It does matter, to me anyway a car that has been bought and kept since new by the same person or 1 other owner from new means it has been looked aftered and has money spend on it if a car has 8 owners it shows that's its been abused and sold on, if someone keeps a car for a long time it shows the car is reliable and will be well maintained as they are planning on keeping it for the long run if someone buys a car and sells it after 3 months chances are they won't spend money on it as they know they won't keep it long. hope I make sense I'm half asleep.
@@everydayguy289 I've seen plenty of one owner cars that have been used and abused all their lives. They've kept the car purely because it's not broken down on them. After 8 years of abuse they take it to the local hand car wash, give 'em sixty quid for a full valet, chuck some fresh oil in it and move it on as a "cherished" one owner car.
There was an elderly person living near me who had a Mini from new. We always knew when she was going out because she revved it like she was about to take part in an RAC Rally, but then rode the clutch ... although I'm not sure she actually knew what the clutch was for because she also crunched the gears. I don't think she ever went much further than the doctors or Tesco so the AA were regular visitors in winter. She had a dog leaving its mark all over the back seat and made clipping the kerb and knocking the door mirrors/bumpers into a performance art. When she put it up for sale, there it was: 'Low mlg. One careful lady owner from new'. No thanks! 🤣
You would not want my brother's car. He can wreck a wheel by just changing it, using hammers, screwdrivers anything available. He has no tools as such but uses garden implements. He is 79 but looks , and drives, much older. He has just written off his 2013 Ka by driving into a post. What insurance companies do now is crazy. Still, some lucky buyer will have it in a few weeks time no doubt. I have sourced him a 2014 Ka so he will be back. Look out if you live in Leicester- but if you drive there you need extra insurance anyway.
I totally agree on that analysis. I'd also add that 'low-mileage' older cars can often mean that it has been sitting in dealers forecourts or owners car parks for years, being pelted by the elements and not being driven. Any vehicle needs to have regular miles put under the bonnet to oil and lubricate the engine and moving parts. It is a rare egg that has been kept inside a heated garage, driven only on sunny days, oiled and waxed regularly and cherished by one owner.
Had a 3.0L Legacy which the first owner had for 13 years, he did an average of 4000 miles a year and got it serviced only with Subaru specialists. Within a year it cost me over a grand to replace the exhaust because his low mileage had rusted the cats (all 3 of them) from the inside. Low miles and one owner isn't always a good thing.
It used to be mufflers were made of steel and would rust out and need replacement after about three years. Then manufacturers starting delivering vehicles with stainless steel mufflers that didn't rust. It is purely a decision made by the vehicle manufacturer. Either keep the purchase price low with a cheap steel muffler and saddle the customer with muffler replacement costs, or raise the purchase cost and have a happier customer and increased future sales. You have to blame Subaru for a rusting muffler, not the owner unless they previously replaced the muffler.
I’m the 8th owner of a Jag XF S but it is quite clear the car has been extremely well maintained by some if not all of its owners. Service history checks out. I will also look after this for the 9th owner!
I had my cars serviced out of warranty at a pals garage and he used to say that the stamp meant very little as they'd note that the oil was changed last re ice so they'd do something else etc... But tick the boxes to me a history only proves it's been there.
I was the 4th and 6th owner of a 2006 Audi avant 3.2. It had dealer service and Audi specialist service from new. Over 50 service records and the car is on its 8th owner now. Saw it on Marketplace last week for sale for half of what I sold it this time last year. The car would leave you absolutely penniless. I’m talking filing for bankruptcy. Refinancing a house. Busting into your 401(k). Absolutely penniless. And it was impeccably maintained with an open checkbook mentality
@@JoesGoldenGarage if that car “was” serviced, perhaps your garage was honest and particular, but in general the vast majority are not.. Remember they are run by humans, and if a mechanic needs oil his car gets it your car gets the bill, and it’s rubber stamped… CYNIC OR REALIST?
My daughter's first car, an 8 year old Toyota Aygo, had one previous owner, which meant it didn't have 5 new drivers destroying the gearbox and clutch. With a full service history, it has proved to be an excellent car.
Luckily that one owner was a decent person. That same one owner could've been an idiot who drove like a madman and abused it. The logbook would still read the same which is misleading
I go for one owner cars as much as possible, but obviously it depends on type of car and other factors. But one owners usually far better condition and typically a sign its been loved. Typically. I currently drive a Vw Golf gti 2007 which had just one owner and 65k miles which I bought in 2018 from a middle aged dentist. Car have Full VW Audi SH and was mint. I've looked after it too and it's had 4 Services in 3 yrs and 16k miles. The car is solid, drives impeccably and a joy to drive. Likewise I bought 2 Honda civics in similar vein, housewife-mobile but 1 owner, 10yr old, all honda history and still in the family 6 yrs later (sister, aunt) and running like clockwork.
Excellent info there - I bought a first-owner car myself. It had relatively low mileage, but it later turned out that the owner had barely driven it for years and began to park it on grass causing it to rust. His son covered up the rust damage so well as he was a construction worker that even the guys at the shop did notice what was going on with the car. Meanwhile the rust was eating away at it until it broke through everywhere totaling the entire bucket. First owner - does not mean anything - not even an owner keeping it for 10 years - he usually neglected it - as I noticed with another car. Thanks for the vid!
Really good information Matt. I bought an eight year old SLK last year that had four previous owners. It did worry me a bit as I had never bought a car with so many previous owners. But when I thought about it this was a two seater car that wasn’t particularly practical. People buy them for a couple of years of top down summer fun then pass them on . As long as there’s a good documented service history you should be ok .
If it has the 1.8l petrol engine Kompressor make sure the timing chain was replaced Should be done every 100k miles Because if it wasn't its a time bomb for failure
Way back in the day when I was in the RAF in Germany cars were tax free for service personnel. A colleague of mine bought a second hand, low mileage metallic bronze Chevy Camaro muscle car. It was a complete beast and a gorgeous lump of metal. He drove back home to the U.K. for a week’s leave and when he got back to Germany he sold it. I asked him what was wrong with car? You’ve only had it a month? He told me it was a great car but he’d only bought it for one reason. He was from quite a rough estate in Glasgow where, when he was a kid, all the neighbours used to tell him he was useless and would never amount to much. He said “I just wanted to see the look on their faces when I drove down the street and parked it outside my Mum’s. It was brilliant!”. After he’d sold it he bought a beige Ford Sierra 1.6 . People eh?
Unfortunately dealers don’t help, as they advise this as a “feature” or a deal breaker. Common issue is that in terms of many users, there are going to be giving the car away before they need to service it, especially since these cars you mentioned are not cheap to service … and the next buyer buys it (and sometimes one of them lies to sell it easier). So it’s all debatable… you’ve given extreme examples, but I do agree (at least partially) with you.
This is a very good point! I've often seen "One owner!" signs in car windows on sales lots, and it was a question we were all told to ask by people like Quentin Wilson (Remember him?) when he was telling people how to buy a used car. ("Look for mayonnaise under the oil filler cap" and "Look for blue smoke from the exhaust" were other common tips.) My own personal top tip for looking at old cars is to look at the coolant itself, not just at the level. If it isn't a decent mix of anti-freeze in there, the car probably has a leak and they've topped up the water just before you came to see it.
Like high mileage cars - personal experience has taught me that you should not be afraid of high mileage cars. Always look beyond the number of owners and mileage. Great video.
I always say 200k highway = 100k city miles..last car I bought I got excited when I noticed the stone chipping on th bumper, thinking ”mmm, sweet highway miles"😂
It depends on the history and how it's been looked after. My father has a car that had 9 owners and 140k miles but there was all the paperwork of it going to different specialists for each of its services and jobs but that's unlikely to happen. If it's a cheaper car, barely any history and many owners, it just takes one of the owners to have completely abused it.
I think it's a really useful tool in spotting a lemon. My two worst cars, reliability wise (A Golf GTI and a mk3 Megane) both had 5+ owners. I use it as a sign of a troublesome motor.
