FormulaRX

I'm just trying to wrap my head around this whole 1 owner car being more desirable than multiple past owners thing. Why does it matter and potentially add more value/desirability that a car has had just 1 or 2 owners as opposed to say 6 or more? My 964 C4 has had 7 owners. I am the 8th one but ALL records are there, work was done from reputable shops, I know when and who the car has changed hands with, I have records going back to when it was new on dealer dot matrix paper from 1990, and there are no missing gaps or any shadiness in the car's history. It's a legit car that just so happens to have been enjoyed by 7 previous people as opposed to 1. Often times I'll go to car meets and see nice Porsches, in conversation the current owner always manages to throw in the fact that his/her car is a 1 owner car as if it's supposed to make it special in some way. Don't get me wrong...it's a good thing but for me as long as the records are there and the car checks out as a solid one, I see no real difference. I just wanted to throw this question out and see what your thoughts are.

Tmistry

I view it as a plus if there are fewer owners, but it's perceptual. One owner would indicate a loving and dutiful maintainer of a cherished asset. Multiple owners indicates potential abuse from people who only had short term interest in a fun asset. Why invest in maintenance if you only plan to use it hard for the summer?

This sort of says it well:

kreeshp

The flip side to this perspective is that the single owner allowed deferred maintenance because there was no one to scrutinize his level of care.

With seven owners, the car potentially had six PPI's done and six opportunities for deficiencies to be identified and rectified and baselined. Each time the car was purchased, for at least a brief moment, that car was treasured.

Condition trumps everything else including number of owners.

deadendd9009

But then having 7 owners would make you think this car has issues, which could be too expensive to fix for others. I cannot see a car being flipped 7 times for profit...or maybe thats what this bubble has done to 964 prices?

kreeshp

The oldest 964s are 27 years old.

With 7 previous owners, that's between 3 - 4 years per owner -- not an unreasonable duration.

People sell their toys for many reasons other than not being able to afford maintenance (divorce, new baby, life priorities change.)

You need to study the car first, then look at the ownership (and by extension, records) history. Number of owners is less relevant than car condition.

FormulaRX

Lol the 7 owners weren't just within the past few years, so no it's not because of flipping for profit. The car has changed hands 7 times steadily throughout its life from 1990 to current with each new owner dumping lots of money into maintenance. I have the records to prove it. But seeing how much these guys spent at the dealer or indy shops would scare even the owner at the time from keeping it because it looked like it was getting costly to keep, especially since 964s used to be worth next to nothing several years back LOL

Earlydays

Complete service records trumps "number of owners" anytime.....

greg1990964

Would you turn away the hottest broad you ever met because she had 7 lovers? I would sure add her to my stable for a couple years..just because she happened to be driven hard and put away wet doesn't mean she isn't worthy of a new owner.

RallyeChris

As always, documented services and condition are paramount. A good PPI by a specialist will always give you the real story on a car. However, when complete documentation can not be provided, fewer owners are a premium. It's kind of like the "telephone" game. You are likely to get a more accurate history from a 1-2 owner car, versus a car that has passed-through several owners. It is also more typical for a long-term owner to maintain a vehicle properly, especially if there is consistent mileage shown yearly during that ownership.

Norse_man

hey she was my first!!!

kokolyia

Thankyou for that graphic imagery

Anyways, I agree completely. Condition trumps everything. Number of owners has never really mattered to me but when I bought my first 964 (I received it yesterday actually) one of my thoughts was " I am only two owners away from my car being brand new!". Just a thought.

Also, some more food for thought. I have found some cars that have not treated too well by some dealers. They don't drive them regularly because they don't want to do anything to harm the merchandise. Bear in mind that it was only recently that 964s became a hot item.

cobalt

So many people are obsessed with one owner cars etc. I am far from the original owner of my turbo and owned it the longest of any of its owners. It is one of the cleanest well cared for air-cooled Porsche's I have ever come across. I am a concours judge and judge a lot of these cars and many times one owner cars are some of the worst I have seen. Usually there is neglect the owners lose interest and the car sits without proper maintenance.

As others said it is all about condition and records number of owners depends on what type of owners it had.

Spyerx

Buy condition, not number of owners. You could have 1 ****ty owner or 5 meticulous **** sobs.

Bud Taylor

I think the advantage of a 1 owner or two owner car is the history in relation to storage. For instance, I am the second owner and I know my car has always slept in a garage. It would be hard to know this about a 7 owner car. Also, in this vien, it may also be advantageous to know a car has never been in the snow belt. Garaged car in proper climate means no rust. Less owners means perhaps a more easily verified home. Again this is just my take but I generally steer away from northern cars that are not garaged or on salty roads.

Madturk

NO