Alan Andrews
Top Poster
Lifetime VIP Member
Condition, condition, condition.
and
Service records, service records, service records.
and
Service records, service records, service records.
Personally I wouldn’t buy an ex hire vehicle..You have no idea how it’s been treated by any of the hirers..Just because it’s an ex rental doesn’t mean you will get it a better price..Also likely to have higher miles..In the end it’s your choice..
Niborn
VIP Member
I don't know if I would prefer an ex rental model ? Why.. because before I bought mine I rented . When I brought my rental back after I had it for a few months and did 6000 plus miles.. the guy said oh you have done a lot of miles , I said yes do you want to check it over ? He said no because I can see you have taken care of it , no need he said . "Most of the rentals come back in a terrible state and we have to work on them"
If the above is even partly true why would you prefer a rental instead of a privately owned and cared for vehicle with about the same miles on it , also still in VW guarantee ?
Not that it will apply to your purchase , it is too far away in time , but late next year I will sell mine , a perfectly looked after California , top model and its loaded with extras , it has a 5 year warranty , so one year will be left by then. Id much rather have mine then a rental which has been who knows where .
Id look for a good deal privately if you are not buying new .
Best wishes
If the above is even partly true why would you prefer a rental instead of a privately owned and cared for vehicle with about the same miles on it , also still in VW guarantee ?
Not that it will apply to your purchase , it is too far away in time , but late next year I will sell mine , a perfectly looked after California , top model and its loaded with extras , it has a 5 year warranty , so one year will be left by then. Id much rather have mine then a rental which has been who knows where .
Id look for a good deal privately if you are not buying new .
Best wishes
Niborn
VIP Member
Exactly
B
Barna67
That’s really good advice, it is just proving to be quite difficult to find the right one at the moment so when this one came up I got very excited! I think I’ll still go and have a look and see. Are there any parts that will be more misused than others that I should keep an eye out for?
Niborn
VIP Member
Im not at all an expert, i would just think its the not obvious and visual things which would worry me more, its easy to see paintwork and upholstery etc and check things work, service history shouldn't be a problem too.
tuono001
VIP Member
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When I bought my beach, a couple of years ago, it had been privately owned for a couple of owners. By chance at Volksworld I was chatting to the guy at Campervantastic, turns out it was first owned by them as a hire van.
Other than the paint work not as good as I'd like, they lived down a hedged road, the rest was perfectly fine and mileage was average for its year. I'd buy another ex hire van but throughly check everything beforehand.
Now had it 3 years with no problems and just changed the usual consumables.
Other than the paint work not as good as I'd like, they lived down a hedged road, the rest was perfectly fine and mileage was average for its year. I'd buy another ex hire van but throughly check everything beforehand.
Now had it 3 years with no problems and just changed the usual consumables.
AlisonF
Super Poster
VIP Member
Lifetime VIP Member
I don’t think you mentioned Beach or Ocean (if you did I’m Sorry).
I’m No expert but you should check everything works - roof opening / closing, gas system, water pump, water tank sensors, sliding window seals, fridge and fridge hinges...
I’m No expert but you should check everything works - roof opening / closing, gas system, water pump, water tank sensors, sliding window seals, fridge and fridge hinges...
Alan Andrews
Top Poster
Lifetime VIP Member
download the buying checklists/guides that are in the VIP section on this forum.
B
Barna67
It’s an Ocean, sorry did not mention!
Wild Bob
I wouldn't buy an ex rental either, having owned our new Ocean from Sep last year I can imagine the damage that could have been caused without much care taken using it. As the whole setup of the Cali in my opinion needs care and attention to avoid damage to the vehicle or equipment. When owning Cali your very careful how you do this, making sure the roof is ok when lowering, tamber doors opened and closed slowly etc. There must be a loved Cali out there to buy rather than an ex rental.
kurienp
Super Poster
VIP Member
Get it checked and have an independent check by the AA. If it has the 5 year extended then I would not worry about it.
It is like buying any other vehicle. Use your head and not your heart during the buying process.
It is like buying any other vehicle. Use your head and not your heart during the buying process.
Karlos
I have just had a week in Scotland ad saw quite a few rentals, mainly Coast's. After what I have seen this week I would never buy a rental, one guy wound the awning out and sat under it with no leg support. He was amazed when I went over and showed him the legs and then showed him how he should be winding it in and out.
Borris
Super Poster
VIP Member
Exactly the same thing applies when buying ex-rental vehicles as when buying any other vehicle. Check, check, check and check. Every panel, every function, every feature, every inch should be checked thoroughly and methodically. Note down all defects, damage and faults however small. Check both the service records and warranty records. You may need to contact a main dealer for these. Ask if there where any previous accidents or repairs and if so how and who repaired the damage. Your insurance company may be able to help in identifying any previous major damage. Was the work guaranteed? If necessary, get quotes for how much any body repairs are likely to cost and find out how much faults will cost to rectify. It's always best to know this information before entering into negotiations over price. Check condition of the tyres and brakes.
Once you have the full picture, you will have all the ammunition you need to either drive down the price or force remedial work prior to agreeing to purchase. If they won't budge or the list is too long then walk away. Just remember though that if you do decide to buy a vehicle that needs work then these vehicles can be very expensive to fix.
Should you buy an ex-rental? No reason why not. It's not as if you are buying an ex-driving school vehicle just a vehicle that's been driven by lots of different experienced drivers. The deposits on the hiring these vehicles are deliberately high to encourage renters to take care of them. Also if the vehicle has dsg then I would imagine that there's less likely hood that any mechanical abuse will have been caused to the gearbox. It's condition and service history that matters.
Once you have the full picture, you will have all the ammunition you need to either drive down the price or force remedial work prior to agreeing to purchase. If they won't budge or the list is too long then walk away. Just remember though that if you do decide to buy a vehicle that needs work then these vehicles can be very expensive to fix.
Should you buy an ex-rental? No reason why not. It's not as if you are buying an ex-driving school vehicle just a vehicle that's been driven by lots of different experienced drivers. The deposits on the hiring these vehicles are deliberately high to encourage renters to take care of them. Also if the vehicle has dsg then I would imagine that there's less likely hood that any mechanical abuse will have been caused to the gearbox. It's condition and service history that matters.
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Calimili
I've bought a Polo once from Cargiant, it was an ex rental. The car was and remained perfect till long after I sold it 5 years later.
I then bought a bmw 3 series, again an ex-rental, not an issue.
I wouldn't want a Cali from a rental company, especially because the rental company itself may not have explained the correct use of a California to its customers in the first place.
This thread of mine comes to memory:
https://vwcaliforniaclub.com/threads/useless-vw-van-„specialist“.31865/
I then bought a bmw 3 series, again an ex-rental, not an issue.
I wouldn't want a Cali from a rental company, especially because the rental company itself may not have explained the correct use of a California to its customers in the first place.
This thread of mine comes to memory:
https://vwcaliforniaclub.com/threads/useless-vw-van-„specialist“.31865/
California4x4
Top Poster
VIP Member
Unless you know exactly what you’re looking for, it might be difficult to identify all of the things that could go wrong or be damaged by someone who isn’t treating it as their own. Can you rent it for a weekend and knock the price off the purchase price if you decide to buy? I’d like to think you would get a good idea of any issues with cold and hot engine, mixed driving conditions and all of the habitation in a weekend.
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Karlos
Frightening.
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