One way Camaro/Mustang rental - San Francisco to Las Vegas

[HelloJP]

Hi all
Long time lurker first time poster...PH I need your help!

I've spent the last few weeks trying to sort out a decent hard top muscle car (i.e. Camaro, Mustang) for my honeymoon - a one way trip from San Francisco to Las Vegas. And it's been an absolute nightmare - nowhere seems to do it.

I've tried all the usual suspects - Alamo, Avis, Budget, Enterprise, Hertz, National - and either they don't have that type of car or they won't let you take it across state lines unless you return it, something I can't do.

I'm not looking for a hypercar or anything, just something a bit more sporty than the current Chrysler 200 Or Similar I'm down for. I'm also not really after a convertible - been there, got the burnt neck. I will also have a few cases so a ragtop and its minimal boot wouldn't really be for me.

I know I'm not the first to go through this trauma but in my forum search I didn't manage to come across anyone actually succeeding in this quest. Anyone got any ideas or thoughts at all please?

[HelloJP]

scottri said:

I had good results by phoning up Trail finders and asking if they could arrange something for me. We ended up booking a 4x4 with them and upgrading to a Dodge Challenger when we went to pick it up.

Trailfinders are actually booking my trip - swear by them and am a long term customer/fan. The best they could tell me was to reserve a car and upgrade on the day - advice that has worked before, admittedly, but I was hoping to get something a bit more guaranteed instead. I contacted Alamo and they can't do anything and reckon it's unlikely to happen, meaning I'm all up for a plan B...

[HelloJP]

krunchkin said:

It can be done. I took a Challenger from Hertz from Las Vegas to LAX last month. It wont let you book it like that on the website but it can be done on the ground when you speak to them. It will cost you a fee to do a one way drop off though. It cost me an addiional $300 to be allowed to do it like this.

PS - get a challenger rather than a mustang - so much more distinctive and fun

ETA = have you spoken directly to the Hertz rental desk in SF - ideally the largest one (presumbaly the airport). If not - do that - email or call them directly and tell them what you want. I emailed the Hertz desk at Caesars Palace and told them I wanted to switch the challenger from round trip to one way to LAX and they were fine.

Cheers Krunchkin. I might try calling the Alamo desk directly and see if it's something they can help with - I'd rather try my best with them as I've already paid for a standard rental so I'd rather not lose that if I can.

Were you able to book this in advance, or could you not confirm it till you got there?

[HelloJP]

krunchkin said:

Do Alamo specifically hire Muscle Cars? Not sure they do.

I've had a Camaro and a Mustang from them before - I'd be happy with any of them to be honest!

[quote]Hertz Adrenaline Collection guarantees you will get the car you book.

So can I book directly with Hertz Adrenaline from the local desk? Sorry for all the questions...

[HelloJP]

Well, it was worth a go!

I booked the car through the website with pickup and collection at the airport but since then have spent the entire day trying to get someone to answer the phone there, phoning constantly from 10am (San Fran time) till now, half two their time. Nobody ever answers, apart from the couple of times people dialled a number on me and hung up

I tried choosing the 'make changes' option too but that seemed to put me through to head office who said it wouldn't let them change the location to Vegas - apparently not allowed, despite my English pleas

Thank you for the idea - I think I'm going to need to chance my luck with Alamo on the day - hopefully they'll have something mean and powerful I can upgrade to when I'm there!

[HelloJP]

HotJambalaya said:

Try looking at holiday autos. Sometimes when I've needed to do one way rentals they come up trumps sine they don't charge the one way fee.

Cheers - just had a look. They don't do the type of car either I don't mind paying a fee but annoyingly the type of car I want to rent basically isn't allowed to be dropped off somewhere other than you collect - it's that particular rule I can't seem to get around!

[HelloJP]

Matt.. said:

Flyertalk have very active and helpful forums for renting in the US. Try asking there.

Have posted on there - thanks

[HelloJP]

Sargeant Orange said:

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

Cheers - basically seems to be a case of ask when you get there. Might be the best option...

[HelloJP]

pushthebutton said:

Maybe obvious, but I've often had more success with the Adrenaline collection by calling Hertz UK than I've had with the website. They've managed to secure a car that was showing as unavailable online and given me better rates as well.

Just given them a call - they can't override the state line crossing thing either. Looks like they're very very keen on keeping it in Cali! Thanks anyway though.