Opinion on Buying ex Fleet Cars

CrypticM on 26/12/2021 - 01:19
Last edited 26/12/2021 - 14:55 by 1 other user

In the market for used Mitsubishi Outlander.

I see lot many cars at my price range but having 60-70Km in last 3-4 years. I suspect these are ex fleet cars and one of the dealer confirmed it. I am just concerned 60-70K in 4 years is too much. Is this too much for outlander? (This is the one I am considering now).

There is a 2K difference between normal used car and (suspected) fleet car.

Can someone help me in understanding is it okay to get a ex fleet car, considering they have log books? Or it is good to consider non fleet cars for little bit extra.

Thanks in advance.

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  Hybroid on 26/12/2021 - 01:40

  No one can really tell you this with no information whatsoever. Could be the best maintained fleet cars on the planet that are in near-new condition. Could be grubby misused and abused cars used in a mine quarry or near salt water with many underlying conditions.

  Regardless of what route you choose, pay to get a full independent inspection done. That'll offer you far more relevant info than random questions to random people on a random vehicle choice.

  • 

    CrypticM on 26/12/2021 - 01:49

    -2

    "random questions to random people on a random vehicle choice"—- I thought that's the reason forums are there for. I did my research and I know what model I want. Nothing random in there. But I am not sure about generic opinion on ex fleet cars. That's the reason I asked.

    Thanks for your time anyway.

    • 

      RockyRaccoon on 26/12/2021 - 07:46

      +1

      To me your heading confuses things. Maybe better to say

      Opinion on Buying ex Fleet Mitsubishi Outlander 20X+

      Would highlight the direction you want the discussion to go.

      I have bought 2 fleet cars in the past, but not Outlanders. One was high mileage the other low mileage. Neither was an Outlander, so I can offer any advice from that experience, if thats what you want.

      Fleet cars consist of above 50% of all vehicle sales here in Australia, fleets are used by large corporations, governments, mining companies, AND car Rental companies. They can be small fleets large fleets and even include cars by individuals working with larger companies (novated leases).

      Players in the fleet business can be car companies and financiers. (Toyota, Orix etc). These can be resold thru new car dealers and "independents" like the ones you see on TV every day.

      Large rental companies like Hertz, Avis, Thrifty, Budget, No Birds etc rent Outlanders and they also have their own fleet departments that provide cars outside the rental system - so these are also fleet but not rental cars.

      Unfortunately the issue is that being a fleet car doesnt really tell you who owned it and how it was driven.

      Log books are a guide, but only that. Xy, pty ltd could be any corporate indentity used by one of the leasing companies for any financial reason.

      But the biggest unknown is what type of car was your fleet car. I guess what Hybroid was saying is that to make an assumption based on the generic term "fleet" car is wrong. I hope this more detailed explantion helps you understand that "fleet" car doesnt mean much other than it probably wasnt owned by a little old lady driven on Saturday nights, picking up random grandpas 😀

      • 

        tonyjzx on 26/12/2021 - 11:54

        +1

        OP's premise is really really pedestrain anyway… a 2010+ Outlander in this form is an n/a sohc four w/ cvt

        so if a 4yr old one in mid to low spec at 75,000km is a very low risk car given its still under warranty

        buy away given you like the colour trim etc.

        fleet will be logged etc and no one flogs a bloody outlander with what? 125kW?

        for this kind of car i would trust a fleet car than a private car that comes out of greenacre etc.

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  AustriaBargain on 26/12/2021 - 02:57

  +2

  Check the paint work before paying, make sure the paint hasn't faded everywhere except under where the old decals were. You don't really want the Coca Cola logo imprinted on your car.

  • 

    Mokr on 26/12/2021 - 09:19

    +1

    I'll take it if it means 2 K off price

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  mrvaluepack on 26/12/2021 - 04:51

  You'll know that they have been log booked serviced. Just look for physical damages and not get carried away on the price.

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  Euphemistic on 26/12/2021 - 05:55

  60-70k km isn’t going to mean a work or vehicle, especially if log book serviced like a fleet vehicle is. Just check for cosmetic wear and tear.

  It will mean that unless you drive less than average I’m when you go to sell will have higher than average kms which will cost $.

  I’ve bought a couple of higher than av km vehicles, but I drive less than average so by the time I sell it’s normal kms for age.

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  Nugs on 26/12/2021 - 07:00

  +4

  Nothing is as fast as someone else's car….
  Fleet, hire etc
  .

  • 

    fantombloo on 26/12/2021 - 10:37

    +2

    "What car can go up gutters at 60km/h?"

    Hire car.

  • 

    JIMB0 on 27/12/2021 - 10:21

    +1

    Don't be gentle, it's a rental.

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  apsilon on 26/12/2021 - 07:14

  Do all the same checks as you would any other used car. Personally I wouldn't buy an ex rental fleet vehicle but otherwise I'd consider it if the price were right. 60 - 70k km in 4 years isn't above average usage either and as you've indicated you're buying from a dealer you'll probably have some warranty depending on where you are

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  [Deactivated] on 26/12/2021 - 07:54

  My sister bought an ex fleet that belonged to a judge. Needed new wheels before road worthy but other than that, it's been good. They're generally pretty well serviced which is the important thing. 60km in 4 years isn't that bad tbh and I don't know if it's any different to 60km in 10 years. Also you can generally get a really good price on it. This was the cheapest on the market by far at the time.

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  silenthillrocks on 26/12/2021 - 07:55

  Go for it.

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  thatonethere on 26/12/2021 - 08:06

  +1

  Some fleet is great and some terrible. Where I work I see fleet cars 3 years old with square wheels get sent back with 5k on the clock due to covid. Others are hammered due to covid and used instead of flying interstate.

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  bobbified on 26/12/2021 - 09:31

  +1

  I wouldn't buy a fleet car (over a privately owned) simply because of the fact that most people would treat their own cars much better than a car that is owned by a corporation.

  • 

    Euphemistic on 26/12/2021 - 10:16

    +1

    Some fleets are fairly strict in servicing and cleaning. The kms are tracked by fuel apps and service schedules are tracked electronically. The fleet manager is often onto the allocated driver to ensure servicing upkept.

    It also depends wether it was a pool car or allocated to one driver.

    • 

      bobbified on 26/12/2021 - 12:01

      It's the balance of probability, I guess. Not saying that all fleet cars are bad.

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  MS Paint on 26/12/2021 - 10:10

  You know the saying…

  Treat it like a fleet rental

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  nubzy on 26/12/2021 - 10:59

  Mine was a fleet car, got a great deal. Car was immaculate in condition and perfect maintenance record. No issues.

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  CrypticM on 26/12/2021 - 13:06

  Thanks everyone.

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  Gros21 on 29/12/2021 - 00:38

  I know my company keeps there fleet cars for 200k now or till they become troublesome.

  You really need to find someone that works in the company and get get that veh history.

  U can always ask for service history and go ask that dealer for its full history. May see a gearbox rebuild or a new turbo or similar.

  Would I buy one yes but id like its history.

  • 

    tonyjzx on 29/12/2021 - 10:06

    That seems to be the way the cops are doing things now. It used to be 40,000 but 100,000 doesnt seem unusable.

    By the same token it used to be 40,000 was a sweet spot due to depreciation… you get most back at 40,000.

    You get shit alll back if its 200,000 granted if its not a diesel ute or van.