Sales debate - how significant is the number of previous owners?

It’s one of the first questions we ask when interested in any vehicle, but more so a 911: “How many owners has it had?” We asked our experts, what significance does that number carry when looking at a used 911?

“In older cars, the number of owners is largely irrelevant,” says Jonathan Ostroff of Hexagon Classics. He points out that condition is the key factor, not how many people have registered the vehicle in their name. Echoing this, Jonathan Aucott of Avantgarde Classics agrees: “Most of the worst 911s I’ve inspected have been one owner from new – though of course, that’s not the golden rule.”

Jonathan Aucott notes that cars with a high number of owners rarely suffer from the fact. This is because each owner has a honeymoon period, where they’ve cared for their new purchase. Longer-term ownership can sometimes encompass periods – usually towards the later years – where money hasn’t been spent, before the car is sold. “All things being equal, you would choose the car with a low number of owners. But in reality, when are two cars equal?” asks Jonathan Aucott. Hexagon’s Jonathan brings up another point. “If you set out to find a one- or two-owner 996, you may never find that car,” he says. Early in their life, 911s may change hands over 14 months, as owners chop and change for the next hot model.

Both our panel highlight that there can be valid reasons for ownership changes: on or off a business, or between spouses or family members. Equally, repossession by a finance company can add an owner. “Or, in the case of cars selling over list,” adds Jonathan Ostroff, “the first buyer can rapidly decide to sell it on for profit, which can account for two or three owners in six months.”

Does it affect values? “I don’t think it impacts on values as such,” says Avantgarde’s Jonathan, “although it can make one ever-so slightly harder to sell.” It may make a more marked difference say, in a 992, thinks Jonathan Ostroff: “If such a new car had five keepers, that may reflect negatively.”

The take-home advice from both our panel is it’s the car itself that matters. “Rather than owners, it’s mileage and condition that are the key factors to judge any 911,” Jonathan Aucott thinks, and Jonathan Ostroff independently offered Total 911 the same advice. “Assess any 911 by condition and history,” he suggests.

As ever, the quality of any 911 should speak for itself.