Would you buy an ex-rental Elise? - LotusTalk

BillyD · 04-15-2008, 08:34 AM

I found a White 2006 Elise with 7k on it for $32k. Clean CarFax and it has 2 more years of warranty left. Downside: it spent 7k miles as a rental. Thoughts? Opinions? Obviously its past is the reason for the low price, but with so much warranty left is that party mitigated?
Thanks -
BillyD

Vampyre · 04-15-2008, 08:36 AM

MattG · 04-15-2008, 08:38 AM

I question whether or not its warranty is still intact after being used for commercial use like that...I recall seeing clauses like this, not sure if it was the Lotus warranty or another of my car's, stating that warranty is void in those cases (like if put into taxi service).

I'd be surprised if it made it 7k miles a rental without needing any body work...be sure to check for signs of clamshell repairs if you're serious. Key spots to check are under the front chin, and front and rear clamshells where cars would contact it if/when it's parallel parked.

CosmosMpower · 04-15-2008, 08:38 AM

Hell no

BillyD · 04-15-2008, 08:43 AM

So the concensus is a big hell no. That's what I thought.

MattG · 04-15-2008, 08:43 AM

I just checked my owners' manual, and it states that the warranty is void if the car is used for 'commercial service'. I imagine duty as a rental car would qualify as such. Might want to pass on this one.

BillyD · 04-15-2008, 08:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MattG

I just checked my owners' manual, and it states that the warranty is void if the car is used for 'commercial service'. I imagine duty as a rental car would qualify as such. Might want to pass on this one.

Yeah it shows active on carfax, but that could easily be an error.

NomisR · 04-15-2008, 08:45 AM

I'd avoid it like the plague just because it's been a rental.

MattG · 04-15-2008, 08:45 AM

Carfax probably won't know the potential exclusions of each manufacturer's warranty, I bet they just look at the date it was sold, and look at the standard warranty period, to tell you that.

Z-dculus · 04-15-2008, 08:49 AM

+1 for NO!

tsunami racer · 04-15-2008, 08:49 AM

having actually rented one before i bought one, let me tell you that i did manuevers in the rental that i've never done with my own car.

and i recall the mortality rate of all those Elises in the Enterprise rental fleet were staggering.

unless they're giving it away, i'd find one from a private owner. 7K miles at $32K isn't exactly "giving it away".

jlj3394 · 04-15-2008, 09:40 AM

Buying a rental is like marrying the town whore - everyone has ridden it hard and done things with it that they'd never do with their own.

Your call.

loanshark · 04-15-2008, 09:41 AM

Some of the owners here drive their cars harder and trash them and not take care of them, far worse than rentals.

delise · 04-15-2008, 09:44 AM

No I would not

LARRY · 04-15-2008, 09:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CosmosMpower

Hell no

33truballa33 · 04-15-2008, 09:50 AM

goldfive · 04-15-2008, 09:52 AM

I would say keep shopping... as another poster mentoned, $32k is not really enough of a steal to warrant potential rental issues. You can get one-owner 06's for around that price if you just keep an eye on ebay and the used car sites (autotrader.com and cars.com). In fact, I recently got a '06 with 8400 miles for that very same price off ebay.

macdady2424 · 04-15-2008, 09:55 AM

Hhm.... if I rented an Elise, I could only imagine what I would do to it. Stuff I wouldn't even think of puttin my own through. I would say no.

yellowlotus · 04-15-2008, 09:57 AM

run the other way

zevil · 04-15-2008, 10:01 AM

Buy it now for the cheap price, sell it for dirt cheap later or nothing. The idea of buying rental is crazy. IFF they change EVERYTHING on the car, then I'll buy one.

no to rental.

