Probably a silly question, but what does “Full Service History” actually mean? I assumed that it meant that the seller had evidence to show that the car had been properly serviced in accordance with the manufacturer’s specifications. But, quite often it just seems to mean that there are a few stamps in the service book, even if those stamps are 2 or 3 years apart. As far as I’m aware MX-5s have to be serviced once a year or 12,000 miles, whichever comes first, but if the car has covered only say, 5000 per year and is only serviced every other year, surely that’s not a full service history? When I’ve asked dealer’s about this when they are trying to sell a low mileage MX-5 they seem to get a bit frosty and suggest that it’s unnecessary to have the car serviced strictly by the book if the car only covers a few thousand miles per year. But, if they’re asking the top price just because the car has lower mileage surely that’s wrong if it hasn’t been serviced every year? What does anybody else thingk? Are these cars with incomplete service history best avoided? Another thing that annoys me with dealers is when they say “one former owner”, by which they mean two owners in total.
For me FSH should mean as you say, serviced as required annually or every 12k or 10k, thats aside from routine replacements and any maintenance needed along the way, for example our own mk2 1.8iS is 11years old in July, has covered coming upto 29k miles and its service history is:-
1st Registered 06:07:2000
Service History (aside from replacements / maintenance)
06:08:00 600mile inspection
05:07:01 1st service (5186miles)
15:07:02 2nd service (7674miles)
03:07:03 3rd service (10,285miles)
21:06:04 4th service (13,189miles)
29:06:05 5th service (16,445miles)
15:06:06 6th service (18,466miles)
26:06:07 7th service (20,558miles)
13:05:08 8th service (21,165miles)
05:04:09 9th service (22,240miles)
02:07:10 10th service (26,506miles)
So its next service is due middle of the year ish when it’ll be 11years old and will have covered approx 30-31k miles max, so it will have been serviced 11 times in 11yrs irrespective of averaging only about 2750miles per year - obviously some are major and minor services etc. which all are detailed within the history along with any other things needed outside of service schedule.
Thats not to say cars without such a comprehensive history are dodgy, but for me personally I’d say a vehicle with a complete history supported by invoices and MOT’s etc. shows its been cherished and looked after (that and condition too) if the owner(s) have spent money as and when necessary on the car in question it can only be a good sign, without it then you never really know - having said that MX-5’s do seem fairly rugged.
Accept that some dealers will (generally) bend the truth to suit the circumstances. To me FSH would generally be serviced at appropriate mileage or time intervals. However a regular service record on a low mileage car that doesn’t exactly match by a few months or a couple of thousand miles wouldn’t worry me though 2 - 3 years would.
Firstly I dont think its a silly question at all.
As you say many dealers will put a low mileage four year old car with one or two services on the history as having a full service, i.e. say a 14,000 mile car with perhaps one or two services recorded. If you question they will say “Oh well the service requirement is 12,000 miles or 12 months” This one was serviced at 12,000 miles so thats a full service history. In reality the car may have done 3000 miles per year short journeys in which case the car certainly will have needed an oil change at least yearly. What they are actually selling is a car with part history! This has many variations sometimes a car will have missed its last service so its gone nearly two years without a service.
What you need to remember is that they or a private buyer will use this part history as a tool to negotiate the price down when you want to sell it. And as someone says above they will often charge a premium on a low mileage car.
Having said that its down to age and price. My latest aquisition, a mark 1, had little history being imported in 2006 but having paid £1500 and having had it six months it runs a treat. differnt if you are spending big money on a used car though. Certainly one to watch when buying and if you like the car use the service history as a negotiating tool
Good luck
FSH to me means serviced on time (with all necessary items replaced) - whether that be miles or time, a stamp in the book and an itemised receipt to back it up.
A conscientious owner will also have kept receipts for all other extra consumables as well such as tyres, exhaust etc.
The dealer weaseling his way out by saying a low mileage car only needs serviced every other year is talking rubbish as service schedules always specify miles or time - “whichever comes first” He no doubt knocked down the price when buying the car in on accout of its partial SH.
Believe you me I have bought a lot of cars from a lot of dealers over the years, so I can comment on this with some experience.
-
FSH can be a book with a couple of stamps in and absolutely no receipts, even on a high mileage car. The dealer (if questioned) will say that “these are the full service history records”.
-
Excellent condition/pristine/seen to be believed etc can mean rust, scratches, accident damage, torn and restiched soft top, etc.
There isn’t a legal definition of FSH, and condition is subjective, so believe nothing in the advert, and nothing over the phone when speaking to them, only what you see when you get there. It’s really bad practice, but it goes on everywhere. If you work on the basis that the dealer will do as little as possible to sell the car for as much money as possible, and will tell you what you want to hear, you won’t go far wrong.
I agree with the your comment about 1 previous owner. It’s technically correct, as that is what is stated on the ‘log book’, but many inexperienced car buyers would be surprised to learn that when they buy a car with 1 previous owner, they become the third owner of the car.
I remember one dealer who told me the price on a car was high because it had service history and low mileage. He then offered me a low trade in value on mine, and said that the service history and low mileage on my car didn’t matter, as cars were so reliable.
As I say, they will say and do whatever is necessary to make the sale. Believe nothing, trust no one and assume the worst and you won’t go far wrong.
(see the “Did not buy 10th anniversary in Twickenham today” post)