should i be concerned?
Discussion
I'd say 7 owners is a lot in 7 years.
Some may be personal plate changes or transfer from company to individual.
It would make me even more careful than usual, and I'd probably be sure to HPI it. If there really have been 7 owners, why have so many people decided to sell this car on so soon? People normally keep a car longer than a year...
Some may be personal plate changes or transfer from company to individual.
It would make me even more careful than usual, and I'd probably be sure to HPI it. If there really have been 7 owners, why have so many people decided to sell this car on so soon? People normally keep a car longer than a year...
It may have been financed when new and the finance not paid, when the car came up for repo it used to be common practice to change the name of the registered keeper to a mate, cousin etc slowing down the repo process - I have this on good authority from a mate in that line of work.
The car may well be fine now BUT early in its life several "Owners" would suggest this sort of activity.
Aside from the multiple owners (Wouldn't be too worried) I would make sure there was evidence of regular maintainence etc, If there is I wouldn't let the previous issue put me off.
The car may well be fine now BUT early in its life several "Owners" would suggest this sort of activity.
Aside from the multiple owners (Wouldn't be too worried) I would make sure there was evidence of regular maintainence etc, If there is I wouldn't let the previous issue put me off.
Dab of oppo said:
It may have been financed when new and the finance not paid, when the car came up for repo it used to be common practice to change the name of the registered keeper to a mate, cousin etc slowing down the repo process - I have this on good authority from a mate in that line of work.
The car may well be fine now BUT early in its life several "Owners" would suggest this sort of activity.
Aside from the multiple owners (Wouldn't be too worried) I would make sure there was evidence of regular maintainence etc, If there is I wouldn't let the previous issue put me off.
It's also worth remembering that even if it does turn out to be a sound car, if you decide to shift it in a year or so as well (as lots of people here are prone to) it will be 8 owners in 8 years, and you'll probably have a smaller market of people to sell it to. The car may well be fine now BUT early in its life several "Owners" would suggest this sort of activity.
Aside from the multiple owners (Wouldn't be too worried) I would make sure there was evidence of regular maintainence etc, If there is I wouldn't let the previous issue put me off.
Cars like Minis are toys to some people, they are not practical as they have very little space and a tiny boot.
You find Women love them, get pregnant need space etc all kinds of reasons.
I wouldnt look at 7 owners and say its no good.
Look at the history, HPI record and condition.
You often find Porsches have quite a few owners.
Also dealers sometimes register them, adding an owner.
My M3 had 1 owner, yet it had 3 on the log book, the supplying dealer, the 1 owner and the dealer i bought it from. it was only 4 years old.
You find Women love them, get pregnant need space etc all kinds of reasons.
I wouldnt look at 7 owners and say its no good.
Look at the history, HPI record and condition.
You often find Porsches have quite a few owners.
Also dealers sometimes register them, adding an owner.
My M3 had 1 owner, yet it had 3 on the log book, the supplying dealer, the 1 owner and the dealer i bought it from. it was only 4 years old.
The mini is a fashion item as much as a car, so you will find the young will max their budget to get one. Then the bills start to arrive such as service costs and insurance and they realise they are beyond their means. That and this typ of person wants the latest registration plate they can find.
I found this to be the case with alot of minis after searching for one for a female colleague. they certainly appear to have higher than average (well compared to what I have experienced)number of owners.
So maybe not a lemon but care is advised.
I found this to be the case with alot of minis after searching for one for a female colleague. they certainly appear to have higher than average (well compared to what I have experienced)number of owners.
So maybe not a lemon but care is advised.
willy wonka said:
Well i went and looked at the car the reason for so many owners was given as private plate transfers.
Willy
Someones having a laugh buddy. Private plate transfers won't show as a new keeper on the V5. Transfers will appear on the HPI check.... run a mile is my advice anyway. far too many owners for my liking.Willy
Minis seem to have lots of owners in my experience. I think people buy them to replace larger "executive" cars with the idea that it'll still have some cachet and be economical and fun. They soon learn that they are small and bouncy and (in cooper s form) not that economical... It gets replaced by the sort car it originally replaced and the next owner does the same thing...
willy wonka said:
I am going to view a car today that is on a 03 plate and its had 7 owners should i be concerned about this?
Is it fairly normal?
The car is a mini cooper s
Willy
This may go against the grain a bit but as usual a number of posters have jumped on the 'too many owners, there must be a problem' bandwagon.Is it fairly normal?
The car is a mini cooper s
Willy
Understandable. However, cast your mind back to 2003. Mini was at the top end of 'most desirable cars' (and still is, retained value wise) with at least a 6 months waiting list.Cooper S, more so.
TLC (ie 5 years free servicing had just been introduced) coupled with one of the first manufacturers to offer MILEAGE (not time'ish) based servicing and you have a car that was both good value to run(low life cost)and retained excellent used values. Who wouldn't want one? I guess that over the first 2-3 years of this cars life,it had 3-4 owners? then the following owners, being at the end of that particular cycle, figured they would get the same benefits.However, they found out that to extend the TLC would cost them £500 and couldn't afford/didn't want to pay and so moved it on.
Now the car has ended up at an indie. It still has full history,paid for by Mini with maybe a few dings and dents(cheap and easy fix)with all warranty work carried out(even if you didn't realise it)So...... buy the bugger if it looks and feels right.....7 owners can mean many things! not just the bad things.
willy wonka said:
Thanks for all the responses.I have decided against buying the car as there were one or two things that i was not happy with.
Willy
There's plenty of low mileage, good condition R53 MINI's out there at low prices at the moment. Seems like they're not keeping their value like they used to. Bad fuel economy and high road tax probably don't help.Willy
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