Would you ever buy an ex-rental car?

Would you ever buy an ex-rental car?

  • Yes

    Votes: 54 57.4%
  • No

    Votes: 40 42.6%

  • Total voters
    94

rh1

Executive Member
Joined
Aug 5, 2011
Messages
7,346
I would I suppose.

I have to admit though, there is no better 4x4 than a rental vehicle. I have taken them to places I'll never take my own vehicles to :eek:

I feel guilty when I hear that screeching sound when going offroad in rentals.
 

TJ99

Honorary Master
Joined
Apr 30, 2010
Messages
10,737
Easily a 20% to 25% saving one a brand new version of the same car (using a 1 year old, 20 something 000km model)

If you buy a car new it already loses 20% of its value per year, if you're lucky. So where's the saving by going for an ex-rental?

Personally, I never abuse rental cars. But then I always rent the cheapest thing available so it's some ridiculous Korean thing that looks like a wart and weighs as much as a lunchbox so it's not like there is that much power to abuse anyways.
 
Last edited:

supersunbird

Honorary Master
Joined
Oct 1, 2005
Messages
60,152
If you buy a car new it already loses 20% of its value per year, if you're lucky. So where's the saving by going for an ex-rental?

Personally, I never abuse rental cars. But then I always rent the cheapest thing available so it's some ridiculous Korean thing that looks like a wart and weighs as much as a lunchbox so it's not like there is that much power to abuse anyways.

It's easy to get? Where you going to find your 1 year old car? The repossessed ones? The ones so bad that the owner is selling it just to get rid of his lemon problem?
 

TJ99

Honorary Master
Joined
Apr 30, 2010
Messages
10,737
It's easy to get? Where you going to find your 1 year old car? The repossessed ones? The ones so bad that the owner is selling it just to get rid of his lemon problem?
Demo units, repo, emigrating etc.
 

Quantum Theory

Executive Member
Joined
Apr 24, 2009
Messages
9,449
My last two cars have been dealer demos, but I have looked at and almost bought ex-rentals. I think they are abused more cosmetically, than mechanically... So, look for a clean one and go for it. I vote yes. Also, many of the cars sold by the likes of Market Toyota and Williams Hunt etc, are actually ex-rentals. Some people will never even know, because they don't ask. Those dealerships are run by companies that also run rental companies. If you see that AutoTrader is flooded with CVT Nissan Qashqais with under 40000km's, you can be sure they are all ex-rentals...
 

Bernie

Expert Member
Joined
May 2, 2006
Messages
2,123
I bought an ex avis citi golf about 10 years ago. Still have the car. It had 32000 on the clock. It has been a great buy. My eldest now uses it.
 

Fleming

Well-Known Member
Joined
Oct 16, 2014
Messages
122
I was always against buying ex rental cars but over the years I have "accidentally" bought 2 ex avid cars. I didn't check the service books properly. The first I had for 3years with no problems. The second my wife has been driving for 2 years and has also been great. I have changed my mind and would definitely buy another.
 

Jet-Fighter7700

Honorary Master
Joined
Mar 12, 2008
Messages
31,697
Depends on the car, and the $$$$
Right now driving a ex europcar rental (picanto)
Was abused by the previous owner after rental, and getting to 100k now soon,
Ok buy but not so sure if id do it again.

Would belive its better to buy a ex rental that you were lucky enough to rent initially.

My dad had a tazz like that once, got to 150k easily, but then again tazz is built like a truck......
 

Rouxenator

Dank meme lord
Joined
Oct 31, 2007
Messages
44,088
Never, they are abused and fleet operators sell them with low mileage because if driven any longer they will start to cost money aka break down.
 

ToxicBunny

Oi! Leave me out of this...
Joined
Apr 8, 2006
Messages
113,630
Depends on the car, and the $$$$
Right now driving a ex europcar rental (picanto)
Was abused by the previous owner after rental, and getting to 100k now soon,
Ok buy but not so sure if id do it again.

Would belive its better to buy a ex rental that you were lucky enough to rent initially.

My dad had a tazz like that once, got to 150k easily, but then again tazz is built like a truck......

Yeah, but you're not driving an ex-rental in terms of usage though, your car is purely second hand after the previous owner abused it. I would be pretty sure that they vehicle was in pretty good nick when he bought it.
 

konfab

Honorary Master
Joined
Jun 23, 2008
Messages
36,197
Like with all second hand cars, it depends on how much they cost to maintain in the long term. Hence getting an ex-rental BMW for example is a one way road to bankruptcy.
If you can find something like a Nissan Micra or similar which has low running costs, I don't really see how it is different from normal second hand.
 

Quantum Theory

Executive Member
Joined
Apr 24, 2009
Messages
9,449
Like with all second hand cars, it depends on how much they cost to maintain in the long term. Hence getting an ex-rental BMW for example is a one way road to bankruptcy.
If you can find something like a Nissan Micra or similar which has low running costs, I don't really see how it is different from normal second hand.

An ex-rental BMW will have the balance of a motorplan. Probably 50000-60000km left. Just make sure you have everything in order, before the plan runs out.
 

ToxicBunny

Oi! Leave me out of this...
Joined
Apr 8, 2006
Messages
113,630
After the motorplan though...:eek:

They're actually not that much more expensive than other cars..

There is a massive misconception that general maintenance on a BMW/Merc/Audi is ridiculous.

The average service on my Merc was about R1500 when I last did it... which was about R150 more than a service on a similar model year Polo or Golf. Yes if something big goes, things get expensive, but that applies to ALL cars these days.
 
Top