This is a really interesting subject you've raised and it's certainly made me have a rethink before I change my car. For the many of us who trawl Autotrader researching our next purchase it is interesting that I have also added in some prejudices of my own like checking it's not got cheap tyres, the interior photographed from the driver's seat with the steering wheel at 90 degrees from centre (no attention to detail) or people claiming they are private sellers who seem to have a penchant for adidas jogging pants with trainers or flip flops (some dodgy looking types from the local car wash) in a Range Rover? Really? Then there's how shiny is the steering wheel is and which radio station they listen to!
@@HighPeakAutos there's another lot of videos right there ! 1. What to look out for with dodgy private sellers. 2. How to spot the genuine private seller bargain preloved cars where you actually get to meet the previous owner at his home and get more of an impression as to what they are like and how they would have treated their car.
I started bricking myself when collecting a used car that had four owners in 5 years, cross with myself for not asking "the question". I needn't have; it was in great shape and I took it to 120,000 miles with minimal fuss.
Spot on analysis Matt. You've put it into words better than I've ever been able to when discussing this with friends. My focus is always on how long the previous owner had it for. Also, love the term "man maths" - I've definitely been guilty of persuading myself this way on a few purchases. No regrets, just lessons learned!
Great advice! Your videos are really helping me to navigate as I search and research for my new car. Confidence to act is priceless. Thank you, Sir, for your down to earth advice.
I largely agree, with the exception some types of lower end premium car (e.g. A5, most AMG-line Mercs, etc). Three or four owners in under five years screams repeated PCP deals by younger drivers who may have ragged them and can’t really afford to maintain them. It would make me more keen to inspect the service history, but still wouldn’t necessarily put me off.
i really appreciate the honesty and actually your take makes most sense , car dealers have acquired this trait of being dishonest , and i guess a lot of honest dealers like yourself have to face the backlash of that . and that’s why we buyers are so concerned when buying used cars . saying that i bought a brand new tiguan in 2019 with a noise that the dealers where never able to fix … so you know ..
I used to be in the trade many years ago I learned that every time a car changes hands the new owner spends money on it. I have a Mégane cabriolet 2002 02reg. It shows 8 owners. It's been right through my family. Myself several times, my wife,both my daughter's. I originally bought it as a summer toy. So it's officially an 8 owners car that has actually only had two
Thats exactly why the last owner sold it, needed money chucking at it , if I see one owner bags of history ,receipts , clean, hand washed etc that will do me
Cars are often sold with FULL SERVICE HISTORY but when you look through what was actually done you find spark plug change has been missed, brake fluid change missed, no record of clutch fluid ever being changed, and if not at main dealer it'll be anybody's guess what parts were used.
Questions I’d like answering are “what kind of repairs just arent worth it?” & “When is it time to scrap/replace your car?” Great thanks if you could find the time to give those a milking over :)
That's going to vary depending on the individual and the car, I have just taken on a bmw e46, and yes I bought it as one owner from new and as it has low mileage but its a 4 door auto and requires body work, to me it's worth saving and preventing it from being trashed, for others they won't get that at all. My dad had a scimitar GTE that cost many times what he sold it for in maintenance, and they are still not that expensive today, but he enjoyed it. Likewise we also have a citroen c2 with an injector problem and it's for the scrappers soon !
I had a Mercedes CLA I just didn’t like, kept it about 8 months before swapping back to an E class. I agree circumstances can make a difference to how long a car is kept. Other cars I’ve had for 12 years. One thing I always do is service a car when it has an MOT, it doesn’t matter if I’ve only done 3000 miles (lockdown) I still get the oil changed and anything else done. Plus keep all the history even if it’s just tyres. I will admit to staying away from high mileage and a lot of previous owners, so maybe Next time I’ll keep that in mind.
I’m so glad I’m following you and this channel, you are so right. I was just looking at a 9 owner car and almost dismissed it… but it is in the “sports category” you were talking about. (I sold my Audi TT a few years ago cause my back went 😫, I loved that car 😂)
Could you maybe make a video on what to look out for when buying used cars? How to know if the dealership is ripping you off or if they’re genuine (any tell tale signs). Questions to ask and things to be aware of when test driving. Basically a “tips and tricks” when buying a used car? That would be really helpful! Love the content so far.
Guess there's psychological barriers to overcome with this mindset. But agreed - people can buy into the one owner thing too much and perhaps underestimate vehicles with a high number of owners.
Never mind the number of owners,what make are the tyres when buying it,that tells me about the last owner 👍 And now days with the DVLA online not checker,you can search the mileage between MOT's and track any advisories.
Thanks for this Matt. So, if we shouldn't be asking how many owners a car has had, what questions should we be asking the car dealers? Maybe there's a video idea right there! Cheers
How many times have you been in court for selling un roadworthy vehicles as great cars? Do you have a special 'nod nod wink' agreement with the garage that issues your MOT's?
"how many of the cars on your forecourt are you selling for the second time?" would show the customers were happy, brought the car back to the chap to sell again, and that he was being fair with them. A trusted relationship is something we can see far more clearly than the Luciferian workings of this wonder technology that mysteriously moves us around.
Personally for me it depends on the car. I've always looked at number of owners but then looked at the service history and checked for certain signs on the car of a dealer fix and general wear whilst being loved. I usually buy one owner cars, but then again I don't buy boring cars like Corsa's. So I know when I get my one owner car with all the ckecks I do that 9/10 I will get a brilliant car. Only one of the one owner cars I've had went wrong, but that had nothing to do with number of owners, it was to do with a ticking time bomb. I think service history and body work (checking hidden spots) are the most important thing for me. I'd buy a car with 8 owners if each owner had had the car serviced and the bodywork had shown that the car was loved.
When I buy a car I keep it for at least 5 years and have done 8 years on some cars I have owned, but religiously get them serviced annually mainly to prevent breakdowns but also reliability. You look after a car and it will serve you well.
Small engine 🚘 which were usually someone’s 1st year on the road cars could be another genuine explanation. Most people get 1.0-1.2 to get 1 or 2 NCB and then get something they really wanted.
I think growing up ive always had this perception that if a car had so many owners, then its probably been a car that's had alot of issues and people got rid of it, or so many owners with different driving habits have affected the car. Whereas a car with one owner says to me that someone's had it, looked after it and is now looking to change. Now obviously that's not entirely the case but I just always think back to this. But as I've gotten more experience with cars, my main concern is with the service history. But in this video you're just going by hypothetical scenarios. It's just luck at the end of the day. It could have 1 owner or 20, the car can be faulty regardless. But my advice would be go for a car that's got plenty of service history and invoices. And I would also say to check the mot history. And when viewing the car, do the usual checks, look for rust, bangs and knocks etc. And I would go as far to look up the car you're buying and research common faults.
i remember buying a renault 19 red it had over 10 owners the thing is every one of the owners spent money on the car it was faultless no problem at all
A guy next to us has had a large engined BMW X5 from new for the past 5 years and he, and his wife, have thrashed the sh*t out of it since day one. I feel sorry for that car's second owner.
It will depend on numerous factors, MOT history, service history, type of owner etc. MOT history, if the owner(s) have done the bare minimum to get the car through, its one to avoid, especially if its got a list as long as your arm still as advisories. Service history, most people think that just having an oil change every year constitutes as a service, then say the car has full service history, probably the biggest issue I see in the car club I'm in. Type of owner, the ones that spend all their budget on the car and leave nothing in the pot to fix any issues or service the car and the other that looks after the car mechanically and budget for it. You need to look at multiple factors if buying any car, a high owner car may be a sign of neglect or it may be a classic and pampered, you just need to ask more than one question, but I would still avoid cars that change hands on a regular basis, especially those high end Mercs and BMW's that are money pits to start with.
Every time I have bought a vehicle from a dealer they have always asked me how many owners my vehicle has had, and some have pulled a face if it's had more than two, so it's no just Joe blogs that asks that question. Even sites like we buy any car ask for the number of owners, well they used to.
