I currently have a 2017 Sonata Sport. Plan to give that to my wife and pick up a 2017 Maxima S for about $22,000 with around 20k miles on it.

From what I understand, rental cars are in some cases better than purchasing used from dealer or private seller. People rent the cars for a few days, family trips, and the Maxima being a "premium" more costly category, I don't think it sees as much ridding hard or reckless driving than say someone who rents cheap and doesn't care correct?

From what I've seen from the dealer, this car typically goes for around $26-28k with only 20-21k miles on it. I plan on getting it from Hertz and they offer 3 day trial, so I'll be taking it to my own mechanic to thoroughly inspect and check. I've see the carfax on it already, and it's clean.

Has anyone driven both the Sonata Sport and Maxima and care to speak them? I know I'll miss Android Auto (I'm a FanDroid), miss plugging in my phone to my Sonata and using my Google Maps on the big 7" touch screen of the Sonata. I hear Maxima Maps suck more than the Apple Maps lol. I'm going to have a family sooner than later, and instead of purchasing a true 2 door sports coupe, this is the closest thing I can get to a sports car.. 300 HP should be plenty, especially compared to the 185 in my Sonata?

Sorry I'm new here, and I'm rambling on. Would love to hear what you guys who own the car thing about it

 

I too bought a Maxima S 2016 precertified from Nissan. It had 15k miles for 23k and loving it. Yes I too miss Android auto from my according but now just got cheap T-Mobile Android tablet, will side load Android auto w a 2gb plan and voila, Android auto. Agree Maxima maps are too busy and not updated for free like Google maps. I got. $12 CD mount for the tablet. It won't block actually vents.

Ian B

 

Rental? Not a chance. You've no guarantee that any maintenance was done. The typical rental I've seen here has been run into the ground and needed major work, like brakes, tyres, transmission, engine etc.. I would say a Maxima has a greater chance of being thrashed because it's fast. But I'm a cynic.

 

I'm sorry, but I would NEVER buy a rental. A million different people have driven that car. With a million different driving styles, and I'm quite sure the majority of them didn't care one bit about major potholes, bumps, scratches, stains, etc...

I'm sure you can find a certified used Maxima S that had 1 owner and regular maintenance for that price too. I got my brand new 2017 Maxima S for just over $26k. $20-$22k used is definitely attainable.

That's just my personal opinion. Good luck with the search, and whatever vehicle you ultimately end up getting though!

 

I would never buy a rental. While I understand rentals are very tempting because of the price, but I know how I drive rentals and the car is never the same when I turn it back in after just a few days. ;-)

 

Lol same here. I'd never drive my own car the way I'd drive a rental

 

No way in hell would I even consider purchasing a rental. People abuse and beat the holly hell out of them. Maxima being a pretty quick car for what it is. Yeah steer clear.

 

Had a rental SV for a week last year before getting a max a couple of months ago. I wasn't a jerk in the car, but we did jackrabbit test it out pretty hard. Me, and everyone else who drove it...

 

Dont buy a rental. sure it may be a couple grand cheaper but I'm sure u can find one for around 25K. Nobody drives a rental car like their own, even i dont. Its a car that they use without care cuz they know its not their own car and on the long run they wont have to worry if anything goes wrong. If you really want it, i suggest taking it to the dealer and checking its maintenance records and let them perform a pre-purchase inspection. In this case you are spending a bit of money, but if theres anything majorly wrong with it you'll save yourself thousands.

 

Bought a rental S from carvana with a bumper to bumper to 90k miles. Great service and deal. If someone trashed it, I'm covered. But so far, seems great. Got new upholstery off eBay for seats to bring them back to new. Apart from the CVT jerkies I need to get checked, it's a hell of a car. Buy some plastic polish to shine up the center console and trim. Rental cars have spill stains constantly. Mine did. Only took a month of sprays of Grigots leather scent to get the rental car smell out. Also, change out the cabin filter, get an oil change, reset the ecu, buy new tires if it has crappy ones, and hopefully all is well. I get 33mpg+ on the highway on regular gas with this beast. I'm happy.

 

Last 4 cars I bought were rentals from hertz , 2010 altima, 2013 altima, 2014 maxima, 2016 maxima. All had zero issues, however I do not keep the cars for more than a year or so. I end up selling them after the warranty runs out and make a few grand back. So long term not sure, but if youre only keeping it for a few years, i don't see the issue. Then again, I live in hawaii, the rentals here don't have many miles... I tend to buy them right when they hit 10k miles. I probably am not going to go that route when I sell this one soon though

edit i paid around 23k at the time and it had 9 or 10k miles

 

Great input from everyone, much appreciated! I have my heart set on the Maxima, that is for certain. I was on the fence as to whether buy rental or continue seeking a single owner near me that's a good deal. Closest thing I have found is almost a 5 hour drive. Hertz however has 2 dealers in Nashville with plenty of Maxima's. They offer a 3 day free test drive. I can take it and have it inspected by a family mechanic and have them go over it and do a 1 million point check lol. Worst case scenario is I pay $150 for not buying it and get 3 days to have fun in it. Punkfs, that really eases my mind hearing your story! I'll be pulling the trigger in the next few weeks and will let you guys know what ends up happening! With pics of course

 

You should be able to find Nissan dealer precertified w 1k miles for around 23k. Go to cars.com and search for model within 50 miles of you and sort by lowest price. Should be able to find some in your area.

