2 owners on a one year car

nsa0bupkd3948x

I'm still trying to help a friend with a mini purchase. I ran a motor check on the car and the everything came back good. The only thing highlighted was the number of owners which was high. There was also no tax for a period of around 8-9 months when it was owned by the dealer. I presume this is explained by the fact it was used as a demo.

Would the number of owners worry you guys or not?

emeldc

If it's a second hand car it has to have at least one owner. The other owner was the dealer. I don't see the issue. Has it a two year warrantee ?

nsa0bupkd3948x

Was it not sold to a private owner, then to a dealer, then another private owner and then to this current dealer.

The way I read it is:

17th April 2015 -> The Car was first registered in Ireland
20th April 2015 -> The car was purchased by a new owner who was a company. (1st owner)
29th July 2015 -> A dealer bought the car
30th May 2016 -> A private individual purchased the car (2nd owner)
15th November 2016 -> Car ownership was transferred to a dealer. (from motortax.ie)

bazz26

First owner was either a dealer who registered it as a demo. Very common for demos to be kept for about 3 months before being sold on. Or it was a short term lease which may mean it could have been a rental car.

Second owner having the car for only 5 months would raise an eyebrow with me as to why they sold it after 5 months. Could be a legitimate reason like a change in circumstances and they could not afford the repayments any longer, were emigrating, etc. It could also mean that the car is a lemon and they wanted rid of it.

OldMrBrennan83

This post has been deleted.

nsa0bupkd3948x

Ok, the first 'Private Owner Company' was likely a Dealer registering it for a demo. Then after 3 months they sell it to another dealer who then doesn't tax it for a year while they use it as a demo. Would these likely be two different dealers?

GustavoFring

A new car sitting around for ten months is a strange one, unless it's something a bit specialised.

bazz26

Could the dealer who had it for a year had it on trade plates?

nsa0bupkd3948x

bazz26 wrote: »

Could the dealer who had it for a year had it on trade plates?

Thats what I was thinking. So the first dealer registers it for a demo for 3 months, the second dealer sticks it on trade plates and then sells to a customer for 5 months.

I think Conlans BMW Limerick bought it in July 2015 (based on a youtube add) so they had it for a year.

emeldc

Rafael Flaky Armchair wrote: »

Thats what I was thinking. So the first dealer registers it for a demo for 3 months, the second dealer sticks it on trade plates and then sells to a customer for 5 months.

I think Conlans BMW Limerick bought it in July 2015 (based on a youtube add) so they had it for a year.

I kinda read the first post wrong. 1st owner, company car but maybe not suitable or a pile of sh1t. Went back to the dealer and quite possibly sat on the forecourt for 10 months. Then sold it to second owner who now wants shut of it after 5 months. I'd run a mile. What mileage is on it. 5k, 6k?

nsa0bupkd3948x

There's 12k miles.

emeldc

Rafael Flaky Armchair wrote: »

There's 12k miles.

Unless you're getting a great deal on it surely there would be other one year old minis out there with one genuine owner.

Walter2016

2nd owner may have realised it wasn't suitable for them.

I had similar - bought saloon, found the boot not suitable, sold after 3 months and went for an estate in the same model.

Also sometimes dealers or even the marque themselves register cars for various reasons such as promotional use at events and then move them on.

If its a dealer, why don't you ask?

nsa0bupkd3948x

It does appear to be very well specced and cheap for the price. Dealer has a good rep too. Will get them to ask the dealer tomorrow.

bazz26

Rafael Flaky Armchair wrote: »

Thats what I was thinking. So the first dealer registers it for a demo for 3 months, the second dealer sticks it on trade plates and then sells to a customer for 5 months.

I think Conlans BMW Limerick bought it in July 2015 (based on a youtube add) so they had it for a year.

Conlans in Limerick are a MINI dealer too. It would be worth ringing them and asking about it's history.