@@HighPeakAutos I know, no offence, but I wouldn't trust a car sales man as far as I could throw him, they would give their granny away if they thought they could get a sale😂
@@stuartrichards5644 whenever you are buying a car from a dealer, the car they are selling is always in demand and that's why the price is high, yet your part ex, nobody wants and they will struggle to sell, then when you make an offer on their car they have to see the manager, it ends up being a game of deal or no deal, I think the manager must be Noel Edmonds 😂😂
@@acelectricalsecurity I have to have a chat with my manager…..in other words the guy wants to know if they are going to get a sale and then a commission. I have bought my last two cars from a small family dealer and you don’t have to play the big dealers daft games!
@@HighPeakAutos Thank you, Matt. Sorry for calling you mmmguy. I didn’t know you name then. Didn’t read your description. Anyways, I find you to be honest and good. Keep up the good work. We all love cars for some damned reason.
It all depends, buy on condition first and everything else second. Generally unless there is a good explanation as to the above average number of owners in normal cars i.e not sports or luxury, I would still be weary. No matter what you may think of it a car with a high number of owners will be harder to shift later down the line. I have purchased plenty of older cars with one owner and low miles that are in perfect condition and in my experience have not seen that many one owner cars in poor shape.
@@jaimeleiva4865 4 cars? You would think by the second or third one you would have learnt a lesson to find a car in good shape. As I mentioned before first and foremost buy on condition.
Very entertaining and informative. There is another scenario which I think often applies to cars like Golf GTI, MINI Cooper S etc. First keeper - Bought on PCP or Lease so dealer serviced and well looked after Second keeper - Bought as 3yr old low mileage from main dealer, bank loan for it so kept serviced and cherished. Third keeper - Bought privately from second keeper, paid in hard earned cash, looked long and hard to find the right car so serviced and maintained well. Forth keeper - Now at the price where the younger drivers can afford to buy it but not maintain it. Fits huge loudspeakers and stupid double DIN stereo, gets driven with little mechanical sympathy and stinks of weed. Fifth keeper - Buys it as a project.
I actually look for young cars with high mileage. They're my favourite kind of used car bargain. When it comes to used cars, I prefer a young tart rather than an old spinster.😄
My Jaguar Sovereign XJ40 1991 had the same owner from new to 2017. The lady who bought it couldn't find the right people to repair it and it eventually couldn't start anymore, so it sat maybe 1-2 years. I bought it in early 2021 and it is now working again and I used it all summer. The 2 main issues were a bad fuel pump and no ignition, due to bad contacts on the ignition module. The car looks 99% new and works really well!
Good video that makes some valid points. Irrespective of how many owners a car has had, to my mind a full and verifiable history is very important in reducing the risk in buying a used car ie: annual authorised dealer servicing not a DIY home mechanic + a pre purchase inspection from an independent professional. There are still no guarantees you’ll get a perfect car but you’ll dramatically reduce the chance of picking a lemon.
Matt, I totally agree with you. Example. My great uncle purchased a brand new Toyota Corolla in 1973. He toke great care of it. Always washed and polished. However he was a terrible driver. Under revved it, often and over revved it as well. When my sister inherited it, the engine was stuffed, sounded like, a diesel . Smoked just as bad. The clutch was totally had it. So was the diff. Yet it looked really tidy.
I bought a 2004 Volvo V70 in 2014. Paid £4k. It had 105k on the clock and multiple owners. I put 25k on the clock and sold it in 2016 for just shy of £3k. It never missed a beat. Serviced it once and changed the front wheel bearings. I might have been lucky, but that experience leads me to 100% agree with the message in your vid. Which as always was a great vid and thanks for it.
Yes spot on, lots of owners can be a good thing , especially on a Porsche etc as the first thing the next owner will do is service it and chuck a good few quid at it .
I have an 8 owner 2000 Jaguar XKR. Red flag to most people but the service history shows that every owner cherished it and sorted any issues as soon as possible
I just watched your video on the Jaguar Xj from Feb 19' again because it popped up and at the end you said how you couldn't believe you hit 2000 subscribers...you have come a long way since then mate well done! Also love all the Jag content!
I've bought dozens of used cars over the last 50 years and my experience would suggest that, all other things being equal, a car with one/few owners is nearly always a better bet than a car with many owners. Having said that, for these purposes, I would count cars which are handed down between family members as being closer to one owner. Of course, everything else like price, age, condition etc has to be factored-in so buying a car just because it has only had one or two owners would be folly. However, I reckon that it does matter how many owners a car has had.
I’m private hire driver, so I do crazy miles per year. Last summer I treated myself to a newer car. I had a 2012 Ford Mondeo which my missus now has as her daily driver, her friends thought she was mad taking over the car with the mileage on it. It’s just gone over 300,000 miles. I’ve had a full service every 9/10k miles. Always used good oils, filters etc and always ran it on V-Power - and it’s never missed a beat. If you didn’t know it had the mileage on it that it does, and took it for a test drive with the odometer covered, you would never guess the mileage. Routine maintenance is key for me, along with the premium fuel.
Great believer in... better several careful owners than one bad! My Uncle used to buy one owner low mileage cars and had nothing but problems.... the MOT history on DVLA is a brilliant tool.
Makes a lot of sense, I wouldn't have looked at it like that . I once bought a 2 year old Audi A8 with 3 previous owner's & only 8000 miles, the owner before me had the car for 4 months, kept her for 2 & half years, fantastic car.
To agree with the majority here, spot on. A new owner or a new dealer will attend to issues, dings, scuffed alloys, and as you say, a service. Yes a red flag over very quick flips (but could be a trader in hiding). The most important bit of damage on a car is the first as from then on its no longer new, unmarked and shiny....one owner cars from new suffer that the most.
Thats the most realistic advice on cars about previous ownership. For example I bought a two owner e46 M3 convertible that was abused and neglected; I fixed it up to almost impeccable condition, replaced everything from water pump, thermostat, gaskets, checked VANOS, hoses, and many other engine pieces, along with all plastic bits and and pieces in the interior, pain correction, replaced the crappy aftermarket headlights with original OEM xenon etc. So I can honestly say when i sold it the now "3" car was better than the "2" owner car that bought. So you hit the nail in the head when you its the last owner that counts the most. Like your own M3 project, which became a much better car after your ownership than before!
Totally agree…. I bought a one owner, low mileage car that I thought was the unicorn. Had been sat in a garage, unloved, not driven. When I got behind the wheel, the car thought “what’s going on?” And threw hissy fits all the time… warning lights, hardened seals, faulty electrics, corroded stuck motors in the rear windows (probably never ever been used) it needed constant attention. It was replaced with a 4 owner car who each spent money on it and it’s still running like a dream. Result.
My CLK 500 convertible has had 6 owners including a Benz independent mechanic. And yes it costs a lot to run but six years later I’m still in love 🥰 great video 👍
So true of my Z4, 9yrs old and 57k when I got it, new owner every 1.5yrs. Massive file of main and specialist SH&bills, came with full soft car cover and BMW backpack- spare bulbs, cleaning pack etc.
Like this.I just got a 9 owner ( ime the tenth) Range Rover p38. It’s fully maintained with no advisories. I’ve just spent 250 on a full service at my local 4x4 specialist and it’s ready to tow my caravan to spain. Wish me luck 🍀
Where it's been serviced and was it on time are my first checks. ( main stealer or quality specialist independant ) Another easy one is DVLA MOT check to see what the last owner(s) allowed to be advisory indicating fix it when it breaks rather than preventative approach.
I currently own a 2004 honda jazz, which was the first car I ever bought saving all year in my first job. It was a pre reg, sold to an old couple, they kept it for a couple of years, then I bought it, kept it for 4 years (helped me move house - like a tardis), sold it to my younger brother (helped him move house), he kept it for 7 years and just sold it me back and gave me every receipt for the car for the last 7 years :D I'm now 2 of the keepers in the log book, it's not happened to me before but it made me laugh. Still runs fine too. Gotta love a jazz.
