Would you buy a rental car?

[scottmandue]

Did some tire kicking Sunday, hit some dealers used lots just to sit in a few and check out the seats etc.

Liked the Focus and the Yaris.

Wife sent me some ads she found last night, one was from a Hertz lot.

I never abused a rental but I always envisioned rental cars as being for practicing your donut and drifting skills.

However suppose it was a great deal, would you buy a rental?

[vash]

question.

what's the difference between a 4x4 and a rental car?

answer:

there are some places you just cant drive your 4x4 to.

[scottmandue]

Originally Posted by vash

question.

What's the difference between a 4x4 and a rental car?

Answer:

There are some places you just cant drive your 4x4 to.

lol!

[Scott Douglas]

My wife's '04 Mustang convert was an ex-rental car. It was probably a more expensive rental, had a small V-6, so it wasn't abused from the looks of it. Ford dealer backed it with a typical 'certified' warranty so I wasn't worried about it breaking on my dime.
I think it all depends on who you're buying from. I wouldn't buy from a Joe Blow used car lot, but from the rental agency itself or a marque dealer offering a good warranty, it should be OK as a commuter.

[Scuba Steve]

NOPE! Based on experience where I was on travel for easily 200 days/year for the longest time. Former rental = certified pre-hooned.

Bumps? Curbs? Rentalcar don't give a f*k!

[aschen]

I dont think so, but I dont think it is quite a risky as some believe. You will know it has had all the maintenance done and I think Im getting a bit boring in my old age but I dont think Ive abused a rental car since 2005 since I drove on on the nurburgring with no air filter .

I dont think the typical jo blow buisnessman cares to abuse an appliance car.

[flipper35]

My wife had bought one before we started dating. It had 20k miles and we had it until 115k miles. Had to replace the alternator and she had the front rotors done early in her ownership. We only sold it because it was hard to move 4 cars at the time and I wasn't giving up the Cobra replica and no one wanted the 1971 911 at the time (2007).

[LakeCleElum]

I knew a guy that owned a body shop near a major airport.....Said 60% of his business was fixing crashed rental cars....

[cashflyer]

Would you buy a rental car?

Would you marry a prostitute?




https://www.facebook.com/MagicTouchMiami/videos/687437688025486/

[1990C4S]

Rental companies look after their cars better than I do. Would not worry me.

[jyl]

A buddy of mine bought a used CHP car. Kind of like the Blues Brothers thing. Car was a great DD on days when he didn't drive his Ferrari.

[scottmandue]

Originally Posted by cashflyer

Would you marry a prostitute?

You say that like it is a bad thing!

[JavaBrewer]

Originally Posted by vash

question.

what's the difference between a 4x4 and a rental car?

answer:

there are some places you just cant drive your 4x4 to.

This.

No way would I ever buy ex rental car.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

When I was rowing we got into the San Diego Crew Classic. Whole boat flew from Boston to San Diego. We all spent a week doing our own thing after the rest. Friend and I rented a Cheyy Cavalier and drove all around and camped in the Joshua Tree Desert. Drove around a lot more in the desert area. Pretty hot. Car was a little sluggish on the way back. Gassed it up before bringing it back, checked the oil, didn't read on the dipstick. Put 3 quarts in before it touched the very tip. Put another in. Returned the car.

[Scuba Steve]

A more serious answer is, the only people I know who didn't have strange problems with a former rental they bought, bought it a month before they moved across the country and I didn't keep up with them very well. Everyone else has had to deal with all sorts of issues. These things don't age well.

[jorian]

No experience buying one but I am always amazed at how much wear and tear are on cars I rent. Some with only 1000 miles on the clock.

[Dantilla]

I bought a Mustang 5.0 convertible from a rental company.

The car came with a very thick file of service records showing every oil change & tire rotation.
The car served us well for several years. Nothing would indicate that the car had ever been abused.
Only sold it to buy a 944 Turbo. I'd heard that if one joins the Porsche club, one could drive on a race track.

Who knew I'd end up with an SCCA competition license, and a car with a roll cage and big numbers on the doors.

[look 171]

After seeing what a friend did to the rental when I was about 21, the answer is no. We rented a couple of car to Vegas with these guys. The SOB had a running start and jumped onto the roof then all over the poor little car. Pedal to the metal every start and stop. I was the only one thinking its was so sad to see someone abuse a piece of property that did not belong to him. I just weren't brought up that way even if I was paying for it. I also discovered that red line an auto box in neutral then drop into "D" do not always smoke tires. Well, not with a 4 banger anyway.

[sc_rufctr]

.... No

[drcoastline]

Yes I would, even though to the best of my knowledge none of the used cars I have purchased were former rentals. I think it also depends on which company they came from.

Enterprise who is my go to company has cars that are very well kept, none have been more than two years old and I don't think one I have ever rented has ever had more than 25K on the OD. The facilities are always clean and orderly. The staff is clean and polite. The clientele that I have noticed are generally middle forties and above and more often than not elderly.

On a few occasions I have been forced to use Fox rental car in Fla., their cars seem generally unkempt stains in the seats and mileage above 50K. The two facilities I have visited were as unkempt as the cars the employees less than professional and the General clientele seemed to match.

I have never rented from Hertz or National.

As with any used purchase due diligence is your friend. Know the history. I would never buy a car I knew came from Fox. My opinion is they don't take care of their facilities and the cars are a mess. My opinion is that's the same mentality the clientele has, it's a rental. Over all if a car isn't in good dependable condition it isn't rentable and therefore it isn't making money for the company. My opinion is they are only getting rid of a vehicle because maintenance is becoming an issue and the vehicle isn't making money. Sell it and let it be someone else's problem.

On the other hand Enterprise seems to only have low mileage vehicles in near new condition. That says to me the vehicles are only in the rental fleet for a short period of time then they move them out. Their vehicles and facilities are always clean and spotless. Their car sales department certifies the vehicles and they come with a warranty. That says to me they don't beat their cars to death.