Would you buy a former rental car?

[theriver]

Re: Would you buy a former rental car?

Never.

 

[NYMINUTE]

Re: Would you buy a former rental car?

Not a chance. After the way I have driven them I know others have too. They are Rodneys of transportation. NO RESPECT!

 

[JB]

Re: Would you buy a former rental car?

My older brother is a notorious skinflint.<br /><br />He has bought his last three cars from Avis or Hertz and driven them at least 200K before junking them. He currently has a '96 Corolla with about 150K. Before that he had a Mopar compact of some sort, and before that a Ford Falcon! <br /><br />He buys the barest, simplest, cheapest car he can find, treats it like another child until it finally dies, then junks it. He drove that Falcon for about 20 years.<br /><br />Bottom line? He believes that entry-level cars get better care by rental companies and renters than the popular models. His experience seems to support his theory.

 

[KaGee]

Re: Would you buy a former rental car?

Originally posted by SS MAYFLOAT:<br /> My guess it was sold at auction due to a major problem.

The major rental companies have agreements with one of the big three. Cars are swapped out at regular intervals regardless of mileage. The majority of the "CERTIFIED" pre-owned cars with 18-25k miles were rental cars.<br /><br />Neither of my current cars are. My ESCAPE was a leased vehicle, bought with 39K on the Odo. Wifes car is a FOCUS, that was a "certified" car with only 3200 miles. That came back that it was previously owned by Ford Motor Company, most likely used as some sort of evaluation purpose. <br /><br />The CONTOUR I traded to get the ESCAPE was previously owned by BUDGET Car Rental.<br /><br />Totally happy with all the cars and truck.

 

[chuckz]

Re: Would you buy a former rental car?

February of 2000 I bought a 1999 Hyundai Sonata V6 that turned 10,000 miles as I test drove it. Got a great deal. After I bought it I found an AVIS sticker inside the truck. Obviously a rental car. I wasn't told this by the dealer. Five years and 50,000 miles later, stll a great deal. Had a crankshaft position sensor replaced under warranty and new plugs and wires replaced, also under warranty. <br /><br />I'd do it again in a heartbeat.

 

[BoatBuoy]

Re: Would you buy a former rental car?

Before I retired, I traveled quite often. Where I worked had a contract w/Enterprise Rental. When I inquired, I was told they sell their vehicles at 18-20K miles. In any case, when I drove them, I drove as if they were my own.

 

[Barlow]

Re: Would you buy a former rental car?

Originally posted by The Professor:<br /> Ah yes, the rental car. The world's fastest automobile!

ROFLMAO - HAHAHAHA!! .. EXACTLY!!<br /><br />"YES! I want all the insurances available!" <br /><br />For this reason and assuming my own personal vendeta against the rental agencies that I would whole heartedly take out on the vehicle in the past (when I was younger) .. I would pass on purchasing one of these things.<br /><br /> is right <br /><br />The back roads of Los Alamos, NM will never be the same again..

 

[dolluper]

Re: Would you buy a former rental car?

If the dealer is giving you a full warrenty with it and it lived and didn't blowup after being abused by hot rodders [rental people] it could be a very good buy 4.3 engines did have intake issues though, leaking coolant bad gaskets,and front end problems ESP 4wheel drive bearings

 

[Butch Ammon]

Re: Would you buy a former rental car?

Originally posted by Triton II:<br /> I'd never buy a rental... I know what I do with them!

Same with the Government auctions. Never, never, NEVER buy a used Gov't vehicle! Man, the stories I could tell about driving a Gov't vehicle back in my USCG days! We purposely tried to trash them and jump curbs with them and do other insane things. <br /><br />Butch A.

 

[TilliamWe]

Re: Would you buy a former rental car?

John, I think this vehicle's status as a former rental car is almost a mute point, isn't it? It's been 4 years & 47,000 miles since it was a rental! The fact that it lasted that long, says to me that it was a good buy for the "woman" second owner. The real question is, why did it need a new cooling system? And did it damage the engine any before the cooling problem was fixed?<br /><br />"What's the fastest car? A rental car...<br />What car is drafting off it's rear bumper? A company car!"<br /><br />"Company cars can go anywhere!"

 

[NYMINUTE]

Re: Would you buy a former rental car?

Originally posted by ButchA:<br />

Originally posted by Triton II:<br /> I'd never buy a rental... I know what I do with them!

Same with the Government auctions. Never, never, NEVER buy a used Gov't vehicle! Man, the stories I could tell about driving a Gov't vehicle back in my USCG days! We purposely tried to trash them and jump curbs with them and do other insane things. <br /><br />Butch A.

