By law, the garage should tell you if it is an ex-rental. So ask the question, clear and bluntly. Nothing wrong with buying an ex-rental car (though see my later point)

You can ASK for the tyres to be changed, but a dealer is only required to sell a car with tyres that meet the legal requirements. If it was me, I'd point out that they need changing, and negotiate a further discount and get the job done myself (garage might just fit the cheapest crappiest tyres they can to keep costs down otherwise).

However, I said there was nothing wrong with buying an ex-rental. How many miles has it done ? If not much, and the front tyres are knackered, then it might mean it's been driven quite hard. In which case, it's less favourable.

You'll find a high number of standard cars of many makes are ex renters, it wouldn't put me off except the knowledge (and i do know this as i've carried many thousands of new and defleet renters in my previous work) that there is a slightly increased chance that Diesel versions might have been misfuelled, don't take this out of proportion in any way but i'd want an ex renter to be a bit cheaper than a normal ex lease jobbie to sweeten the risk pot a bit.

Might have been driven hard but that's not such a worry as it might have been 20 year ago when basic cars were flat out at 90, thrash a vehicle dangerously hard these days you wouldn't keep your licence long.

Tyres? i'd be more inclined to negotiate a discount of £200 for those alone quite apart from any other price neg and get your own fitted, they might agree and then fit some £40 unknown make tat which you find hopless in the wet and end up slinging anyway.

First things first though, have a good poke nose at HJ reviews above, especially the good and bad points and see if the make or model is really for you (EGR valve if Diesel is the biggy), secondly the VW emissions debacle isn't over yet, values might be affected and if the car is subject to recall work to lower the emissions you might find power at lower end reduced, so go into this with both eyes open and do not believe a word of the sales bods waffle who will tell you what you want to hear to secure his cut.

edit, Rob we seem to share a similar view again..:-)

Edited by gordonbennet on 11/01/2016 at 11:40

I bought my Pug 207SW seven years ago from a Pug dealer, at 8 months old and 13K miles. It has never misbehaved since, so on that basis I can't suggest there is any reason not to buy such a car, with the possible caveat that buying from a franchise may give you a better chance of picking a car in better condition, as dealers normally get the pick of the bunch. But you should be able to judge for yourself if you do it thoroughly.

Quite likely it will have reached the due-time for a service - or perhaps just past it, so the seller should do that job, and there will likely be no visible service history.