Buying a Used Car - Should I Consider a Rental?

Discussion in 'Gearhead Garage' started by ivanolo, Apr 9, 2008.

  1. ivanolo Junior Member

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    My GF has been looking at '06 and '07 PT Cruisers and she has found some really nice ones with low mileage, but their Carfax reports show they were rentals. What kind of stuff do people do to rental cars? Do rental companies service them properly? Would it be a good idea to buy one if it's still under the manufacturer's basic warranty?
    I need some help because I know shit about cars! Thanks in advance.
  2. Commissar Smersh Big Brother

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    Rental car companies are meticulous about servicing the vehicle but those who rent them drive the hell out of them because, well, it's a rental.

    I wouldn't personally buy it, but that's more because it's a Chrysler, not because it's a rental.
  3. 86mcss Devouring your Soul

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    rentals are the best thing to get...duh
  4. tweakmonkey Webmaster

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    I'll duplicate exactly what Juball said (they are probably well maintained) and add this bit: every time a friend of mine had a rental, they beat on those cars more than any other vehicle on earth. I'm talking gear drops, rev-limiter bouncing, and just utter disrespect for the vehicle. I doubt everyone drives a rental that hard, but buying a rental is like marrying a hooker.
  5. Mr. Ali Junior Member

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    Yeah, basically this. I always take the opportunity to do things to a rental that I would never dream of doing to my own car 10x every day I have the rental. It is super fun playing around with the ABS.
  6. Jishory Junior Member

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    one time i jumped a rental pt cruiser on some whoops, getting like 4 feet of air, cracked the radiator, keep your eye out for that one
  7. Jackalope NNNNEEERRRRDDDSSSSS!!!!!!

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    we've done that.

    we also have a 100hp dry shot we usually hook up for shits n giggles. Nothing beats blowing the doors off of someone in a malibu rental car :)
  8. MSP Haunting a dead forum...

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    Speaking as a guy who has rented lot of cars, DON'T BUY A RENTAL! And speaking as a guy who has driven modern Chryslers, DON'T BUY A CHRYSLER! :)
  9. ivanolo Junior Member

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    Say no more!

    But seriously, we had been researching the whole rental thing, and we reached the same conclusion. This just confirms it.

    As for the Chrysler thing... well, she has to have a PT Cruiser. It's her money!
  10. Jishory Junior Member

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    that is the funniest shit ive heard all day :D
  11. integra00 Junior Member

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    You ever work for a rental car company ?


    I worked for the largest rental car company and we "tried" to get all maintance done at the appropriate times but we didn't always get to. (ie if we got into a pinch we'd skip the oil change for a while). and yes everyone beats on rentals especially the employee's


    Like anything else in life its a gamble
  12. Commissar Smersh Big Brother

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    No, but I've known people who have and their vehicles went in regularly. Though considering they rotate them out before major mechanical maintenance usually it was mostly just oil changes.
  13. Miller Tweak Guru

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    we rented a pt cruiser last nov in Florida, first of all that car sucked ass, there was blood stains all over it. we took it upon ourselves to pull the ebrake as much as possible. rock the shit outta it, put it in park going 40, anything you could imagine, dont buy that one. but yea pt cruisers suck ass. sounds like you should be thinking about finding a new gf :)
  14. nidex Hood Rich

    Damn this shit had me rollin on the ground laughing.
    First off, a PT Loser is one of the worst cars you could possibly think about owning.
    Secondly, things I've done to my rental cars:

    Put cigarettes out on the seats
    Smoked countless amounts of weed and dumped the ash everywhere
    Pissed on the tire
    Jumped the rental Jetta about 3 feet in the air, came slamming down
    Pull the e-brake on the expressway until you have horrible flat spots
    Burnouts
    Jumping over curbs
    Got the extra $14 insurance so I could take it through Nidex's Offroad Challenge
    Threw beer bottles at the side of it
    Friend did jumping jacks on the hood
    Threw it in reverse while going 50mph down the road

    And that's only a couple things.. and I know more than a few people who treat rental cars the same way. I'd really think twice.