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Purchasing Rental & Program Vehicles
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Comments
I have had seven rentals from Enterprise ranging from $14 - 25 this year and had one dirty vehicle.
It is hardly a nuisance.
Therefore Enterprise is the best rental car company in the world. You may take my words as gospel.
I would probably avoid Alamo and National as they are in bankruptcy and also, I have had problem in their vehicles before.
Enterprise is a different bird as many of their cars are vehicles coming off of 2-4 year corporate leases in addition to their rental fleets.
I have given up renting from them...at the two locations I rented from, the customer service was awful - they had long lines and were slow and disorganized. The cars were always dirty in a dozen different rental occasions, in fact one time I was given the keys to a car that had a flat in their own parking lot, on another occasion I drove the car a couple of blocks and the oil light came on - there was no reading on the dipstick, and when I phoned them, it took more than an hour for someone to come TWO BLOCKS.
The experiences with the cars in particular makes me think that buying used from Enterprise is going to be very strictly hit or miss.
Of course, buying private party is going to be strictly hit or miss too (seller lying or honest, maintenance done or not, abusive driving or little old lady). But private party is a lot cheaper.
And everyone knows that some significant portion of the population has an attitude when driving a rental, and that attitude is "who cares, it aint my car".
2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)
Enterprise has always been really clean and I've usually gotten a free upgrade from the people at SNA and LAX. I've also NEVER had hidden or added charges or had my reservation given away to someone else.
On buying a rental car ...being an exec who's almost always running late from the airport, I drive most rental cars like a ferret on two cups of coffee and I don't think I'm alone in that respect...
The optional rental company coverage is 2nd, and most credit card insurance is 3rd in line to pay any damages. They won't tell you either. Its like the airport RAC fees ! I tell them wheres the waiver paper? I did not use the airport. So I don't have to pay it. They know and won't tell ya!
I usually pull up to the RAC place in a cab not the RAC shuttle! That $25 airport surcharge is a ripoff.
And YES I have smashed up a few rentals too. I KNOW how it works. When I was a kid in Fla.I used to rent Vettes for the weekend and whip the snot outta them........LOL...youth!.........geo
As to your questions.
1) Generally, you do NOT negotiate with the rental agency. OTOH, my first purchase from Avis (an '83 K-car) was for $6800 vs. $7200 sticker. They had three cars that were identical and I took the one with the greater mileage. I was happy as I took the car from 28k to 192k. I would say that you almost always pay the sticker price, but what does it hurt to ask??
2) Avis and Hertz take care of their cars. Generally, they have a service record that you will find on the inside of the trunk lid. I would ask for service records as they are generally available.
3) Do people abuse their rental cars? I am sure that some do. Most don't. I believe that there are also people (especially those who cannot afford to keep their cars) who abuse their cars, especially when I see the shape that a lot of private sales are in. Personally, I know of few people who crack open their owners' manual and actually perform all of the service.
Rental cars are like ANY used cars - they carry more risks than a new car purchase. AND THAT RISK IS REFLECTED IN THE PRICE (emphasis intended). You need to treat the purchase like ANY other used car purchase. Have the car inspected by your own TRUSTED independent mechanic.
One advantage of rental cars is that they generally come loaded with most of the options. On occasion, they come with additional safety/security equipment (steering column protection).
I would strongly advise that you check the pricing at the rental car agency against what you can get at a dealership.
Hope that helps.
Enterprise car sales only picked the "best" cars for resale on the car lot and the prices were fixed (no haggle). All the service records were available and generally the cars were low enough miles that an oil change or 2 were the only manufacturer requirements. Almost all the cars still have warranty too.
Of course there are some people that abuse rental cars but those same people own a car of their own a lot of the times, and you could end up buying their car off a dealer lot when they trade it in.
Any cars that Enterprise bought that dont make the grade for resale direct either go back to the manufacturer as they are program cars or goto the auctions and you as a consumer end up buying a "rental" anyways, except the dealer probably wont tell you
All in all , a great buy, except I couldn't see myself driving a Camry. Anecdotally, I ve known a few people who bought from Hertz and no one has ever complained. Can't remember who told me this but he said most rentals go to business people and they rarely drive like maniacs.
Steve
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
Although there have been stories of people renting cars, racing them, and then turning back in.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
More recently, there have been reports of a bolt-on nitrus kit for a Neon. You rent one, slap the kit on, take it to the drag strip, take the kit off, and return the car.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
MSRP $23,050
Invoice $20,965
TMV $21,268
After Rebate TMV $19,268
2005 Focus ZX4 SE
MSRP $18,340
Invoice $16,975
TMV $17,385
After Rebate TMV $15,385
Given these Edmund's prices for NEW vehicles, what would be
a reasonable price to pay for these cars as ex-rentals with 10K
on the odometer and six months in use?
In each case a used 2004 can be purchased for $3000 under the
New 2005 TMV, so a used 2005 must be somewhere inbetween.
Appreciate any insight anyone can send my way.
Don
Earlier this year, one of my friends purchased a NEW 2004 Ford Taurus SE at a dealership for $11.8k. Granted, it was an "end of the year deal" but still.
I would not pay over $10.5k for the Taurus.
I can get a 2003 Taurus SE with 50-60k miles off-lease from one of the major leasing companies for $5.5k which would imply a retail of $7-7.5k.
Ford is selling the 2005 Taurus to a lot of the corporate fleets in the $17k range.
Hope that helps.
I've heard the term program car before, but I have no idea what that refers to.
Zeroing in on a good price is relatively painless as long as you narrow your car choices first.