Ian B

 

I run the **** out of every rental I get, and I mean it is run hard. No way I would ever buy one.

 

I just returned a week long 2017 Maxima S rental (dealership gave it to me as a loaner so I didn't pay), because the dealership dropped my 2017 Maxima S into a pit while backing it off the alignment machine... Long story...

Let's just say, I drove that rental Maxima in ways I would never drive my own... My driving styles couldn't have been more night and day between my Maxima and the rental. Seriously. Food for thought!

Just because the brakes may have been changed, or there may not be big dents, or the tires look good, etc., doesn't mean the suspension and engine and everything else hasn't seen 10x more abuse than a one owner certified pre owned. An inspection can only tell but so much.

 

No way would I buy a rental car. Just to many drivers, too much curb rash, jack rabbit starts, door dings, and interior trashing. Let alone hard brake usage. Hardly worth a small spread in selling price. Even if the car is waranted you still have to chase the problems that can manifest themselves. While the S model is a fine car, I believe the addtional equipment on the higher rung models should be considered, as retrofit is really not financially feasible. Stand back and check out the 1 owner deals now. There are many and will be more as Nissan has some cars coming back off 2 year lease terms now and in the fall winter seasons.

 

Hi all,

Just to throw a curve in this - I've been looking at used 2017 Maximas. I'd say >70% of the ones I see are former rental vehicles. The interesting part is that I've seen numerous Nissan Certified Maximas that were previously rental cars (verified looking at the Carfax). Everything I'm looking at is <40K mileage wise. I'm really surprised that Nissan is doing this. Thoughts?

-zup

 

This for sure^^^

 

Also keep in mind that Nissan states that it is recommended to use Premium fuel and Alot of people cheap out and add Regular fuel thus causing fuel line, injectors etc, etc problems.

 

This can occur with any used Maxima, be it a rental, personal lease, or one that was originally financed.

zup

 

It may not be ideal, but using regular shouldn't do this sort of thing to the Maxima. Premium is only recommended, not required.

 

I would never EVER buy a rental. Especially this car as you know people abuse the crap out of them. I cant imagine how many people left it in sport mode and drove like a mad man!

 

This is exactly correct.....If it is "Required" that is a different story. If any of you recall, when the 2002 Altima SE came out with the 3.5, in the manual premium was "required". That same year the Accord put out the 240HP v6 accord that ran on regular.....the next year for the altima, the computers were adjusted .....supposedly the manual was edited to say that premium is recommend. I never ran anything but premium in my 02. My 2012 has never tasted premium. I can tell you, that my 02 seemed much quicker, much more responsive...even with 30 less HP....I am going to attribute that to the CVT. I much more enjoyed the 4A. Oh...and All of the MPG crap.....No difference at all....actually, my 4A did better on the highway than my CVT....around town..little better in the cvt....very little

 

I would never buy one that has been thrashed as a rental car. Conversely, some of you have made out OK going that route. Maybe it worked for you and I'm happy it did.
What I would worry about is the front end damage by heavy curbing. The last rental Max I had drifted to the right. Sure enough a quick look showed heavy wheel curb rash on the right side, front and rear. This car had also been thumped with numerous door dings on both sides, some that actually broke the paint due to their severity. Rear bumper cover scratches due to careless suitcase deposit and removal. All the unknowns of where the car had been - any deep water? Always spills on the center console and upholstery.
Not worth the savings for me!

 

I wouldn't buy a personal use car that was abused like that let alone a rental car. What I'm curious about is the former rental cars that Nissan now sells as Certified Pre-Owned. CPO's are suppose to be for well maintained vehicles... no accidents... the best of the best. And they come with an additional warranty to justify the increased price.

 

I would hope the rental I had , went thru some sort of reconditioning before the sale but I hear the certification has lots of outs on what it wear and tear and what is a defect. By the way, not sure what Avis or Hertz covers but - No thanks

 

My previous 7th gen. was a CPO Maxima that was a rental and it had no issues. As well I always get rid of vehicles when the power train warranty is almost up.

 

Can you give us your source indicating "fuel line, injector problems using regular grade gas in the Max." I like learn the truth here.

Thanks,

 

Just passed 36000 miles on a "regular" gas diet with NO problems. I do periodically add Techron gas tank injector cleaner (from Costco, 21 bucks for 6 bottles)