If I was looking for such a vehicle (and actually I just bought a year old Passat, so I was in a fairly similiar situation), I would buy a certified pre-owned vehicle, either through a dealership, or a used car dealer like Carmax that will give you full Carfax information as well as a money back guarantee.
You might pay a little more than you would from a rental car agency. In my mind it's worth it. My last three vehicles have all been cars that were a year old with low mileage. I kept all of them for 5-6+ years (except the one I just bought obviously hasn't been around that long, but I plan on it being around that long), and I've been happy every time. Let someone else eat that first year's depriciation, and you still get a nearly new car with a lot of warranty left.
Have you considered shopping around from a private seller? Sometimes you can get a good deal that way, and you can meet the previous owner face to face and get an idea of how they cared for the car that way.
Regardless, I'd skip the rental agency and choose between the other options. If you are concerned about your skills at checking out a car for purchase, pay to get a Carfax on it (or some dealers will provide it), or pay $50-70 for a mechanic to thoroughly check it out for you. It's worth the peace of mind.
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Coimhéad fearg fhear na foighde!!!!
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