I'm about to pull the trigger on a 1.4 tsi that was a hire car, I was just wondering if anyone could alert me to potential pitfalls or things to look for when I go to view it. General online views seem quite split, som say avoid ex-lease/hire because the engines get thrashed, others say they're a bargain because they are well maintained and looked after, and previous drivers are extra careful because they don't need the hassle of returning a bashed car.

I guess I'm asking what the worst case scenario would be, and how I could spot it before purchasing!

Thanks in advance for any advice. It's been a while since I had a Fabia and a VRS, and I've been missing the Skoda comfort and reliability.

If it's Enterprise. Most of the cars get sold before they are due a service, so maintainence isn't an issue.

 

Personally, I wouldn't touch them with someone else's barge pole. Yeah, there's plenty of customers who drive them well, and at the same time, plenty who give them death. Given a twin charged engine death from cold is never going to be a good thing, particularly in it's formative miles.

 

A bigger car isn't likely to go out as a private rental that often, it'll be rented through someone's work or as a courtesy car more often than not, so how bothered the customer is about the car is another question.

 

The other thing is larger cars in some areas quite often get used by dealers, I've known a few plate drivers who have been pulled over in ones that had a drugs marker on.

Welcome to the forum.

 

No worse than driving a One Previous Owner car where the driver or drivers were all crap drivers, 

maybe even a Driving Instructor.

Used cars are a Lottery,  Ex DEmonstrators @ 3 Month old / 3,000 miles are a Lottery.

 

So check the Service and Warranty History with Skoda UK Customer Services and be prepared to do a Major Service.

 

So how old. how many miles has it done, 

and what is being said about Service history?

Is it the remainder of a 3 Year Warranty on the car?

Having bought a car that I was told was ex management, and then found out when the V5 turned up that it was ex rental, I'd just say BE CAREFUL. 

 

Ask about the service history, make sure it has had at least some servicing done. Have a very good look around the car both inside and out, look for any signs of scratches to the bodywork that might have been covered up. 

 

View the car on a dry day when you can properly see the cars body work (not covered in water). 

 

Check under the bonnet for anything that might be amiss, look for any oil or fluid leaks, check the coolant level is at the max and looks clean.  

 

Take the car for a test drive with the radio off and keep your ears peeled for any noises from the suspension or engine that doesn't sound right.

 

 At the end of the day, any second hand car could have been thrashed, some people look after them some do not. 

 

I'd be more weary of an Ex Rental car than a lease car.  Lease cars are generally used by one individual for the length of the lease. it is in there best interests to look after the car as any damage or mechanical issues caused my misuse would be charged back to them.   Rental cars on the other hand, well anybody could have driven & abused them.

Lease cars can be driven by many different drivers every day, or on different days of the week.

Local Authority, NHS, Police / Miltary, Hire / Courtesy, Private Hire, Airport Transport.

 

So many cars out on Finance all over the country, and still only 1 Registered Keeper.

Lease cars can be driven by many different drivers every day, or on different days of the week.

Local Authority, NHS, Police / Miltary, Hire / Courtesy, Private Hire, Airport Transport.

 

So many cars out on Finance all over the country, and still only 1 Registered Keeper.

Good point!!  You just never know.  The only way to be 100% sure of a cars history is to buy new, and we can't all afford to do that!

Good point!!  You just never know.  The only way to be 100% sure of a cars history is to buy new, and we can't all afford to do that!

Or want to!  I have purchased 3 ex-rental cars for my wife.  Kept for 4 years or more and none had any problems.  Current car, a Clio 1.2TCE Dynamique was ex-Enterprise and had been serviced at 12K miles and sold at 16K miles.  Slightly problem as one tyre was a cheap Chinese replacement and was the wrong size.  When pointed out to main dealer they immediately fitted a new Conti of the correct size to exactly match the other tyres.

Well, it's a 13 plate with 39k miles. I was happy to have a slightly higher mileage car, as I'm doing sub-10k a year at the moment. I'm getting it for £10,500 which seems quite reasonable for a 1.4. But if the advice is to avoid it then I'll have to sacrifice that little bit of oomph and settle for the 1.2

Thanks for the quick replies, appreciated.

I spent some time working in car rental.  The cars were often sourced from the manufacturer on a buy back scheme, where they were kept for a minimum time and were not to exceed a specified mileage.  Two years and 39K, says to me that it was likely purchased by the hire company as their own car as a 'risk' unit, with disposal being down to them.

 

The rental companies impose excesses on the hirers and their own staff, so the chances are that it hasn't been knocked around too much, coupled with their obligation to provide a roadworthy vehicle and the remaining year of the manufacturers warranty it shouldn't be too much of a gamble. 

 

My 24 year old Ford started out a rental car and that's still going.

If it is a 13 plate when was it registered?

 

If it is one of the very early 13 plates (April or May) be wary as there were a few 'build' issues around with the very first batch of cars.

I'm about to pull the trigger on a 1.4 tsi that was a hire car, I was just wondering if anyone could alert me to potential pitfalls or things to look for when I go to view it. General online views seem quite split, som say avoid ex-lease/hire because the engines get thrashed, others say they're a bargain because they are well maintained and looked after, and previous drivers are extra careful because they don't need the hassle of returning a bashed car.