Summed up perfectly! My uncle bought a brand new Kia Rio in 2009 (shoe on wheels) and still has it, yes that’s a 1 owner car but it’s not been serviced for 4 years, has more dints than Katie Price’s Range Rover and hasn’t been washed since it was on Kia’s forecourt in 2009!!
Must admit you are spot on with one owner cars just buying a Jeep Renegade and saw a one owner vehicle in white and it has loads of marks inside three different brands of budget tyres failed its two MOT's poor service history and as you said One key ! So went for a four owner car with virtually flawless paint good service record one advisory for tyres and that was sorted as put on four matching Bridgestone tyres since last September oh and both keys present
In my opinion, number of owners absolutely does matter but in the same way lots of other indicators also matter. 1 every 3 years on average is a sign of a normal vehicle. On prestige vehicles, it can be higher where they were originally owned by a hire company or a company car for the first year of their life. More than that, it shows the car probably has a problem(s) which haven't been declared and owners keep shifting it on. A one owner vehicle is normally a no-expense-spared vehicle, which are often fully main dealer serviced and in tip-top condition. It's just one of the many indicators when buying a car, as are whether they have the manual, 2 keys, proof of service history, interior and exterior condition, is it full of junk etc
I have a Puma that looks like new and I have had it for 20yrs, and a 19-year-old Boxster S with about 9 owners on it, both garaged, both go well and don't cost anything to run, as I even the miles out between them. Choose the car carefully and then love it... Great, interesting and informative video. Like the variations in subjects, we are all learning from these explanations. Thank you.
How right you are in your words. Bought 1 owner suv from an online auction, bought the car for 4000 £. And it cost me another 1450£ to put it right, 50000 miles on the dash 5 years old, 1 owner car.
Good advice. I’m also amazed how many people are scared of a car at 7 years old with almost 100,000 miles on the clock. Quick mot check on the government website and so long as there are receipts to show any fails have been fixed and or advisories, it’s good. Like you say with diesels, every other tank premium fuel, good to go
Hi there, I have bought a lot of cars in my time, and when I was in my 20s every car I bought would have so many owners, but once I started new one's the one owner car became me ,so when I part x change for a new one again I always thought I was a good thing. But not anymore. Cheers Phil
I was told from an early age, car driving age that is not while I was still in nappies, that a car that had had many owners was a sign that the car was probably a bit of a lemon and that the owners had put up with it for so long and maybe tried to fix it and couldn't, so they sold it on! I think that you have to look at the car physically and go through the history and this should indicate to some degree if it has been looked after, multiple owners or not. But hearing this has changed my perspective on this issue. Cheers Matt.
I briefly worked in the trade in Ireland in '08, and I learned myself that what you say is true here. I asked the boss and he said that there's no point in trying to change the public's perception.
What a brilliant reply. I have a audi quattro 3.2 v6 manual. Beautiful looking car, but had had 7 owners over it's 15 years, the last had it for 5 years. It has gone against it, but it has been well looked after. I think it's going to increase in value so is in my interest to look after it.
I’ve never really thought about it in that way - but 100% true. Makes absolute sense. It’s like the well serviced high mileage vs 100 miles a year for 10 years granny sunday car.
Between this on one owners and your comments about unrealistic buyers your throwing light on what car enthusiasts have known for years and why most people buy trouble on hearsay instead of checking the actual car , same with tiny mileage , love the videos
I could not agree with you more, apart from myself who bought a 2001 vw golf v6 4 motion when it was 3 years old and I have owned it ever since, it is washed all the time and waxed, never misses a service as I do them myself and every little noise or knock and it goes to my trusted garage, it is garaged at home and hardly comes out over winter. It is mint and drives like new as manly everything under the car is new. I have service records from the day it was collect from the dealership, including the original invoice. My true pride and joy apart from my little girl, haha
I bought a 3 owner 2002 MK1 Leon Cupra with 76000 miles on it . Books all main dealer stamped and it was just serviced along with a new timing belt and water pump when I got it.. Happy days!! or not. since i've had it it's had all 5 tyres replaced, I've never had a car with a bald spare before. They're just usually flat as no one can be bothered to dig it out. All four shocks were blown, the disks and pads were done, along with a binding front offside caliper, the exhaust was nearly rusted through and the rocker cover gasket was leaking. It also needed new anti roll bar bushes and links, along with cam and crank position sensors and a new N75 valve to stop it going into limp mode. Overall it's been a great investment for a low mileage, low owner car lol. Good job I enjoy annoying neighbours on a weekend with increscent banging to bring back up to snuff.
Sooo true!! Same thing with company cars; most people just run away thinking they were used as rally cars..and all those miles.. The truth is they were probably cared for and serviced better than the average personal car and the mileage is mostly highway, which is like half that if it was city driving.
I drive a 06 avensis 2.2 d cat. The first owner did 200.000km in 10 years. The past 5 years I added 150.000 more. At least here in Germany having one owner where you can check the log book for services can give you a better peace of mind. We don't have the opportunity to get car faxes and whatever with checking the plate
I recently bought a 2017 Lexus IS which apparently had 4 owners. I was a bit worried but the car looked brand new without even a single scratch on it. That kinda proves the theory that every new owner takes care of the car for the first 2 years.
Absolutely spot on. Someone asked me the "how many owners has it had?“ question and I asked them if they were planning to drive it or marry it.
😂
It does matter, to me anyway a car that has been bought and kept since new by the same person or 1 other owner from new means it has been looked aftered and has money spend on it if a car has 8 owners it shows that's its been abused and sold on, if someone keeps a car for a long time it shows the car is reliable and will be well maintained as they are planning on keeping it for the long run if someone buys a car and sells it after 3 months chances are they won't spend money on it as they know they won't keep it long. hope I make sense I'm half asleep.
@@everydayguy289 I've seen plenty of one owner cars that have been used and abused all their lives. They've kept the car purely because it's not broken down on them. After 8 years of abuse they take it to the local hand car wash, give 'em sixty quid for a full valet, chuck some fresh oil in it and move it on as a "cherished" one owner car.
@@andrewlaw second hand cars will always be hit and miss its all luck to be honest
I'd walk away from your sarcasm straight away
There was an elderly person living near me who had a Mini from new. We always knew when she was going out because she revved it like she was about to take part in an RAC Rally, but then rode the clutch ... although I'm not sure she actually knew what the clutch was for because she also crunched the gears. I don't think she ever went much further than the doctors or Tesco so the AA were regular visitors in winter. She had a dog leaving its mark all over the back seat and made clipping the kerb and knocking the door mirrors/bumpers into a performance art. When she put it up for sale, there it was: 'Low mlg. One careful lady owner from new'. No thanks! 🤣
😂😂 Classic stereotype
Ahh see you met my father in law 🙄
You would not want my brother's car. He can wreck a wheel by just changing it, using hammers, screwdrivers anything available. He has no tools as such but uses garden implements. He is 79 but looks , and drives, much older. He has just written off his 2013 Ka by driving into a post. What insurance companies do now is crazy. Still, some lucky buyer will have it in a few weeks time no doubt. I have sourced him a 2014 Ka so he will be back. Look out if you live in Leicester- but if you drive there you need extra insurance anyway.
Sounds like my late mothers ham fisted driving style.
@@Finglesham Ahh. Leicester/Bradford/Birmingham where everyone drives an AMG line Mercedes (usually their parents) I used to work in car insurance...
I totally agree on that analysis. I'd also add that 'low-mileage' older cars can often mean that it has been sitting in dealers forecourts or owners car parks for years, being pelted by the elements and not being driven. Any vehicle needs to have regular miles put under the bonnet to oil and lubricate the engine and moving parts. It is a rare egg that has been kept inside a heated garage, driven only on sunny days, oiled and waxed regularly and cherished by one owner.
Very important, keeping it in shape by just start it up and drive it for atleast half an hour,
i would say 3-4 days a week is almost not enough.
