Why can't I find an affordable used car with a full service history?

My beloved Citroen C1 has recently been written off as a Cat D so I need to find a replacement. I'm looking to spend no more than £3500 and want to buy from a dealer. I'm surprised at the number of cars I see advertised that have big gaps in the service history. Such as an eight year old C1 that was serviced for only the first three years. Is this the kind of car I should avoid?

Asked on 21 November 2017 by Frances Jones

Answered by Honest John
Why be surprised? People can't afford to service cars these days and suffer when they come to p/x, which is when dealers pick the cars up very cheaply then try to sell them at market value for a properly serviced car. Definitely avoid anything that does not have a proper service history, and a sheaf of photocopied invoices is always more valuable than stamps in a service book.
Similar questions
I will be retiring soon and will be handing back my company car which I use as a general run-around, I also have a family car, at the same time I have a Porsche Boxster S which I use in dry weather and...
I want to buy a small used car for the use of my son. I therefore need one that is cheap to insure with a low road tax. Any recommendations
Is it fair to assume that when a car is advertised without any comment on its service history, either there is no history or it's very 'part-history'?
Related models
Cheap to run. Group 1 insurance. 60mpg. handles well. Low list prices. Good Euro NCAP score. 2012 model emits just 99g/km CO2.
 

Value my car

Save £75 on Warranty using code HJ75

with MotorEasy

Get a warranty quote

Save 12% on GAP Insurance

Use HJ21 to save on an ALA policy

See offer