I guess I'm asking what the worst case scenario would be, and how I could spot it before purchasing!

Thanks in advance for any advice. It's been a while since I had a Fabia and a VRS, and I've been missing the Skoda comfort and reliability.

I think one or two of the main players have some arrangement with Skoda UK. Most hire vehicles I see are "garden of england" registered and on Skoda UK marked number plates.

They probably have some arrangement with them to run the cars for a determined time/mileage whichever comes first and sell them back to Skoda UK at an agreed cost to pump into their approved used programme.

Its luck of the draw. Some cars are kept on long term hire almost from new by someone considerate and are returned in v respectable condition, others could be driven by hundreds of different people many of which dont care for the car and subject it to some mechanical and physical abuse (scratches/dents etc). Really varies car to car.

If its a 13 plate then its either seen rather a life or perhaps it was a rental then went into private ownership for a period (does it have multiple owners)?

Only so much can happen to a car in a year but if the thing is two years old, unless it seems to be in respectable condition all round, drives well and is a steal price wise i'd probably avoid and keep my eyes open for an ex-demo or private bargain as they are there.

I think one or two of the main players have some arrangement with Skoda UK. Most hire vehicles I see are "garden of england" registered and on Skoda UK marked number plates.

They probably have some arrangement with them to run the cars for a determined time/mileage whichever comes first and sell them back to Skoda UK at an agreed cost to pump into their approved used programme.

Its luck of the draw. Some cars are kept on long term hire almost from new by someone considerate and are returned in v respectable condition, others could be driven by hundreds of different people many of which dont care for the car and subject it to some mechanical and physical abuse (scratches/dents etc). Really varies car to car.

If its a 13 plate then its either seen rather a life or perhaps it was a rental then went into private ownership for a period (does it have multiple owners)?

Only so much can happen to a car in a year but if the thing is two years old, unless it seems to be in respectable condition all round, drives well and is a steal price wise i'd probably avoid and keep my eyes open for an ex-demo or private bargain as they are there.

Good advice

If you look on Autotrader, you'll find a whole bunch of Octavias and Rapids available that are between 12-18 months old with around 14k miles on the clock. Despite being spread out at different dealerships around the country, many of them look like they've been photographed in the same location, suggesting that they are ex-rentals - probably Budget. As with any used car, you need to have a good look round to make sure the usual wear and tear items are in good nick. I've just bought a 1 year old Rapid Spaceback that was ex-Budget, and apart from a couple of scuffs in the paintwork which the dealer fixed at my request (my wife is excellent at spotting scratches  ), it's in good nick. It's been serviced, has good tyres, is immaculate inside and out (from regular valeting)  and has almost 2 years left on the warranty for peace of mind. I looked at another example which had a massive stain on the passenger seat!

 

I'd hazard a guess that most used cars within the 12-18 month age bracket will be ex-demo, ex-rental or ex-fleet, and I don't think there's much to choose between them really. I'd be more wary of a privately owned car if it was that new, as it might turn out to be a lemon that was rejected by the customer!    As always, the condition of the individual vehicle should be the deciding factor in making a purchase.

Edited 17 June, 201510 yr by RapidPaul

I spent some time working in car rental.  The cars were often sourced from the manufacturer on a buy back scheme, where they were kept for a minimum time and were not to exceed a specified mileage.  Two years and 39K, says to me that it was likely purchased by the hire company as their own car as a 'risk' unit, with disposal being down to them.

 

The rental companies impose excesses on the hirers and their own staff, so the chances are that it hasn't been knocked around too much, coupled with their obligation to provide a roadworthy vehicle and the remaining year of the manufacturers warranty it shouldn't be too much of a gamble. 

 

My 24 year old Ford started out a rental car and that's still going.

  

Ah, that's interesting that you should use the term 'risk'. I did a HPI and it came up clear other than it being registered as a "risk", which is normally associated with hire cars at risk of fraud. I phoned Experian to see if that marker was going to be cleared, they're contacting the original hire company to do so and will get back to me. I've never come across that term before.

If it is a 13 plate when was it registered?

 

If it is one of the very early 13 plates (April or May) be wary as there were a few 'build' issues around with the very first batch of cars.

It was May, yes. What do I need to know?

I've just bought a 10 month old, 14 k mile 1.4 tsi estate from a main dealer. Ex rental car. All perfect with no issues. The vast majority of 1 year old cars that Skoda sells are ex rental. Private and lease cars are generally kept for 3 or 2 years. I checked my phone setup on the car and found 12 different peoples phones on the list so know it was a general rental. Nowadays people know that they will be screwed if they don't look after a rental. They are so carefully checked that every tiny mark would be spotted. Bottom line is that unless you buy new, you have no idea at all what has gone on with your car!

My 1.4TSi DSG was 10 months old, 10k on the clock. Ex rental, and immaculate. £7k below list. Also had full size spare as a bonus.

To be fair, unless it's been a demonstrator or a pre-reg, most <1 year old cars for sale are likely to be a rental.