Had a 3.0L Legacy which the first owner had for 13 years, he did an average of 4000 miles a year and got it serviced only with Subaru specialists. Within a year it cost me over a grand to replace the exhaust because his low mileage had rusted the cats (all 3 of them) from the inside. Low miles and one owner isn't always a good thing.
Thats right. Cars need using
@@HighPeakAutos Well at 13 years old its going to need some money spending on it.
My one owner Corolla 9 years old with 40K has been as new,difficult to generalise.
Low milage is not good. Less than 5k a year is bad. Engine, gearbox and diff never getting warm. Water never evaps
It used to be mufflers were made of steel and would rust out and need replacement after about three years. Then manufacturers starting delivering vehicles with stainless steel mufflers that didn't rust. It is purely a decision made by the vehicle manufacturer. Either keep the purchase price low with a cheap steel muffler and saddle the customer with muffler replacement costs, or raise the purchase cost and have a happier customer and increased future sales. You have to blame Subaru for a rusting muffler, not the owner unless they previously replaced the muffler.
I’m the 8th owner of a Jag XF S but it is quite clear the car has been extremely well maintained by some if not all of its owners. Service history checks out. I will also look after this for the 9th owner!
Regardless of how many owners it's had, service history is number one on my list. A well serviced car is usually on point.
I had my cars serviced out of warranty at a pals garage and he used to say that the stamp meant very little as they'd note that the oil was changed last re ice so they'd do something else etc... But tick the boxes to me a history only proves it's been there.
I was the 4th and 6th owner of a 2006 Audi avant 3.2. It had dealer service and Audi specialist service from new. Over 50 service records and the car is on its 8th owner now. Saw it on Marketplace last week for sale for half of what I sold it this time last year. The car would leave you absolutely penniless. I’m talking filing for bankruptcy. Refinancing a house. Busting into your 401(k). Absolutely penniless. And it was impeccably maintained with an open checkbook mentality
@@JoesGoldenGarage if that car “was” serviced, perhaps your garage was honest and particular, but in general the vast majority are not.. Remember they are run by humans, and if a mechanic needs oil his car gets it your car gets the bill, and it’s rubber stamped… CYNIC OR REALIST?
Jayemm has just shown a Ferrari 599 and it's history but it was a nightmare of a car!
My daughter's first car, an 8 year old Toyota Aygo, had one previous owner, which meant it didn't have 5 new drivers destroying the gearbox and clutch. With a full service history, it has proved to be an excellent car.
Luckily that one owner was a decent person. That same one owner could've been an idiot who drove like a madman and abused it. The logbook would still read the same which is misleading
@@HighPeakAutos No one drives Aygo like an idiot 😀and secondly it is a Toyota! Almost bulletproof!
@@april7_ That's good as it is also a Citroen and Peugeot.
I go for one owner cars as much as possible, but obviously it depends on type of car and other factors. But one owners usually far better condition and typically a sign its been loved. Typically.
I currently drive a Vw Golf gti 2007 which had just one owner and 65k miles which I bought in 2018 from a middle aged dentist. Car have Full VW Audi SH and was mint. I've looked after it too and it's had 4 Services in 3 yrs and 16k miles.
The car is solid, drives impeccably and a joy to drive.
Likewise I bought 2 Honda civics in similar vein, housewife-mobile but 1 owner, 10yr old, all honda history and still in the family 6 yrs later (sister, aunt) and running like clockwork.
@@clanmac66 Its who bolts them together that counts
Excellent info there - I bought a first-owner car myself. It had relatively low mileage, but it later turned out that the owner had barely driven it for years and began to park it on grass causing it to rust. His son covered up the rust damage so well as he was a construction worker that even the guys at the shop did notice what was going on with the car. Meanwhile the rust was eating away at it until it broke through everywhere totaling the entire bucket. First owner - does not mean anything - not even an owner keeping it for 10 years - he usually neglected it - as I noticed with another car. Thanks for the vid!
Really good information Matt. I bought an eight year old SLK last year that had four previous owners. It did worry me a bit as I had never bought a car with so many previous owners. But when I thought about it this was a two seater car that wasn’t particularly practical. People buy them for a couple of years of top down summer fun then pass them on . As long as there’s a good documented service history you should be ok .
Exactly! Thats right
If it has the 1.8l petrol engine Kompressor make sure the timing chain was replaced
Should be done every 100k miles
Because if it wasn't its a time bomb for failure
@@drone_tours Thanks for your comment. Its not the Kompressor model and it has only done. 55k miles to date but something I will bear in mind .
Way back in the day when I was in the RAF in Germany cars were tax free for service personnel. A colleague of mine bought a second hand, low mileage metallic bronze Chevy Camaro muscle car. It was a complete beast and a gorgeous lump of metal. He drove back home to the U.K. for a week’s leave and when he got back to Germany he sold it. I asked him what was wrong with car? You’ve only had it a month? He told me it was a great car but he’d only bought it for one reason. He was from quite a rough estate in Glasgow where, when he was a kid, all the neighbours used to tell him he was useless and would never amount to much. He said “I just wanted to see the look on their faces when I drove down the street and parked it outside my Mum’s. It was brilliant!”. After he’d sold it he bought a beige Ford Sierra 1.6 . People eh?
Unfortunately dealers don’t help, as they advise this as a “feature” or a deal breaker. Common issue is that in terms of many users, there are going to be giving the car away before they need to service it, especially since these cars you mentioned are not cheap to service … and the next buyer buys it (and sometimes one of them lies to sell it easier). So it’s all debatable… you’ve given extreme examples, but I do agree (at least partially) with you.
This is a very good point! I've often seen "One owner!" signs in car windows on sales lots, and it was a question we were all told to ask by people like Quentin Wilson (Remember him?) when he was telling people how to buy a used car. ("Look for mayonnaise under the oil filler cap" and "Look for blue smoke from the exhaust" were other common tips.) My own personal top tip for looking at old cars is to look at the coolant itself, not just at the level. If it isn't a decent mix of anti-freeze in there, the car probably has a leak and they've topped up the water just before you came to see it.
Like high mileage cars - personal experience has taught me that you should not be afraid of high mileage cars. Always look beyond the number of owners and mileage. Great video.
Great point!
For some reason in this country people think a car bursts into flames once it hits 100k miles.
High mileage is a sign the car works well! Plenty of cars develop faults at 30-60k miles, if one has made it past 100k it's at least a decent example.
Have a 2011 Mondeo just turned 150k drives great.
I always say 200k highway = 100k city miles..last car I bought I got excited when I noticed the stone chipping on th bumper, thinking ”mmm, sweet highway miles"😂
It depends on the history and how it's been looked after. My father has a car that had 9 owners and 140k miles but there was all the paperwork of it going to different specialists for each of its services and jobs but that's unlikely to happen. If it's a cheaper car, barely any history and many owners, it just takes one of the owners to have completely abused it.
I think it's a really useful tool in spotting a lemon. My two worst cars, reliability wise (A Golf GTI and a mk3 Megane) both had 5+ owners. I use it as a sign of a troublesome motor.
You're not on your own but I dont trust that any more
@@ripperino2 I never buy French cars
@@ripperino2 05-09 Renault's are some of the most reliable cars on the road. Just a pain in the ass to work on. Engines hold up well
@@hgg219
🤭🤭🤭
Let me guess, you drive a Renault
@@davidashley4386 My no 1 rule in used cars , no French cars or Landrovers lifes too short to wait on the side of the road 👍
This is a really interesting subject you've raised and it's certainly made me have a rethink before I change my car. For the many of us who trawl Autotrader researching our next purchase it is interesting that I have also added in some prejudices of my own like checking it's not got cheap tyres, the interior photographed from the driver's seat with the steering wheel at 90 degrees from centre (no attention to detail) or people claiming they are private sellers who seem to have a penchant for adidas jogging pants with trainers or flip flops
(some dodgy looking types from the local car wash) in a Range Rover? Really? Then there's how shiny is the steering wheel is and which radio station they listen to!
