Sold an Ex Rental Car without knowing

dingding

I have posted a similar thread in the Motors forum, but there may be specific aspects of consumer law that you might be able to assist me with.

The original thread is here https://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=106331579

Purchased a one year old car from a main dealer with about 20k on the clock. Asked what it was used for and was told that it was used as a press car and for events.

Just found paperwork in the car for sixt car rental with the car reg on it.

What should I do. What are my rights. I kept the details vague for the moment.

Would I have grounds to return the car.

davo10

Without reading the other thread, is there something wrong with the car? It could have been used by the rental car company employee, 20k is extremely low for a rental car.

dingding

davo10 wrote: »

Without reading the other thread, is there something wrong with the car? It could have been used by the rental car company employee, 20k is extremely low for a rental car.

I found a document envelope under the seat with the car reg, which would lead me to believe it was rented at about 6K Km


I would think the car was an active car on their rental fleet. Nothing apparently wrong with it at the moment, just when asked the garage was asked its previous use they did not disclose that it was an ex-rental.

I have found links to UK law and just wondering if there is anything in Ireland. I felt that this thread would be able to give me more of an explanation on my rights as a consumer in this matter.

davo10

Consumer law says an item must be of merchantable quality and as described. If the car is perfect, no defects etc, I'm struggling to see why you have a problem. Why do you want to bring it back?

At one year old it is still within brand warranty.

OldMrBrennan83

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Ultimate Seduction

Patww79 wrote: »

I'd imagine it's because sometimes problems with cars aren't always apparent early on, and because most people absolutely horse rental cars.

I would have thought the opposite and that people drive rentals with extreme care because of the extortionate fees for damage ect

davo10

Patww79 wrote: »

I'd imagine it's because sometimes problems with cars aren't always apparent early on, and because most people absolutely horse rental cars.

Ya but private owners are equally likely to horse them over the same period. If this was a 5 year old car with 100k on the clock I could understand the concern, but a 1 yr old with 20k bought from a main dealer?

OldMrBrennan83

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ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

Patww79 wrote: »

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That's all perception though. Anybody could drive a car hard. The OP has no case in consumer law.

OldMrBrennan83

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davo10

Patww79 wrote: »

That would be being careful parking, etc so as not to ding or scrape it as that's the obvious stuff and what they check.


I mean people red-lining them and burning the clutch which can't be checked for and causes excessive internal wear that's not always apparent.

Same as if it was privately owned. After one year the manufacturer warranty still has a long way to go.

davo10

Patww79 wrote: »

So if service documents were faked, would it be the same thing? Car could probably be fine.

Ah here, th car is a year old and has 20k on clock, it probably isn't due its first service yet.

Ultimate Seduction

Patww79 wrote: »

That would be being careful parking, etc so as not to ding or scrape it as that's the obvious stuff and what they check.


I mean people red-lining them and burning the clutch which can't be checked for and causes excessive internal wear that's not always apparent.

Doubt it to be honest. I've rented cars, family have and never decided to rally them. I think this is just a big myth.

My father always told me to only buy cars from towns and cities as those country folk be pulling big heavey trailers ect.

Another fella would tell you never buy a city car as the clutch would be over used. This is all just bull. I'd prefer to buy a rental off a main dealer at least you know it's been serviced regularly ect

OldMrBrennan83

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ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

Patww79 wrote: »

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No comparison.

OldMrBrennan83

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OldMrBrennan83

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dingding

davo10 wrote: »

Ah here, th car is a year old and has 20k on clock, it probably isn't due its first service yet.

Agreed these cars have a long service interval, due one in 5K probably its first.

dingding

davo10 wrote: »

Consumer law says an item must be of merchantable quality and as described. If the car is perfect, no defects etc, I'm struggling to see why you have a problem. Why do you want to bring it back?

At one year old it is still under brand warranty.

The issue is that it is not as described. The dealer concealed the fact that it was ex-hire when asked.

An ex-hire car would probably be worth less.

davo10

As a matter of interest op, did the main dealer service it before selling it? It will be stamped in the service log book.

dingding

davo10 wrote: »

As a matter of interest op, did the main dealer service it before selling it? It will be stamped in the service log book.

