fleet miata, what to be aware? [Archive] (2024)

Dirty.D

7th November 2010, 16:46

Hi again guys.. some may remember i posted long ago asking about buying my first car and that i wanted a auto miata.. i didn't know how to drive at all then i took my time to learn and i have my licence now, currently driving hubby's car.. and i still want a auto miata, :) yeah didn't change my mind,

Anyway i'm looking at this car

http://lasvegas.craigslist.org/ctd/2045860404.html

i ran a carfax on it and it was a fleet car registered in california, no accident records, no manteinance records either.. i told the dealer i'll come and see it tomorrow, but i'm also looking at this one:

http://lasvegas.craigslist.org/cto/2042246521.html

No accident records, no manteinance records either, and the seller agreed on 3k,

what car would you get? im leaning towards the 2000

mr_hyde

7th November 2010, 17:02

You couldn't pay me to own a retired rental car. They are all thrashed beyond belief and the 'maintenance' they receive is a joke. I had a GF many years ago that managed a rental lot and I saw LOTS of cars with dry dipsticks and a dozen other kinds of deferred maintenance and neglect. I would shuttle cars occasionally for fun. Did you know a front wheel drive Cadillac will spin its wheels for an entire city block? How do you treat a rental car when you drive one?

Just my $.02 but I would buy from a private party anytime I had the chance. Finding an honest car lot is almost as rare as a well maintained, well treated rental car... :bang:
-h

Dirty.D

7th November 2010, 17:27

^^ so i've heard about rental cars... but does fleet car means rental car??? i didn't know that! ( im car ignorant) Lol

2/23/1999 NICB Vehicle manufactured
and shipped to original dealer
04/11/2000 115 California
Motor Vehicle Dept.
Aliso Viejo, CA Odometer reading reported
05/24/2000 California
Motor Vehicle Dept.
Aliso Viejo, CA Title issued or updated
First owner reported
Registered as
corporate lease vehicle
Loan or lien reported
06/01/2004 50,281 California
Inspection Station
Laguna Hills, CA Failed emissions inspection
06/01/2004 Vehicle Repair Center ECM repaired
06/01/2004 California
Inspection Station
Laguna Hills, CA Passed emissions inspection
05/25/2005 51,087 Auto Auction Sold at auction
in Pacific Region
Listed as
a fleet vehicle

05/28/2005 51,095 California
Inspection Station
Long Beach, CA Failed emissions inspection
05/28/2005 51,143 California
Inspection Station
Long Beach, CA Passed emissions inspection
05/31/2005 Dealer Inventory
Long Beach, CA Vehicle offered for sale

Owner 2
Purchased:2005
Type:Personal
Where:California
Est. miles/year:7,644/yr
Est. length owned: 7/26/05 - 9/6/10
(5 yrs. 1 mo.)

Date:Mileage:Source:Comments:
07/26/2005 51,223 California
Motor Vehicle Dept.
Long Beach, CA Title issued or updated
New owner reported
09/06/2010 90,348 Auto Auction Sold at auction
in Desert Southwest Region
Listed as
a fleet vehicle
10/11/2010 90,361 Auto Auction Sold at auction
in Desert Southwest Region
Listed as
a dealer vehicle

Jmikbo

7th November 2010, 17:33

Dirty.D

7th November 2010, 17:41

Nope,large business can have fleet cars,these are not rentals,course a dealer bought it at auction,I prefer private sales on used.

^^ i would like to find a private seller but most the private sellers have manuals,... some private sellers with autos are asking too much i can't spent more than $4500b :/

firstgenerationmiata

7th November 2010, 18:03

FordFiesta

7th November 2010, 18:23

mrmustang

7th November 2010, 18:24

While the head of my department at a large (now defunct) California based Computer company I was treated to a "company car" of my choice, later I purchased it when the lease was up and the car fax showed it as a "fleet vehicle". Not uncommon to have a large company use a "fleet insurance" carrier to keep overall costs down...

Bill S.

Dartboy

7th November 2010, 18:52

IIRC, mine was listed as a corporate lease. No issues that I've seen in 10 years or so. If you're dead set on an Auto, I think the couple extra ponies in the NB would be worth shopping for. Pricing is going to be difficult, Auto's rarity offsets their lack of general desirability fairly well. Once NBs hit 100K miles, their value seems to fall into the toilet. Decent examples are starting to pop up for $3k

I'd be more concerned with the two failed emissions tests, a car in Cali will have a pre-cat. Replacing it legally, with the factory part, will cost you close to $1K.

skip50

7th November 2010, 19:05

Auto check showed my used 2002 Miata was a fleet vehicle. It's in great shape, mechanically and cosmetically and appears to have been very well maintained. I bought it this year with under 60,000 miles on the odometer. No mechanical problems to report at all.

I think it was considered a fleet vehicle for the first 2 years, then the history shows a change of ownership from Nevada to New Mexico. It's has a Nevada and New Mexico title history, rust free and obviously garaged (paint is still a nice deep blue). So I would check it out thoroughly, but don't be put off because it says fleet. Just have a mechanic look it over before buying any car.

Dirty.D

7th November 2010, 19:29

pbsdaddy

7th November 2010, 19:37

"i don't know what's up with the miata market in las vegas... for similar nb's other dealerships are asking 6k-12k
it's ridiculous."

It's hot and dry year round. Some think that nmake the car a premium seller. It might be. But, there is nothing wrong with you driving up to Reno for a car either. I'm betting the premium is on 4 wheel drive, this time of year, in the Reno area.

Dirty.D

7th November 2010, 19:39

just raise the price to $4900 pfffffffffff

http://lasvegas.craigslist.org/ctd/2047734486.html

Dirty.D

7th November 2010, 19:50

"i don't know what's up with the miata market in las vegas... for similar nb's other dealerships are asking 6k-12k
it's ridiculous."

It's hot and dry year round. Some think that nmake the car a premium seller. It might be. But, there is nothing wrong with you driving up to Reno for a car either. I'm betting the premium is on 4 wheel drive, this time of year, in the Reno area.

i've check the offers in reno, no better deals either :/

Dirty.D

9th November 2010, 20:30

firstgenerationmiata

9th November 2010, 21:21

Gene-M

9th November 2010, 22:44

That's one of my favorite color combinations, and possibly my favorite NB. Congratulations on it!:thumbs:

BTW, I don't think I've every heard of a company that used Miatas as fleet cars. This was surely part of a rental fleet. I once bought a car off of a rental company's used car lot. It needed to be repainted, but I got a great price and was very happy with it. It had 32k on it when I got it, which is usually the time they dispose of them (usually after one or two years max). It was pretty much trouble free, and any problems it did have were not the result of it having been a rental, except of course the paint issues which I addressed in my dad's body shop.