Looking at some used rental cars for my mom to buy. This car will just be a stop gap for her so she isn't being too picky. The prices on these used rentals are dirt cheap.

I'm scared the car would be beat to hell. They do come with a 1 year/12k mile warranty. And hopefully the maintenance has been done...

What say you?

 

Well they don't get treated well by renters but the big rental companies do keep up on their maintenance. They really stay on top of them well if that's any reassurance.

 

Yup that's the issue. They're like $3-$5k cheaper than the dealers. It's hard to resist

 

As long as the body and interior are straight, you shouldn't have to worry much. Are they still under factory warranty or just out? An extended plan may ease your mind a little.

 

Never I don't even want to think about what may have gone on in that rental car, but if you don't mind bodily fluids go ahead

 

Ain't no way I'd buy a car from a rental company. Reason they're so cheap is cause they've had the hell beat out of them.

 

We used to do all the maintenance for enterprise and hertz back at the dealerships. They're not bad.

 

I bought one and it was great. Had 18k in 18mos. and still had 18mos factory warranty left. They always did regular maintenance/oil changes.

 

They're cheaper because they usually have higher mileage and they only paid fleet price to begin with.

 

I've rented cars and never intentionally pounded on them but I have met people, who I had thought were decent, who maliciously abused rentals for the sheer pleasure of it. The fact that they did regular oil changes, etc, doesn't mitigate the fact that these vehicles get the crap beat out of them. That's just how it is. People figure rentals cost too much so they get even by being real jerks with the rental. I'd never buy one.

 

Used to work for Rental car company, we bought the cars for 3 to 7 percent less than dealer cost, not dealer invoice, dealer cost which is yes lower than dealer invoice. That is why they can sell them cheaper.
My suggestion is DO NOT BUY from the low end rental companies, thrifty and dollar come to mind, buy from the higher business rental companies like National and go for the premium cars. Business renters are less likely to abuse cars, as I have been told by a couple of rental companies.

Be very picky and inspect the heck out of any thing you are considering.

 

Depends ...

If its a Lincoln Town Car, then yes, because whoever drive it probably drove it nicely.

If its a sports car, then hell no. I checked few Mustangs 4.0 few years ago that used to be rentals. They were only a year old with under 30,000 miles on the odometer ... They were very cheap (~$13,000), but were also falling apart.

 

Thanks guys. We're definitely gonna check em out at the least. Prices are too good not too. The company is Hertz if that matters any..

We're looking at the Altima, Sentra, and Fusion. So pretty much you're run of the mill sedans. They're running between $12-14k for 2011s with 40-50k on the odometer. And they come with a 1 year/12k warranty.

 

Test drive it; if they run well, go for it.

 

I bought my wife a 2010 V6 Convert that use to be a rental, Got it cheap and never had a issue.

 

Through who? Most 3rd party warranties aren't worth the paper they're written on when you get right down to it.

 

Thanks guys, we're gonna go look tomorrow

I believe it's through Hertz, but that's definitely something I'll ask

 

do a carfax on it before you buy if that comes back clean I would say go for it

 

Roger that Glenn. And I will def get pics

 

I would say NO!

also insurance companies offer less on rentals for payout.