of when, where and what mileage it was serviced at.

I would try to get to the bottom of whether it has in fact been serviced since 20k, before starting to worry about the implications of that on the car.

[cb31]

samoht said:

Since the dealer are claiming FSH, I would ask them to provide some kind of evidence of that, whether paperwork, printouts off an online system, whatever. They should be able to offer some kind of evidence of when, where and what mileage it was serviced at.

I would try to get to the bottom of whether it has in fact been serviced since 20k, before starting to worry about the implications of that on the car.

I'm trying, he has asked Mazda for a printout but not sure if that is going to show anything different to the Mazda App. He is also trying to contact the previous owner and ask, I'm going to my local dealer this afternoon to see if they can tell me anything.

It's just a timing thing, supposed to be collecting Saturday and I'm nervous. How bad would it actually be if it has missed a load of services? I don't intend to sell it in future, it will be run into the ground over the next 5-10 years so resale isn't an issue.

[SteBrown91]

So he is selling it as FSH, but then has to go and try and find out of he can get the FSH?

Just walk

[samoht]

They aren't rare cars, easy to find another.

I don't know what the service intervals are meant to be on these, I'd assume they want an oil change every 10-12k miles? If there isn't evidence of having had at least oil changes somewhere near the specified mileage, then I'd walk - clearly the dealer will refund your deposit as it was advertised as FSH but the history isn't present.

My concept of Japanese engines is that they're very reliable but do depend on being serviced on schedule to achieve that reliability, with plenty around I wouldn't personally take the risk without history showing that has been done.

[cb31]

Thanks everyone, I went to my local Mazda and they confirmed it only had 1 documented service so that in conjunction with the advice here there was only really one option. I called the dealer and he was fine in returning the £1k deposit, doing it tomorrow hopefully.

Went on Autotrader and found one, just arrived no pics but main dealer approved used so peace of mind, Soul Red so just what we were looking for. They sent me a video and it looks great, better than the previous one. £1.5k more but 2 years newer, 5k less miles and 1 year manufacturer warranty so completely worth it. Collecting at the weekend if they can get it prepped in time, it's been a long time since I bought a little hatchback, very exciting still even though I won't be driving it much.

[samoht]

Sounds like a good result to me, assuming this new car is what it seems.

A newer, better condition car in a great colour could be a nice keeper, a small, lightweight, manual N/A little hatch to enjoy driving into our electric future

[cb31]

samoht said:

Sounds like a good result to me, assuming this new car is what it seems.

A newer, better condition car in a great colour could be a nice keeper, a small, lightweight, manual N/A little hatch to enjoy driving into our electric future

Car looks very clean, MOT history perfect and it is Mazda approved used so no worries at all.

Plan to keep it for the next 10 years so the kids can all learn in it, use as a pool car. Got a grey Taycan arriving next month so a red small manual will be a nice contrast.