I found a nice '01 w/ 19,000 miles for $26.5K, XLT, Leather, 4.6L, but according to CarFax it was a rental. Other than the rental and the 4.6 it's perfect.

How bad do you think it got beat serving time as a rental? Should I forget about it? It still has 16K miles on the warrenty and I could play it as a bargaining chip when I make an offer.

Any thoughts?

 

if you are serious, go have someone like LemonBusters check it out.
For 75.00 you can't go wrong if you are serious.

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Greg Andrews

 

Here's my take on rentals. I rent a lot of cars while traveling for business. I've pretty much decided one thing.

I'll never purchase one. I know how hard I drive them.

Yes, the rental agencies typically do make sure they get regular servicing, but still...

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The old stuff:
98,White 150 supercab XLT, 3.55LS, tow pack, cd changer, SnugTop hard tonneau, DynoMax cat back

Time for the new!
2001 Expi Eddie Bauer, 5.4, 3.55 LS, Onboard babysitter (TV/VCR entertainment center)
No mods...YET!

 

I'm driving a courtecy focus with 1500+- kms on od and it is already not starting and having major (auto) tranny probs. I also beat the ever livin out of this car so I would say not to buy a CAR that was rented. Maybe a truck. If there are no dents chances are it was still board but maybe not as bad as you might think. I agree go see lemon busters.

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2001.5 SuperCrew XLT 4X4 (Gen III)
Silver Clearcoat Metallic
Deep Wedgewood Blue (accent)
5.4L V8
Chrome Tubular Step Bars (Ford)
Captains Chairs
Power Moonroof
3.55 LS
6750 GVWR
Class III Towing Pkg

Mods:
Harley Davidson Exhaust
'01 Lightning Head/Tail Lamps
Pioneer DEH-9200r
Boston Acoustic Components & 5X7s
Box Liner (Ford)
Splashguards (Ford)
Bug Defector Doubles as Rock and Sand/Salt Deflector in these snowy Canadian winters
K&N Air Filter

To Come:
17" Rims/Tires w/ BFG A/T or ProComps
WMS Velocity Tube
Radio Delay Mod
Eurolights

 

I would never buy a rental. Everyone I know (and me) drive rent cars hard. Spend the extra money and get a new truck -- one that has actually been broken in and not had the hell driven out of it since day one. The way I see it is those 19k miles are
HARD MILES.

How hard do you drive rentals? People are even harder on rent trucks that rent cars. Alot of people rent them to pull trailers.

 

The price sounds good, but I have to agree with the others. I driven the hell out of every rental cars I've ever rented. Do a car fax and check out the history.

Good Luck and let us know what you decided...

 

Actually, none of these have trailer hitches... I found a bunch of '00 models with ~38000 miles for 24K. 5.4L XLT, but with cloth buckets. New leather is $1000...

I'll let you guys know what happens, we are actually looking at leftover ('01) explorers. I'm trying to get one with a 5.0 . I just can't get away from them I guess...

 

I have a mid 99 5.4 EB that was a lease. Try and go that route. Concur with the concensus on rental purchases...Danger. Look in the Saturday papers for listings with dealers. About the Explorer, bought one of those too, drove 4.6 V8 but like the 4.0 SOHC V6 better. Small difference in HP. Regardless of which and where, get the extended warranty.

 

If the vehicle is in excellent shape, inside and out, then it should be OK. The rental companies generally keep very detailed service files on each of their vehicles. Ask to see this file. Make sure there haven't been a lot of recurring problems or a wreck. Furthermore, most of the rental "lemons" are not sold through the rental company sales divisions, but are sold wholesale to the used car dealers.

I used to drive rentals into the ground (when I was 16 or 18 years old), but these days you have to be 25 just to rent a vehicle. Additionally the Expedition you have in mind is a much nicer, more sophisticated (expensive) car than the junk most people rent. Hence, I'd tend to think that it wouldn't be "ragged" as much as say a $20/day Corsica. Plus, what can you hurt by driving a vehicle? So long as it hasn't been wrecked and is clean, it should be a good as any other used car.

 

Thanks for the reply. I posted on another thread of mine that I put a deposit down today.

Here is the post:
'00 Expy XLT, 4X4, 5.4L, Silver/gray cloth buckets, 3rd seat, 6 disk changer. $22995, add $799 for 48/48,000 bumper to bumper warranty (No deductable) from date/mileage of purchase. Then I get a $300 AAA discount. So it looks like ~$23,500. Not bad!

It is a rental, but they have pretty strict measures for the ones they sell. If it has been wrecked or had engine or tranny work they will not sell it, it gets auctioned like stated above) Also you get to see all of their maintenance records. Almost a safer buy in some senses, not to mention the killer warrenty

 

I have done it.

 

I'm willing to bet you are an exception...