Car had 6 owners - last one in November?? Is it a dud?

Penny1996

Hi, I am looking at buying a Toyota Rav 4 in the north - it's 2004 - so cheap and cheerful but at the same time could be expensive if it's a bad one. Has MOT till November and on the whole looks good. Just a bit concerned after I did the carcheck on it and found out it had 6 'keeper' and it was last bought (got a new keeper) in November 2014. Should I be a bit anxious that someone is selling it on again so fast? Or is this the norm??

scamalert

Depends really,i know i raked up on one my family cars like extra 3 in short time,just by changing ownership to another member and putting myself down as named driver,then that person getting another car and putting on another family member to use,basically everyone using it as named,but when someone got their own then pass it on.

But given your situation depends how much info there is between time of sales,names if any,since it might be the case,otherwise might be something wrong if its passed down in short amount of time and price seems too good to be true.

Penny1996

Price is not really too good to be true but just worried as on paper it seems like a good car - just unsure as to if it is that good why you would get rid so fast?

Atlantic Dawn

With VRT will it not be crazy to import it? I presume it's petrol, has to be much more of them going cheap down here.

Graham 1324

Could have changed hands just to avoid back tax, it happens

Penny1996

It's diesel - would prefer not to import but can't get a decent one in the south. Have seen one but there are gaps in the NCT! Would someone be crazy enough to drive around in a car with no NCT for 6 years? Has been taxed during this period more or less.

9935452

The garage who it was traded to might have been put down as owners so there might be half as much real owners as you might think

Atlantic Dawn

Penny1996 wrote: »

It's diesel - would prefer not to import but can't get a decent one in the south. Have seen one but there are gaps in the NCT! Would someone be crazy enough to drive around in a car with no NCT for 6 years? Has been taxed during this period more or less.

If it's in the north they would have been picked up by ANPR unless they only took it out once a week or something.

colm_mcm

Penny1996 wrote: »

It's diesel - would prefer not to import but can't get a decent one in the south. Have seen one but there are gaps in the NCT! Would someone be crazy enough to drive around in a car with no NCT for 6 years? Has been taxed during this period more or less.

Diesel RAV4 is pretty pointless in Ireland unless you actually need 4wd for towing.
There is so much to go wrong on them, and they are known to have issues with clutch/dmf, injectors, turbos - all megabucks to replace.

If it's just for driving, a 1.8 petrol 2wd is a far better choice, will do almost the same mpg, and is far less risky a purchase. It's also cheaper to service, tax and insure and is plentiful.

Tony Beetroot

Alot of the Rav4 diesel problems injector wise are down to lads running them on farmers wine, lack of servicing which leads to turbo premature failure.

mhackett102

Penny1996 wrote: »

Hi, I am looking at buying a Toyota Rav 4 in the north - it's 2004 - so cheap and cheerful but at the same time could be expensive if it's a bad one. Has MOT till November and on the whole looks good. Just a bit concerned after I did the carcheck on it and found out it had 6 'keeper' and it was last bought (got a new keeper) in November 2014. Should I be a bit anxious that someone is selling it on again so fast? Or is this the norm??

Give them a call and ask about this issue Any car I've ever advertised for sale online, the person calling always asked why was I selling, how long have I had it and how many owners have had it since new.

The last call I got was this evening and the person asked me all these questions, even though they had a motorcheck report done, just to see if I were honest!

Penny1996

The last call I got was this evening and the person asked me all these questions, even though they had a motorcheck report done, just to see if I were honest! [/QUOTE]

I did ask they about this but they said that people do this all the time - they don't know why the previous owners are selling it! They have it in their posession for 2 weeks.

Penny1996

Don't know what to do now! Was all set to get this one in the north but have some doubts as to why they are selling it so quick - an high ownership is worrying me. Now you are saying a petrol would be better! I wish the car gods would just make the decision for me.

_Brian

If your worried keep your money in your pocket and wait.
No matter how scarse another will come along soon enough.

Only buy a car if your 100% happy, thee are lots of them made.