Highest Mileage Rental Car (from a multinational company)
Discussion
I am still pottering around in a variety of rental cars (on expenses) as my own motorcar is still languishing at the Ford dealer due to lack of parts (how that happens for a vehicle still in production Lord Knows).
Anyway, this week's vehicle is a Citroen C4 which I was surprised to see was on 65.5k miles (on a '23' plate).
It even failed its first MoT in June - https://vehiclescore.co.uk/score?registration=BW23...
Such an old and leggy car seems strange to be in stock with a major rental company. I assume its been someone's long term rental and they are just running it into the ground for the tourist season.
Driving Review: amusingly wallowly in the classic Citroen style, and the typical 1.2 Puretech engine characteristic of being nippy around town but no further power after 3000rpm if you attempt to wind it out. It is the first car I have had to actually use the key to start the engine in years, probably the last was a rented i10 about a decade ago.
What sheds/bangers/rent-a-wrecks have others been lucky enough to be issued?
Anyway, this week's vehicle is a Citroen C4 which I was surprised to see was on 65.5k miles (on a '23' plate).
It even failed its first MoT in June - https://vehiclescore.co.uk/score?registration=BW23...
Such an old and leggy car seems strange to be in stock with a major rental company. I assume its been someone's long term rental and they are just running it into the ground for the tourist season.
Driving Review: amusingly wallowly in the classic Citroen style, and the typical 1.2 Puretech engine characteristic of being nippy around town but no further power after 3000rpm if you attempt to wind it out. It is the first car I have had to actually use the key to start the engine in years, probably the last was a rented i10 about a decade ago.
What sheds/bangers/rent-a-wrecks have others been lucky enough to be issued?
I used to work for one. If the service schedule was missed by long enough it triggered some sort of algorithm and they were then just run until they died.
The real high mileage ones normally got sent out on government contract hires. Lots of insignias with 80k plus on them.
Autos tended to hang around a fair bit too as they were always in high demand so often missed servicing windows.
The real high mileage ones normally got sent out on government contract hires. Lots of insignias with 80k plus on them.
Autos tended to hang around a fair bit too as they were always in high demand so often missed servicing windows.
Recently booked a Tesla model 3 from Hertz in Florida. It was half the price of a similar sized petrol car. Thought it was people not wanting to hire an ev but no, on arrival was pointed to my car. It was in good condition but had 168000 miles on it. Think it was a 2021 model. Drove as well as the one I used to own at home and range was pretty much the same!
The wood trims and plastic dash had t held up too well in the Florida sun, bit I was impressed by how well it had coped with the mileage and the range was still as good as my 40k mile example.
The wood trims and plastic dash had t held up too well in the Florida sun, bit I was impressed by how well it had coped with the mileage and the range was still as good as my 40k mile example.
Had a Seat Ibiza from Budget at Shannon airport about 4 or 5 years ago that had about 60k on it. Bodywork was scruffy with marks on every panel to the point that the inspection sheet was just a big circle around the entire car and the guy just said, don’t dent it but don’t worry about any more marks as we can no longer tell what’s new or previous. Was a refreshing attitude and was hardly checked on return bar the fuel level.
Mechanically, it was as tight as a drum. Engine, gearbox, suspension all were good and actually quite impressive on a daily used rental car.
At that time they were hanging onto cars longer as covid was still messing up the market.
Mechanically, it was as tight as a drum. Engine, gearbox, suspension all were good and actually quite impressive on a daily used rental car.
At that time they were hanging onto cars longer as covid was still messing up the market.
Are rental companies holding on to cars a lot longer than they used to?
Going back about 10-15 years I used to often end up with a rental, either via the local Land Rover dealer when my Defender was throwing a tantrum, or if I'd rented something more practical for a long run. They always had less than 10k on them, as well as a sticker on the instrument cluster saying the company must be contacted if the mileage goes above 18,000.
Think it was Thrifty and Enterprise I used to use back then.
Going back about 10-15 years I used to often end up with a rental, either via the local Land Rover dealer when my Defender was throwing a tantrum, or if I'd rented something more practical for a long run. They always had less than 10k on them, as well as a sticker on the instrument cluster saying the company must be contacted if the mileage goes above 18,000.
Think it was Thrifty and Enterprise I used to use back then.
Maybe 20 years ago, renting from Kerry airport Ireland as I regularly did, I was allocated a very old battered Toyota Corolla, I did question it and was told there was nothing else available.
Near 200k on it, I think it was a staff runaround, it did the job.
Guess it was a case of give the regular you know the shed rather than a random customer.
Other times I was allocated much bigger cars at no extra cost, so went with it without complaint.
Near 200k on it, I think it was a staff runaround, it did the job.
Guess it was a case of give the regular you know the shed rather than a random customer.
Other times I was allocated much bigger cars at no extra cost, so went with it without complaint.
Most rental companies changed their fleet profiles since Covid as they historically kept cars 6-12 months but a combination of low supply and low discounts made them keep cars longer. A lot of the daily rental fleet terms have reduced so rental companies now need to look closer at the fleet disposal program however it’s rare you will see a BVRLA member with cars over 75,000 miles.