04-15-2008, 08:34 AM	#1 (permalink)
BillyD Registered User Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Alexandria, VA Posts: 18	Would you buy an ex-rental Elise? I found a White 2006 Elise with 7k on it for $32k. Clean CarFax and it has 2 more years of warranty left. Downside: it spent 7k miles as a rental. Thoughts? Opinions? Obviously its past is the reason for the low price, but with so much warranty left is that party mitigated? Thanks - BillyD Last edited by BillyD : 04-15-2008 at 08:43 AM.

04-15-2008, 08:36 AM	#2 (permalink)
Vampyre Sports Cars Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Rochester, NY Posts: 1,637	__________________ 2006 Chili Red / Touring / LSD / TC / Forged Wheels / Hard & Soft Top / Lifestyle Paint / Desnorkeled / Odyssey Battery / Sector 111 Extinguisher Bracket / Sector 111 LidBone / CF Splitter / CF Bits / Pure X C3 Corvette 383 TPI Stroker 6.3 liters of Torque / 1976 MG Midget, fun run about / Buick Rainier CXL AWD, for the elements / Dodge Van for hauling stuff / http://www.photobucket.com/mygarage

04-15-2008, 08:38 AM	#3 (permalink)
MattG insert clever title here Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Living above the clouds in Colorado Posts: 7,243 Images: 11	I question whether or not its warranty is still intact after being used for commercial use like that...I recall seeing clauses like this, not sure if it was the Lotus warranty or another of my car's, stating that warranty is void in those cases (like if put into taxi service). I'd be surprised if it made it 7k miles a rental without needing any body work...be sure to check for signs of clamshell repairs if you're serious. Key spots to check are under the front chin, and front and rear clamshells where cars would contact it if/when it's parallel parked. __________________ '05 Elise, Magnetic Blue / Biscuit / Hardtop / http://eliseinfo.com Radar detector mounting brackets for sale here

04-15-2008, 08:38 AM	#4 (permalink)
CosmosMpower Cone Magnet Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Dallas, TX Posts: 1,626	Hell no __________________ 06 Canyon Red Elise LSS, Touring, SS, Stg 2, HID, BWR swaybar 09 Mini Cooper S 6MT 2000 Grand Prix White S2000

04-15-2008, 08:43 AM	#6 (permalink)
MattG insert clever title here Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Living above the clouds in Colorado Posts: 7,243 Images: 11	I just checked my owners' manual, and it states that the warranty is void if the car is used for 'commercial service'. I imagine duty as a rental car would qualify as such. Might want to pass on this one. __________________ '05 Elise, Magnetic Blue / Biscuit / Hardtop / http://eliseinfo.com Radar detector mounting brackets for sale here

04-15-2008, 08:43 AM	#5 (permalink)
BillyD Registered User Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Alexandria, VA Posts: 18	So the concensus is a big hell no. That's what I thought.

04-15-2008, 08:45 AM	#8 (permalink)
NomisR Registered User Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 543	I'd avoid it like the plague just because it's been a rental. __________________ 2006 Lotus Sport Elise #4 of 50

04-15-2008, 08:45 AM	#9 (permalink)
MattG insert clever title here Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Living above the clouds in Colorado Posts: 7,243 Images: 11	Carfax probably won't know the potential exclusions of each manufacturer's warranty, I bet they just look at the date it was sold, and look at the standard warranty period, to tell you that. __________________ '05 Elise, Magnetic Blue / Biscuit / Hardtop / http://eliseinfo.com Radar detector mounting brackets for sale here

04-15-2008, 08:49 AM	#10 (permalink)
Z-dculus Derriere Extraordinaire Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: US OF A! Posts: 2,133	+1 for NO! __________________ 2006 KG-Sport Pack, LSD, TC, SS, Multivex, Lotus Stage II/powercoated diffuser, CF Zoom Rear View, Sector LidBone, Darth Holder (thanks Kestrel!), Sector 4Tress Harness Bar/CRD Mount, couple exige trim pieces 2004 Nissan 350z - Super Black-too many mods to list-SOLD to my brother 1978 Chevrolet Caprice Classic -(daily driver) *Seasoned veteran member of the KG Mafia

04-15-2008, 08:49 AM	#11 (permalink)
tsunami racer Registered User Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Playa Vista, CA Posts: 380	having actually rented one before i bought one, let me tell you that i did manuevers in the rental that i've never done with my own car. and i recall the mortality rate of all those Elises in the Enterprise rental fleet were staggering. unless they're giving it away, i'd find one from a private owner. 7K miles at $32K isn't exactly "giving it away". __________________ 2007 EXIGE S - Nightfall/Black 2007 Lotus Elise (sold) 2004 Subaru STi (sold) 1989 Metro Bus Pass (sold) 1984 BMX Dirt Bike (sold) 1979 Big Wheel (sold)

04-15-2008, 09:40 AM	#12 (permalink)
jlj3394 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Kansas City, MO Posts: 737	Buying a rental is like marrying the town whore - everyone has ridden it hard and done things with it that they'd never do with their own. Your call. __________________ 05 GG Elise: Exige clam, LSS, Stage 2, ACT HD, DBA5000, CF scoops/splitter/mirrors/panels Others: Lexus ES300 Coach, Volvo V70R 300hp/250k Missed: 01 Wrangler Sport, 04 Wrangler Sport, 71 CJ5 (225V6) Need a personal injury attorney in Kansas City? http://www.kcatty.com Need a Johnson County DUI lawyer? http://www.JohnsonCountyDUI.com Need a Johnson County speeding/traffic ticket attorney? http://www.JoCoTraffic.com

04-15-2008, 09:41 AM	#13 (permalink)
loanshark BANNED Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 3,225 Images: 41	Some of the owners here drive their cars harder and trash them and not take care of them, far worse than rentals.

04-15-2008, 09:44 AM	#14 (permalink)
delise 2005 Ardent Red, Touring Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Beverly Hills Posts: 2,153	No I would not __________________ "You can run over an insect and know just from the messages coming through the wheel how many legs it had. Was it a beetle? Was it a spider? Hang on......... spider." Jeremy Clarkson - Top Gear

04-15-2008, 09:50 AM	#16 (permalink)
33truballa33 is it supposed to squeek? Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Tacoma Posts: 549	Nope __________________ 05 Ardent Red Built by Perrin Peformance 260rwhp 190ft lbs of tq, FF'd Spoiler and Wing, Tinted side repeaters, LED Tail upgrade Need to install: V1 Mount, Headlight smoke kit, Taillight smoke kit. HIDs

04-15-2008, 09:52 AM	#17 (permalink)
goldfive Registered User Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 157	I would say keep shopping... as another poster mentoned, $32k is not really enough of a steal to warrant potential rental issues. You can get one-owner 06's for around that price if you just keep an eye on ebay and the used car sites (autotrader.com and cars.com). In fact, I recently got a '06 with 8400 miles for that very same price off ebay.

04-15-2008, 09:57 AM	#19 (permalink)
yellowlotus Registered User Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: taxachusetts,usa Posts: 201	run the other way __________________ HRM edition,Sport pack,Touring pack,starshield,custom painted engine covers,S111 boomerang rear hook,k&n air filter,Stage II exhaust,Lotus driving lights,Infinity speakers,V1 radar with remote audio/display,Kenwood sub,alotaluv

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04-15-2008, 09:55 AM	#18 (permalink)
macdady2424 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Northern NJ Posts: 940	Hhm.... if I rented an Elise, I could only imagine what I would do to it. Stuff I wouldn't even think of puttin my own through. I would say no. __________________ 225 TTQC & 05 Elise

04-15-2008, 10:01 AM	#20 (permalink)
zevil Registered User Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 8	Buy it now for the cheap price, sell it for dirt cheap later or nothing. The idea of buying rental is crazy. IFF they change EVERYTHING on the car, then I'll buy one. no to rental.