My friend is looking to buy a new car because her old 92 grand am got totaled in a wreck. She has found a car she really likes its an 01 altima with about 90k on it and she says its in good shape. She got the lady to go down on price to about 6200 and she says she really likes the car a lot. Now she pulls a carfax on it and found out it used to be a rent a car for like Hertz or something. Now that right there made me say "no" but she really likes the car and needs one soon. Im going tomorrow to look at it but what do you guys think about the rent a car thing?

 

Wouldn't bother me on a car that is this far along...but ask her why she is selling it and if she will let him take it for an extended test drive (20-40 miles) and make sure you get to put the car in most driving situations (traffic, highway...)

Listen for things like the power steering % brakes...b/c the milage is there to put those items in question.

My younger bro picked up a galant about a year ago from a car rental place and it has been good since...accept the alternator, but thats b/c of his system alone pulling more amps than the car put out...

 

Thank you for the information and I do plan on taking it for a LONG drive tomorrow and I plan on seeing what the car can do. Glad to know your brother had sucess with it. It just makes me a little bit nervous becuase people normally dont take care of rent a cars like there own cars but we will see tomorrow.

 

An ex rental wouldn't bother me either. I've had a few friends who purchased cars that were originally rentals and they haven't had any issues. Most were purchased from dealers with the remaining factory warranty. In most cases they were not aware their purchases were rentals until later on. Regardless, it would probably be a good idea to take it for a mechanical inspection before purchase.

Terry