😂 I totally agree. I’m so suspicious when looking at private car ads too
Glad I’m not the only one who acknowledges the foot wear and radio station…
@@HighPeakAutos there's another lot of videos right there !
1. What to look out for with dodgy private sellers.
2. How to spot the genuine private seller bargain preloved cars where you actually get to meet the previous owner at his home and get more of an impression as to what they are like and how they would have treated their car.
Aaaaand, what is a ‘good radio station’ if I may ask?
@@ruedassueltas
Classic fm, radio 4, radio 3, radio 2.
I started bricking myself when collecting a used car that had four owners in 5 years, cross with myself for not asking "the question". I needn't have; it was in great shape and I took it to 120,000 miles with minimal fuss.
Spot on analysis Matt. You've put it into words better than I've ever been able to when discussing this with friends. My focus is always on how long the previous owner had it for. Also, love the term "man maths" - I've definitely been guilty of persuading myself this way on a few purchases. No regrets, just lessons learned!
Great advice! Your videos are really helping me to navigate as I search and research for my new car. Confidence to act is priceless. Thank you, Sir, for your down to earth advice.
I largely agree, with the exception some types of lower end premium car (e.g. A5, most AMG-line Mercs, etc). Three or four owners in under five years screams repeated PCP deals by younger drivers who may have ragged them and can’t really afford to maintain them. It would make me more keen to inspect the service history, but still wouldn’t necessarily put me off.
i really appreciate the honesty and actually your take makes most sense , car dealers have acquired this trait of being dishonest , and i guess a lot of honest dealers like yourself have to face the backlash of that . and that’s why we buyers are so concerned when buying used cars . saying that i bought a brand new tiguan in 2019 with a noise that the dealers where never able to fix … so you know ..
I’m loving these new style of videos Matt. Viewers, you won’t be able to find this information anywhere else
Thanks! Very kind
Great video. I just spent £950 on a Lexus GS300 I bought for £1,400…2 front shock absorbers replaced and full service done.
I used to be in the trade many years ago I learned that every time a car changes hands the new owner spends money on it.
I have a Mégane cabriolet 2002 02reg. It shows 8 owners. It's been right through my family. Myself several times, my wife,both my daughter's. I originally bought it as a summer toy. So it's officially an 8 owners car that has actually only had two
That's exactly what I've found too. Well said
Thats exactly why the last owner sold it, needed money chucking at it , if I see one owner bags of history ,receipts , clean, hand washed etc that will do me
Cars are often sold with FULL SERVICE HISTORY but when you look through what was actually done you find spark plug change has been missed, brake fluid change missed, no record of clutch fluid ever being changed, and if not at main dealer it'll be anybody's guess what parts were used.
Questions I’d like answering are “what kind of repairs just arent worth it?”
&
“When is it time to scrap/replace your car?”
Great thanks if you could find the time to give those a milking over :)
That's going to vary depending on the individual and the car, I have just taken on a bmw e46, and yes I bought it as one owner from new and as it has low mileage but its a 4 door auto and requires body work, to me it's worth saving and preventing it from being trashed, for others they won't get that at all. My dad had a scimitar GTE that cost many times what he sold it for in maintenance, and they are still not that expensive today, but he enjoyed it. Likewise we also have a citroen c2 with an injector problem and it's for the scrappers soon !
When scrap value is more than fixing it...? duh...
I had a Mercedes CLA I just didn’t like, kept it about 8 months before swapping back to an E class. I agree circumstances can make a difference to how long a car is kept. Other cars I’ve had for 12 years. One thing I always do is service a car when it has an MOT, it doesn’t matter if I’ve only done 3000 miles (lockdown) I still get the oil changed and anything else done. Plus keep all the history even if it’s just tyres. I will admit to staying away from high mileage and a lot of previous owners, so maybe Next time I’ll keep that in mind.
I’m so glad I’m following you and this channel, you are so right. I was just looking at a 9 owner car and almost dismissed it… but it is in the “sports category” you were talking about. (I sold my Audi TT a few years ago cause my back went 😫, I loved that car 😂)
Could you maybe make a video on what to look out for when buying used cars? How to know if the dealership is ripping you off or if they’re genuine (any tell tale signs). Questions to ask and things to be aware of when test driving. Basically a “tips and tricks” when buying a used car? That would be really helpful! Love the content so far.
Guess there's psychological barriers to overcome with this mindset. But agreed - people can buy into the one owner thing too much and perhaps underestimate vehicles with a high number of owners.
What a totally sensible video. Specially the bucket list cars.
Never mind the number of owners,what make are the tyres when buying it,that tells me about the last owner 👍
And now days with the DVLA online not checker,you can search the mileage between MOT's and track any advisories.
The pre owned Aston Martin ad kicking around sums this up perfectly.
Thanks for this Matt. So, if we shouldn't be asking how many owners a car has had, what questions should we be asking the car dealers? Maybe there's a video idea right there! Cheers
Good idea
Yeah I'd like to see this vid
How about how many CCJs have you got? 🤣
How many times have you been in court for selling un roadworthy vehicles as great cars?
Do you have a special 'nod nod wink' agreement with the garage that issues your MOT's?
"how many of the cars on your forecourt are you selling for the second time?" would show the customers were happy, brought the car back to the chap to sell again, and that he was being fair with them. A trusted relationship is something we can see far more clearly than the Luciferian workings of this wonder technology that mysteriously moves us around.
One of your best posts. The stuff you don't hear elsewhere.
Personally for me it depends on the car. I've always looked at number of owners but then looked at the service history and checked for certain signs on the car of a dealer fix and general wear whilst being loved. I usually buy one owner cars, but then again I don't buy boring cars like Corsa's. So I know when I get my one owner car with all the ckecks I do that 9/10 I will get a brilliant car. Only one of the one owner cars I've had went wrong, but that had nothing to do with number of owners, it was to do with a ticking time bomb.
I think service history and body work (checking hidden spots) are the most important thing for me. I'd buy a car with 8 owners if each owner had had the car serviced and the bodywork had shown that the car was loved.
When I buy a car I keep it for at least 5 years and have done 8 years on some cars I have owned, but religiously get them serviced annually mainly to prevent breakdowns but also reliability. You look after a car and it will serve you well.
Small engine 🚘 which were usually someone’s 1st year on the road cars could be another genuine explanation. Most people get 1.0-1.2 to get 1 or 2 NCB and then get something they really wanted.
Yes that’s another example. Forgot about that. A lot of aygos etc change hands every year once the owner has earned some NCB
Hi thanks for that different insight,very interesting,I for one hadn’t thought of it in that way,thanks again xx
I think growing up ive always had this perception that if a car had so many owners, then its probably been a car that's had alot of issues and people got rid of it, or so many owners with different driving habits have affected the car. Whereas a car with one owner says to me that someone's had it, looked after it and is now looking to change. Now obviously that's not entirely the case but I just always think back to this. But as I've gotten more experience with cars, my main concern is with the service history.
But in this video you're just going by hypothetical scenarios.
It's just luck at the end of the day. It could have 1 owner or 20, the car can be faulty regardless.
But my advice would be go for a car that's got plenty of service history and invoices. And I would also say to check the mot history. And when viewing the car, do the usual checks, look for rust, bangs and knocks etc.
And I would go as far to look up the car you're buying and research common faults.
i remember buying a renault 19 red it had over 10 owners the thing is every one of the owners spent money on the car it was faultless no problem at all
A guy next to us has had a large engined BMW X5 from new for the past 5 years and he, and his wife, have thrashed the sh*t out of it since day one. I feel sorry for that car's second owner.
It will depend on numerous factors, MOT history, service history, type of owner etc.
MOT history, if the owner(s) have done the bare minimum to get the car through, its one to avoid, especially if its got a list as long as your arm still as advisories.
Service history, most people think that just having an oil change every year constitutes as a service, then say the car has full service history, probably the biggest issue I see in the car club I'm in.
Type of owner, the ones that spend all their budget on the car and leave nothing in the pot to fix any issues or service the car and the other that looks after the car mechanically and budget for it.