Doesitdrive said:
Maybe 20 years ago, renting from Kerry airport Ireland as I regularly did, I was allocated a very old battered Toyota Corolla, I did question it and was told there was nothing else available.
Near 200k on it, I think it was a staff runaround, it did the job.
Guess it was a case of give the regular you know the shed rather than a random customer.
Other times I was allocated much bigger cars at no extra cost, so went with it without complaint.
I rented from Europcar at Kerry Airport and got allocated a Toyota Carina E. When I got to the car it was covered in mud and looked like it had been through a hedge at least 1,000 times - scratched to buggery was an understatement. For a 3 year old car it had 100k on it. I went straight back into the terminal to protest at the condition of the car and the clean condition sheet. The agent was nonplussed and said "Oh, you've got the managers car". And with that she shaded in the entire vehicle pictogram with her biro and initialled it. It was a surprisingly comfortable and economical car.Near 200k on it, I think it was a staff runaround, it did the job.
Guess it was a case of give the regular you know the shed rather than a random customer.
Other times I was allocated much bigger cars at no extra cost, so went with it without complaint.
About 6-7 years ago I had a rental from enterprise (my 3 series had been hit, and BMW assist arranged enterprise to drop another 320d touring at my door).
It was an 18 plate in Jan 2019 and had well over 30k on the clock. Most wheels were mullered, most panels had a lot of deep swirls/scratches on it and the front bumper grille had a big hole in it.
It was an 18 plate in Jan 2019 and had well over 30k on the clock. Most wheels were mullered, most panels had a lot of deep swirls/scratches on it and the front bumper grille had a big hole in it.
vikingaero said:
Doesitdrive said:
Maybe 20 years ago, renting from Kerry airport Ireland as I regularly did, I was allocated a very old battered Toyota Corolla, I did question it and was told there was nothing else available.
Near 200k on it, I think it was a staff runaround, it did the job.
Guess it was a case of give the regular you know the shed rather than a random customer.
Other times I was allocated much bigger cars at no extra cost, so went with it without complaint.
I rented from Europcar at Kerry Airport and got allocated a Toyota Carina E. When I got to the car it was covered in mud and looked like it had been through a hedge at least 1,000 times - scratched to buggery was an understatement. For a 3 year old car it had 100k on it. I went straight back into the terminal to protest at the condition of the car and the clean condition sheet. The agent was nonplussed and said "Oh, you've got the managers car". And with that she shaded in the entire vehicle pictogram with her biro and initialled it. It was a surprisingly comfortable and economical car.Near 200k on it, I think it was a staff runaround, it did the job.
Guess it was a case of give the regular you know the shed rather than a random customer.
Other times I was allocated much bigger cars at no extra cost, so went with it without complaint.
In recent years I use one of the broker sites, they can be ridiculous cheap, at both Kerry and Dublin and seem to get goid cars every time.
It was Europecar I used to use, I have a friend working there now, but his "deals" can't compete with online, or Ryanair hire cars, which are usually as cheap as the other sites.
Twice I have paid 5 euro a day for an upgrade offer, from a medium car to a jag XF and an E class.
Enterprise really went down hill after Covid, I think they started buying fleets, pre Covid I would have rentals every other week and they never had more the 9k on the clock
Last time I used them I had the misfortune of being given a 2020 Irish registered (I’m in England) Kia Nero which had 97,000 on it!
The other awful one was a Renault traffic which was as battered as an Amazon prime sprinter and was full of builders rubble and has 115,000 on it
Luckily left that company and now when I get one it’s from switch and is usually less than a year old, had some nice stuff BYD seal u, Mini Cooper s, golfs etc
Last time I used them I had the misfortune of being given a 2020 Irish registered (I’m in England) Kia Nero which had 97,000 on it!
The other awful one was a Renault traffic which was as battered as an Amazon prime sprinter and was full of builders rubble and has 115,000 on it
Luckily left that company and now when I get one it’s from switch and is usually less than a year old, had some nice stuff BYD seal u, Mini Cooper s, golfs etc
I got into Las Vegas late, 1 or 2am ish, and the only car rental car they had left looked just like one of those pieces of junk from Idiocracy with well over 100,000 miles.
I had a minimum of 2-3000 miles to go and this thing screamed its tiny head off at 65 mph.
It clearly lived on to tick a stock box but presumably was hardly used.
I elected to drive around Vegas all night until they were open again to get a real car. That lasted until a homeless lass in a car park told me the lights didn't work.
I had a minimum of 2-3000 miles to go and this thing screamed its tiny head off at 65 mph.
It clearly lived on to tick a stock box but presumably was hardly used.
I elected to drive around Vegas all night until they were open again to get a real car. That lasted until a homeless lass in a car park told me the lights didn't work.
W00DY said:
Rented a Toyota Aqua in NZ from a large national chain. It was a JDM import with 160k on it. Worked perfectly well and no-one even bothered to check it even existed when i returned the keys.
Renting well-used cars where they don't care has always been the easiest in my experience.
That was my exact experience there, Toyota Aqua, too. It weren't too peppy in the mountains. Renting well-used cars where they don't care has always been the easiest in my experience.
It is apparently NZ's most stolen car.
I presume that's because you can pop one open on the way to the shop to save a walk and leave it there for someone else to nick.
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