Lotus Forum Lotus Forum
Go Back   LotusTalk - The Lotus Cars Community > Lotus Discussions > General Discussion (Lotus related)
User Name
Password
Register Home Forums Active Topics Gallery Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read


       
Registered Members do not see the above ads. Please Register Today - It's quick and free!
Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
Old 04-15-2008, 08:34 AM   #1 (permalink)
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.
BillyD is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-15-2008, 08:36 AM   #2 (permalink)
Sports Cars
 
Vampyre's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Rochester, New York
Posts: 1,938
__________________
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 / Lotus Stage 2 / Pure X
C3 Corvette 383 TPI Stroker 6.3 liters of Torque / 1976 MG Midget, fun run about / 2005 Mits Evo 8 ACD/SSL / Dodge Van for hauling stuff / http://www.photobucket.com/mygarage
Vampyre is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-15-2008, 08:38 AM   #3 (permalink)
insert clever title here
 
MattG's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Living above the clouds in Colorado
Posts: 7,676
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
MattG is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-15-2008, 08:38 AM   #4 (permalink)
Cone Magnet
 
CosmosMpower's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Dallas, TX
Posts: 2,026
Hell no
__________________
06 Canyon Red Elise
LSS, Touring, SS, Stg 2, HID, BWR swaybar

09 Mini Cooper S 6MT
2000 Grand Prix White S2000
CosmosMpower is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-15-2008, 08:43 AM   #5 (permalink)
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Alexandria, VA
Posts: 18
So the concensus is a big hell no. That's what I thought.
BillyD is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-15-2008, 08:43 AM   #6 (permalink)
insert clever title here
 
MattG's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Living above the clouds in Colorado
Posts: 7,676
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
MattG is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-15-2008, 08:44 AM   #7 (permalink)
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Alexandria, VA
Posts: 18
Quote:
Originally Posted by MattG View Post
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.
BillyD is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-15-2008, 08:45 AM   #8 (permalink)
Registered User
 
NomisR's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 741
I'd avoid it like the plague just because it's been a rental.
__________________
2006 Lotus Sport Elise #4 of 50
NomisR is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-15-2008, 08:45 AM   #9 (permalink)
insert clever title here
 
MattG's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Living above the clouds in Colorado
Posts: 7,676
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
MattG is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-15-2008, 08:49 AM   #10 (permalink)
Derriere Extraordinaire
 
Z-dculus's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: US OF A!
Posts: 2,308
+1 for NO!
__________________
2006 KG-Sport Pack, LSD, TC, SS, RAC Monolites, Sector CF Roof, Carbon 3 Element Diffuser, V3 Panel eliminator (p-coated), Odyssey PC680, Boomerang , HIDs, CF Console, Multivex, Lotus Stage II, CF Zoom Rear View, Sector LidBone, Darth Holder (thanks Kestrel!), Sector 4Tress Harness Bar/CRD Mount, couple exige trim pieces- KGB Authenticated
2009 VeeDub Jetta (new kid on the block)
1978 Chevrolet Caprice Classic -(relegated to 'project car' status)
Z-dculus is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-15-2008, 08:49 AM   #11 (permalink)
Dinky Plastic Car Owner
 
tsunami racer's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Marina Del Rey, CA
Posts: 638
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)
tsunami racer is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 04-15-2008, 09:40 AM   #12 (permalink)
Registered User
 
jlj3394's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Kansas City, MO
Posts: 838
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: Lex ES300Coach, Volvo V70R 300hp/260k Missed:01&04 Wranglers, 71 CJ5(225V6)
Need a Johnson County or Kansas City personal injury/wrongful death attorney/lawyer/law firm?http://www.kcatty.com Looking for a Johnson County, KS DUI lawyer/attorney? http://www.JohnsonCountyDUI.com
Need a Johnson County, KS lawyer/attorney to help amend or fix a speeding/traffic ticket? http://www.JoCoTraffic.com
jlj3394 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-15-2008, 09:41 AM   #13 (permalink)
BANNED
 
loanshark's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 3,227
Images: 41
Some of the owners here drive their cars harder and trash them and not take care of them, far worse than rentals.
loanshark is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-15-2008, 09:44 AM   #14 (permalink)
2005 Ardent Red, Touring
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Beverly Hills
Posts: 2,534
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
delise is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-15-2008, 09:48 AM   #15 (permalink)
It's a Lotus
 
LARRY's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Beverly Hills, Ca.
Posts: 16,986
Quote:
Originally Posted by CosmosMpower View Post
Hell no
__________________
2005 Saffron Yellow Elise. Stage II Exhaust. 2007 ProBax seats.

"We know they're magical and worth every minute we spend on them. The whole Lotus owners' world is like a secret handshake among people who understand that." (R&T)
LARRY is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-15-2008, 09:50 AM   #16 (permalink)
is it supposed to squeek?
 
33truballa33's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Tacoma
Posts: 624
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
33truballa33 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-15-2008, 09:52 AM   #17 (permalink)
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 167
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.
goldfive is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-15-2008, 09:55 AM   #18 (permalink)
Registered User
 
macdady2424's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Northern NJ
Posts: 1,310
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
macdady2424 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-15-2008, 09:57 AM   #19 (permalink)
Registered User
 
yellowlotus's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: taxachusetts,usa
Posts: 234
run the other way
__________________
05' US Elise.190hp,HRM edition,Sport pack,Touring pack,starshield,custom painted engine covers,S111 boomerang rear hook,k&n air filter,Stage II exhaust(actually just customised),Lotus driving lights,Infinity speakers,Lid Bone,V1 radar with remote audio/display,JVC stereo-subwoofer-rear cam,TRmotorsports wheels,lightweight Braille battery,alotaluv....
yellowlotus is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-15-2008, 10:01 AM   #20 (permalink)
Registered User
 
zevil's Avatar
 
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.
zevil is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

  LotusTalk - The Lotus Cars Community > Lotus Discussions > General Discussion (Lotus related)



Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

vB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On


All times are GMT -8. The time now is 10:46 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.6.8
Copyright ©2000 - 2009, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Search Engine Optimization by vBSEO 3.1.0