Transpires 3 previous owners not 2. What to do?

[50Five]

I’ve written in another thread how happy I was with my pending A3 purchase, however, I’ve just found out the car has 3 previous owners not 2 as I was told. It’s my fault for not forcing the V5C document be present at our negotiation but I had so much going on in my mind and guess I had thought I had had confirmation, plus I had been looking at so many cars both online & at garages I guess I talked myself into believing it must be 2 due to that being one of my stipulations (1 or 2 owners vehicles only). I’ve read people saying your not buying the previous owners you’re buying the car. I always think the more previous owners the less sell on value, thoughts or experiences? The car is just under 10 years old so is 3 former keepers so bad, should I be asking for a discount? Do I have any comeback to pull out of the deal should it get to that point? I’m now in a bit of a pickle, any and all advice greatly appreciated.

Thanks for reading

 

[Harvey]

Ask them to perform a full detailed vehicle check so you can see change of keeper dates as it might just have been a dealer pre-registered vehicle so doesn't really count as an keeper if you get my drift. Number of former keepers has never bothered me as it's the condition of the vehicle that's the deal clincher for myself but everyone is different with their buying specs/wants and there are plenty more fish in the sea if +1 further keeper puts you off buying.

 

[NHN]

Personally I see no issues with number of owners, unless its 10 in 2 years......

As long as you do your due diligence on the car, I see no reason not to buy the car, 3 owners in 10 years isnt bad.

Its like the old, if the cars got 100k, then steer clear, those days are long gone of course as 100k is minor for today's modern vehicles.

 

[50Five]

Ask them to perform a full detailed vehicle check so you can see change of keeper dates as it might just have been a dealer pre-registered vehicle so doesn't really count as an keeper if you get my drift. Number of former keepers has never bothered me as it's the condition of the vehicle that's the deal clincher for myself but everyone is different with their buying specs/wants and there are plenty more fish in the sea if +1 further keeper puts you off buying.

GT

 

[50Five]

Ask them to perform a full detailed vehicle check so you can see change of keeper dates as it might just have been a dealer pre-registered vehicle so doesn't really count as an keeper if you get my drift. Number of former keepers has never bothered me as it's the condition of the vehicle that's the deal clincher for myself but everyone is different with their buying specs/wants and there are plenty more fish in the sea if +1 further keeper puts you off buying.

Thanks Harvey and apologies for the ‘GT’ answer before, that must have bee. a typo and send by mistake.

I get that and will ask them to find out if any of the owners were a garage pre-reg. i have a feeling not but it’s worth asking, I just feel I’ve been given the incorrect advice.

 

[50Five]

Personally I see no issues with number of owners, unless its 10 in 2 years......

As long as you do your due diligence on the car, I see no reason not to buy the car, 3 owners in 10 years isnt bad.

Its like the old, if the cars got 100k, then steer clear, those days are long gone of course as 100k is minor for today's modern vehicles.

NHN, I’ve done as much due diligence as I can, without being a mechanic and only knowing the basics. Checked the history, the MOT’s and all nothing sinister. The car is being given a full service & MOT. I’m just nervous because it’s the most I’ve ever spent on a car and is right at the top end of my budget. I’m really just thinking for sell on value, I know I look after my cars but does seeing a car with 4 owners in say 12/13/14 years affect it much? Maybe not if it’s a good car I guess.

 

[50Five]

NHN, I’ve done as much due diligence as I can, without being a mechanic and only knowing the basics. Checked the history, the MOT’s and all nothing sinister. The car is being given a full service & MOT. I’m just nervous because it’s the most I’ve ever spent on a car and is right at the top end of my budget. I’m really just thinking for sell on value, I know I look after my cars but does seeing a car with 4 owners in say 12/13/14 years affect it much? Maybe not if it’s a good car I guess.

I meant to post this link All MOT codes checker as I find this very useful when looking through the MOT history of a car, to know the seriousness or not of a previous fail or advisory. Hopefully this can help any of you guys carrying out your own due diligence

 

[chippieuk]

Run a check yourself on one of the car check sites - usually even the basic checks for a couple of quid will show you the number of previous keepers, and more importantly the date ownership changed.

For example, I'm the 4th keeper of the car I currently own, but a check I did before buying for a couple of quid (I used vcheck) showed a table with the date the keeper got the car, and how long they had it. The 1st keeper only had it for 4 months, so to me that shows it was probably a pre-reg at a dealers, or one of their demo cars.

