How to spot a Ford ex-hire car?
Discussion
In the market for a new family wagon, possibly a Cmax or Smax. I've inquired about a handful of 6-18 month old cars, all with between 6 and 16k on the clock. The response when asked the cars history is "it's a Ford employee car, it comes from central stock" or similar. Is it possible that they can "hide" the real first owner from me, or will it always state on the V5 who the legal owner was i.e Hertz, Budget etc?
One car that I viewed looked tidy, no signs that it had been used as a hire car, apart from a missing cigarette lighter - that set alarm bells ringing
I seem to recall reading on here that manufacturers were getting clever and hiding the fact the car started life as a hire car.
Any pointers?
One car that I viewed looked tidy, no signs that it had been used as a hire car, apart from a missing cigarette lighter - that set alarm bells ringing
I seem to recall reading on here that manufacturers were getting clever and hiding the fact the car started life as a hire car.
Any pointers?
Superhoop said:
No help on the previous owner bit, but are you sure the cigar lighter is missing? A lot of new cars don't come with the actual cigar lighter element anymore, but it can be added back in as a 'smokers pack' when ordering new
Either that or at our place we take them out of cars to stop peaple pinching them and put them back in the car when its sold.More likely its the smokers pack that has not been specced so should just come with a little cap that covers the socket instead.
I would not worry about a car being an ex rental depending on what checks and prep work the dealer carrys out.
GenePoolReject13 said:
I would not worry about a car being an ex rental depending on what checks and prep work the dealer carrys out.
I would. Have you seen some of the abuse they get in some videos on youtube? I know that not ALL of them will be abused like that, but a higher percentage of them will be deliberately abused vs. ones who have been driven by their owner.A LOT of used Fords are ex-rental and you have to do a little bit of investigative work to figure them out.
Obviously first off is to check the V5 and google the first company owner to check if it's a cover name for a hire company.
Use autotrader to see if there are a lot of similar cars all at a similar milage and age - chances are a hire company has de-fleeted.
Ask the dealer! I may be wrong but I believe they have an obligation to tell you if you ask.
Check service history for customer names (you may only get a printout rather than a stamped service book).
There is nothing wrong with buying a hire car as long as you buy with your eyes open. I bought one 3 years ago and it's been fine (only a few niggles) and it was significantly cheaper than other 1 owner cars from the same main dealer. For the vast majority of renters it is simply a tool for a couple of days and driven like their normal cars. Not everyone is a mong who wants to re-enact scenes from The Fast and Furious.
Obviously first off is to check the V5 and google the first company owner to check if it's a cover name for a hire company.
Use autotrader to see if there are a lot of similar cars all at a similar milage and age - chances are a hire company has de-fleeted.
Ask the dealer! I may be wrong but I believe they have an obligation to tell you if you ask.
Check service history for customer names (you may only get a printout rather than a stamped service book).
There is nothing wrong with buying a hire car as long as you buy with your eyes open. I bought one 3 years ago and it's been fine (only a few niggles) and it was significantly cheaper than other 1 owner cars from the same main dealer. For the vast majority of renters it is simply a tool for a couple of days and driven like their normal cars. Not everyone is a mong who wants to re-enact scenes from The Fast and Furious.
currybum said:
longblackcoat said:
If it's a Ford ex-management car, it will state Ford Motor Company as the first owner. If it doesn't, I'd assume that it's a hire car instead.
They could also have "Ford Motor Company" on the number plate. The C-Max and S-max are on 3-month/3000 mile rotations so ex-management cars are unlikely to have much more than 6,000 miles on the clock, and are in almost all cases Titanium or Titanium X spec with all the extras.Management cars are generally well looked after.
Edited by currybum on Wednesday 28th November 09:33
currybum said:
longblackcoat said:
If it's a Ford ex-management car, it will state Ford Motor Company as the first owner. If it doesn't, I'd assume that it's a hire car instead.
They could also have "Ford Motor Company" on the number plate. The C-Max and S-max are on 3-month/3000 mile rotations so ex-management cars are unlikely to have much more than 6,000 miles on the clock, and are in almost all cases Titanium or Titanium X spec with all the extras.Management cars are generally well looked after.
Edited by currybum on Wednesday 28th November 09:33
big_boz said:
GenePoolReject13 said:
I would not worry about a car being an ex rental depending on what checks and prep work the dealer carrys out.
I've sold lots of ex rental cars at various dealerships, never had an issue with them. The lower quality cars from the rental companies usually get sent to auction, the better ones go to dealers.
Rob P said:
Thanks for that, I thought all Ford ex-management cars were on 9 month rotations. Does it differ for each model then?
Mates dad works for them and he seems to do it on millege always seems to have the latest plate so would sya 6 months when they get to about 4-5k miles he has already ordered a new one Would not say they are much better looked after though my friend is insured on them as well being a family member and you can imagine how a 17yr old who has just passed would drive a brand new zetec s focus...
markmullen said:
I've sold lots of ex rental cars at various dealerships, never had an issue with them. The lower quality cars from the rental companies usually get sent to auction, the better ones go to dealers.
Agree entirely, I have sold hundreds of ex rental cars and can't recall an issue with any related to being ex rental.Some people treat rental cars badly, most don't, some people treat their company cars badly, most don't, you could buy a 7 year old car in a few years time with 3 owners on it, how are you to know if it was originally an ex rental or not?
Just because a car isn't ex rental doesn't mean that it hasn't been ragged about, what's to say that the 9 month old S-Max you have bought with Ford Motor company on the log book wasn't actually a press demo or fleet demo car driven by all and sundry and probably driven fairly hard?
If you are really that bothered then buy new.
Watch out for the ex-AA learner cars also, they get changed every 6-12 months and sold as approved used.
Tend to be registered to Lombard Finance on the V5 and numberplate will be G-prefix
To be honest though with any nearly new Ford there is a good chance it will be ex-fleet of some description whether that was daily rental or some other purpose.
Also a lot of of rentals these days will simply be registered to the manufacturer and leased out to the rental company, so basically whatever the name is on the V5 there is a risk!
Tend to be registered to Lombard Finance on the V5 and numberplate will be G-prefix
To be honest though with any nearly new Ford there is a good chance it will be ex-fleet of some description whether that was daily rental or some other purpose.
Also a lot of of rentals these days will simply be registered to the manufacturer and leased out to the rental company, so basically whatever the name is on the V5 there is a risk!
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