Would you buy an ex-rental Elise? - Page 3 - LotusTalk

cspak71 · 04-15-2008, 01:56 PM

In agreement to almost everyone else:

hell -to the- no!

When has anyone here NOT driven a rental car without reckless abandonment?

exarkun1178 · 04-15-2008, 01:57 PM

no- i would never.

Noen · 04-15-2008, 02:29 PM

I'd offer the guy like 23-24k. If he took it, rental or not, warranty or not, it would be worth it. You could go over the car with a fine tooth comb at a shop and replace all the potential worn junk.

ECU dump FTW too.

MattG · 04-15-2008, 02:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Greg

Not a lot different than a demo car...

'Greg

I don't know that I'd buy one of those either! Though a demo car has one advantage, you know the dealer will use their own service dept to take care of it and you can't ask for better than that. I wouldn't expect a rental car company to have dealers performing the service, it doesn't make financial sense.

mike55 · 04-15-2008, 03:25 PM

My 2006 Elise was a rental. It had 7k miles on it when I bought it and has 20k today. It has been to the track a half dozen times or so but I consider myself a gentle driver.

I have had not problems at all.

May your luck be as good as mine! (Check to make sure the initial service was done and that Lotus will still honor the warranty just in case.)

RichS · 04-15-2008, 03:35 PM

What's the difference between a rental and an SUV?

A rental will go anywhere!

Delliott · 04-15-2008, 03:46 PM

I'd love to see an ECU dump from a rental.

Shawn C · 04-15-2008, 05:09 PM

Whats the price? That would be the deciding factor.

Aedo · 04-15-2008, 07:25 PM

Firstly are you planning to keep it for a long time (which will reduce the resale aspect) or are you looking at short term ownership?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Monsi

I'd do it... if you wanna do an engine swap

Actually that is probably the only bit I wouldn't worry about!

I would have a very good look under the car and at the suspension though!

Quote:

Originally Posted by ace10

Obviouly yes... for the right price.

If this was rented through the LCUSA/Enterprise program they ran last year, then there may be a specific allowance for warranty coverage despite the commecial use exclusionary language.

Only LCUSA can verify if the warranty is in force.

+1 - confirm the warranty is in place, then negotiate!

Quote:

Originally Posted by codymac

Yup.

I'd go over it with a fine toothed comb and expect to have some issues (such as gearbox) soon and budget my offer accordingly. I wouldn't pay what they're asking in this case though, as there's too many nice cars that could be had for not too much more money.

If I were building a race car and could score a bargain on an ex-rental, why not?

+1 - what he said!

esoteric · 04-15-2008, 07:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cspak71

In agreement to almost everyone else:

hell -to the- no!

When has anyone here NOT driven a rental car without reckless abandonment?

+100 exactamente

PatrickShim · 04-15-2008, 07:32 PM

The only reason why would buy a ex-rental Lotus (or any car) would be if I am 100% certain that I can flip the car and make some profit.

I'd never buy a ex-rental car to own.

Quote:

Originally Posted by jlj3394

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.

Very true!!!

mjf · 04-15-2008, 08:20 PM

It could be made into a reasonable deal.

(1) insist on an ECU dump, and having it checked out by a lotus dealership
(2) insist on an extended warranty
(3) research what an appropriate price is on it. $32k is not reasonable for a former rental vehicle.

In general, I'd say no. You can get a barely used 07 for not much more than that.

apexdc · 04-15-2008, 10:01 PM

I was ready to go back and pick up an 06 from a former Socal Lotus dealer. Everything was finished and I had already picked up a cashiers check for the car. The salesman then admitted that the car was a rental, claiming he didn't know. I called off the deal with no hesitation.

Racer M · 04-15-2008, 10:14 PM

What happened to all those enterprise cars anyways?

chuck_risen · 04-15-2008, 10:19 PM

I personally would never buy a rental car but I would love to see the ECU dump on it. It probably has dozens of rpm limiter hits and standing starts, pages worth I bet.

lotusforsale · 04-16-2008, 04:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aedo

Firstly are you planning to keep it for a long time (which will reduce the resale aspect) or are you looking at short term ownership?

Actually that is probably the only bit I wouldn't worry about!

Haven't you been following the threads about these engines eating their rockers and #3 cam lobes?

Ching · 04-16-2008, 05:13 AM

I dont know the price in US. Depends on the condition of the car and if it's really cheap then whynot? cheap elise always good for honda conversion.

mikecronis · 04-16-2008, 05:59 AM

#26 Video made me cry in sadness. They.. they killed it. Can't we call the SPCC or something? (Society of the Prevention of Cruelty to Cars).

Aedo · 04-16-2008, 06:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lotusforsale

Haven't you been following the threads about these engines eating their rockers and #3 cam lobes?

since my car has a Rover engine no - I haven't followed too closely. But this is something that you would check when doing the thorough inspection I suggested would be essential!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ching

I dont know the price in US. Depends on the condition of the car and if it's really cheap then whynot? cheap elise always good for honda conversion.

not in US - Honda conversion kits are only for Rover engined cars so far...

