I agree. Leased cars probably get the worst treatment.quote:
Originally posted by brianl703:
I think the average rental car probably gets better maintenance than the average privately-owned car.
As far as the driver itself, I see plenty of people abusing cars I'm fairly certain are theirs (or the banks, anyway). Lease cars are probably the worst. I remember a statement from a PDF file published by 76 about API SL oil and how the oil was designed for longer drain intervals because "manufacturers want to protect their investment in leased vehicles".
Translation: Leased vehicles are neglected and the manufacturer wants a car that will still be running when the lease period is up.
I posted a link to that PDF file here a while ago.
I am the third owner of my 2001 Ranger. It was originally a lease vehicle and I found out later that it had been repossessed. If they could not make the payments, I am sure they were not dumping money into maintaining it. It showed when I started replacing things like the transmission fluid, fuel filter, coolant, etc... Everything was clearly original. Only the motor oil, air filter and tires had been touched at 48,000 miles. The rear diff fluid in this truck is supposedly good for 150,000 miles, so I guess I can't fault whoever leased the truck there, but everything else was overdue.
I have to say though, at 76,000 miles I have never had a problem with the truck. I guess I caught it before any real damage was done.
Oh, and when looking the brakes over after I got the truck, one of the rear drums was way out of adjustment...I guess one of the previous owners decided to smoke the tires a little by doing a brakestand before passing the truck on to someone else.