Hi all, help out a n00b - I own a 2003 Honda S2000 and want a cheap, RELIABLE, and automatic 4dr commuter car. Locally I found a 2002 Maxima SE w/ 63k miles. Car is in a great condition, and is being sold by a private party.

But when I pulled a carfax, I found out that it was used as a rental car for 11 months (25k miles). I know rental cars get beat up real bad, so I'm not so sure anymore. The owner states that she's had it for 40k miles and never had to do anything other than normal maintenance (car had extended warranty so she had to get oil changes every 5k miles or something).

So, what would you do? Run, or give it a chance? what should i look at carefully, and typically how much below market price for an off-rental?

 

Don't buy a rental. How would you drive a 255hp rental car?

 

QFMFTM.

 

So you guys baby your cars?

 

No, but I drive it better than a rental!

 

How "cheap" is it?

 

What would the average person do to a rental on a day-to-day basis that any other first or second owner wouldn't to his/her car?

 

On 2 wheels!

 

I'd never take my 06 Yukon 2WD off-roading in trails that were 3ft too narrow for a full size. Thats were Enterprise comes in.

 

True, most people who rent cars usually don't do anything bad to them, but why chance it? Everytime I have a rental I don't beat them but then again I am not as careful with it as I am with my personal car. Also, I always put the cheap gas in. I'm sure he can find another Maxima.

 

If the truck was a lease would you not do that?

 

Why chance what? How is this more of a chance than buying a leased vehicle?

 

so it's anyone's guess what really happened to the car during the 11 month's of rental. it could've been beaten to death doing 50 1/4 mile runs at a dragstrip, or it could've had easy 25k highway miles by professionals on biz trips.

but i'm curious whether as soon as the carfax states that it was a rental previously, does that automatically take a certain % off the market value, similar to a salvage titled cars?

seller is asking $12k. i think a clean title 02 SE would fetch about $9k at a dealer (correct me if i'm wrong). i'm not sure if dealers run a carfax when taking trade-in's, but if they found out how much would they offer...?

 

My car is an ex-Enterprise Rental and I have had limited problems with it. Not everyone acts like an idiot in a rental car.

 

Personally, I would avoid a previous rental only because I remember what I used to do to rental cars in my younger and stupider days. Either way, rental or non-rental you are always taking a risk with a used car as far as driver history, previous maintenance etc.

 

FYI: I rented a silver 2k2 in Ohio in 2002.... don't buy it...

 

Rental or not, I'd take the car to a mechanic I'd trust and have it checked. If okay and I still want it, then use the "former rental car" excuse to negotiate.

 

Still, no one has provided any factual evidence against buying a rental over a lease. NONE ... yet.

 

 

Considering that it's been in the hands of a woman for the past 40k miles with few issues, I'm sure the car's fine. It's not like you're buying it off a rental lot -- the car's been decently taken care of and driven by a lady.

 

I have a bit of fun in my rentals/loaners (ie.. I get the 05 G sedans as loaners) but in reality, I drive pretty sane. I really don't want the traffic ticket risk

 

My car is rental 2003 thou..... have no problems.... 67,700 miles....

 

I'd drive it like I stole it!

Personally I would not buy one because being a rental you dont know how many different people have actually driven that car through those 11 months. I mean you figure 11 months which is est. 44 weeks, at a new driver every week. Thats alot of people. Considering that if you bought one through a one-car owner, the number of people is pretty limited down to a spouse or family member.

 

So, you think the car is mentally hurt that several users have abused it as opposed to just one? Please.

 

Im just saying at least if you know who is driving it you have alot better odds of how its being treated. You dont just let anybody go into your fridge, do you?

 

1. That's a false analogy.
2. Your argument that more than one driver as opposed to one sole driver affecting the reliability of said automobile has not been supported by one premise.

Yes, more than one driver may mean the car was treated differently but that says nothing about how badly it was treated.

You know what I'm saying?

 

yea i know what ur saying, oh well i got a beautifully babied '02 gle from a one-person owner for like $11k paid in full cash, guy was like 55 or something

 

I use to rent a lot of cars in my military days. I drove a lot. I drove it like a madman. I drove it like it was stolen. BUMPS what bumps, I even took a corolla off-roading once. Corolla's are very capable off road vehicles.

I would never buy a Rental or a Fleet car.

I just bought my 01 SE - One Owner - Fully Loaded for 11500 with 50k miles.

I saw an 02 with 64k., guy was asking 12500 one owner. Not fully loaded though. I would continue looking. There are alot of cars out there for very good prices.

 

Good for you. Any mods planned?

 

yea imma buy me an intake tomorrow, either berk/apexi or frankencar/apexi, then imma do AE pedals and AE door sills

 

What's the difference between a rental car and mine? There's just some things I won't do in my car!

 

I agree with everyone who says to take caution when buying a pre-rental/pre-leased car...Well this is alittle off topic but my friend told me he saw a billboard in NY that said: "Leased cars need oil changes too".

Basicly i'll summ it up with this; My friend has a '03 Honda Pilot which he's giving the lease up in a month...The car hasn't had normal oil changes and he drives in every pothole (he lives in NYC). POINT: When it's not your car, you end up abusing it.

 

atleast rental cars get their oil changes done i believe
company leases sometimes include maintenance
but private lease people abuse them also
know a guy who had a diamante for a lease car, changed the oil every 10k miles lol

 

you said you carfaxed it. I dont think there will be any major problems with a 5.5 gen maxima rental. My reasons are the mileage. Carfax also states maintenance history on some cars. I would say buy it if the price is right. And just to have a peace of mind, have a spare MAF, replace spark plugs (even if the owner says they were changed) do a trans flush, radiator power flush, and enjoy your ride

 

What the H*ll does that have to do with the thread?

 

your right it has absolutely nothing to do with this thread, good looking out there bud

 

If you have any doubts about this car then walk away.... There are plenty of 5.5 gen maxes out there especially if you are going auto, so why ponder about buying a car that you are already questioning it's previous care? I would not recommend buying it if I were you. If being a previous rental car wasn't a big deal then why would carfax go to the trouble of reporting whether a car was one or not? Just a thought...

 

Why don't you look at what prompted him to post that; my post. You want to call me out too?

 

buy it... if the price is right... as long as you have the extended warranty......

 

I can assure you that the ford taurus and toyota camry when being used as a rental car, can survive a 4 acre cornfield, and speed bumps at 70 mph. Trust me. If you buy a rental that used to be in philly, you may still find the cornstalks in the engine compartment.