3 Owners in 4 Years - Should I be Concerned?

Forzafan

Hi,
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I have seen a car I like which was registered June 2015. It has had 3 previous owners (including current) and they were switched as follows: (I have done a check online)

1 - June 15-June 16
2 - June 16 - Dec 18
3 - Feb 19 - Oct 19 (this was a local lady and the salesman says she traded it in on a whim as she loved the look of the new aygo as her husband came in to look for his new car - I know salesman can tell you anything though!)

It is in a Toyota dealership approved used and comes with a 12 month warranty. I have test driven it and it seemed nice, although a bit of clear/white smoke but this was probably due to the cold startup as it had been sat there for a week or so. They do look as reputable as they come but i just woner if the ownership thing should be a red flag? I usually buy cars cheap (just had issues with a private/trade seller) so to spend near 6k on a car I am very wary. I do love the car though! (its a corsa 1.0 Ecoflex sri by the way and done 42k)

thanks for advice

un1eash

Personally I'd avoid, it's not a rare car. The fact your asking means you have your doubts.

clydebest

No i sell items that i have bought new and then sell so i can gain the maximum amount back .. and lots of other  people do similar.. and the pattern of buying and selling you have highlighted seem to fit the same scenario.. as long as you can afford it .. my advice buy it.

If you overthink you end up not just not buying you will end up doing nothing.. as long as you are sure the car dealer really is reputable and with a 12 month warranty you have some reassurance.

In the end it's for you and you alone to deiced all the best in that decision .

IronGiant

Some of the worst cars out there are one (lady) owner from new

zeppelino

I’d be more concerned about service history.

AMc

I agree with this, unless it's exceptionally cheap.  It's in a Toyota dealership so it may be a bit more painful to get things fixed under warranty than if it were at a Vauxhall.
I'm surprised they haven't shuffled it off to another dealership or the auctions - in my fairly limited experience of buying from main dealers they don't like having non brand vehicles on the forecourt let alone 4 year old ones

Forzafan

thanks for all the replies. I will be asking a few more questions today, but i do know it has full service history.

KyleS1

My car (2017 reg) now has 3 owners (me the third). First was pre-reg at a VW garage, second was "first owner" for 2 years and purchased within 1 month of pre-reg, and now me. So the number of owners isn't always representative. It is something that bothers me when looking, so I always try and dig a little deeper.
As an example, I looked at another 2017 reg car (same car exactly) and it only had 1 owner. Great, I thought, until I found out that 1 owner was Enterprise Rent a Car!

Dony

That's not necessarily a bad thing either.
If a rental car is on short term rentals it will be checked over and maintained prior to every new rental. It will also be fully serviced at the correct intervals.
If it's long term, again it will be fully maintained with tyres replaced etc.

KyleS1

Yes but people tend to drive them like they stole them. So although they will be maintained, they will have had a hard life!