Shopping for a C63? Looked at the rental guys?
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From: Houston - Clear Lake
C63 coupe, Z3M Roadster garage queen
Shopping for a C63? Looked at the rental guys?
There's a big stigma about buying a car from a rental fleet, but you can count on them having had proper maintenance. It's a certainty that they've been driven hard, but cars from other sources where you don't know their history can have been driven even harder. Hertz is listing a 2014 C63 sedan locally that has 18k miles, is 'certified' (by Hertz?) and is priced at $53k. I'm guessing that's a pretty good price. Has anyone here bought one from a rental company?
https://www.hertzcarsales.com/vehicle/details/14493850
https://www.hertzcarsales.com/vehicle/details/14493850
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From: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
2010 C63 AMG, 2009 ISF , 2002 L-Tuned IS300, 2011 ML350
I just bought a commercial truck (GMC Savana) from a rental return , service date of Sept/2014 with 14k km with a 10k$ discount from new.. I think it's worth the saving, at least for commercial vehicle.
I agree the rental companies have strict maintenance rules but for such a car as the C63, I wouldn't like to think about ppl who rented the car to beat on it.
I agree the rental companies have strict maintenance rules but for such a car as the C63, I wouldn't like to think about ppl who rented the car to beat on it.
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From: Olathe, KS
'13 C63 AMG P31
We would all love to not think that anyone would be that cruel. But, you chose that car to rent for a reason... I would drive the **** out of it.
Zcct04, double check everything on the car. See if Hertz has a return policy, so you can get it inspected by Mercedes to make sure everything checks out. If they don't have a return policy, see if you can get it checked out right then and there (most places won't let you though). If a no on all of those, I would keep looking.
Also make sure i has the options/colors you want as well, it's worth waiting for one that has everything you are looking for, even if it is a slight bit more in price.
Zcct04, double check everything on the car. See if Hertz has a return policy, so you can get it inspected by Mercedes to make sure everything checks out. If they don't have a return policy, see if you can get it checked out right then and there (most places won't let you though). If a no on all of those, I would keep looking.
Also make sure i has the options/colors you want as well, it's worth waiting for one that has everything you are looking for, even if it is a slight bit more in price.
Last edited by INS1GNIA; Jul 23, 2015 at 12:07 PM.
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2014 C63, 2013 Mini Cooper S
I have never bought from a rental company. But my first infiniti coupe was initially registered as a fleet car or something like that. Had no problems with the car for the 3 years that I had it.
But I have wondered the same thing about high end rental cars. Cars like the C63 are usually classified as a special category at rental car companies and come with pretty high premium to rent. And most of the places have a limit on the number of miles allowed per day. I think Hertz also makes you sign an agreement that states that you will not track the car (not sure about that one). My point is, not many renters can afford to rent a C63 in the first place (just my theory... I could be completely wrong!). And maybe very rarely for long road trips, due to the mileage restrictions.
And even if the person that rented the car, thrashed it around, the C63 is probably built to be driven hard anyway, right? If the car is a MY2014, it also has a lot of factory warranty left.
I would say, go and check the car out. Drive it around. Ask for the service records. Maybe even take it to a MB dealership and have them inspect the car. If everything checks out, I think it should be ok.
But I have wondered the same thing about high end rental cars. Cars like the C63 are usually classified as a special category at rental car companies and come with pretty high premium to rent. And most of the places have a limit on the number of miles allowed per day. I think Hertz also makes you sign an agreement that states that you will not track the car (not sure about that one). My point is, not many renters can afford to rent a C63 in the first place (just my theory... I could be completely wrong!). And maybe very rarely for long road trips, due to the mileage restrictions.
And even if the person that rented the car, thrashed it around, the C63 is probably built to be driven hard anyway, right? If the car is a MY2014, it also has a lot of factory warranty left.
I would say, go and check the car out. Drive it around. Ask for the service records. Maybe even take it to a MB dealership and have them inspect the car. If everything checks out, I think it should be ok.
