Would you buy a rental?

[Kenpo_zx3]

I have been looking for an SEL or titanium. I found a certified pre owned 2012 SEL with 20 or 30K miles. They have it priced for 15K. It has leather and sync and I believe sunroof but no MFT. I really want the MFT but to save some costs I think I could opt for an aftermarket dash kit and nav if price was worth it. What do you guys think with it being a rental? I know it would have the 7 year 100K power train and another 12 months 12K miles bumper to bumper. I also know it was probably driven really hard. Just want led opinions. Thanks

This was supposed to be under the general post section please move if you can.

[Sponsor]

[cbdallas]

I'm quite familiar with how most rental cars are treated. There's no way I'd buy one.

[Kenpo_zx3]

Originally Posted by cbdallas

I'm quite familiar with how most rental cars are treated. There's no way I'd buy one.

Yeah kind of how I have always been. If it wasn't for the long warranty I wouldn't even think about.

[cbdallas]

Consider this scenerio:

A month after you buy it, your right front suspension starts making noise. You take it in to find out what's wrong, and they discover that the car has been driven over a curb (or whatever) and the strut is bent, or the strut bushing is crushed, or the control arm is warped. Your warranty won't cover items that are a result of abuse or accident. How will you feel to find out that this repair will cost you $250 - $750. Buying a used car is buyer-beware. You'd be better off buying a car that once belonged to a vested owner, rather than a car that is rented out to people who have no reason to give a damn about it.

[Buickboy]

nooooooooooooope.

Im nice to rentals but most people arent. Doesnt matter the car its always loose and worn feeling by 20k.

[Kenpo_zx3]

Originally Posted by cbdallas

Consider this scenerio:

A month after you buy it, your right front suspension starts making noise. You take it in to find out what's wrong, and they discover that the car has been driven over a curb (or whatever) and the strut is bent, or the strut bushing is crushed, or the control arm is warped. Your warranty won't cover items that are a result of abuse or accident. How will you feel to find out that this repair will cost you $250 - $750. Buying a used car is buyer-beware. You'd be better off buying a car that once belonged to a vested owner, rather than a car that is rented out to people who have no reason to give a damn about it.

This is true, never thought about that!

[wolfwyndd]

I have looked at purchasing a rental and considering the price they usually sell them for, I wouldn't touch them with a ten foot pole. The good news is that (depending on the rental company) they have pretty good maintainance records. The bad news is they are generally beat to crap by the time they get to 20K.

[Kenpo_zx3]

Yeah this helps reaffirm my choice and hopefully anyone else considering one.

[mac.mogul]

In 2004 when I bought my Mustang, it was previously a rental car. I put 120k miles on it before I traded it in and The only problem I had was a bad water pump at 100k miles.

Would I buy a Focus that was previously a rental? Maybe, if the price was right but never at full book value.

There's such a difference in how rental cars are treated. A premium rental car like a Mustang or Camaro are not chosen by renters as often because of the increased cost and more often are rented by older people who are traveling alone.

People who rent the compact cars are usually young, broke, and stupid. They had to rent that Focus because they backed their '99 Taurus into a phone pole or they're on vacation and need a POS car to get around an unfamiliar city at rush hour, jumping curbs, making illegal u-turns, blasting down alleys, etc.

[Kenpo_zx3]

One other thing is that I can get a bumper to bumper type warranty for 60 months or 100K miles whichever hits first. No deductible for work. I didnt find this out until today. It's tough only because its so cheap!