JimSouCal · 04-16-2008, 09:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Racer M

What happened to all those enterprise cars anyways?

In the Los Angeles area, I saw a few in the Riverside Manheim auctions... And one listed at a used car lot on Hawthorne.

04-15-2008, 01:56 PM	#41 (permalink)
cspak71 Mediocrity is a sin. Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Orange County Posts: 527 Images: 9	In agreement to almost everyone else: hell -to the- no! When has anyone here NOT driven a rental car without reckless abandonment? __________________ '05 SY Elise

04-15-2008, 01:57 PM	#42 (permalink)
exarkun1178 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Point Pleasant Beach, NJ Posts: 4,286	no- i would never. __________________ [Ovarian Odorist] 11:12 pm: why did you ever get into your business rob...you have such great potential in the adult porn industry..

04-15-2008, 03:35 PM	#46 (permalink)
RichS No, it's only an N/A Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 3,285	What's the difference between a rental and an SUV? A rental will go anywhere! __________________ Useful links to vendors removed at Nadeem's request. "Nice avatar by the way, I doubt Colin Chapman would have followed the herd as I have seen many here do. --Nadeem"

04-15-2008, 03:46 PM	#47 (permalink)
Delliott Our 78 AMC Pacer Wagon Join Date: May 2007 Location: Redmond, Washington Posts: 95	I'd love to see an ECU dump from a rental. __________________ Are we there yet? Are we there yet? Are we there yet?

04-15-2008, 05:09 PM	#48 (permalink)
Shawn C Registered User Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Florida Posts: 1,531	Whats the price? That would be the deciding factor. __________________ http://www.youtube.com/jerusdc

04-15-2008, 02:29 PM	#43 (permalink)
Noen Registered User Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 251	I'd offer the guy like 23-24k. If he took it, rental or not, warranty or not, it would be worth it. You could go over the car with a fine tooth comb at a shop and replace all the potential worn junk. ECU dump FTW too.

04-15-2008, 03:25 PM	#45 (permalink)
mike55 Registered User Join Date: May 2007 Location: Moorpark, CA Posts: 60	My 2006 Elise was a rental. It had 7k miles on it when I bought it and has 20k today. It has been to the track a half dozen times or so but I consider myself a gentle driver. I have had not problems at all. May your luck be as good as mine! (Check to make sure the initial service was done and that Lotus will still honor the warranty just in case.)

04-15-2008, 08:20 PM	#52 (permalink)
mjf elf Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Bellevue, WA Posts: 1,339	It could be made into a reasonable deal. (1) insist on an ECU dump, and having it checked out by a lotus dealership (2) insist on an extended warranty (3) research what an appropriate price is on it. $32k is not reasonable for a former rental vehicle. In general, I'd say no. You can get a barely used 07 for not much more than that.

04-15-2008, 10:01 PM	#53 (permalink)
apexdc From close to Roswell.... Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Palm Springs, CA Posts: 427	I was ready to go back and pick up an 06 from a former Socal Lotus dealer. Everything was finished and I had already picked up a cashiers check for the car. The salesman then admitted that the car was a rental, claiming he didn't know. I called off the deal with no hesitation. __________________ 2006 Elise, Graphite Grey/Red leather, Sport Elise Suspension, Hardtop 1992 900SS Ducati Race Spec Built by Ferracci 2006 KTM 950 SuperMoto, a work in progress Wife drives a 2007 Cooper S, our BIG car! Old stuff gone: Ferrari 275GTB/4, '69 1275 Cooper S. '72 500 Fiat, old Jags, etc. Never bought a boring car.

04-15-2008, 10:14 PM	#54 (permalink)
Racer M Good on Ya! Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: SoCal Posts: 88	What happened to all those enterprise cars anyways? __________________ 2004 Scion Xb 2007 VW Passat Wagon 2.0t

04-15-2008, 10:19 PM	#55 (permalink)
chuck_risen Director of Engineering Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: I live in Glen Ellyn IL, a suburb of Chicago. Posts: 922	I personally would never buy a rental car but I would love to see the ECU dump on it. It probably has dozens of rpm limiter hits and standing starts, pages worth I bet.

04-16-2008, 05:13 AM	#57 (permalink)
Ching Registered User Join Date: May 2007 Location: Sydney Posts: 30	I dont know the price in US. Depends on the condition of the car and if it's really cheap then whynot? cheap elise always good for honda conversion.

04-16-2008, 05:59 AM	#58 (permalink)
mikecronis Registered User Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Thornton, CO Posts: 301 Images: 1	#26 Video made me cry in sadness. They.. they killed it. Can't we call the SPCC or something? (Society of the Prevention of Cruelty to Cars).

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