You need to look at multiple factors if buying any car, a high owner car may be a sign of neglect or it may be a classic and pampered, you just need to ask more than one question, but I would still avoid cars that change hands on a regular basis, especially those high end Mercs and BMW's that are money pits to start with.
Every time I have bought a vehicle from a dealer they have always asked me how many owners my vehicle has had, and some have pulled a face if it's had more than two, so it's no just Joe blogs that asks that question.
Even sites like we buy any car ask for the number of owners, well they used to.
That's just their way of trying to bid low on your car, thats all. They couldn't care less.
@@HighPeakAutos I know, no offence, but I wouldn't trust a car sales man as far as I could throw him, they would give their granny away if they thought they could get a sale😂
When I get asked that I say, how many will get you the best price to flog it on 😀
@@stuartrichards5644 whenever you are buying a car from a dealer, the car they are selling is always in demand and that's why the price is high, yet your part ex, nobody wants and they will struggle to sell, then when you make an offer on their car they have to see the manager, it ends up being a game of deal or no deal, I think the manager must be Noel Edmonds 😂😂
@@acelectricalsecurity I have to have a chat with my manager…..in other words the guy wants to know if they are going to get a sale and then a commission. I have bought my last two cars from a small family dealer and you don’t have to play the big dealers daft games!
Thanks, Highpeak mmguy. You’re one of the best cartubers ever. Big recommend to all my friends from me.
Thanks!
@@HighPeakAutos Thank you, Matt. Sorry for calling you mmmguy. I didn’t know you name then. Didn’t read your description. Anyways, I find you to be honest and good. Keep up the good work. We all love cars for some damned reason.
It all depends, buy on condition first and everything else second. Generally unless there is a good explanation as to the above average number of owners in normal cars i.e not sports or luxury, I would still be weary. No matter what you may think of it a car with a high number of owners will be harder to shift later down the line. I have purchased plenty of older cars with one owner and low miles that are in perfect condition and in my experience have not seen that many one owner cars in poor shape.
my family owns 4 1 owner cars that are on terrible condition
@@jaimeleiva4865 4 cars? You would think by the second or third one you would have learnt a lesson to find a car in good shape. As I mentioned before first and foremost buy on condition.
@@joebloggs4191 nono all 4 cars were bought new by my parents, and none of those cars are in good shape
@@jaimeleiva4865 Well in that case your parents ought to take better care of their belongings!
Very entertaining and informative.
There is another scenario which I think often applies to cars like Golf GTI, MINI Cooper S etc.
First keeper - Bought on PCP or Lease so dealer serviced and well looked after
Second keeper - Bought as 3yr old low mileage from main dealer, bank loan for it so kept serviced and cherished.
Third keeper - Bought privately from second keeper, paid in hard earned cash, looked long and hard to find the right car so serviced and maintained well.
Forth keeper - Now at the price where the younger drivers can afford to buy it but not maintain it. Fits huge loudspeakers and stupid double DIN stereo, gets driven with little mechanical sympathy and stinks of weed.
Fifth keeper - Buys it as a project.
Two things that never bother me. High mileage and number of owners. Service history and condition are much more important.
I actually look for young cars with high mileage. They're my favourite kind of used car bargain. When it comes to used cars, I prefer a young tart rather than an old spinster.😄
Thanks again. Very helpful. Instead of judge based on narrow perspective I understand.
It’s irrelevant as long as it has some service evidence …… fab Video!
Thanks!
My Jaguar Sovereign XJ40 1991 had the same owner from new to 2017. The lady who bought it couldn't find the right people to repair it and it eventually couldn't start anymore, so it sat maybe 1-2 years. I bought it in early 2021 and it is now working again and I used it all summer. The 2 main issues were a bad fuel pump and no ignition, due to bad contacts on the ignition module. The car looks 99% new and works really well!
Quick question Matt, what’s with the laptop on the box? 😂
Its a coffee table actually...
@@HighPeakAutos correction Matt, what’s with the laptop on the coffee table?? 😂😂 And who has a coffee table that thin and that tall?? 😂
Good video that makes some valid points.
Irrespective of how many owners a car has had, to my mind a full and verifiable history is very important in reducing the risk in buying a used car ie: annual authorised dealer servicing not a DIY home mechanic + a pre purchase inspection from an independent professional.
There are still no guarantees you’ll get a perfect car but you’ll dramatically reduce the chance of picking a lemon.
Matt, I totally agree with you. Example. My great uncle purchased a brand new Toyota Corolla in 1973. He toke great care of it. Always washed and polished.
However he was a terrible driver. Under revved it, often and over revved it as well. When my sister inherited it, the engine was stuffed, sounded like, a diesel .
Smoked just as bad. The clutch was totally had it. So was the diff. Yet it looked really tidy.
I bought a 2004 Volvo V70 in 2014. Paid £4k. It had 105k on the clock and multiple owners. I put 25k on the clock and sold it in 2016 for just shy of £3k. It never missed a beat. Serviced it once and changed the front wheel bearings. I might have been lucky, but that experience leads me to 100% agree with the message in your vid. Which as always was a great vid and thanks for it.
Yes spot on, lots of owners can be a good thing , especially on a Porsche etc as the first thing the next owner will do is service it and chuck a good few quid at it .
I have an 8 owner 2000 Jaguar XKR. Red flag to most people but the service history shows that every owner cherished it and sorted any issues as soon as possible
I just watched your video on the Jaguar Xj from Feb 19' again because it popped up and at the end you said how you couldn't believe you hit 2000 subscribers...you have come a long way since then mate well done!
Also love all the Jag content!
I've bought dozens of used cars over the last 50 years and my experience would suggest that, all other things being equal, a car with one/few owners is nearly always a better bet than a car with many owners. Having said that, for these purposes, I would count cars which are handed down between family members as being closer to one owner.
Of course, everything else like price, age, condition etc has to be factored-in so buying a car just because it has only had one or two owners would be folly. However, I reckon that it does matter how many owners a car has had.
I’m private hire driver, so I do crazy miles per year. Last summer I treated myself to a newer car. I had a 2012 Ford Mondeo which my missus now has as her daily driver, her friends thought she was mad taking over the car with the mileage on it. It’s just gone over 300,000 miles. I’ve had a full service every 9/10k miles. Always used good oils, filters etc and always ran it on V-Power - and it’s never missed a beat. If you didn’t know it had the mileage on it that it does, and took it for a test drive with the odometer covered, you would never guess the mileage. Routine maintenance is key for me, along with the premium fuel.
Great believer in... better several careful owners than one bad! My Uncle used to buy one owner low mileage cars and had nothing but problems.... the MOT history on DVLA is a brilliant tool.
Makes a lot of sense, I wouldn't have looked at it like that . I once bought a 2 year old Audi A8 with 3 previous owner's & only 8000 miles, the owner before me had the car for 4 months, kept her for 2 & half years, fantastic car.
Totally true. Owners don't matter only service history and condition of the car.
To agree with the majority here, spot on. A new owner or a new dealer will attend to issues, dings, scuffed alloys, and as you say, a service. Yes a red flag over very quick flips (but could be a trader in hiding). The most important bit of damage on a car is the first as from then on its no longer new, unmarked and shiny....one owner cars from new suffer that the most.
Thats the most realistic advice on cars about previous ownership. For example I bought a two owner e46 M3 convertible that was abused and neglected; I fixed it up to almost impeccable condition, replaced everything from water pump, thermostat, gaskets, checked VANOS, hoses, and many other engine pieces, along with all plastic bits and and pieces in the interior, pain correction, replaced the crappy aftermarket headlights with original OEM xenon etc. So I can honestly say when i sold it the now "3" car was better than the "2" owner car that bought. So you hit the nail in the head when you its the last owner that counts the most. Like your own M3 project, which became a much better car after your ownership than before!