The car was delivered and the service book was not in it. I have this to follow up on as well.

Sleeper12

Roselyn Angry Thimble wrote:

That's all perception though. Anybody could drive a car hard. The OP has no case in consumer law.

I agree. I'd rather buy an ex rental than a car owned by a guy under 25. I believe that young male driver will have caused more hard ware on the car

OldMrBrennan83

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Ultimate Seduction

dingding wrote: »

The issue is that it is not as described. The dealer concealed the fact that it was ex-hire when asked.

An ex-hire car would probably be worth less.

A year old car with only 20k on the clock worthless? Get a grip!

OldMrBrennan83

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daheff

Do sixt have a leading arm? Is it possible it was a one year lease ?

davo10

dingding wrote: »

The car was delivered and the service book was not in it. I have this to follow up on as well.

What's the service interval on that model? It probably wouldn't be due yet but you could go back and complain about not being told it was a rental, see if you can wangle a free service the next time. They probably will argue that they can only go on what they were told by the previous owner. 20k is low for a rental and any car is only being "broken in" at that mileage (13k). Enjoy your new car, if it's damage free, it's perfect.

veetwin

The issue I would have with buying an ex rental is not the way customers horse them but the way rental staff absolutely abuse and rally them when the engine is cold and brand new. I worked in the Dublin Airport for 10 years and saw it on a daily basis. One even ended up on its roof at the entrance to T2 short term car park a few years back. They race them from the depot to the terminal with zero mechanical sympathy.

dingding

davo10 wrote: »

What's the service interval on that model? It probably wouldn't be due yet but you could go back and complain about not being told it was a rental, see if you can wangle a free service the next time. They probably will argue that they can only go on what they were told by the previous owner. 20k is low for a rental and any car is only being "broken in" at that mileage (13k). Enjoy your new car, if it's damage free, it's perfect.

It came with a service pack covering servicing to 100k

davo10

daheff wrote: »

Do sixt have a leading arm? Is it possible it was a one year lease ?

This is why I suspect it was as the dealer described. A friend is an MD of a car rental company and he told me in the past that they lease cars for a year rather than buying them and having depreciating assets on their books. At 20k, I doubt this was a rental used often.

davo10

dingding wrote: »

It came with a service pack covering servicing to 100k

In that case, with the warranty that manufacturers give now, drive on and enjoy it, buying new cars is one of life's joys.

daheff

davo10 wrote: »

This is why I suspect it was as the dealer described. A friend is an MD of a car rental company and he told me in the past that they lease cars for a year rather than buying them and having depreciating assets on their books. At 20k, I doubt this was a rental used often.

I think you misunderstood me. I meant do SIXT lease the car for a year (to a sales rep or something).

It might not have been a car for general rental

davo10

daheff wrote: »

I think you misunderstood me. I meant do SIXT lease the car for a year (to a sales rep or something).

It might not have been a car for general rental

Sorry, my mistake.

dingding

Patww79 wrote: »

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That is what I meant not worth as much :D:D:D:D:D

dingding

daheff wrote: »

I think you misunderstood me. I meant do SIXT lease the car for a year (to a sales rep or something).

It might not have been a car for general rental

'

I found a rental doc in the car which shows it was rented at about 6K Km, So it looks that it was part of their rental fleet.

davo10

Just had a quick look through the other thread, it's an automatic, what are you worried about. You said there are paddles on the steering wheel, dear God, if only we had the roads to use them.

daheff

dingding wrote: »

'

I found a rental doc in the car which shows it was rented at about 6K Km, So it looks that it was part of their rental fleet.

So sounds like you were lied to in buying it. I think a key question here is would you still have bought it if you knew it was a rental before agreeing the sale?

Or would it have affected what you were willing to pay for it?

Was the car cheaper than you would have expected normally?


Personally I bought an ex rental 3 years ago in similar circumstances. Its been an ok buy. Not given me much more hassle than expected (did have a coil box go).

So I wouldnt be overly upset on it.

