Buying wisely

[rantingYoof]

Apart from Mason the LS400, my last three cars have been from the £1800 - £3000 bracket. In this bracket I don't even go to see anything in cases where the dealer cannot 1) confirm the presence of a service book and 2) confirm the presence of an appropriate number of stamps (FWIW, for a 10 year old car I'm happy to accept 7 or 8 stamps if it's an average to slightly above average example). I'm happy to trade a present service book without many stamps in it for paperwork/invoices/bills, although these have to be meaningful (i.e. not receipts for windscreen wipers or just MOT certs).

 

I've generally been quite lucky. The most I've spent on a car with zero history (no service books, manuals, paperwork, nuffink) was £1195 on the Rover 45 diesel. This turned out to be the most reliable car I've ever owned, and I overlooked the lack of history at the time by virtue of knowing the relatively bomb-proof nature of the L-series and noting the absolutely spotless condition of the bodywork and interior.

 

The V70 (£2000) came with a fully Volvo/specialist stamped service book with some 3k between some services and umpteen receipts. The 9-3 Aero came with fully stamped service book but no paperwork. The LS400 had no history for 10 years or 70k (and was advertised as FLexusSH) but I bought it BECAUSE LEXUS.

 

When looking for Mason's replacement I was back into the £2-3k bracket again and determined to get another car like my V70 with its gleaming service record and folder of receipts. But I was astonished the number of dealers who acted like I was expecting the moon on a stick when I made comments about missing service books and lack of service history (one thought an MOT-history print out from the DVLA website constituted a 'full history'). I wouldn't be such a stickler for £1k or less.

 

For £500 I simply want to know that the wheels are round. But for £2.5k the service record and paperwork is your assurance that the previous owner has made sure that the car has the capability to become a sub £1k car in a further five or ten years rather than assploding from neglect after just 10.

 

In the end the S60 of knobbishness was bought on the basis of it being in very good condition and also on the fact that I was told over the phone it's got a fully stamped service book 'and I've just had the cambelt done as it was due'. (I got the dealer to provide me with his bill/receipt and because I'm an overly cynical bastard I rang the garage to confirm it was done anyway)

 

Anyway, just as I was getting ready to drive off in it, the dealer wandered over and idly said "Oh yes, I've got a few bits of paperwork in a file that relate to this car. You might want these..."

 

Three previous service bills. £1000 spent or so on bits like brake discs/pads/tyres. Score.

 

Yeah I freakin' want those...