Would you buy a previous rental?

[SVT666]

Seems like a great deal to me.

[sportyaccordy]

Buying a rented car = (literally) marrying an ex prostitute.

[2o6]

Buying a rented car = (literally) marrying an ex prostitute.

Ditto. If they're letting the car go at 20K, then there are probably some serious problems with it, and with it being a rental most likely the Transmission and engine. Looks good, but there's some risks. Also, it's americans. Americans are typically not respectful of other people's property.

[Cookie Monster]

I'd be leary of abuse but if a mechanic checked it out, then I dunno...

[Lebowski]

no

[ifcar]

Ditto. If they're letting the car go at 20K, then there are probably some serious problems with it, and with it being a rental most likely the Transmission and engine.

Not at all. They just don't typically keep any car longer than that.


But I wouldn't go for it for two reasons: it's not only an abused rental, but Chrysler's also been demonstrating lots of first-year glitches with the 2008 vans.

And it's in California, making problem resolution very difficult.

[Northlands]

Not at all. They just don't typically keep any car longer than that.


But I wouldn't go for it for two reasons: it's not only an abused rental, but Chrysler's also been demonstrating lots of first-year glitches with the 2008 vans.

And it's in California, making problem resolution very difficult.

Gotta agree there. Someone I know works for a rental agency closeby. They replace most models each year.

I'd say get the car checked by a mechanic. Cali seems pretty far to be looking though. Every once in a while there are some steals locally on 1 yr old cars, most of which are lease returns ( yes, one year.. )  or rental fleet returns.

[S204STi]

Nope.

[93JC]

I was going to say "FUCK NO", but now that I think about it I'd be leery. Get it checked, obviously, and you may find a gem.

Probably not, though.

[The Pirate]

My dad did so twice.  Both times he had 2 or 3 kids in college, so a brand new car wasn't in the works.  Both were Oldsmobile Silhouettes ('01 and '03).  First one had around 25K miles when they got it, and it was perfectly reliable for  it's stay with them.  They traded it on the second two years later, with 85K miles.  For a while, my parents were racking up tons of miles, with all the kids in school several hours away in different directions.  Second one didn't do so well.  Mechanically, it was fine, but had all sorts of problems with the HVAC system, and some issues with the rear suspension (self leveling air setup).  He dumped that one and got into an '04 loaded up Chevy Venture (not a rental).  That one was okay, but they got rid of it with 70K miles (again, concerns with the electronics and suspension). 

They have an '07 or '08 Toyota Sienna now, and love it - much nicer than the GM vans in virtually every category.  There was a Toyota Highlander in there somewhere too, but that wasn't around for that long.  My mom really likes minivans.

For the price, buying a rental could be a viable option, though I'd strongly consider buying an extended warranty.  Cost should be fairly reasonable if the vehicle is low-mileage. 

My brother's Buick Regal was a previous rental, as well.  He bought it with ~65K miles (had an owner between him and the rental company).  His car has around 112K miles on it now, and has been just fine.

You're taking a bit of a gamble for sure, but cars are pretty resilient these days.  Definitely get it checked out, and consider the warranty, but it's certainly worth considering for the right price.

[cozmik]

It's worth considering. Rentals are sometimes abused, a minivan rental probably hasn't been driven as hard though, simply by the demographic that's going to rent one. Rental agencies maintain them pretty strictly as well, and they still have whatever warranty is left on them from the factory. Have a mechanic check to make sure there's not and major issues, check and see how the warranty works too though, Chryslers lifetime warranty to consumers wasn't transferable, so it had to have been something different for the fleet, but it should still have what's left of it should anything go wrong.

[J86]

Absolutely not.  I drive a rental minivan every single weekend in the fall and spring.  They get the absolute living shit kicked out of them.  After my experiences over the past four years, minivans are probably the last rentals I would consider!

[3.0L V6]

16K? Have to go California to get it?

You can get a better deal on the used market. If you negotiate, you could probably get $18k on a unused 2008 model at a dealer.

[The Pirate]

16K? Have to go California to get it?

You can get a better deal on the used market. If you negotiate, you could probably get $18k on a unused 2008 model at a dealer.

Hmm, excellent point.  I'm not in the market, so I don't track prices, but now is probably a hell of a time to buy a new car (and a Chrysler at that).

[3.0L V6]

Only buy a rental if it's a Pontiac Sunfire.

[Eye of the Tiger]

New Mazda 5 = $19k

[ifcar]

New Mazda 5 = $19k

New Mazda5 = almost exactly half the cargo space of a Grand Caravan.

[Eye of the Tiger]

New Mazda5 = almost exactly half the cargo space of a Grand Caravan.

If space is all he needs, he should get a box truck.
ifcar = boring

[ifcar]

If space is all he needs, he should get a box truck.

Seating is nice, too.

ifcar = boring

I don't recall ever denying that.

[SVT666]

16K? Have to go California to get it?

You can get a better deal on the used market. If you negotiate, you could probably get $18k on a unused 2008 model at a dealer.

You're not comparing apples to apples.  I can find a used 2008 SE for $16K in BC without a problem, but I can find a used 2008 SXT in Seattle for $16K.  The cheapest used 2008 Grand Caravan SXT I can find in my province is listed for $25,995 on autotrader.ca.

When it's time to buy, it might be a different story though.

[SVT666]

New Mazda 5 = $19k

No thanks.  We tried one out.  Too small for our family.

[Eye of the Tiger]

No thanks.  We tried one out.  Too small for our family.

I thought you only had two kids.  Ok... I'll sell you my 7-seat Turbowagon for $1200. I'd rather see you driving that than some Caravan heap. You just have to come get it. 

[NomisR]

Seating is nice, too.

I don't recall ever denying that.

What's your dream car?

[Raza]

Not if it were a car I had to depend on.  I know what I do to rentals.

Prepare yourself for beat to shit interior panels, bad transmissions, and the faint smell of stale cigarette smoke that just won't go away.

[NomisR]

Not if it were a car I had to depend on.  I know what I do to rentals.

Prepare yourself for beat to shit interior panels, bad transmissions, and the faint smell of stale cigarette smoke that just won't go away.

If it had a warranty, then not a big deal but if Chryslers has a non transferable warranty.. i definitely wouldn't.

[SVT666]

16K? Have to go California to get it?

You can get a better deal on the used market. If you negotiate, you could probably get $18k on a unused 2008 model at a dealer.

The problem is every last 2008 Grand Caravan available in BC for under $25K is an SE.  That van comes with the 3.3L.  The only way to get the 4.0L is to get the SXT.

[ifcar]

What's your dream car?

That will entirely depend on what everyone's building when I'm ready to buy a car.

[SVT666]

What's your dream car?

He doesn't have one.

[Soup DeVille]

That will entirely depend on what everyone's building when I'm ready to buy a car.

That would be a reality car. He didn't ask that.

[Onslaught]

No. I know how people drive something they don't own.