I purchased a brand new Chevy Nova in '86, it was a Toyota NUMMI Collaboration out of Fremont, CA.

I took the car in to the dealer for weird tire wear on the rear tire. The mechanic came out and told me they could not get the left rear tire alignment to specifications. When I asked why, he told me that they didn't fix the car correctly from the accident. Given that I had bought the car new, and being that my last accident was in a Pinto some 6 years ago, there was a problem.

The mechanic put the car on the rack and showed me all the damage. From what I could tell, the rear bumper had been shoved almost to the drivers seat.

This was a brand new car. I would have never expected to have to put a new car on a rack to check the under carriage.

I could never pick out a reliable used car for myself. So I buy new. But out of 8 new cars purchased, 1 was almost totaled and 2 went back as lemon law buybacks. The two that were manufacture buy backs had life endangering mechanical problems.

I'm hoping the HHR will last.... Not too happy with the fuses working their way loose, but if I'll I have to do is push the fuses down every month or so, I'll be a happy camper.

-JJ

 

Mine was a rental... I was looking at the same config a year ago and it was about $32,000 CDN, payed $18,000 for the 1 year old rental with the same options and 20,000KM. For me that's worth the gamble that someone pounded the crap out of the drive line.

Cosmetically, there were some minor scratches and swirls, but otherwise it's a new car. For almost half the price... But maybe I should hold of judgement for a year or two

 

I forgot to mention earlier that with only 6k miles left on the factory warranty, I purchased an additional 2yr/24k for peace of mind. It was end of the month for the dealership, so they gave me a significant discount on the warranty purchase.

 

Wheelie was brought brand new. ..well..not TOTALLY new, when I saw him, he had 86 miles on the clock...but that was because they had driven him from another dealer some 75 miles away.

I knew I was going to buy him at that instant, I remember vividly while I was soaking in Wheelie's brand new car smell, someone who was looking at him also climbed in and looked around, I was like.. GET OUT OF MY WAGON MAN!!, WHEELIE IS GOING HOME WITH ME!!..LOL!!..I said this in my mind..LOL

Well, The guy left and I Was like AHHHHHHH!!!!...and then the salesman came...I was all smiles, and looked at him and said, Ok, give me the keys sir!..(I had already done the financing part)

So here I am now..1 yr and 1 month later, Wheelie is happily living with me...with some 6.500 miles on his clock...ahhh the memories!

 

AbbyMobile was a rental car, I got the carfax with her and she had regular oil changes and no mechanical problems listed. I know this is the only way I would have been able to get my dream car.

 

Mine was a program car with 7300 miles on it. I don't know for a fact that it was a rental but it might have been. The only problem I have had has been the water leak which was resolved. I thought it has returned but I now know there was a bit of debris in the drain tube in the sun roof which cleared on it's own and it has been through 3 days of heavy rain with not a drop inside.
This is my second program car, my first was a 97 Sebring convertable purchaced in 1999 with 37000 miles which I traded on the HHR at 147000 miles. It was a very good and reliable car and gave me the confidence to get the HHR program car.

 

For me, there is NO such thing as a 'good used car'. Every time I bought used, it was a mechanical nightmare. So, I went back to buying new.
TE HHR RY is my 10th new car in my lifetime, and I like it more than any other car I've owned since my First new car (a 1983 Camaro).

 

Bought new with extended warranty to 100,000 miles (06) since this is my work car and with my job I put about 25,000 miles a year on my car. My job gives me $2000 a year and 33 cents a mile.

 

I agree.

I rented competitive vehicles, for comparison tests, from most of the large and some of the small rental agencies. The testers" drove the P$$s out of them.

Also was wondering how accurate is Carmax, and the like, on reporting for rental agency vehicles?? If the work is performed by the agency or paid directly to an associated "bump" shop, would it show up on a report?

I know I PAID for some body damage on one of my cars (kind of a hit an run...in a parking lot), and it was not reported or displayed by Carmax. So, is the reporting agreement by the Insurance companies or by the repair shop? What if, for instance, National Rental, had continual problems with front end suspension and did the repairs themselves. Would that work show up on the "Carmax" reports??

The work obviously requires some type of reporting method, but there probably is some "loop holes" !! Anybody know what they are???

In 30 years, I have purchased 4 used vehicles, all from private parties. With the exception of one, I purchase from people I knew. None were rental vehicles.

 

mine was brand new in the box