Is it ok to buy Ex-Taxi from Toyota main dealer

velvetti

If I buy a Corolla Touring Sports 2019 at a main Toyota dealership, does it matter if it’s an ex-taxi? The car is under 10 years old and under 100k miles, so should be under warranty.

Bigphil1474

Taxi's tend to do lots of shortish journeys. If it was a travelling salesman doing 100k miles, you'd normally assume a lot of those miles were motorway miles. If the car is appropriately priced and has been maintained well, it could be a reasonable buy. Not a lot of miles for a taxi though. Personally, If I was looking at 7 year old cars, I wouldn't look at an ex taxi.

velvetti

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82074844#Comment_82074844

Thanks, I’m skeptical too. It seems like it was a taxi for 1st two years and did 33k and 19k miles, and then got sold to another owner who drove it much less. Now being sold at 75k miles, price £13.5k. I’m interested due to the price, especially since it’s coming from a main Toyota dealer. Here’s the MOT history: https://www.check-mot.service.gov.uk/results?registration=FP19+XNE&checkRecalls=true

Should I walk away?

sheenas

It will most likely have a heavily hammered suspension and who know what happened on the back seat.

Ayr_Rage

Time to dig out Toyota's warranty conditions for vehicles that have been used for commercial purposes.

Never assume anything, do your due diligence.

Emmia

Looks like it will need new tyres given the advisories on the last two MOT tests.

But absolutely agree with @Ayr_Rage do your due diligence on this car.

Goudy

Mechanically, it's a pup still at 75K. We have these on fleet with close to 200k on them with little more than normal servicing.

The Li-on batteries last far longer than the older Toyota Hybrid NiMH batteries of previous generations (and those managed around 150k). The engines aren't stressed and the gearboxes are almost bombproof.

The only likely mechanical niggle with one of these will be the waterpump at around 120-150k, but the on board diagnostics will tell you when as they are variable speed electric pumps linked to the cars powertrain computer. It's not that expensive to replace, it just bolts off and on when it does go, though the pump from Toyota can be expensive so it's worth buying OEM (Aisin)

If it's got a service history, it's worth checking through it for things like brakes and any other work, but if it drives straight it might be worth it if the money is right.

One thing to look out for that would put me off. Has it had dogs in the back?

The battery is cooled by air/fan and dog hair can cause the filter and fan to clog up and cause battery heat damage.

Okell

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82074965#Comment_82074965

"Mechanically, it's a pup still at 75K. We have these on fleet with close to 200k on them with little more than normal servicing…"

Sorry but are you sure of your idiom?

I've only ever heard "pup" being used metaphorically in a derogatory way as in the phrase " he was sold a pup" meaning he was sold a dud or something that was worthless.

If you actually mean 75k miles is no mileage at all and not a problem for this engine and model then it might be clearer to say exactly that?

Emmia

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82075130#Comment_82075130

I think @Goudy meant it's "a baby" in terms of the expected future life of the car the OP is considering... i.e. many more miles in it.

I'm aware of both possible interpretations of "pup", but I'd probably use "pup" in the same way as @Goudy and "lemon" to denote a vehicle that is a dud.

I wonder if this is a term with different meanings depending on which part of the UK you're from? I'm in the South East.

paul_c123

pup = small tent

Grey_Critic

The car is under 10 years old and under 100k miles,

And you believe that - I had someone who worked for me who had a taxi. He told me that when he sold it that it had under 50k on the clock - BUT that it had been round the clock 3 times.