<br />Yes....and it was fun. I still have a mission with every rental. Empty the windshield solvent, and set all the radio buttons to the local rap station before I return it.

 

[Bass Man Bruce]

Re: Would you buy a former rental car?

I bought an enterprise rental resale at auction for my daughter just over a year ago. 32k miles and looked OK. Ford escort, and there has not beeen a single problem (knock on wood). $5.3k well under blue book and still on warranty. Also bought a Dodge Neon at Mich Gov auction for $ 3.3k with 37k miles 3 years ago and have put $1.2k into repairs. Both deals good enough for me! Both cars still run like a nose! Knock on wood, knock on wood, knock on wood!!!!!!!!!

 

[Boomyal]

Re: Would you buy a former rental car?

If it checks out, go for it. The last two Taurus we have owned were ex-rental cars. They were extremely clean, low miles and plenty of factory warranty left.

 

[Johnshan1]

Re: Would you buy a former rental car?

Well we pick up the vehicle tommorow, we slept on it and I gave the fiance a call later in the day, she said she really liked it and still wanted it regardless of the rental car history it has. As for the cooling system, not sure, I see a new water pump on there so perhaps the owner just figured while the system was drained it should have the collant hoses replaced at the same time, I know I would problably do that.<br /><br />Whats the story with the intake leaks? Thanks guys we will see what happens, it seems to run and drive great very tight, if we end up with a junker we will just trade it on something else.<br /><br />-John

 

[TwoBallScrewBall]

Re: Would you buy a former rental car?

I knew someone who rented a convertible yellow mustang from Enterprise in Las Vegas, and spent some time in the desert, off road, with it. A quick wash up before returning it and it's good as new. Looked good as new anyway. <br /><br />Point is some folks drive them nice, some folks beat them like a red headed step child (please no offense to red heads, step children, or red headed step children, it's a figure of speech!). It's up to you to try to figure out which car you have. <br /><br />Good luck!

 

[Boomyal]

Re: Would you buy a former rental car?

Originally posted by Johnshan1:<br /> Well we pick up the vehicle tommorow, we slept on it and I gave the fiance a call later in the day, she said she really liked it and still wanted it regardless of the rental car history it has. As for the cooling system, not sure, I see a new water pump on there so perhaps the owner just figured while the system was drained it should have the collant hoses replaced at the same time, I know I would problably do that.<br /><br />Whats the story with the intake leaks? Thanks guys we will see what happens, it seems to run and drive great very tight, if we end up with a junker we will just trade it on something else.<br /><br />-John

Not to worry! At 80k it coulda had a leaking water pump. It is after all a GM product. <br />No, seriously, if they replaced the water pump they would naturally replace the hoses.

 

[Bass Man Bruce]

Re: Would you buy a former rental car?

Good luck to you Johnshan1 on your car!<br /><br />I forgot to mention something, not only did I do a car fax search but I also have a code reader and was able to ck for any fault codes on the car before I boght it. (it had one, EGR valve - no biggie). I know past codes are easily cleared, but I ran it for a few minutes B-4 checking. This ain't foolproof but it helps the confidence about the new car. There are some code readers (non Navajo ) out there that read an incredible amount of vehicle history.

 

[Bass Man Bruce]

Re: Would you buy a former rental car?

Good luck to you Johnshan1 on your car!<br /><br />I forgot to mention something, not only did I do a car fax search but I also have a code reader and was able to ck for any fault codes on the car before I boght it. (it had one, EGR valve - no biggie). I know past codes are easily cleared, but I ran it for a few minutes B-4 checking. This ain't foolproof but it helps the confidence about the new car. There are some code readers (non Navajo ) out there that read an incredible amount of vehicle history.<br /><br /> EDIT: neon cah fault code, escort had/has none<br /><br />OOPS, duble post

 

[JasonJ]

Re: Would you buy a former rental car?

Once went to an open race track with a buddy and a couple of motorcycles. Got there and watched an Intrepid being flogged around the track. Thing was just being hammering, leaving rubber all over the place. Dude pulls up to us and tells us that he rented it so he could "really test drive" the car, because he was thinking of buying an Intrepid. It was a sight to see, thats for sure...

 

[JoeW]

Re: Would you buy a former rental car?

Rental car companies make a significant amount of their revenue by reselling their used vehicles. So much so that some business analysts suggest that their business model can be viewed as manufacturers of used vehicles rather than rental car companies. <br /><br />I wouldn't worry about the fact that it was a rental. Now, the fact that it's a Chevy...that's a different subject altogether.