I totally agree. Much the same with my M3
Totally agree…. I bought a one owner, low mileage car that I thought was the unicorn. Had been sat in a garage, unloved, not driven. When I got behind the wheel, the car thought “what’s going on?” And threw hissy fits all the time… warning lights, hardened seals, faulty electrics, corroded stuck motors in the rear windows (probably never ever been used) it needed constant attention. It was replaced with a 4 owner car who each spent money on it and it’s still running like a dream. Result.
My CLK 500 convertible has had 6 owners including a Benz independent mechanic. And yes it costs a lot to run but six years later I’m still in love 🥰 great video 👍
So true of my Z4, 9yrs old and 57k when I got it, new owner every 1.5yrs. Massive file of main and specialist SH&bills, came with full soft car cover and BMW backpack- spare bulbs, cleaning pack etc.
Like this.I just got a 9 owner ( ime the tenth) Range Rover p38. It’s fully maintained with no advisories. I’ve just spent 250 on a full service at my local 4x4 specialist and it’s ready to tow my caravan to spain. Wish me luck 🍀
Where it's been serviced and was it on time are my first checks. ( main stealer or quality specialist independant )
Another easy one is DVLA MOT check to see what the last owner(s) allowed to be advisory indicating fix it when it breaks rather than preventative approach.
I currently own a 2004 honda jazz, which was the first car I ever bought saving all year in my first job. It was a pre reg, sold to an old couple, they kept it for a couple of years, then I bought it, kept it for 4 years (helped me move house - like a tardis), sold it to my younger brother (helped him move house), he kept it for 7 years and just sold it me back and gave me every receipt for the car for the last 7 years :D I'm now 2 of the keepers in the log book, it's not happened to me before but it made me laugh. Still runs fine too. Gotta love a jazz.
Summed up perfectly! My uncle bought a brand new Kia Rio in 2009 (shoe on wheels) and still has it, yes that’s a 1 owner car but it’s not been serviced for 4 years, has more dints than Katie Price’s Range Rover and hasn’t been washed since it was on Kia’s forecourt in 2009!!
Thank you!
Brilliant video. This channel is taking off, and deservedly so.
Must admit you are spot on with one owner cars just buying a Jeep Renegade and saw a one owner vehicle in white and it has loads of marks inside three different brands of budget tyres failed its two MOT's poor service history and as you said One key ! So went for a four owner car with virtually flawless paint good service record one advisory for tyres and that was sorted as put on four matching Bridgestone tyres since last September oh and both keys present
In my opinion, number of owners absolutely does matter but in the same way lots of other indicators also matter. 1 every 3 years on average is a sign of a normal vehicle. On prestige vehicles, it can be higher where they were originally owned by a hire company or a company car for the first year of their life.
More than that, it shows the car probably has a problem(s) which haven't been declared and owners keep shifting it on.
A one owner vehicle is normally a no-expense-spared vehicle, which are often fully main dealer serviced and in tip-top condition. It's just one of the many indicators when buying a car, as are whether they have the manual, 2 keys, proof of service history, interior and exterior condition, is it full of junk etc
I have to agree with you. So many people saying it doesn’t matter anymore but if a 4 year old car has 6 onwers that would put me off a bit
I have a Puma that looks like new and I have had it for 20yrs, and a 19-year-old Boxster S with about 9 owners on it, both garaged, both go well and don't cost anything to run, as I even the miles out between them. Choose the car carefully and then love it... Great, interesting and informative video. Like the variations in subjects, we are all learning from these explanations. Thank you.
How right you are in your words.
Bought 1 owner suv from an online auction, bought the car for 4000 £.
And it cost me another 1450£ to put it right, 50000 miles on the dash 5 years old, 1 owner car.
Opened my eyes a bit but it makes perfect sense as you explain it. I think you can box yourself in with pre-conceived ideas. Really helpful video.
Good advice. I’m also amazed how many people are scared of a car at 7 years old with almost 100,000 miles on the clock. Quick mot check on the government website and so long as there are receipts to show any fails have been fixed and or advisories, it’s good. Like you say with diesels, every other tank premium fuel, good to go
Great topic. If there are tons of invoices and maintenance was done spot-on, It is much more important than how many owners a car had.
Totally agree, who's to say, the one 'said owner' so desirable it seems, actually looked after the car!
Hi there, I have bought a lot of cars in my time, and when I was in my 20s every car I bought would have so many owners, but once I started new one's the one owner car became me ,so when I part x change for a new one again I always thought I was a good thing. But not anymore. Cheers Phil
I was told from an early age, car driving age that is not while I was still in nappies, that a car that had had many owners was a sign that the car was probably a bit of a lemon and that the owners had put up with it for so long and maybe tried to fix it and couldn't, so they sold it on! I think that you have to look at the car physically and go through the history and this should indicate to some degree if it has been looked after, multiple owners or not. But hearing this has changed my perspective on this issue. Cheers Matt.
I briefly worked in the trade in Ireland in '08, and I learned myself that what you say is true here. I asked the boss and he said that there's no point in trying to change the public's perception.
What a brilliant reply. I have a audi quattro 3.2 v6 manual. Beautiful looking car, but had had 7 owners over it's 15 years, the last had it for 5 years. It has gone against it, but it has been well looked after. I think it's going to increase in value so is in my interest to look after it.
I’ve never really thought about it in that way - but 100% true. Makes absolute sense. It’s like the well serviced high mileage vs 100 miles a year for 10 years granny sunday car.
Says it all makes so much sense. Had never really thought about it like that.
Between this on one owners and your comments about unrealistic buyers your throwing light on what car enthusiasts have known for years and why most people buy trouble on hearsay instead of checking the actual car , same with tiny mileage , love the videos
Absolutely spot on , look fa low miles , service history, new owner always treasure a car then move on to next ,, 👍👍
Appreciate your take on the subject. Mix good common sense with some cheeky puns makes a entertaining and meaningful watch. Cheers
100% agree, it wont stop the market out there thinking different and making resale harder though
I could not agree with you more, apart from myself who bought a 2001 vw golf v6 4 motion when it was 3 years old and I have owned it ever since, it is washed all the time and waxed, never misses a service as I do them myself and every little noise or knock and it goes to my trusted garage, it is garaged at home and hardly comes out over winter. It is mint and drives like new as manly everything under the car is new. I have service records from the day it was collect from the dealership, including the original invoice.
My true pride and joy apart from my little girl, haha
I bought a 3 owner 2002 MK1 Leon Cupra with 76000 miles on it . Books all main dealer stamped and it was just serviced along with a new timing belt and water pump when I got it.. Happy days!! or not. since i've had it it's had all 5 tyres replaced, I've never had a car with a bald spare before. They're just usually flat as no one can be bothered to dig it out. All four shocks were blown, the disks and pads were done, along with a binding front offside caliper, the exhaust was nearly rusted through and the rocker cover gasket was leaking. It also needed new anti roll bar bushes and links, along with cam and crank position sensors and a new N75 valve to stop it going into limp mode.
Overall it's been a great investment for a low mileage, low owner car lol. Good job I enjoy annoying neighbours on a weekend with increscent banging to bring back up to snuff.
Yes, you are absolut right in all points.
Sooo true!! Same thing with company cars; most people just run away thinking they were used as rally cars..and all those miles.. The truth is they were probably cared for and serviced better than the average personal car and the mileage is mostly highway, which is like half that if it was city driving.
I drive a 06 avensis 2.2 d cat. The first owner did 200.000km in 10 years. The past 5 years I added 150.000 more. At least here in Germany having one owner where you can check the log book for services can give you a better peace of mind. We don't have the opportunity to get car faxes and whatever with checking the plate
I absolutely agree. Also, cars with many owners tend to have a lower price. Each owner assumes a certain loss when he sells.
Very good points. I agree with your "I'd take a nice 5 owner car over a scruffy 1 owner car" statement.
I ve done all those big bentleys.Nothing beats my 20 year old s type v6.Its even appreciating......
I recently bought a 2017 Lexus IS which apparently had 4 owners. I was a bit worried but the car looked brand new without even a single scratch on it. That kinda proves the theory that every new owner takes care of the car for the first 2 years.