NSR: Buying a used car question?

**snowranger** · 03-06-2008, 03:43 PM

If I find that a car has been used as part of a fleet (rental, taxi, etc.) as shown on a VIN check, how does this impact the value if any?

Also, if this car is sold by a dealer, I assume that it is as-is, and I should get my own mechanical inspection.

I've got the TMV value for it, and the private party value is about what the dealer is asking. How do I negotiate, if I do not know the dealer's cost?

Used car Maggots opine.

**Tye 1on** · 03-06-2008, 03:52 PM

Fleet, if i'm not mistaken, could also be corporate, not just livery [taxi, rental]. Might double check that, which might impact your assumption on what kind of use it had gotten. Might have been driven by a CEO full of hookers and blow.

imho, don't worry figuring out his cost. Instead, first decide EXACTLY what you want in a vehicle, [not as easy as it sounds], and then how much you would pay for that model in a given condition. If you spend more than that, or aren't really locked in on the model/options/mileage, etc, then you will have a high chance of buyer's remorse.
And yes on the as is and inspection questions.
just 20 pesos....

**RShea** · 03-06-2008, 04:09 PM

You do not care what they paid for the car, maybe they took it in on trade or went to the auction and purchased, but all you really care about is the condition, any info they can provide to you about the background of the vehicle, and the book values (trade, wholesale, and retail) on that vehicle. You can take a look at a few tools to negotiate with them if you want. First is go and do a look up on the vehicle on both Kelly Blue Book and Edmunds on the internet. Put all the info you know about the car in- options, miles, etc. and see what they report for your region of the country. Then start negotiating at the wholesale price listed on those sites.

Also remember that if it was a fleet vehicle, depending on the fleet- that has some plusses and minuses to it. Plusses can be the fact that rentals or fleet vehicles could be regularly maintained mechanically- oil changed every scheduled increment, vehicle regularly gone over for things like brakes, etc. The disadvantage can be the fact that the drivers are not the owners and can feel it is ok to beat the vehicle and do things that they may never do to a car they "own"- even little thinks like not caring about scratches in the paint, to not caring about something like hitting pot hole at 70 miles an hour.

**snowranger** · 03-06-2008, 04:23 PM

I though livery meant livestock. Below are the records for this:

Fleet, rental, lease and/or taxi use record(s)
No police use record
No government use record
No livery use record
No driver education record

Thanks Mags. The car has been sitting for a while despite what seems to be a good price. The VIN looks good except for the fleet use.

**Tye 1on** · 03-06-2008, 04:28 PM

Sounds like maybe a lease return? Does the miles/year match with say being on a 3 year lease? Could have been a rental too. How about asking the dealer to find out for you?

**mr_gyptian** · 03-06-2008, 04:35 PM

Originally Posted by snowranger

I though livery meant livestock. Below are the records for this:

Fleet, rental, lease and/or taxi use record(s)
No police use record
No government use record
No livery use record
No driver education record

Thanks Mags. The car has been sitting for a while despite what seems to be a good price. The VIN looks good except for the fleet use.

most likely is a rental car from Enterprise or Hertz.

just figure out your budget and stick to it. there are plenty of payment calculators on the web to help ya.

**snowranger** · 03-06-2008, 04:47 PM

It's an 06 Escape Hybrid with 29,000 miles. My intent is to get the best price for this kind of vehicle instead of getting the lowest monthly payment.

**snowranger** · 03-06-2008, 05:08 PM

Originally Posted by mr_gyptian

most likely is a rental car from Enterprise or Hertz.

just figure out your budget and stick to it. there are plenty of payment calculators on the web to help ya.

The dealer said this about the fleet question.

It was a trade in. The leasing company puts in under a fleet structure.

Is that right?

**mr_gyptian** · 03-06-2008, 05:49 PM

with a hybrid it is honestly some type of corporate fleet type vehicle. probably for some type of sales.

the hybrid's are almost impossible to get a hold of new right now. I can't imagine that dealer wanting to deal much on that unit.

**snowranger** · 03-06-2008, 08:36 PM

Originally Posted by mr_gyptian

with a hybrid it is honestly some type of corporate fleet type vehicle. probably for some type of sales.

the hybrid's are almost impossible to get a hold of new right now. I can't imagine that dealer wanting to deal much on that unit.

Usually they ask really high and negotiate from there, but this one is priced right at the TMV. There seem to be quite a few used ones out there though, and a lot of the private sellers are citing financial reasons for the sale. Well its gone while I was driving to see it. Easy come easy go.

**Adam132601** · 03-06-2008, 09:47 PM

It does matter what they paid, or at least about what they paid. Why spend more than you need to? Dealers need to move cars, a car sitting there is $ lost for them, they always get more cars. Scout out auctions or pm me what kind of fleet turn in year approximate condition etc. and I'll let you know about what they paid.

**BobMc** · 03-06-2008, 09:57 PM

Originally Posted by snowranger

My intent is to get the best price for this kind of vehicle.

Usually searching for the cheapest of any vehicle isn't a wise choice. I'd personally rather have the nicest vehicle for the best price I could get it at. You'll always find cheap cars, usually for a reason. I don't know about you, but I've rented cars before, if you know what I mean.

BobMc

**snowranger** · 03-06-2008, 11:18 PM

Originally Posted by Adam132601

It does matter what they paid, or at least about what they paid. Why spend more than you need to? Dealers need to move cars, a car sitting there is $ lost for them, they always get more cars. Scout out auctions or pm me what kind of fleet turn in year approximate condition etc. and I'll let you know about what they paid.

Thanks, I may take you up on it later.

**snowranger** · 03-06-2008, 11:21 PM

Originally Posted by BobMc

Usually searching for the cheapest of any vehicle isn't a wise choice. I'd personally rather have the nicest vehicle for the best price I could get it at. You'll always find cheap cars, usually for a reason. I don't know about you, but I've rented cars before, if you know what I mean.

BobMc

You're right too cheap usually means salvage or something like that, but paying more for a pre-certified or whatever is often a waste of money. Private sellers will often settle for a lot less because they cannot bargain well, are desperate to sell, or hate going through the sale process. You've got to ask the right questions to learn that.

**Tye 1on** · 03-07-2008, 09:55 AM

Originally Posted by snowranger

You're right too cheap usually means salvage or something like that, but paying more for a pre-certified or whatever is often a waste of money. Private sellers will often settle for a lot less because they cannot bargain well, are desperate to sell, or hate going through the sale process. You've got to ask the right questions to learn that.

Errr, sure, you're right, but your whole question was regarding a purchase from a dealer. Let's not go moving the goalposts around now

Good luck with the eventual purchase.