I look for a former leased vehicle, about a year old, and from the manufacturer’s authorized dealer. While such cars are not cheap (most likely not in Mil’s price range):
1) Such a car was well cared for, as the lessee brings it back to the dealer for maintenance as part of the lease.
2) After a year, most problems with the car have been corrected. I once bought a brand new car and it seemed that during the first year I was constantly bringing it back to the dealer to fix one problem or another.
3) Car manufacturers tend to send their best leased cars to their own dealers. For example, Ford will tend to send their best former leased vehicles to Ford dealers. Leased Cars that have been problematic will be sold to independent used car dealers.
4) People who lease cars tend to want the latest model. They are turning in the car because they want the snazzy new model, not because the car was a lemon. That answers the obvious question “if this car is so great, why did the owner part with it?”
5) As Penny notes above, one should look for a car with only a single previous owner. A leased car only a year old almost certainly had only one lessee.
Aladar30 Premium Member over 4 years ago
These are really useful notions. But her friend seems to be about to throw up. Maybe too much information at once?
rothj Premium Member over 4 years ago
If you are stupid enough to buy a car that’s been used as a taxi, you deserve what you get. Be sure to clean the used condoms out of the seats.
Newenglandah over 4 years ago
I look for a former leased vehicle, about a year old, and from the manufacturer’s authorized dealer. While such cars are not cheap (most likely not in Mil’s price range):
1) Such a car was well cared for, as the lessee brings it back to the dealer for maintenance as part of the lease.
2) After a year, most problems with the car have been corrected. I once bought a brand new car and it seemed that during the first year I was constantly bringing it back to the dealer to fix one problem or another.
3) Car manufacturers tend to send their best leased cars to their own dealers. For example, Ford will tend to send their best former leased vehicles to Ford dealers. Leased Cars that have been problematic will be sold to independent used car dealers.
4) People who lease cars tend to want the latest model. They are turning in the car because they want the snazzy new model, not because the car was a lemon. That answers the obvious question “if this car is so great, why did the owner part with it?”
5) As Penny notes above, one should look for a car with only a single previous owner. A leased car only a year old almost certainly had only one lessee.