What is life like with your car? Let us know and win £500 in John Lewis vouchers | No thanks

Previous confliction

In May 2009 I bought a Volkswagen Jetta 2.0 diesel from a VW main dealer. The car was first registered in August 2008 and had 14,000 miles on the clock. I was told by the salesman that the car had been previously owned by VW UK. I have now discovered that in fact it was owned by a company that is a cover name for a car rental company. I feel that I have been misled. I have not yet contacted the dealer. What do you think I should do?

Asked on 19 December 2009 by

Answered by Honest John
Nothing. Something like 80% of used cars re-sold at 6 - 18 months old are ex-rental. If not, where else were they going to come from?
Nowadays, the slightest damage to a hire car, bodily or mechanically, comes off your credit card. And engines are built to such tight tolerances that they are actually better run in by a variety of different drivers than by just one, especially than by an overly 'careful' driver. The sweetest, most reliable car I have ever experienced was an ex rental Mondeo, bought at 10 months old with some minor body damage to the roof in January 2009. That car served me, my wife, and then my ex-wife very well and very cheaply for nine years. Nothing significant went wrong, and even components like brake discs lasted a very long time. I don't blame salesmen for obfuscating the history of perfectly good cars when they know full well that stupid prejudice against ex-rentals would lose them a sale.
Dear Honest John,

Please help me choose my next car. I would like it to have:
    Select a few terms below
Similar questions
I am considering buying a Golf 1.4S and have two options: April 09 (09 plate) with 7.5k miles on clock for £9490 - this is an ex Euro Car hire car. Or: Sept 09 (59 plate) with 9.6k miles on clock...
My local Vauxhall Main Dealer recommended me to buy a 2007/57 reg Meriva Design 1.4 saying it had been one of their fleet cars. The logbook did not show them as owners. My car proved to have a difficult...
I recently decided to trade-in my 30,000 mile 2003 Ford Focus1.6 Ghia Auto for an 09 Ford Fiesta 1.4 Auto in Moondust Silver. But I was slightly surprised to find that its mileage since first registration...
Related models
Comfortable, economical and a decent drive. The boot's so big your voice echoes. Key-lockable 60/40 folding rear seat backrest.
 

Value my car

Save £75 on Warranty using code HJ75

with MotorEasy

Get a warranty quote

Save 12% on GAP Insurance

Use HJ21 to save on an ALA policy

See offer