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Buying advice
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
Buying advice
I'm looking at a car on the autotrader. I got a carfax on it. The car was registered as a rental unit. The car only has 12,000 miles on it. Question is would buy it or keep looking for a personal owner?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 3,287
Likes: 1
From: Union City CA
Unless they give you a price that you just can't say no, I would wait and find a personal owner. I am sure that you have driven a rental car before. Have you known anyone who takes care of the rental car when you use them?
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 46,295
Likes: 2,596
From: Northern, VA
St. Jude Donor '15
"In honor of jpee"
I have known people who have done so, however, and not had issues. Then again, it wasn't a Corvette.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 9,682
Likes: 186
From: Sunnyvale CA
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16,'19
I am assuming the car is a Corvette. I would advise against it. I talked to a tech who worked on Corvette rentals from Hertz. Some people really abused the cars.
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 13,135
Likes: 80
From: Los Angeles CA
Maybe so, I think they can handle it and they are still under new car warranty & at least we know the oil has probably been changed..................Price is the key
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2004
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From: Centerville Ohio
CI 6-7-8-9 Veteran
Intermediate
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 45
Likes: 0
I used to buy my wife's cars from Hertz. Never had any problems with them. Cars were usually about 8 mos old and 1/2 of new price with 20,000 to 24,000 miles on them. Bought them at Nashville and got the cars assigned to the airport. They were thoroughly cleaned and serviced when turned in and if any were involved in accidents they were run through the auctions and not sold by the Hertz private sale program. There was no trade-in allowed but they would sell on payment plan. I never used this but it was offered. Unfortunately, they terminated this program and I don't know if it was ever reinstated but the purpose of this answer is to point out not to be afraid to buy a rental car. I noticed on of the rental websites (maybe Avis ?) when I was looking for a Las Vegas rental a couple of weeks ago, they were offering rentals for sale. Just don't remember which agency.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 5,894
Likes: 1
From: Farmingdale NY
St. Jude Donor '06
A friend of mine has been buying former rental cars from Hertz and Avis for he and his wife, and now his son and daughter, for years and says he's never had a problem with any of them.
That being said: I think I would pass on a former rental Corvette. There is a good chance that it was beat on a bit. The other thing to consider is that there are lots of nice low mileage Corvettes that have been garage kept since new and been well pampered by their owners out there. I would think that you might be able to get one from a private owner in this market for around the same price.
That being said: I think I would pass on a former rental Corvette. There is a good chance that it was beat on a bit. The other thing to consider is that there are lots of nice low mileage Corvettes that have been garage kept since new and been well pampered by their owners out there. I would think that you might be able to get one from a private owner in this market for around the same price.
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 1,746
Likes: 35
From: Jupiter Fl
A friend of mine has been buying former rental cars from Hertz and Avis for he and his wife, and now his son and daughter, for years and says he's never had a problem with any of them.
That being said: I think I would pass on a former rental Corvette. There is a good chance that it was beat on a bit. The other thing to consider is that there are lots of nice low mileage Corvettes that have been garage kept since new and been well pampered by their owners out there. I would think that you might be able to get one from a private owner in this market for around the same price.
That being said: I think I would pass on a former rental Corvette. There is a good chance that it was beat on a bit. The other thing to consider is that there are lots of nice low mileage Corvettes that have been garage kept since new and been well pampered by their owners out there. I would think that you might be able to get one from a private owner in this market for around the same price.
Advanced
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 77
Likes: 1
From: TX
Well, I just bought an '08 with 9800 miles on it. No issues yet. I still have the warranty in tact and can get the extended warranty if needed.
Car is clean and runs like a dream. Only one single blemish... On the hood by the wiper. Other than that, it is pristene!
I spoke to a guy that buys cars at auction and he told me some of the best maintained, cleanest cars come from rental complanies because of their maintenance programs and cleaning the cars after each use...
Obviously, I would love to get a year-old car with 1000 miles on it after its been in the garage for a year...
Keeping my fingers crossed.
Car is clean and runs like a dream. Only one single blemish... On the hood by the wiper. Other than that, it is pristene!
I spoke to a guy that buys cars at auction and he told me some of the best maintained, cleanest cars come from rental complanies because of their maintenance programs and cleaning the cars after each use...
Obviously, I would love to get a year-old car with 1000 miles on it after its been in the garage for a year...
Keeping my fingers crossed.
Advanced
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 77
Likes: 1
From: TX
And... who is to say that a personal owner hasn't ragged the car out? Look at the tires? They can tell a lot (if they are original)...
Since buying mine, I've noticed corevettes on the road that looked terrible! Mine will never look that bad. Point is, it depends on how the owner, rental company, or leaser takes care of the vehicle. Just because you're buying it out of a person's garage, doesn't mean it has been cared for nicely.
Since buying mine, I've noticed corevettes on the road that looked terrible! Mine will never look that bad. Point is, it depends on how the owner, rental company, or leaser takes care of the vehicle. Just because you're buying it out of a person's garage, doesn't mean it has been cared for nicely.
