Should I Buy a Suspected Repaired Hail Damaged Ex-Rental Car ?

[Deactivated] on 25/01/2016 - 23:41
Last edited 26/01/2016 - 10:56 by 1 other user

Hi all,

I found a <2 year old Toyota ex-Avis rental. The car is a very good deal for its age+features+mileage. However, to me it is just a cheaper than fair price (used cars, so subjective) given its condition (some paint scuffs) plus it is a ex-rental. I have arranged a mechanic to inspect the vehicle and everything. However, what had me super concerned was dimples lining the external window trim (the thin metal strip around the perimeter of the car window, sometimes is plastic). The frequency and size of the dimples suggests that it could be hail damage. Note : This was the only area that I could find that hints at prior hail damage.

The rest of the vehicle seem to be in very good condition aside from the 6 or 7 areas of small to medium size paint scuffing on the door and door edges. Two colour-matched-sticker repair. Stone chips at the front bumper, usual rental stuff. The roof, trunk and bonnet seem to be spotless by and large, besides the 3 or 4 small stone chips. There is no paint swirls or indentations that my untrained eyes could tell.

There is also a paint mark on the inside of the drivers door marking "DI", i have seen the same colour paint before marking out blemishes on auction cars.

Could it be possible that this was a repaired hail damage vehicle. I have not checked the revs search yet, but I have a feeling that the car would not be registered as a write off. If it is a repaired hail damage vehicle, do you think it would be a worthy buy? If so, how much of a discount for marking price should I push for?

My gut is telling me to forget the car because the car is priced very well and the car dealers seem to know that. I doubt they will take my word that it could have been hail damaged and thus give me a better price.

What do you guys think?

Poll Options

• 24
  No, forget the car
• 0
  Yes, even if the mechanic finds that it IS a repaired hail damaged car
• 0
  Yes, if the mechanic finds that it is NOT a repaired hail damaged car

• 

  fantafox on 26/01/2016 - 00:41

  +1

  Ex avis rental - pass…

• 

  Rocket6 on 26/01/2016 - 00:43

  +1

  I won't provide a mechanical related response.

  A car is a reasonable purchase at which (I am guessing) thousands of dollars are involved.

  "My gut is telling me to forget the car because the car is priced very well and the car dealers seem to know that".

  Answered your own question, fellow oz-bargainer. Trust your instinct. I certainly wouldn't be unloading financially on something I felt cautious about.

  A massive no, from me.

• 

  mmd on 26/01/2016 - 02:06

  +1

  U can do that $6 revs check to see if the car has been written off. But then again, ask the car dealer if they performed one because they should have checked that out right???
  It seems odd that the dimples are just there.
  Beaware that if it is hail damaged, you be wont able to get comprehensive insurance.

  • 

    [Deactivated] on 26/01/2016 - 02:20

    The dealer said they did. They outright told me no accidents, no hail and some other no(s) that I cannot remember.

    It does seem very odd to me that is why I'm asking for a second/third/fourth++ opinion from people who are more experienced than me on what could have happened. It does seem unlikely that any some things other than hail could have left 4-7mm wide-downard roundish marks on a window panel trim that is slightly inclined facing the sky.

    It seems even more unlikely that they could have fixed all the other hail damage but not replace the trim.

    All this worry makes want to forget the car even more.

• 

  oscargamer on 26/01/2016 - 09:09

  walk away….an ex-rental with possible significant repaired damage….and a Toyota - there will be another along in a very short while with your name written all over it

• 

  twister292 on 26/01/2016 - 09:20

  ex-rental = walk away

• 

  Name on 26/01/2016 - 09:34

  Ex-rental is why I'd walk away. Hail damage not a problem if it's priced well. My car has hail damage (depends on level too, only one side got light hail, car was $10k off) , didn't have a problem insuring it for comprehensive. They did say that if it's crashed they'll subtract the price of hail repair to the damaged panel, but not to structure / engine damage and not to panels that were unaffected by hail.

  I wouldn't buy a hail damaged vehicle if it's priced similar to a undamaged car.

  Always do a rev check.

• 

  Donaldhump on 26/01/2016 - 09:38

  whats a rev check

  • 

    Name on 26/01/2016 - 09:51

    If a car has been written off, its registered on a government database. You can pay to access it to see if there are problems and the person selling is lieing to you.

    And if finance is owing.

    Just realised they could be different reports.. Whenever I've bought a car in the past I usually just get a complete check done which includes all that plus mechanical.

• 

  mskeggs on 26/01/2016 - 10:29

  I buy old cheap cars and hail damage is a great way to get a massive saving if you don't care about these things.
  It sounds like you do, however, so I would give it a miss.

  • 

    [Deactivated] on 26/01/2016 - 14:07

    I don't care about hail to be honest, but it has to be priced correctly. Additionally, only that small trim was affected and only on one side.

    I'm wondering if it is possible that it could have been hail repaired but not on the register because it was not written off?

• 

  Euphemistic on 26/01/2016 - 13:07

  If hail damage has been repaired, and you can't tell then it is nothing to worry about. The thing about hail damage is that it tends to cover all panels making it too costly to repair, it doesn't affect handling, chassis or anything serious. If you don't care about a couple of marks on the car then hail I damage isn't the end of the game.

  Ex rental however, different story and most people will run a mile from them.

• 

  Baysew on 27/01/2016 - 16:28

  Maybe car has invisible hail damage ?

  https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/160763

• 

  ykwon10 on 27/01/2016 - 16:34

  From memory of reading it somewhere, dealers are not allowed to sell written-off cars. Private sellers can but has to inform potential buyer that it was a repairable write off. If your rev check comes out as repairable write-off, you can report the dealer to VicRoads & etc. But this is based on memory, law might have changed now. Check with your state regulators.

  • 

    [Deactivated] on 27/01/2016 - 16:47

    Hail damage does not mean written off. That is my main concern. There are write-off records but no hail damage record. Anyway, I have decided not to buy the car.

    • 

      Name on 29/01/2016 - 20:32

      Good point, but generally (in QLD at least) repairable write off could also be classified as hail damaged that can be repaired.

      Generally there are two..
      Repairable write off, which means it'll cost more to repair than the car is worth, but can be repaired. Can include any kind of damage that affects the cars value. Usually repaired by someone doing it themselves to save a buck. It then needs to be inspected by relevant authority to be registered again and considered road worthy.

      Written off, means so damaged cannot be reregistered, think head on with trucks and car squashed. . Only can be used for parts.

      • 

        [Deactivated] on 31/01/2016 - 23:57

        Understand what you mean. The good thing is that for any of those two, a quick revs search will show the status of the vehicle.

        I was wondering if there were any way to tell or hide large area but low intensity (think hail) damage that was repaired? Do you think it will affect the functional, safety and resale factors of the car?

• 

  [Deactivated] on 27/01/2016 - 16:47

  +2

  Decided not to buy the car. Thanks for your input guys!

  • 

    mmd on 31/01/2016 - 14:17

    Don't be put off buying an exrental tho.
    My folks did many years ago, and there was nothing wrong with the car. Still drives well to this day.
    I personally would avoid it.