Would you buy a rental return car? I thinking buying a 07 Freestyle with 7800 miles. We usaully keep our cars over 200k or 10 years.
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Would you buy a rental return car?
- Thread starter tangojetta
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My mom had a rental return 1991 Ford Escort wagon. It went 120K without a problem. What finally killed it was a combination of predatory towing (Hi, Henry's Wrecker Service) and a broken timing belt. It would have been fine had the belt been replaced, but the car was towed before that could happen. Incidentally, Henry's claimed my brother owed them $5000 (yes, $5000) in storage fees for that car. My brother told them to go to #@$%!.
As long as it was not in a wreck I would buy it if the price is right. Rental return cars are good buys as you know for sure the maintenance was done.
A lot of people buy cars and trade them in every two to four years. They don't do any maintenance to them as they don't plan on keeping them. You have much greater risk buying a used car from an average Joe or a trade in on a lot that came from an average Joe. However, at 7800 miles it seems there is hardly a chance for any maintenance to be neglected.
A lot of people buy cars and trade them in every two to four years. They don't do any maintenance to them as they don't plan on keeping them. You have much greater risk buying a used car from an average Joe or a trade in on a lot that came from an average Joe. However, at 7800 miles it seems there is hardly a chance for any maintenance to be neglected.
JTK
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My trailblazer was a rental. Had it about a year now without issue. Saved about $8K over buying a new one. My windstar was a 3yr/old lease return when I bought it. No problems there either. I don't see a rental return purchase being any more risky they buying from an other unknown used source.
Joel
Joel
JHZR2
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If the miles were nice and low, and/or it was being puchased as an in-city/commuter type car, perhaps, but likely not...
I had a long-term rental from Avis in 2006. Got it in Philadelphia, drove it back and forth between there and Auburn, AL. Checked in every month, to ensure that Id get the PM done by them to keep the car in good shape (it was a very nice little 4dr focus sedan). Every time, I wasnt there yet... I thought surely at 5000, 7500... nope.
Ther month before I returned it, I called to check in, and told them that the car had 9900 miles on it. They said that the computer didnt authorize anything - the maintenance interval must be 10k miles. I warned them that Id be doing close to 5000 miles of driving that month, and the car would be returned with much higher mileage... they didnt care.
So, in the end all, they got a car with something like 14327 miles, on the factory fill... they could have used a bit of common sense and authorized me to take it to sears for an oil change, but they refused. I would have gladly done it. Heck, I checked the oil regularly (though I never would pay to add any), and even used lucas UCl every now and again...
So I dont trust the PM schedules that rental car agencies suppsedly do... but a 7800 mile new car could have its oil chqanged tomorrow, and Id be confident about lifecycle PM... not necessarily its treatment prior to purchase, though...
JMH
I had a long-term rental from Avis in 2006. Got it in Philadelphia, drove it back and forth between there and Auburn, AL. Checked in every month, to ensure that Id get the PM done by them to keep the car in good shape (it was a very nice little 4dr focus sedan). Every time, I wasnt there yet... I thought surely at 5000, 7500... nope.
Ther month before I returned it, I called to check in, and told them that the car had 9900 miles on it. They said that the computer didnt authorize anything - the maintenance interval must be 10k miles. I warned them that Id be doing close to 5000 miles of driving that month, and the car would be returned with much higher mileage... they didnt care.
So, in the end all, they got a car with something like 14327 miles, on the factory fill... they could have used a bit of common sense and authorized me to take it to sears for an oil change, but they refused. I would have gladly done it. Heck, I checked the oil regularly (though I never would pay to add any), and even used lucas UCl every now and again...
So I dont trust the PM schedules that rental car agencies suppsedly do... but a 7800 mile new car could have its oil chqanged tomorrow, and Id be confident about lifecycle PM... not necessarily its treatment prior to purchase, though...
JMH
The car had only 1 oil changed in 7800 miles. That doesn't really bother me. The big factor for me in buying this car is 10k savings over new.(including all rebates and haggling)
I did... an '03 Saturn L200 w/11k mi (for $11k in '04). I visually inspected the &^%$ out of it, had a nice long test drive, and took it to my mechanic for a used car inspection. I also asked the dealer and the rental company that the car came from about service on "program cars". Both said the rental company must follow manufact service intervals to return the cars under their agreement.
Now 50k mi and no problems other than a couple warranty issues that had nothing to do with being "beat" as a rental. So far, so good (keeping fingers crossed).
Now 50k mi and no problems other than a couple warranty issues that had nothing to do with being "beat" as a rental. So far, so good (keeping fingers crossed).
I think my biggest concerns about a rental would be the condition of suspension components and unibody, and auto transmissions. Some people become careless slobs when they plant their butts in a rental, running over curbs and #@$%! knows what else, and some suspension or frame problems don't reveal themselves until you've balded a set of front tires in 12,000 miles. I used to work with a guy that thought it was fun to drive a FWD rental in reverse, slam it in drive and floor it to see how much rubber he could get it to put down. Those are the people, and cars I'd be wary of in the rental car market. But a 10K discount would be hard to ignore too.
I agree there's too big of a chance of previous abuse, which might not be apparent even with a thorough inspection.
It's also interesting that this question comes up about once a year.
It's also interesting that this question comes up about once a year.
I used to think it was OK to buy a rental car.
But then for one company we traveled as a group. One guy always wanted to drive. On railroad tracks. Over rocks. Off curbs. 2°F Morning? Start the car and FLOOR IT instantly.
He was an idiot - but I always wondered how many other idiots are out there. But I suppose some people do this to their own cars.
But then for one company we traveled as a group. One guy always wanted to drive. On railroad tracks. Over rocks. Off curbs. 2°F Morning? Start the car and FLOOR IT instantly.
He was an idiot - but I always wondered how many other idiots are out there. But I suppose some people do this to their own cars.
A little common sense here goes a long way. A ragged out rental car will look and drive like a ragged out rental car. I suppose renters could do some damage over a 7800 mile period but I think the odds are in your favor.
Do the usual checks and inspections, read the maintenance history, take it for a long test drive to get it nice and hot, see if they'll offer some kind of short-term warranty and you should be fine. Besides, the car will still be covered under Ford's warranty too, correct?
When you get it home, detail it or spend $150 or so on a real good detailing job, go thru the car with a fine toothed comb, have the alignment set if needed and it will feel like a brand new car..... only $10,000 lighter.
Do the usual checks and inspections, read the maintenance history, take it for a long test drive to get it nice and hot, see if they'll offer some kind of short-term warranty and you should be fine. Besides, the car will still be covered under Ford's warranty too, correct?
When you get it home, detail it or spend $150 or so on a real good detailing job, go thru the car with a fine toothed comb, have the alignment set if needed and it will feel like a brand new car..... only $10,000 lighter.
Not just no, but #@$%! no. You might get lucky, but you might get the one where someone drove 100 miles with the emergency brake on, tried their Rockford Files J-turns, or did their Duke Boys impersonation over the railroad tracks. Again, it may be OK, but chance are it has been abused at LEAST once, even in 7800 miles.
P.S. I used to work for Avis.
P.S. I used to work for Avis.
With Ford trying to scrub the Freestar, I would look at something else. If you're sold on it, hold out and you might get a new Freestar at the same price they are asking for the rental. Ford has stopped all production of the Freestar, and after driving one, I see why.
If I rented it sometime during its rental life, you wouldn't want to buy it afterwards.
But seriously, I've been in line at the rental car desk, and have been unfortunate enough to be in line behind people who are so clueless, that they have no business even getting behind the wheel of a motor vehicle. These are the ones that I worry about. I'm sure that if the rental car starts and moves, they'll drive it.
Would I buy one? No. I'd put more confidence in a local one owner trade in. That's what my Silverado Extended Cab was. Chevy dealer sold it new, did all the maintenance on it, it was traded in at the same dealer after 18 months (for a Crew Cab), and then I bought it from the dealer for wholesale ($14,000 off of sticker) with the remainder of the factory warranty.
...and no worries about how many drivers it had in those 18 months.
But seriously, I've been in line at the rental car desk, and have been unfortunate enough to be in line behind people who are so clueless, that they have no business even getting behind the wheel of a motor vehicle. These are the ones that I worry about. I'm sure that if the rental car starts and moves, they'll drive it.
Would I buy one? No. I'd put more confidence in a local one owner trade in. That's what my Silverado Extended Cab was. Chevy dealer sold it new, did all the maintenance on it, it was traded in at the same dealer after 18 months (for a Crew Cab), and then I bought it from the dealer for wholesale ($14,000 off of sticker) with the remainder of the factory warranty.
...and no worries about how many drivers it had in those 18 months.
see below.
Look it over, check for leaks and obvious damage to suspension.
Get a CarFax from the company (they gave me one without question)
Tough to beat a Nationally-known rental company rental for value.
Look it over, check for leaks and obvious damage to suspension.
Get a CarFax from the company (they gave me one without question)
Tough to beat a Nationally-known rental company rental for value.
I hope no one buys a car that I've rented. I drive rentals fairly often for business trips.
These are the cars I tend to "experiment" with. What happens if I try THIS?! Or THAT?!
It takes just one person to ruin a good car. That's probably why the rental companies sell the cars frequently... so they don't have to repair them. I don't think I've been in a rental car older than 1 year.
Also, I think factory warranties don't apply to former rental cars.
These are the cars I tend to "experiment" with. What happens if I try THIS?! Or THAT?!
It takes just one person to ruin a good car. That's probably why the rental companies sell the cars frequently... so they don't have to repair them. I don't think I've been in a rental car older than 1 year.
Also, I think factory warranties don't apply to former rental cars.
Dont rely on Carfax to tell you anything....My Sentra was run off the road at the airport ($1300 damage to right front suspension components and unibody, but ZERO body damage) and was broadsided in 2002 on a residential street and neither wreck showed up on Carfax.
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