Would you buy a rental Car **Poll**

Hook'm&Book'm · 07-07-2006, 08:11 PM

My wife found a vehicle she would like to have. So I ran a carfax on it and found out its a rental. Would you be concerned about this or not. We are going to look/purchase it tomorrow. It has 16,000 miles. I dont know how to do a poll or I would.

eat, sleep, fish · 07-07-2006, 08:28 PM

Here you go.

or.hunter · 07-07-2006, 08:32 PM

Our family has bought rentals in the past and had good luck.
You want to check it over real good though and if possible look at their repair records on the car.
Another thing to watch for is where it came from, there was a lot of water recently in certain areas of the US and it takes nothing at all to transport a car to a different state.
I looked at a 4x4 once that had fine sand and mud up around the hood hinges that told me it was in deep, guess their detail guy wasn't so good, but it looked really good other than that.

Good luck on your adventure!

Phager · 07-07-2006, 08:33 PM

I personally wouldn't. That's only because I have a friend who beats on his rentals. One he tooked to PIR and raced around the track and did a few high speed e-brake skids. And a truck he rented we took four wheeling at browns camp and beat it mercilessly.

Pat

1pump · 07-07-2006, 08:46 PM

It depends on the vehicle. Sure, some people thrash the snot out of their rentals. Not real smart, since they can get stuck paying for damage.
If I just needed a grocery-getter to buzz around town in, then I would consider one. I probably wouldn't get an SUV or a pickup. I rented an Explorer once in AK to haul 4 people around the state and we made a mess out of the thing. We didn't beat it, but there was probably 50 pounds of Dorito crumbs ground into the carpet along with various other food items left behind in every nook and cranny.

Hook'm&Book'm · 07-07-2006, 08:50 PM

It was a rental in the portland area, dont know where. This is a Mitsubishi Endeavor with all wheel drive.

Swamp Puppy · 07-07-2006, 09:00 PM

years ago i wouldn't touch a rental with a 10ft pole. in this day and age rental companies take better care (maintenance wise) of their cars and turn them around quicker. most of the rentals you find on used car lots today are 1 model year old and around 20k +/- miles.

i spent about 8 years in the auto industry in the Bay Area, CA. the last 3 of those i spent running a Chevy store. we used to buy a lot of rental returns at the acutions and sell them on our lot. we were picky when it came to used cars. only the top notch ones got put out..we were the oldest existing business in Sunnyvale and had a looong standing reputation to uphold. we weren't about damage that by selling a bunk car for a couple bucks profit.

just be smart about it..exercise the same diligence you would with any used product. if anything seems not right with it...don't buy it. there are more of them around.

StrikeFighter · 07-07-2006, 09:56 PM

My daughter has bought 3 rentals from Hertz and had great cars. Her latest is an SUV Envoy from them. Good luck on your car purchase.

Chrome Bumper · 07-07-2006, 10:08 PM

'Drive it like a rental'. My wife is driving a lease return, we think, 94 4wd montero bought in 96, got it with 40k, now has 175k, she loves it. Just routine maintenance, oil ever 3k. Well built vehicle.

That rental has only had one..........hundred different drivers. Then we have leased cars at work and those are actually pretty pampered.

Ya like it? mechanically check out? good deal?? buy it. Work with your wife to get the price down, play up the fact it was a rental and don't be afraid to walk.

WheresMyBobber · 07-07-2006, 10:30 PM

Rental cars usually have good maintenance programs. How they're driven by renters is another issue.

There's a lot of people out there happily driving rental cars that don't know it. You know those 1-2 year old cars for sale at the new car dealerships that usually have 12,000-20,000 miles on them? A lot of them are rental cars. The larger rental companies have partnerships/deals with car dealers to replace/rotate their rental fleet on a regular basis. The rental agency follows the maintenance program, the dealer goes over the car when it arrives, and it goes out on the lot.

I'd buy one if it passed my own inspection and drive test.

Ryan Pultz · 07-07-2006, 11:51 PM

We got a 2002 Ford focus Rental from enterprise and we love it the car had 40,000 when we got it and now has 72,000 and have only had minor problems (Thank God) the car is great and still gets 36MPG on highway I would not hesitate in getting another one like others have said they are well maintained yeah people that rent them drive them hard but heck I do to so the car loves it. rp

MattPark · 07-07-2006, 11:55 PM

I know of a few rentals that have had nitrous installed and run down the track...

I wouldn't worry. I gotta believe most rental drivers aren't beating the crap out of the cars. In 16,000 miles, how many people could have abused it? Those are decent little SUVs, I'd go for it.

gerry · 07-08-2006, 10:39 AM

I would look at the price mostly. 16k is a pretty new car. Is it that much cheaper than a new car? Even when you rent a car, you are often liable for any noticable damage. I have bought "program cars" before and was happy with them. I would be reluctant to buy if it was a 'vette or some other performance car, but anything else wouldn't scare me.

reeldick · 07-09-2006, 02:29 PM

I have bought two rentals over the years and I have never had to put money into them. Just normal maintenance to keep it running.

joemomma · 07-09-2006, 05:29 PM

Yup, good maintaince on them

Musicman · 07-09-2006, 08:33 PM

We bought a rental (92 Ford Tempo) with 30lk on it..we still got the balance of the warranty, price was great and we put over 175,000 miles on it with zero probs. Go for it but definitely check into all the advice given above.

lentz · 07-09-2006, 08:53 PM

I guess that you never know if its going to be a good car unless you buy it and use it. I know that the expression "drive it like you stole it" is pretty true. I had to use a rental when my car got hit 1 week before we were to leave for Vegas. It ran alright untill we got to Vegas and the a/c went out. It was 110 degrees and my wife was pretty mad to say the least. Hope you have good luck in whatever decision you make.

boater · 07-10-2006, 07:01 AM

Quote:

One he tooked to PIR and raced around the track and did a few high speed e-brake skids. And a truck he rented we took four wheeling at browns camp and beat it mercilessly.

Pat

sounds familiar

Stz ll · 07-14-2006, 03:49 PM

Not if they are driven they way I drive a rental car. :grin: :grin: