HPI strangeness

[magriggs]

Hi all

I'm in the process of buying a 996 from a Pistonheads member. However, when I ran the HPI check this morning it stated that it had 3 former keepers (before the current owner). The vendor , who I've been in touch with, is confident that the V5 lists only one former keeper (before himself). The car has had two number plate changes - two private, one "public".

Has anyone ever seen a case where a number plate change has shown up as a former keeper on HPI? I've emailed them about it, but thought I'd ask here as well.

[rubystone]

Yes I have. In fact, for the cars I've owned, the change of keeper on a plate change is the norm....

[sundiver]

Yes, seen this too many times. Often occurs on private <-> standard plate change.

[MartinD]

I would not trust a HPI check, they can only give you info they have, if they have not been told a car has been written off/stolen/clocked etc. they can not tell you. A HPI check on a BMW (full BMW service history )for my Dad came up clear, something did not seem right though, so I contacted BMW, they said the car had last been serviced by BMW 2 years before (so fake service stamps) at 125,00 miles. the car now had only 75,000 miles so had been clocked as well !
So a clear HPI check ( other than your owners thing )doesn't mean a thing

>> Edited by MartinD on Tuesday 8th November 14:35

[SEE YA]

Hello, for what it is worth get a PPI done that will tell you all about the car warts and all.

SEE YA

[pdV6]

The cock up is at the DVLA's end - HPI are only passing on the info kept by DVLA in that regard.

For some reason, number plate changes are sometimes recorded at DVLA as a change of keeper. Its bl00dy annoying, especially as it could have a detrimental effect on the value of your car.

[BliarOut]

pdV6 said:

The cock up is at the DVLA's end - HPI are only passing on the info kept by DVLA in that regard. For some reason, number plate changes are sometimes recorded at DVLA as a change of keeper. Its bl00dy annoying, especially as it could have a detrimental effect on the value of your car.

Ah, that explains why my car appears to have had four changes of owner in eighteen months. (Previous owner, private plate, original plate back, then me.)

[magriggs]

Thanks everyone.

I am having an OPC PPI done as well, so hopefully Porsche will run it through their database and check that it's kosher.

Just think, a few days from now it could be mine.

I'm going to have to go and sprint around the office again, get rid of some of the excitement.

[rubystone]

Always HPI on chassis and number plate - I checked a car on the number plate first and was told it was finance clear - Finance Company (NU then) had quoted the wrong number plate to HPI - the finance wasn't even logged against the VIN, so to all intents, it came up as clar - just as well the owner told me he owed money on it!!! NU couldn't give a stuff when I told them

[magriggs]

I've now spoken to HPI, who have spoken to the DVLA, and confirmed that the car HAS had 3 former keepers (plus its current one).

So I guess I need to eyeball the logbook. Presumably the two "spare" keepers were car dealers.

[phelix]

But a dealer won't normally obtain a logbook in their name so they shouldn't show up as a keeper...

[magriggs]

Another update, I know you're all on the edge of your seats ;-)

Turns out that the car has in fact had three former keepers. Current owner accepted the spoken explanation of "a well-known independent Porsche dealership with offices in London and Surrey" that it had had only one. Hence the confusion.

So, what are all your thoughts on me being the fifth owner of a 6-year old car? Seems rather a lot to me.

[pdV6]

magriggs said:

Presumably the two "spare" keepers were car dealers.

Shouldn't be - that's why there's a different section to fill in when "selling" (part ex-ing) your car to a dealer.

I'd be wary of what the DVLA is saying 'cos (as has already been mentioned) they can and do get it wrong sometimes.
If they can give you a list of 4 different owners, then maybe they're right but it still could be down to number plate changes being recorded incorrectly.

{edit:} Just seen your intervening reply - it would seem that the current owner didn't bother with HPI when they bought the car. Bit silly really.

>> Edited by pdV6 on Wednesday 9th November 13:33

[aceparts_com]

Number of owners in my small mind makes absolutely NO DIFFERENCE to the car at all, in fact, could make it better; every new owner lavishes love and attention where as a one owner car may simply be someones run about.

If the number of times air had been put in the tyres was recorded on the log book then the few times would be deemed to be better.

[tat]

[quote]I've now spoken to HPI, who have spoken to the DVLA, and confirmed that the car HAS had 3 former keepers (plus its current one). [/quote]

I would insist that the current owner gets the logbook amended before transferring the car. The logbook is the authoritative document and any errors in it should be corrected. Otherwise this uncertainty will remain with the car forever.

Good luck!

[pdV6]

aceparts_com said:

Number of owners in my small mind makes absolutely NO DIFFERENCE to the car at all

Thing you have to consider, though, is whether it will make a difference to the next prospective owner at resale time...

[magriggs]

tat said:

I would insist that the current owner gets the logbook amended before transferring the car.

Turns out he hadn't looked at the logbook, just told me what the dealership had told him.

[rubystone]

pdV6 said:

aceparts_com said: Number of owners in my small mind makes absolutely NO DIFFERENCE to the car at all Thing you have to consider, though, is whether it will make a difference to the next prospective owner at resale time...

Absolutely - try selling the car to the trade...I bet they'll take note of the number of owners....

[kamal996]

This excitement about numbers of owners bewilders me. Its like someone reads the "ACME" book of 20 questions when buying a car and concludes that they have to have a one owner car! Porsches are usually bought in a moment of stupidity (in my case!) and sold when I have massaged my ego enough and realise I prefer comfort on my long jounries and not to loose £6k a year in depreciation for 3k mikes . The honeymoon generally lasts 12 months. This means that Porsches have lots of owners!

I know of so many one owner "cherished" cars that have been clocked. The reason...the owners control the history of their cars. One person I am "acquanted" to has his Mercedes S500 clocked by 8-10k miles before each and every service and ensures the MOT coincides. over 5 years the car has covered 100k miles but shows 60k and has a full history and MOTs to back the miles up-APPALING and I hate him for doing it as hes not short of readies.....ONE OWNER MEANS NOTHING!!!