Buying an ex hire car

smoothound

Looking for some helpful advice from the motoring experts on this forum.


We bought a 64 plate ex hire car through a car supermarket, its a Toyota RAV4 and had about 37,000 miles when purchased and now has around 42,000. Pleased with the car, no faults and history shows it has had regular oil changes and service. It also had it's clutch replaced in the last 8 months. Interior is very clean as is the exterior although evidence of a slight scrape on the side of the front bumper. Engine good - everything works.


Have since had the car serviced by Toyota and no faults came to light - this was however how we learnt about the clutch replacement as this was done by Toyota so showed on their records of the vehicle history.


My questions are;
Do you experts consider this a sensible and cost effective way to buy a car like this compared to going to a main dealer? Also do you think the Toyota warrant would be valid with an ex hire car. I asked this question when serviced by Mr Toyota and they said yes but would it really be if I had a need to actually invoke the warranty? I am mindful of this as I have previously used a local independent garage who are good but don't know if I should use the main dealer during the term of the warranty. That said the main Toyota dealer has always been good albeit expensive.


As I say pleased with my car but wife soon to change hers so considering all options when looking for a replacement.


The place where we got the car seemed to have a lot of ex hire or lease cars with comparable mileage.


Thanks for any advice.

weeowens

Hi, rather than repeat here are a few links with lots of advice. Seems pretty positive re buying an ex hire car.

http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/askhj/answer/52593/ex-hire-cars---what-s-the-problem-

http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/askhj/answer/50879/our-used-corsa-has-turned-out-to-be-an-ex-rental---could-this-be-a-problem-

http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/askhj/answer/63258/bought-new-car-that-is-ex-rental

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/cars/advice/why-you-should-buy-a-hire-car/

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/caradvice/honestjohn/7808878/Is-an-ex-rental-a-good-used-car-buy-Honest-John.html

HTH

weeowens

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/caradvice/honestjohn/8769056/Should-I-buy-an-ex-rental-car.html

motorguy

smoothound wrote: »

Looking for some helpful advice from the motoring experts on this forum.


We bought a 64 plate ex hire car through a car supermarket, its a Toyota RAV4 and had about 37,000 miles when purchased and now has around 42,000. Pleased with the car, no faults and history shows it has had regular oil changes and service. It also had it's clutch replaced in the last 8 months. Interior is very clean as is the exterior although evidence of a slight scrape on the side of the front bumper. Engine good - everything works.


Have since had the car serviced by Toyota and no faults came to light - this was however how we learnt about the clutch replacement as this was done by Toyota so showed on their records of the vehicle history.


My questions are;
Do you experts consider this a sensible and cost effective way to buy a car like this compared to going to a main dealer? Also do you think the Toyota warrant would be valid with an ex hire car. I asked this question when serviced by Mr Toyota and they said yes but would it really be if I had a need to actually invoke the warranty? I am mindful of this as I have previously used a local independent garage who are good but don't know if I should use the main dealer during the term of the warranty. That said the main Toyota dealer has always been good albeit expensive.


As I say pleased with my car but wife soon to change hers so considering all options when looking for a replacement.


The place where we got the car seemed to have a lot of ex hire or lease cars with comparable mileage.


Thanks for any advice.

I bought a 9 month old ex hire car golf tdi from a main dealer. Loved the car. Saw it come off the transporter and it was totally mint.

I'd have no issues doing it again.

HOWEVER, one thing i would say is - dont "assume" a car supermarket is going to be the cheapest.

I bought my golf from a main VW dealer and it was by the cleanest i'd seen - no scuffs or marks at all - and i paid no more than i would have from a car supermarket.

Also, car supermarkets "tend" to get second bite at the cherry behind main dealers for a lot of stock, so the cleaner cars may well be at the main dealers.

Its just something to bear in mind. We got our 370Z from a car supermarket and it was immaculate and about £4,000 cheaper than a main dealer - so it really is about being open minded about sources and finding the best deal no matter where it happens to be and not assuming

weeowens

smoothound wrote: »

Also do you think the Toyota warrant would be valid with an ex hire car. I asked this question when serviced by Mr Toyota and they said yes but would it really be if I had a need to actually invoke the warranty?

If it has been serviced to spec the warranty will be as valid as any other car. Number of owners or type of owner should not come in to it.

AdrianC

smoothound wrote: »

The place where we got the car seemed to have a lot of ex hire or lease cars with comparable mileage.

Virtually every new car "sold" is actually on some form of lease. Many of them could even be classed as "hire", so just because something is down as "ex-hire" doesn't necessarily mean that it's been on Avis's Heathrow by-the-day fleet.

neilmcl

smoothound wrote: »

As I say pleased with my car but wife soon to change hers so considering all options when looking for a replacement.


The place where we got the car seemed to have a lot of ex hire or lease cars with comparable mileage.

Why not also consider auctions. Look for the days when the lease-hire companies offload their stock.

loskie

if you are happy with the car enjoy it. Sounds like now you know it has had a new clutch you are looking for problems.
Just think of it that it will now not need a clutch in your ownership.
Seems high miles for an ex hire car sounds more like an ex fleet/lease car.
Hire cars usually sold at 1yr or 12000m ish

arcon5

Some hire cars are good some are bad.
Some privately purchased cars are good some are bad.
Some dealership cars are good some are bad.

You look at each car in its own right and make your decision accordingly.

I wouldn't consider 'ex-hire' to be any more material than 'ex-old geezer'.
If anything 'ex-boyracer' is more significant than ex-hire, yet never heard anybody moan they bought a car without knowing the previous owner was 17 year old lad with a lead foot and an air head with loads of spanners and know skills.