OldMrBrennan83

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iamtony

I've an ex rental. Same circumstances. Only realised when I looked through the manual and it had paperwork from hertz on someone like that. It's now a taxi. Had similar milage as yours. I've had it two years and no problems.
My only concern is when they were bought new the manufacturer probably made very little profit on each one as they probably bought a few thousand at the same time. That makes me think if it's a few months out of warranty they wouldn't be giving you much good will if anything goes because they want to make the profit at that stage I'm the cars life. But unless your a professional driver your not going to have any problems with a modern car that's worth mentioning unless your very unlucky. They are all grand these days.

CeilingFly

Wife bought ex rental 4 years ago. We saw it as a positive We don't believe the myth that rentals are driven hard because I've never seen a rental car driven hard, if anything rentals are driven extremely carefully.

Where the myth comes from is American renters renting manual cars and not knowing how to drive them - hence a huge number of rentals are auto.

Simply can't see the issue

CeilingFly

davo10 wrote: »

This is why I suspect it was as the dealer described. A friend is an MD of a car rental company and he told me in the past that they lease cars for a year rather than buying them and having depreciating assets on their books. At 20k, I doubt this was a rental used often.

There is a special vrt system for rentals - they buy the cars excluding vrt and the vrt is only applied when they sell them on, on condition they are sold on within a certain time frame (i think 6 months)

iamtony

CeilingFly wrote: »

There is a special vrt system for rentals - they buy the cars excluding vrt and the vrt is only applied when they sell them on, on condition they are sold on within a certain time frame (i think 6 months)

That could explain why my one year old car hadn't been taxed in 6 months, and the low milage.

fritzelly

Could very well be that a company had it under constant hire
Seems to be looking for a reason to return it even though the car is fine

beauf

CeilingFly wrote: »

Wife bought ex rental 4 years ago. We saw it as a positive We don't believe the myth that rentals are driven hard because I've never seen a rental car driven hard, if anything rentals are driven extremely carefully.

Where the myth comes from is American renters renting manual cars and not knowing how to drive them - hence a huge number of rentals are auto.

Simply can't see the issue

I've seen lots of people drive the brains out of rentals. Especially younger drivers. Also they get a harder life in general, people adjusting to driving a different car, and high mileage. That's why they don't keep them long.

But as others have said. Judge a car on condition. Not on guesses.

They are generally cheaper to buy though. So if someone didn't mention that, it's likely because of that reason.

beauf

Demo and ex garage cars are the same.

We bought one once. Had problems but they weren't caused by it being a demo car.

davo10

beauf wrote: »

I've seen lots of people drive the brains out of rentals. Especially younger drivers. Also they get a harder life in general, people adjusting to driving a different car, and high mileage. That's why they don't keep them long.

But as others have said. Judge a car on condition. Not on guesses.

They are generally cheaper to buy though. So if someone didn't mention that, it's likely because of that reason.

With a manual gearbox I can see how you could do it, but an auto? Beside which, even if it was driven hard, it's only got 20k on the clock, it is unheard of nowadays for cars to have problems at that mileage. If it was 100k on the clock after 2 years, I'd be a bit more concerned.

Hellrazer

OP-I also posted this in your other thread.

You need to be careful with ex-rentals.
The manufacturers warranties on some makes are lower than a retail sales vehicle.

davo10

Hellrazer wrote: »

OP-I also posted this in your other thread.

You need to be careful with ex-rentals.
The manufacturers warranties on some makes are lower than a retail sales vehicle.

But the main dealer who provides repairs under warranty told the op is wasn't a rental, how is this relevant?

beauf

davo10 wrote: »

...
With a manual gearbox I can see how you could do it, but an auto? Beside which, even if it was driven hard, it's only got 20k on the clock, it is unheard of nowadays for cars to have problems at that mileage. If it was 100k on the clock after 2 years, I'd be a bit more concerned...

I dunno if I agree with all of that. But certainly 20k isn't a lot of mileage these days. But it's not nothing either. Again you'd have to judge it on condition. But ex rental generally means you'll get it cheaper.

beauf

That said I think it would be hard to get anything out of this situation...

davo10

beauf wrote: »

That said I think it would be hard to get anything out of this situation...

Have to agree, did anyone ask, op what do you actually want out of this?