Buying from a Rental Car Company?

[Parks 788]

So, casually looking for a new/new-to-her Ford Expeditionto replace her 2011 Explorer with 125K miles on it. We have no desire to spend $75K-$85K on a new one. We've looked at a couple of somewhat nice used units that the deal stated they where original Rental Car vehicles. My question is: Do any of you have experience from buying directly from the rental car companies? What can you tell me about the process or is it a pretty straight forward process? Thanks

 

[Glock 40]

I would run from a rental car or program car as dealers like to call them. Back in they day all the Major car manufactures owned the major rental companies and would sell to their rental place fleet then sell back to dealers before warranty was up. Those cars are frequently road hard and put up wet. People dog the hell out of them. Buying a used vehicle that is 1 or 2 owner with a decent carfax or similar means you probably have a lot less folks dogging the vehicle daily. Your best deal you can find will be buying it from an individual. Will take a bit more time but its worth it.

 

[Dumpstick]

In 2017 we purchased a 2015 Nissan Altima from Hertz. It had 42k on it.

I have an extensive automotive background, and looked it over carefully. Then I took it to a repair shop I know, and paid for their used car inspection.

After we bought it, I changed the fluids, and changed the engine oil twice in 3000 miles to get it to my 5k interval.

We've had no troubles whatsoever with it. We saved a significant amount of money. I would do it again.

ETA: Easy peasy purchase. They had a price. Take it or leave it. Very simple process.

 

[cal7.62x39]

I would run from a rental car or program car as dealers like to call them. Back in they day all the Major car manufactures owned the major rental companies and would sell to their rental place fleet then sell back to dealers before warranty was up. Those cars are frequently road hard and put up wet. People dog the hell out of them. Buying a used vehicle that is 1 or 2 owner with a decent carfax or similar means you probably have a lot less folks dogging the vehicle daily. Your best deal you can find will be buying in from a individual. Will take a bit more time but its worth it.

This reply is spot on. I've worked for two separate rental companies in the past and by the time a rental is retired with 30-40 thousand miles they still spit shine OK, but will become a nightmare in the next 10-20K miles. When they are rentals they do not receive early scheduled maintenance and as neckbeard has stated are rode hard and put up wet. A rental will have usually between 200-500 people renting them, while some may treat it like their own. Most usually want to "see what they can do". It's like giving a 16 year old kid a Corvette.

 

[RVCooper]

I've got a good friend and neighbor who drives nothing but rentals. He's bought his grown daughters several as well. He buys them off the Enterprise lot here in Tulsa and has had no problems with any off them. I'm driving an older Rubicon right now that was a leased unit at one time and it's had no real issues.

 

[bigfug]

One of my co-workers bought a Nissan Frontiier ProFX crew cab from enterprise. 2 years problem free.

 

[Capm_Spaulding]

I worked for Enterprise once upon a time. They take care of their cars pretty well, but we all know the saying “drive it like a rental.” I wouldn’t buy one having worked for them, and again nothing to do with how the company treats them, but rather the renters and the unknown.
Also, this is a TERRIBLE time to buy a vehicle. If you can wait, another 6 months will make a big difference. I bought a truck a few months ago and ended up buying a new one, because I couldn’t find a used one cheaper. Previous to that, I have always been a big advocate of buying a 1-3 year old vehicle with 20k on it that takes the big depreciation hit.. but covid changed that quick. The supply dried up fast when everyone was bored at home and the manufacture groups couldn’t push new cars out fast enough so everything has increased in price across the board.

 

[xseler]

I bought a 2008 Pontiac Grand Prix (Jan 2010) that had been an Enterprise car. Got it for less than 1/2 of the sticker, which was in the vehicle. Seems like it had 29K on the odometer. Car had close to 200K on it when it was wrecked by an 'ex-friend' in 2017. Was a great car up to the very end! Zero issues.

Buying a rental seems to be like everything else ---- it's just a roll of the dice.

Best of luck in your search!

 

[sedona]

I rented many vehicles on my weekend trips that i jumped railroad tracks like the Dukes of hazzard.I would never buy a rental vehicle, someone like me probably drove it.

 

[deerstalker]

Well so far I've bought a 2013 Chevy Captive and a 2018 Toyota Rav4 from Enterprise car sales in Wichita. We've bee very happy with them. My Captive Has been from coast to coast many times and it now has 94,000 miles on it and drives like a new one. The bad thing was that it came up from Ok and I have to pay some state tax transfer that sucks. But all in all I would do it again, Hate going to the dealer and getting rip off before I even leave there lot..