So I'm wondering about all the naysayers in this thread - how many have actually bought a rental and had problems? And how big of problems? Were they not covered by the warranty?

My experience was positive as I have stated.

Everybody else just sounds like bull****ters spreading rumors.

 

Had two coworkers buy rentals. One had a tranny go out the first year. The warranty wouldnt cover it because it was found to be abuse damage. The second co worker bought a kia suv and it was nice after first(to them). After 3 months a really bad smell started to appear. We lifted the carpet and the padding stuff was nasty. That kia had to get new sensors and be almost rewired and could never wear tires properly. Those might be kia isssues tho.

 

What's the difference between a rental car and a Humvee?



There are certain conditions you can't put a Humvee through.



And no I've never purchased a rental car so I have no personal experience. However there is a reason why I've never purchased one too.

 

Thanks guys, more info can't hurt at this point. I'll be avoiding Kias now for sure lol

 

 

after all the unholy things I have done to rental cars..

 

I bet you've driven your cars just as hard.

 

I baby my cars! other then that 06 vert I thought was a truck.

our gran prix GT was in the shop(someone backed into ti at work). We got a rental. It was a chevy truck. I have never owned a truck. Within 20 mins I had it stuck in mud up to its frame. paid some highschool kids $20 to pull me out. The rear windows stopped working(crew cab) right after I got stuck. So I had mud all over the back of the cab. Took it to a self serve car wash and gave it a quick spray down for $2.

 

Buying a former rental is not the same thing as buying a used car. A used car is presumably driven by one person who has an interest in maintaining it well. A rental car driver has zero interest in maintaining the car and drives accordingly. Big difference.
The people who get burned the worst are usually those who try to get something for nothing. They are victims of their own greed.

 

Are you joking? Buying a rental - at the discounted price stated by the seller - is hardly 'something for nothing'. Greed? For saving a few thou?

 

No kidding, sheesh. I didn't know it was wrong to try to get a good deal on a used car

 

Just because some little old lady was the only owner doesn't mean anything. I got smoked at a stop light by a little old lady in what turned out to be a supercharged Vette lol.
Can rental cars be abused? Sure, but anytime you buy anything you run the risk of getting burned. Even a new car. Had a guy on this forum buy a used 2011 Gt from ford and the engine went out and ford denied the claim.
OP take it to a trusted mechanic just like any used car and have it checked out. If it passes and looks legit. Then go for it and enjoy your savings.

 

Agreed. And one thing that's cool is that you can rent the car you want to buy for three days to test it out.

 

After being in operations management for the last 15 years or so (**NOT rental car associated, however**) I've seen in multiple occasions that as times get tough, spending money on maintenance is usually the first cuts that are made to help save money. Also, the quality of the technician performing the maintenance is JUST as important as the maintenance being performed. Replace experienced, highly paid full time staff with part time dudes who would struggle at anything more than doing a decent hand wash and tire shine. Just to expand on my post above..... that's my 2 cents.

I guess like anything else, at the end of the day you're buying a used car, so who the heck knows how it will turn out LOL......

Oh and Charlie, I had that joke dropped to me by my father in law who has rented cars all over the country for 30 years before retiring.... cracked me up the first time I heard it.

 

Heck we have a hard time getting brand new cars that don't break lol

 

Some people seem intent on dismissing the obvious. Tell you what, I'll buy a used car from the 80 year old lady; you buy the 19-year-old kid's car. Same year, same everything. It's possible the old lady pounded on her car and the kid babied his. It is possible but I would not bet on it.

 

but which one of us would be greedy?

 

IDK it's more likely that, that 80 year old woman hasn't changed the oil since her husband died 20 years ago.

 

More than likely the 19 year old stomps on it all the time and revs it before it heats up and grinds the gears in the transmission.

 

Are you guilty of all those things in yours?