Ex FMRC cars on dealer forecourts

Lulu58

I'm looking for a new-ish Ford Focus and have been talking to dealers - this is definitely a steep learning curve!

I am being told that ex FMRC (on the V5) means ex Ford Motors Retirees something or another, ie that retirees get lease cars for 6-9 months (or up to a year, dependent on who you talk to!), and then return the vehicle. One suggested that if the mileage is closer to 10k it could be a Ford Motors rental car, another suggested 15k mileage would indicate a rental.

I've had similar conversations about ex ERAC vehicles - a few dealers told me that this means the car is an ex Enterprise corporate rental, ie driven by one person for a fixed duration. Others admitted that it means ex Enterprise Rent A Car and that the vehicle would have had multiple drivers. This is supported by information found on the internet.

I appreciate that current staff and retirees of Ford, Vauxhall etc can buy heavily discounted vehicles, but I've never heard of retirees being given lease type vehicles.

I can't find anything about FMRC online at the moment, but feel it most likely means Ford Motors Rental Company. Can anyone shed any light on this for me?

daveyjp

Most definately an ex daily rental car. Its how Ford keep up stocks in the system.

Generally not a problem, just do the usual buyers checks.

I’ve had ex hire Fiestas and a Focus, both give excellent service. Focus had a couple of warranty issues, both sorted by main dealer.

Lulu58

Many thanks, daveyjp.

vikingaero

Ask to see the log book and google the name.

Management cars, staff cars and any other !!!!!!!! name = hire cars. Nothing wrong with them but go in with your eyes wide open.

Remember if the salesman opens his mouth, he is lying. Maybe get him to write on the order that he confirms it is not a daily rental car.

motorguy

Lulu58 wrote: »

I'm looking for a new-ish Ford Focus and have been talking to dealers - this is definitely a steep learning curve!

I am being told that ex FMRC (on the V5) means ex Ford Motors Retirees something or another, ie that retirees get lease cars for 6-9 months (or up to a year, dependent on who you talk to!), and then return the vehicle. One suggested that if the mileage is closer to 10k it could be a Ford Motors rental car, another suggested 15k mileage would indicate a rental.

I've had similar conversations about ex ERAC vehicles - a few dealers told me that this means the car is an ex Enterprise corporate rental, ie driven by one person for a fixed duration. Others admitted that it means ex Enterprise Rent A Car and that the vehicle would have had multiple drivers. This is supported by information found on the internet.

I appreciate that current staff and retirees of Ford, Vauxhall etc can buy heavily discounted vehicles, but I've never heard of retirees being given lease type vehicles.

I can't find anything about FMRC online at the moment, but feel it most likely means Ford Motors Rental Company. Can anyone shed any light on this for me?

Work on the assumption its an ex hire car and go from there.

As has been said, nothing wrong with that and lets be honest - they are priced well to compensate. Ford main dealers usually get the grade 1 cars. The grade 2 cars mostly end up in car supermarkets and grade 3 cars end up at auction and are usually bought up by dealers and refurbed.

Thats only a rough rule of thumb so "do your homework" on each individual car and go over it with a fine tooth comb.

I've bought two ex hire cars now - both VWs. The first was a 9 month old Golf that was totally mint. I got it from a main VW dealer, serviced, a full tank of diesel, mats and flaps and all for less than i'd have been paying for a grade 2 car from a Car supermarket - so dont "assume" car supermarkets are cheaper.

Second one, similar story, year old Passat TDI. Mint (bar one very small smart repair to lower edge of the front bumper), mats flaps, serviced, full tank of diesel and again got it for less than from a Car Supermarket.

Its a roll of the dice - theres no way of knowing how it was driving before hand but thats not to say by default they were driven badly, OR that a genuine dealer loan car / demo car would be driven any better.

Big savings to be made though! :beer:

motorguy

vikingaero wrote: »

Remember if the salesman opens his mouth, he is lying. Maybe get him to write on the order that he confirms it is not a daily rental car.

They'll use weasel speak to avoid committing directly. They'll say things like "confirmed as ex Ford Financial Services car bought directly from Ford Finance" when no doubt its been a hire car at the other end.

Work with the assumption its a hire car, end of. The exceptions are if the dealer has ran a "demo" car (most often used as loan cars) but whos to say they are driven any better than a hire car?

AdrianC

Where do you think all these cars come from? Who else but hire companies gets through substantial amounts of cars, changing every 6mo/10k mile or so?

Ford pensioners... <rolls eyes>

Lulu58

I don't mind where the cars come from AdrianC, what I can't stand is the salesman lying through his back teeth even when you specifically say, "So, what you are basically saying is that it's an ex rental through Ford?" and they say no, FMRC is categorically not a hire car - they are cars given to retirees etc etc.

Lulu58

I like your thinking, vikingaaro :rotfl:

Lulu58

Out of interest, anyone know where all the private cars for sale are these days?!

Years ago, you could buy Auto Trader, local newspapers etc and they were choc full of ads from ordinary people selling cars. There are no car ads in my local papers and when I was searching through AT, only 3 out of 100+ cars within a reasonable driving distance of where I live were private.

motorguy

Lulu58 wrote: »

Out of interest, anyone know where all the private cars for sale are these days?!

Years ago, you could buy Auto Trader, local newspapers etc and they were choc full of ads from ordinary people selling cars. There are no car ads in my local papers and when I was searching through AT, only 3 out of 100+ cars within a reasonable driving distance of where I live were private.

Very few people will try to sell (or try to buy) a car privately in the age bracket you are looking at. People looking something @ 6 months to a year old will want the options of trade in, dealer finance, etc.