 

[50Five]

Run a check yourself on one of the car check sites - usually even the basic checks for a couple of quid will show you the number of previous keepers, and more importantly the date ownership changed.

For example, I'm the 4th keeper of the car I currently own, but a check I did before buying for a couple of quid (I used vcheck) showed a table with the date the keeper got the car, and how long they had it. The 1st keeper only had it for 4 months, so to me that shows it was probably a pre-reg at a dealers, or one of their demo cars.Thanks. Is this the website you used, £2.99 for the basic but seems enough as you said https://www.vcheck.uk/

Thanks. Is this the website you used, it’s only £2.99 for the basic info but seems enough as you said https://www.vcheck.uk/
As I mentioned in another reply this website is great for checking past MOT’s and what exactly the codes mean https://www.nimblefins.co.uk/mot-fail-codes

 

[50Five]

Does anyone know if there is there a way I can find out how long the dealer has had the car on their lot for & if it was a trade in/bought at auction?

 

[chippieuk]

Thanks. Is this the website you used, it’s only £2.99 for the basic info but seems enough as you said https://www.vcheck.uk/

 

[chippieuk]

Oops, don't know what I did there - yeah, that's the site I used - I got the full check, but looks like the initial one will include the information on previous keepers.

 

[chippieuk]

Does anyone know if there is there a way I can find out how long the dealer has had the car on their lot for & if it was a trade in/bought at auction?

One of the other check sites I looked at had a section where it showed if it had seen an advert anywhere recently - not sure what sites it checks on for adverts on, but the car I looked at was on Autotrader, and it had the date the advert was put on there listed, so may give you an indication of how long they have had it for sale. It was on totalcarcheck.co.uk put in the reg, then click the button and scroll right down, you don't have to pay for that one (but you do if you want the previous keeper stuff).

 

[Andy Butcher]

My S4 had 4 owners in 4 years and only 22k miles, however it came with every penny spent including original bill of sale.
I paid for a full HPI check and that came back all clean, the car is/was in an absolute peach condition wise and still smelled new inside.
I've owned it for 2 years now without a single issue.
As you already said, you're buying the car not the previous owners, however if you're not happy walk away as there is a mass of A3's out there.

 

[50Five]

One of the other check sites I looked at had a section where it showed if it had seen an advert anywhere recently - not sure what sites it checks on for adverts on, but the car I looked at was on Autotrader, and it had the date the advert was put on there listed, so may give you an indication of how long they have had it for sale. It was on totalcarcheck.co.uk put in the reg, then click the button and scroll right down, you don't have to pay for that one (but you do if you want the previous keeper stuff).

Thanks for that. I had a quick look and a new V5C was registered on 7th August, that says to mr the dealer has had it for a couple of months which is no big deal. In saying that most dealerships want to move stock on within 90 days, that’s the sweet spot for getting the best chance of a decent discount so they can clear the stock and bring in new. I’m really just having a wobble due to the money I’m spending being right at the top of my budget, a little bit of money left to me by my late parents.

Anyway, you and all the guys on here have really helped calm my nerves and reduce my stress levels. All will be good, it’s a good car and just what I need for city driving in style & comfort. Currently tootling around in my friends Alfa while he’s on holiday, I have to say it just feels cheap. German all the way for me when it comes to cars, we’ll Audi that is!

 

[50Five]

My S4 had 4 owners in 4 years and only 22k miles, however it came with every penny spent including original bill of sale.
I paid for a full HPI check and that came back all clean, the car is/was in an absolute peach condition wise and still smelled new inside.
I've owned it for 2 years now without a single issue.
As you already said, you're buying the car not the previous owners, however if you're not happy walk away as there is a mass of A3's out there.

I’m not quite at that level you mention but it drives so sweet and feels new, I mean compared to my 2006 A4 2.0 TDi Avant S-line it is different level. I was really just adding another layer of panic onto my other layers of stress and the like. Another owner is no big deal, I was really just thinking about sell on value when & if the time comes. My current car is sitting on 148k so as I said, this is like driving a new car. I only do 4-5k per year so all going well I might have this for 5, 6, 7 years or more…by which time it will have lost any value it has left in it.

I have, with the feedback and good chat on here found my inner peace.
Thank you