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'18 C63A Cabriolet
There's a big stigma about buying a car from a rental fleet, but you can count on them having had proper maintenance. It's a certainty that they've been driven hard, but cars from other sources where you don't know their history can have been driven even harder. Hertz is listing a 2014 C63 sedan locally that has 18k miles, is 'certified' (by Hertz?) and is priced at $53k. I'm guessing that's a pretty good price. Has anyone here bought one from a rental company?
https://www.hertzcarsales.com/vehicle/details/14493850
https://www.hertzcarsales.com/vehicle/details/14493850
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1993 Competition Yellow Mica Mazda RX-7 and 2009 C63
Just because you need to be well off to afford even renting one doesn't mean you'll also be mature and not rag the crap out of it or just not know how to drive fast AND well so as not to damage it (like flooring it while oil isn't up to temp, etc.). If you can get a warranty or afford repairs you should be fine.
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From: Houston - Clear Lake
C63 coupe, Z3M Roadster garage queen
Zcct04, double check everything on the car. See if Hertz has a return policy, so you can get it inspected by Mercedes to make sure everything checks out. If they don't have a return policy, see if you can get it checked out right then and there (most places won't let you though). If a no on all of those, I would keep looking.
Hertz has a kinda unique deal on their used cars. You can rent the car you're interested in for three days before deciding whether or not to keep it. You can get it inspected as many times as you want during the rental period. If you end up buying the car, there's no charge. if you decide not to buy, you just top it off on gas and they charge you a daily rental for the 3 days. It's sort of an extended test drive.
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From: Melbourne, Australia
2010 C63 and 2018 GLC63s
I have just spent near 3 weeks in an as new rential Mustang GT. It had 2,000 miles on it when I got it and I added another 5,000 hard miles. I evaluted all the user features including use of the line lock burnout control.
I later spent 3 days in a 17,000 mile Mustang convertible - what a tired piece of junk at only 17,000 miles.
Buying ex rental car to me = madness.
I later spent 3 days in a 17,000 mile Mustang convertible - what a tired piece of junk at only 17,000 miles.
Buying ex rental car to me = madness.
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From: NY
2001 Porsche 911 Turbo (heavily modified)
I have just spent near 3 weeks in an as new rential Mustang GT. It had 2,000 miles on it when I got it and I added another 5,000 hard miles. I evaluted all the user features including use of the line lock burnout control.
I later spent 3 days in a 17,000 mile Mustang convertible - what a tired piece of junk at only 17,000 miles.
Buying ex rental car to me = madness.
I later spent 3 days in a 17,000 mile Mustang convertible - what a tired piece of junk at only 17,000 miles.
Buying ex rental car to me = madness.
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From: Honolulu, HI
2011 MB C63 AMG. 2014 MUSTANG COVERTIBLE V6. 2010 MUSTANG CONVERTIBLE V6.
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2012 c63 P31
They just dropped OP's linked car to 50k!! 18k of beating in a year is a tough pill to swallow, and it will always be on the carfax, but that's a very decent deal. If you could talk them down another grand that would be a bargain...
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A V8
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'15 T&C & '14 SL63
The problem is all the stuff that breaks between mile 50,000 and 100,000 that otherwise wouldn't have.
Will it? who knows. If it does, will be be expensive? or Minor? who knows.
I wouldn't be worried so much about the engine... with proper oil changes and modern rev limiters they can pretty much take the beating.
I'd more expect increased wear / decreased life from suspension and transmission / drive train.
That said, if you're likely to mod, handy with wrenches, and probably going to be making your own repairs, it may be the best platform for you.
Will it? who knows. If it does, will be be expensive? or Minor? who knows.
I wouldn't be worried so much about the engine... with proper oil changes and modern rev limiters they can pretty much take the beating.
I'd more expect increased wear / decreased life from suspension and transmission / drive train.
That said, if you're likely to mod, handy with wrenches, and probably going to be making your own repairs, it may be the best platform for you.
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2012 C63 P31 sedan
I wouldn't touch a rental C63. The only reason you'd rent a C63 would be to drive the wheels off of it. Who knows how many times it was launched.
The other issue is that the rental past will always be on the CarFax. You think it's hard for Hertz to sell an ex rental (notice all the price drops), imagine how hard it will be for the next guy to sell his two owner ex rental.
The other issue is that the rental past will always be on the CarFax. You think it's hard for Hertz to sell an ex rental (notice all the price drops), imagine how hard it will be for the next guy to sell his two owner ex rental.
