Would you ever buy an ex-rental performance car?

[cat with a hat]

Something to throw into the mix is that the company that had it seem to impose a 5 day minimum hire for Jag F types...I think that certainly lowers the risk a bit.

[Don]

I've bought loads of ex-rentals.

Hertz (et al) buy at a massively discounted rate direct from the manufacturer, run the car until it needs its first service, then sell to "car supermarkets". Due to the killing they've made renting it out the residual value they need is pretty low so even the car supermarkets can make a profit whilst selling it on at a bargain price.

An example: I bought a Vectra C Estate. List was 21K. Hertz paid £14K for it. A little over a year later I paid £6500. Hertz still made money. Vauxhall still made money. Five or so years on the car owes me nothing. The first two years I had it it was still under manufacturer's warranty - being a Vauxhall I used that a lot! Then it's been OK for a few years, although it's a bit of a shed now.

I'd happily consider any other ex-rental car. Buy on condition and service history. If manufacturer's warranty remains then it's a good risk.

[sandman77]

If the minimum hire period was 5 days then that significantly reduces the chances of it being leased by chavs to rag the arse off to impress their mates.
If condition checks out I would go for it for the right price. 12 months into ownership transfer it to your wife's name and the hire car company will be removed from the V5.

[slipstream 1985]

When you get a new car it take s a while until you learn its limits and then start really pushig it. I doubt the type of person hiring an F type would already have the ability to "thrash it" from start or hire it long enough to push the car.

[av185]

Bought one of my M3s directly from Accident Exchange(which provide loan cars to insurance cos)....top spec mint 10k low miles and with FBMWSH. Great car. Only had 1 minor sensor issue replaced under warranty after 20k miles. BMW said the car had only had 2 launch starts and the clutch was fine.

Would not have touched the car without a full BM history even at 10% cheaper. Likely to wriggle out of any warranty work in the future and this is what imo will be a problem for the car especially as Jag traditionally provide less goodwill than BMW in grey line warranty cases.

Don't forget that the Silverstone Porsche cars (all models including GT Porsche at c£240k+)which are track ragged daily by numerous drivers all end up being sold at an official Porsche dealer near you....but with an official OPC history. The 6k mile 2015 991 GT3 RS I drove the other week on track had over 200 launch starts and drove perfectly. Mind you....thats Porsche for you.

Incidentally, try getting a bid on even a basic 911 without on OPC history......virtually impossible unless waaay below book. Whilst not as crucial for the Jag, this is what you are up against in terms of killing the value.

[hairyben]

Knew someone with a 4x4 calibra (few years ago then!) that was ex one of the big rentals, was a good motor. As said the opinion of someone who knows what theyre looking at is probably higher than usually recomended...