I think there are the usual rules that apply...
The actual umber of owners is largely irrelevant. Often for sports cars, and more extreme sports cars like a Lotus ownership is a short one a year or two have some fun and move it on. What you should look for in ownership is the intervals, so if you see 5 owner car where the ownership over say 15 years is 3 years a piece then fine, if its 13 years first owner and then 4 owners over 2 years you need to think why.
Mileage, is definitely a UK thing, maybe island mentality. But also it is worth considering your usage, ownership costs and how long you intend to own it. Mileage is definitely not a proxy for condition, at all, but you shouldn't just ignore it. Low milers attract higher interest and generally are easier to sell on. Long term consumables on high milers come into the cost equation vs low milers.
I get the argument about short trips etc. on low milers but you could also argue that people with high milers just couldn't give too hoots about the car, they bought it cheap, its got loads of miles, lets jump in it and rag it then sell it on when done with it, is an equally likely scenario. You can go back and forth on this postulating.
It all comes back to condition, and what you want from the car. Get a high miler if you intend to use it and then sell it on with 30k extra miles on it, probably will cost less in the long run. If you want to keep it, go low mile and make it yours. Number of owners doesnt matter in the slightest just check the cadence of them (vcheck is a great check to do it lists dates changing of the V5). Look for hints of care and consideration, good matching tyres, all plastic parts in the engine bay present, do they clean the inside of the petrol flap!
The actual umber of owners is largely irrelevant. Often for sports cars, and more extreme sports cars like a Lotus ownership is a short one a year or two have some fun and move it on. What you should look for in ownership is the intervals, so if you see 5 owner car where the ownership over say 15 years is 3 years a piece then fine, if its 13 years first owner and then 4 owners over 2 years you need to think why.
Mileage, is definitely a UK thing, maybe island mentality. But also it is worth considering your usage, ownership costs and how long you intend to own it. Mileage is definitely not a proxy for condition, at all, but you shouldn't just ignore it. Low milers attract higher interest and generally are easier to sell on. Long term consumables on high milers come into the cost equation vs low milers.
I get the argument about short trips etc. on low milers but you could also argue that people with high milers just couldn't give too hoots about the car, they bought it cheap, its got loads of miles, lets jump in it and rag it then sell it on when done with it, is an equally likely scenario. You can go back and forth on this postulating.
It all comes back to condition, and what you want from the car. Get a high miler if you intend to use it and then sell it on with 30k extra miles on it, probably will cost less in the long run. If you want to keep it, go low mile and make it yours. Number of owners doesnt matter in the slightest just check the cadence of them (vcheck is a great check to do it lists dates changing of the V5). Look for hints of care and consideration, good matching tyres, all plastic parts in the engine bay present, do they clean the inside of the petrol flap!
Attleborough, Norfolk
North West Surrey
