What should one check on an used car before driving it off the lot?

1. Fluid levels and condition
2. Condition of engine air filter
3. Condition of cabin air filter
4. Condition of wiper blades
5. Amount of tread and brake pad left
6. Maintenance records

Car is a 06 Corolla w/27,000 miles.

Would it be reasonable to ask the dealership (Hertz) to replace items #2, #3 and #4 if they haven't already been replaced? #3 is supposed to be done at 20k per the manual, #2 at 30k.

What other items should be checked?

TIA.

 

7. does it start

 

Good one.

 

8. Tire pressures
9. Registration
10. Spare tire/jack in trunk
11. Owner's manual(s)

I assume the buyer has test-driven the car already.

 

Might want a independent shop that's familiar with toyotas to do a pre-purchase inspection (PPI). They would know what issues to look out for on a particular model.

 

You say your buying from Hertz...does that mean it once was a rental?

 

It was a rental.

 

Then make sure to take it to an indy shop, and see if it burns oil, leaks, check the suspension on it...

 

rental.. hmm check list 1. stay away!!!!

 

 

I had a civic 95 hatch. car fax says it started its life out as a rental car I had weird problems i think someone rented to take random bolts and nuts of the car... before the engine swap the rear engine mount came loose and flew off on the freeway

 

I know you can get a good deal but man, I dunno about buying a rental.

When I rent one I just don't give a fuck about it. As long as it's not smoking and dented when I return it I don't care. I don't rag them out but I don't baby them either.

Plus, people are fucking stupid. If the average rental is say 300 miles per trip that means that most rentals are sold after about 80 people have rented them. I'm pulling 300 miles out of my ass but let's go with it.

80 people is a lot of people. Plenty big enough to find a fucking idiot in the midst. Big enough to find a woman that thinks the lights on the dash are pretty but don't mean anything. Big enough to find a lead-footed moron that drives like he's doing time trials at Laguna Seca.

I just wouldn't trust them.

 

12. Carfax
13. Tire condition (could expose suspention problems)

 

Already did #12.

 

I'd stay away from it if I were you. People do all kinds of crazy shit with rentals.

My cousin bought a Ford Escort "courtesy vehicle" with decently low mileage and that car has had all kinds of strange problems, noises, vibrations, everything you could think of since day 1.

 

 

Open the hood of the car and check to see that all parts have little dots of different colors on them. These are factory Crayons as they call them and insure that the parts were installed in the factory. Next check the bolts all over the motor and surrounding areas, esp. the ones that hold the fender on. They should have paint on them and be smooth, if there are any rough marks or paint missing (usally body color), the fender screws have been removed and the fender been replaced. Also make sure the car idles properly and runs smoothly.

In my personal opinion, stay away from any car that has been a rental car, alot of people drive them and mess them up. One guy in my neighborhood kills his rental cars, he puts 87 octane in them (required 91 or greater), drives em rough like spinning the tires constantly, braking late and hard, redlining the car at every light and every change, dropping the car into neutral while driving (I think he has memory loss, he thinks hes in sport shift and drops the car into neutral in reality while stomping on the gas pedal in almost every rental as he drives in sport shift 99% of the time)

 

That is a great car, but you shouldn't buy a previous rental for obvious reasons. Find another one and take all the other advice the members here are giving you for a checklist.

 

Hows that saying go... "drive it like its a rental!!"

 

Check body panels from an angle, make sure its bright outside. If panels are mismatching colors = trouble. Toyota build quality is pretty good, if a body panel looks really off chances are = accident(s). If carpeting in trunk looks like its been moved or looks out of place, peel it back and look for welds/paint/primered metal/etc. Drive several different examples of the car you're interested in (I looked at 6 different manual LS1 Camaros before I stuck with mine) so you can get a feel of what a well-maintained one should drive like and what a crappy one is like.

Drive it for 10+ mins stop and go, windows down, radio off, listen for funny noises while turning, braking, accelerating, etc. Also bring a car-savvy friend if possible, they may catch things that you missed, and vice versa. My older brother has guided me in the right direction with his persistence and thoroughness. We take 10+ mins just looking at the car, checking out the VIN on Carfax on the spot.... if something doesn't check out right, we look some more and if its no good we test drive it anyway just to see if its crap to compare it to the next vehicle we try.

I know you know better Mike, that you're not getting the rental... your friend is, right? Please tell me you won't be getting a rental.... no matter how thorough the inspection is I would never take the chance. It may look like it just came off the showroom floor, and drive ok, but you never knew if it can be a ticking time bomb or not.

 

Guys, I don't think he's listening to the advice about not buying a former daily rental...

He got the same advice in his other 2 threads about this car:

https://acurazine.com/forums/car-talk-5/auto-loan-help-381933/

https://acurazine.com/forums/car-talk-5/user-car-around-10k-auto-loan-questions-381188/

Maybe's he's waiting for that one person to post "Rental ?? That's a great idea". Hasn't happen yet tho'.

 

Rental...That's a great idea. Its cheap, affordable, and a great price!

 

Anyone I know that has bought a rental has been shafted.

Now can you get a good deal... yeah. A 06 with 27K miles isn't a bad car to start with. A Corolla is very reliable. It's not a car one can really abuse since it has no power, & not many nice features. The main thing I would check is the suspension, tires, how it was maintained.

The car should have warranty left if anything does come up.

 

 

check for all scrape and gouge marks on the belly of the car and under the motor. also check for overspray underneath. i am sure they don't care who fixes em if they are wrecked, as long as its done cheap

 

not to bust on your wiper blade deal. but why? you can get a new set of wiper blades for like 20-25 bucks brand spanking new at like Advanced Auto or Autozone. the Wiper blades would be one of my lase concerns.

 

+1

 

for once, something sensible from teh water-s

 

So if he wont bother listening, then whats the point of him making new threads about this shit over and over again?

Ahh fuck it, I'd say let him get it! If its for a helluva deal, why not? Its not like we're spewing all this stuff for our own sakes...