Well that's the difference to what a dealer calls FSH and one of us on here might consider FSH. A pile of bills or print out from a lease company will show you more than a stamp in a book.

The missed MoT I wouldn't worry about and the services have at least been carried out. Yes, ideally every 12mths or 12,500m (I think that's what it would be for a 2010 Fiesta), but the car hasn't covered a huge mileage in between or too low a mileage either.

If the rest of the car looks OK and the price is right, I'd use the dealer's bull**** to knock the price down if you can.

If you're not completely satisfied, walk away. If you want a Fiesta, there are lots to choose from, and it shouldn't be too difficult to find one with a full dealer service history.

With this one, it doesn't sound as if the second owner was very 'careful'. It sounds like a private sale: for peace of mind and some protection through consumer law, it might be better to buy one from a dealer.

Edited by Avant on 09/08/2016 at 23:13

I'm concerned about a) about 20 months between service2 and 3.

and b) About 18 months gap between MOT1 and MOT2. They say that the lady owners normally forget about it. The guy said his wife forgot until the tax was due for about 8 months.

I suspect there might be more to this. Do you think I should be concerned about it?

No. Sounds like typical married couple low mileage ownership. Should be nicely run in for another 100,000m. Despite the motor industry's valiant attempt to persuade us otherwise, oil doesn't lose its powers of lubrication after 365 days. It's nearly 3yrs since the highly expensive long-life oil in my Audi was changed, and well over 4yrs since I changed my 36yr old TR7's oil. Both will probably last longer than me.

A bog-standard low-revving unstressed naturally aspirated low bhp per litre engine does not need same attention to its oil supply as that of a rally car.