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S
Sometimes the term is also applied where the vehicle has seen other use, i.e., it has been a dealer demonstrator, was driven regularly by a dealer employee, or was used for a special promotional activity (e.g., PGA Tour tournament cars).
thanks for the clarification. I had a feeling that's what was meant.
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S
We have an Enterprise car sales dealer relatively near us and I was planning to go look around at some point. I think that my next car may indeed have to be used, and from the limited research I've done, this doesn't seem like a bad option at all.
I would like to hear from anyone else who has purchased a car directly from Enterprise and what your experience has been. How was your buying experience, how has the car been, have you had any big issues, etc?
Thank you!
Neither did I. :confuse:
To placate the dealers the car companies developed a "program" under which a percentage of the cars being disposed of by the rental companies would be sold to the dealers. Thus the term "program car". That also sounded better than "abused rental junker".
If I'm wrong on the details I'm sure the car guys will correct me.
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
is from the late 60's early 70's.
This is when zone managers would drive from dealership to dealership, when they hit "X" amount of miles they would offer them for sale at a discounted rate to the dealers in their zone, of course the dealer would order them another car and life went on ....
As golf got bigger and more popular, things like the Bob Hope Chrysler Open, the Dinah Shore Open (remember Dinah Shore.?) .. and now some guy named Tiger Woods does all the repping for Buick -(and he even did some very slick design work on the new Enclave) and Mickelson carry's the Ford banner.
The popularity is gotten so big that all the manufacturers have got into the "golf action", Lexus, Mercedes, of course Caddy has been there for 60 years, BMW has another tournament in September, I even saw Hyundai at one of the tournaments, it must have been a small par 3 course .l.o.l..
Anyway.... they'll bring 90/150/200+ vehicles to these tournaments for the players, caddies, tournament officials, wives, etc, etc and at the end come Monday, they'll drop them at the local dealers for a discounted rate .. some might have 12 miles, some might have 1,200 miles - who knows.? .... untitled and all MSO cars, sponsored by the manufacturer and the warranty starts the day the vehicle is sold to a new retail buyer. --- these are program cars.
Rental cars are, just that -- rental cars. They've been bought on a fleet rental program, they've based their cost on the amount of time in service (not mileage) ... and when the fleet time runs out, off to the auction they go, some good, some not so good.
As far as competition, not really ... dealers all go to the same auctions, they stand in the same lanes and they look at and bid at the same vehicles, nothing to get upset about.
Terry.
That always was my assumption. That a program car was one that had limited use in close association with the manufacturer or dealer. But hasn't the term also been used with former rentals?
There is a local dealer who owns multiple lines who does screamer ads all the time. He touts his "program" cars while in the fine print it says "former rentals".
In fact this dealer got in trouble with the NY attorney general for not disclosing that fact.
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
But you're right, the term "program car" get's used loosely ... it's like the term "Brass Hat" cars, these were (are) vehicles that are driven by the manufacturers employee's, they can even be the guy that services the copy machines in the building, whatever ... you see more of this in the Detroit/Midwest area though.
The best thing a buyer can do is run a Carsmack on "any and all" vehicles before they buy them - new or used.! ..It's the best $29 insurance policy they can buy and this will tell them who the prior owner was.
Terry. :shades:
If it is a one owner that we sold new and serviced that is one thing but if it is a one owner from some one we don't know jack about then who is to say he was a good owner? Your chances are just as good or better that a car coming out of rental had all of its scheduled service performed. They are diligent about that because a broke down rental does not make them a quarter.
Inevitably at the end of the year I have some cheapo guy who won't buy one of the last couple of left over cars I have because, "thats just not a good enough deal for me buddy."
Sometimes he, and it is always a man not a woman, won't even step up for an ex-service loaner with 4,500 miles or so and 10,000-12,000 dollars or more off of MSRP with no profit for me. At that point it is a true loser on the new car side but service gets some business.
Ahh but then I get a brass hat car with 1,200 miles on it that I can sell for 15,000-18,000 dollars off MSRP and still make 3,000 dollars on the front end.
Heheheh
I won't disagree with you, if the car has miles on it, there is always a chance it was abused, rental or not. I'd like to think though that if someone acually owned the car and made payments on it, they took some reasonable care of it. That's why I tout certified cars...they are held to higher standards.
But like they said in one of those mob movies, "why take a chance?"
Exactly. A rental car may have more consistent routine maintaince but does that make up for abuse. I have a hard time seeing grandma doing doughnuts in the parking lot with her Taurus but I have seen this with rentals. Of course grandma may sit her car in the garage until all the seals dry out and forget to change the oil but I still think you have a better chance with that car.
I don't ever remember driving a rental car that didn't have some strange noise or rumble to it.
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
Thanks.
Agent: I'm sorry, we have no mid-size available at the moment.
Jerry: I don't understand, I made a reservation, do you have my reservation?
Agent: Yes, we do, unfortunately we ran out of cars.
Jerry: But the reservation keeps the car here. That's why you have the reservation.
Agent: I know why we have reservations.
Jerry: I don't think you do. If you did, I'd have a car. See, you know how to take the reservation, you just don't know how to *hold* the reservation andthat's really the most important part of the reservation, the holding. Anybody
can just take them.
Agent: Let me, uh, speak with my supervisor.
....
Agent: I'm sorry, my supervisor says there's nothing we can do.
Jerry: Yeah, it looked as if you were in a real conversation over there.
Agent: But we do have a compact if you would like that.
Jerry: Fine.
Agent: Alright. We have a blue Ford Escort for you Mr. Seinfeld. Would you like insurance?
Jerry: Yeah, you better give me the insurance, because I am gonna beat the hell out of this car.