ST Racer

Just been looking at a 59 reg 2.0tdci Titanium focus with 39,800 miles on it, it got full ford service history but upon asking was it privately owned the place said it's an ex lex fleet car which instantly put me off.

Asked a mate who's a manager at ATS and he said go buy it, now I'm confused !

maxest

iTrader: (1)

Buy on condition, if its a clean car buy it! Lex vehicles are very well maintained

Sonic Boom

iTrader: (11)

I used to work for National Car Rental many moons ago LEX was one of our customers, they used to stipulate that cars they rented from us had to be of a high standard clean wise.
But like they said nothings faster than a rental alot of cars are treated like shit the state some cars would come back in you would believe.
Rich

ST Racer

Yeah I used to work for Hertz donkeys years ago, thing is with the mileage being so low for a fleet car it looks like this was used by one individual going to and from the office etc.

They offered me Ł1550 for my immaculate 56 reg mondeo LX with 62k on the clock, I'm tempted but buying a new car always makes me nervous!

Psycho Warren

iTrader: (5)

Depends on the fleet. Ex-mod are great these days as they all have trackers fitted with speed monitoring so the squaddies get in shit if they accelerate hard etc or speed. So they get driven sensibly. Some other fleets do similar.

DanW@FastFord

iTrader: (1)

I bought an ex lease car. I've since done 12K in it, and it's not put a foot wrong. It was serviced as per the schedule, and I contacted the garages that had done the work on it before I parted with the cash. They both said that other than normal service items it hadn't needed anything doing to it.

I did the usual checks, it drove well, and I haven't regretted it.

Buying ANY second hand car is always a gamble, at least with a lease car you know that it should have been serviced and correctly maintained.

Just make sure it's ex-lease, and not ex-rental!!!

Fil

All ways fun years ago borrowing my dad's company cars, they used to break alot, don't know why?


but buying a used car thrre is always an element of luck involved.

furry

we look after 55000+ vehicles in the uk and 950000 vehicles globally and they are all maintained to the highest grade.

don't let it being an ex lease car put you off at all.

newstuart

Im 2 1/2 years into a 3 year company car lease via lex, 520 m-sport which spends most days buzzing up and down the A1 in 6th on cruise control doing about 1500 rpm. it drives like new but will be on about 90k when it goes back. It includes Full dealer service with bmw and tyre contract with kwik fit who say they need replacing when at about 50% wear (no doubt to get a sale from lex)!

Will make someone a cracking used car, that said some of my colleagues drive theirs like they stole them so i guess its a bit of a gamble.

gjh

Dan makes a good point, ex lease generally good, ex rental, best to avoid, as the others have said, buy on condition.

matts1

As above, ex lease is different to ex rental. Most company cars have to be serviced properly and staff get a bollocking if they aren't kept in tidy condition. as most have them 2-3 years they are also less likely to kick the balls of the car.

Ex lease, your car for what, a few days a week? rag the tatties off it!!

There will be exceptions to the rules with the odd d*ckhead who rags any car they own, company or privately owned.

My mate got his scirocco from Blackhorse car sales as did my mates dad and both cars had full main dealer service history, well spec'd and in A1 condition and cheap! Neither have given the slightest bother bar the rocco having a sensor pack up, all sorted under the 12 month warranty provided with the car and the work was done by VW main dealers.

If it drives nice and tight, is clean and straight and has a full main dealer history it is as safer bet as any.

ST Racer

Well I went back with the wife earlier, it was ex lex fleet not a rental vehicle, apart from a slight judder from the brakes under braking (which there going to fix) it drove mint, pretty quick too so I bought it

Collect it next Monday.

ST Racer

Incedentally I forgot to check if this had a DPF, would this bother anyone if it did?

I'm going to check today.

Glenn_

iTrader: (1)

Looks a nice car.My mam and dad have had 3 ex fleet cars over the years.

Fil

they are a pain if they play up.

Will it be used just around town and poping to the shops? You will probably have issues.

Or will it get some nice long runs?
Should be ok,

ST Racer

Mainly around town with a two hour motorway journey once every few weeks, it has got a 12 months warranty with it.

Fil

id have a read up on them, not too sure of diferent cars have different amounts of problems or not.

But for me and my navara just used around town and in traffic, all sorts of problems. In the end smashed its guts out and had the ecu edited to suit it being removed a few years ago now

DanW@FastFord

iTrader: (1)

That will be perfect then. Problems mainly occur on cars that are driven gently all the time.

phil_rs

iTrader: (3)

I used to sell ex-fleet cars, generally 1 owner, 3 years old with 100k + miles. All were maintained properly, usually at the main stealers and tended to be in better condition than most cars with loads of owners but less mileage.

ST Racer

Yeah I think it's just me stressing because I've never owned a diesel vehicle before but it's like my mate at ATS said, all newer cars are evolving and you just have to go with it or never upgrade your vehicle, I'm not overly worried as my warranty also includes 12 months RAC recovery.

I guess I should stop being a worry wart and just enjoy the new car experience!

ST Racer

Weeeeeellllllll where do I start!

Didn't go for the diesel titanium, ended up at my local ford dealership on Sunday with the wife, test drove a 61 reg 1.6 petrol, cheap tax as well, we really loved it even though it was a lot more expensive than the diesel, only done 18000 miles with bluetooth, voice control and a years manufacturers warranty left, picked it up lastnight!