Mazda5 Rent2buy Update

[Vintinck]

Hey guys, looks like I'm probably going to buy the car, just wanted to mention a few things I found wrong with it when I took it to the mechanic.

1) shake in steering wheel at highway speeds, mechanic drove the car, is pretty sure its a wheel/tire issue. Out of balance or bent rim

2) For some reason they mounted both the tires on the passenger side backwards (they are directional tires).

3) They cut a hole in the main skidplate so they could access the oil filter easier. What idiots. does anyone know whay this will cost to get replaced?

4) Its going to need brake pads soon

5) its been abused by a carwash, light swirls and scratchs everywhere (its a black car) so it will need a good detailing.

6) They only could find one key, although they may be able to find the other, the guy at hertz just couldn't locate it at the time.

The car is a 2008 touring with 42k miles on it. Asking $11050 for it. How much do you think these fixes will cost me. I know its a good price but the car was a rental and does have a few cosmetic issues inside and out.

Thanks again!

 

[chief_wiggum]

Just remember, the fastest all-terrain vehicle in the world is a rental car; buy at your own peril.

 

[karvounas]

Just remember, the fastest all-terrain vehicle in the world is a rental car; buy at your own peril.

yeah that's right.

 

[Heat]

Just remember, the fastest all-terrain vehicle in the world is a rental car; buy at your own peril.

Reminds me of the time I was running a rental Chrysler between lake clubs for a fundraiser, it was an SUV with 8 seats. I had 15 in there. While driving through a ditch the guy sitting next to me asks me what type of vehicle can go anywhere... the answer was a rental.

 

[5zoom]

Here is a list of answers to the problems:

1. Wheel shake is could be warped rotors too if it gets worse with braking.
2. In addition to number one, the directional thing is very important and can make the front end to weird things. These cars have very sensitive alignment/balancing issues.
3. Make them replace the skid plate before you buy.
4. ditto on the brakes
5. Its a van/wagon, it will get more scratches and dings.
6. If they can't find the second key, make them get you one.

If they do all this and it checks out with carfax/autocheck, the price is a good deal.

 

[x10dude]

+1 on the second key. Without it you can't make a duplicate. You have to go back to Mazda and it will cost you $$$.

 

[Vintinck]

They're not budging on anything. GRrrrrr.

Still, at 11050, its a good buy, even with $1000 worth of work to make it perfect. And it might be less. What's a brake job go for? on these anyway?

 

[sumyunggy]

I was looking into this program before we bought our 5. Probably would have gone with it too, had it not been for the fact that out of the 3 vehicles that I set up appointments for only one of them actually showed up. Even better, the one that showed up was a different color than advertised!

As for the rental thing, it's pretty hard to find an 08 that was at one time a rental (at least in the Sacramento area) so I figured it's one of the risks I'll have to run to get the car at a price I can swallow.

 

[fam]

I bought a rental (black 2006) with 22k miles on it for 12500.

I was in the same boat. Ill never buy a rental again, bought it at our local mazda lot where I bought multiple new mazda's and trusted them without checking....

Ugh

The interior stink that the camoflauge came into smell about 2-3 weeks after owning. The plastic undercarriage is all jacked up a lets water in when its raining (blower has a small squeak when raining and air\heat is on). Its 10x louder on the highway than my wife's 5.

Personally for a rental I dont think thats a good price, 10500-11 even with that kind of abuse\miles is what I may pay. You can get alot lower mile version for around 12-12500 different places.

Just my .02

 

[x10dude]

Just remember, the fastest all-terrain vehicle in the world is a rental car; buy at your own peril.

Reminds me of our company trips were we'd have contests to see who could get all 4 wheels off the ground with our rental cars...

To each their own, but personally I'd never buy a rental just because of the abuse they take and also they are not well taken care of by the car companies. They certainly wash them to make them look nice but other that that, they really let them go mechanically.

 

[CoreyMac]

I was a road warrior for a few years and never really gave a second thought to things like shifting from reverse to drive and flooring it or drive to park while still rolling and all kinds of other random dumb stuff that you would do to save time when you're driving a car you'll never see again. I wasn't brutal or anything that would get me flagged, but I would never drive my own car the way I drove a rental.

 

[Vintinck]

Well, looks like I'm taking my chances. I assume there are a lot more former rental cars on the road than we know about. I know a lot of used car dealers sell them and don't outright say that they're rental cars, and you're much less likely to hear a story about a rental purchase that went without a hitch than the opposite.

On a side rant, I think its extremely immature to drive a rental car like an a-hole. I just wouldn't treat a vehicle like that for no reason. I guess when you have done as much work on your own cars as I have, you have an appreciation for the work that goes into repairing them. Just because you can, doesn't mean you should. end of rant.

 

[fam]

Good luck with it. Mine has 60k on it now and ive had no issues that cost me money(rental from huertz).

 

[Rockin03mp5]

good luck with your new 5!

mine is an 08 touring as well.

the shake at speed is probably the wheels/bad alignment. there were a lot of threads about people needing alignments or new wheels to stop it. (no one really ever figured out which one was the cause)

ive heard of a lot of cheap oil places cutting a hole for better access for the oil filter.

the paint can be restored with a good detail.

the brakes are just a normal wear and tear item.

heck, shouldnt this thing still be under some sort of warrenty? my 08 touring is.

and make them get that other key!

 

[Vintinck]

They won't do anything about the key, I am going to search the car again, sometimes they hide them in there I guess. I got a quote from the local dealer, $350. Does that sound about right? I've got AAA with free towing so i will probably just take my chances and hope I don't loose the key.

It looks like I am also purchasing an extended warranty. Its going to cost $1500 - $1800, but its complete coverage for 4 years or 60K more (over 100k total). I think it will be worth it for the peace of mind alone. I still have some of the factory powertrain warranty left, 36 months and 18k more miles.

so total price will be about 12800, which I think is still a good deal with the full warranty (which is transferable if I sell the car) The closest priced mazda5 in the area is more than that and it would be without any warranty.

 

[fam]

post pics when you can. Also, get some scantily clad models to pose in front of it.

 

[x10dude]

They won't do anything about the key, I am going to search the car again, sometimes they hide them in there I guess. I got a quote from the local dealer, $350. Does that sound about right? I've got AAA with free towing so i will probably just take my chances and hope I don't loose the key.

$350 sounds about right. If you had the second key you could make your own duplicate for around $25.