Day and a half in LA - what hire car?
Discussion
I have a wedding in LA next weekend and my wife and kids aren't coming.
The wedding is Saturday but my return flight isn't until late on Monday.
That means I have Sunday pm (morning is a hangover write off) and most of Monday to explore LA and the surrounding area. I was thinking driving the Pacific coast highway in a V8 convertible but am open to suggestions.
Might never get this chance again as I have x3 kids so holiday hire cars are normally people carriers.
Does anybody know any car hire firms near LAX who do interesting or classic yank metal?
The wedding is Saturday but my return flight isn't until late on Monday.
That means I have Sunday pm (morning is a hangover write off) and most of Monday to explore LA and the surrounding area. I was thinking driving the Pacific coast highway in a V8 convertible but am open to suggestions.
Might never get this chance again as I have x3 kids so holiday hire cars are normally people carriers.
Does anybody know any car hire firms near LAX who do interesting or classic yank metal?
Vette from Hertz is what you need, but don't get too excited the Pacific Highway is not one you will be able to go that fast on. The speed limit is 45 iirc, and can be busy. The view is stunning mind.
The better roads are up in the hills.
The freeway into LA from the Vegas direction is a good drive as you come down the valley the view is awesome.
The better roads are up in the hills.
The freeway into LA from the Vegas direction is a good drive as you come down the valley the view is awesome.
Edited by daz4m on Wednesday 4th May 12:02
Haven't a clue what the rates are, but the range has got to be worth a drool over at least
http://www.bhlax.com/
http://www.bhlax.com/
daz4m said:
Vette from Hertz is what you need, but don't get too excited the Pacific Highway is not one you will be able to go that fast on. The speed limit is 45 iirc, and can be busy. The view is stunning mind.
The better roads are up in the hills.
The freeway into LA from the Vegas direction is a good drive as you come down the valley the view is awesome.
This is what I was after - ThanksThe better roads are up in the hills.
The freeway into LA from the Vegas direction is a good drive as you come down the valley the view is awesome.
Edited by daz4m on Wednesday 4th May 12:02
farrendahl said:
Haven't a clue what the rates are, but the range has got to be worth a drool over at least
http://www.bhlax.com/
Rates not too bad - Great find - Thankshttp://www.bhlax.com/
Probably something with good aircon and auto box.
You might get lucky, but you're quite likely to spend a lot of time in traffic...
I once spent a weekend there in an Oldsmobile of some sort that rolled like the Queen's Scottish State carriage.
Was quite good fun up in the hills actually, but watch for speed cops!
M
You might get lucky, but you're quite likely to spend a lot of time in traffic...
I once spent a weekend there in an Oldsmobile of some sort that rolled like the Queen's Scottish State carriage.
Was quite good fun up in the hills actually, but watch for speed cops!
M
daz4m said:
Pacific Highway is not one you will be able to go that fast on. The speed limit is 45 iirc, and can be busy. The view is stunning mind.
+1We hired a mustang soft top, unfortunately it peed down all the way up to Big Sur on Highway 1 but when it cleared the views were spectacular!
evo did a road test of a Mustang in one of their earlier issues, iirc they found some good driving roads just inland of H1, might be worth some digging.
Willy Nilly said:
Lincoln Towncar 
Only if you have a driver... world and his wife seems to have TCs leaving the airports.My vote would be either performance or big 4x4 (Navigator or Escalade?) just to see how the Americans do this sort of thing... last time we went down the latter route (due having to carry luggage for a 2 week trip).
If you go with BH rent-a-car I have the following advice:
1. Negotiate the mileage. A first-time customer for a short-term rental will get charged the FULL rate or very close to it and they are very expensive. Rather than argue about the rental rate get them to increase the mileage allowance, they are much more likely to do that, this way you can actually enjoy the car and drive more than 10 blocks without keeping your eye on the mileage. L.A is huge and their included mileage (100 I think) gets you absolutely nowhere. The extra mileage fees are also high and can very easily end up a couple of hundred quid without you going very far.
2. It may sound obvious but go over the car with a magnifying glass noting even the most minor of dents/scratches/marks to the body and especially the wheels. They WILL charge you if something is missing/dented/scratched even if it was there before you took possession of it.
3. Check to see if your credit cards cover you for insurance as theirs will be "interesting" for foreign clients.
I use BH for weekly/monthly exotic rentals when I am in L.A as they have a decent selection and are reputable. They are however expensive until you become a regular client. I learned these lessons hard way many years ago
Have fun and get on to Pacific Coast Highway with whatever you get.
1. Negotiate the mileage. A first-time customer for a short-term rental will get charged the FULL rate or very close to it and they are very expensive. Rather than argue about the rental rate get them to increase the mileage allowance, they are much more likely to do that, this way you can actually enjoy the car and drive more than 10 blocks without keeping your eye on the mileage. L.A is huge and their included mileage (100 I think) gets you absolutely nowhere. The extra mileage fees are also high and can very easily end up a couple of hundred quid without you going very far.
2. It may sound obvious but go over the car with a magnifying glass noting even the most minor of dents/scratches/marks to the body and especially the wheels. They WILL charge you if something is missing/dented/scratched even if it was there before you took possession of it.
3. Check to see if your credit cards cover you for insurance as theirs will be "interesting" for foreign clients.
I use BH for weekly/monthly exotic rentals when I am in L.A as they have a decent selection and are reputable. They are however expensive until you become a regular client. I learned these lessons hard way many years ago
Have fun and get on to Pacific Coast Highway with whatever you get.
I've used Hertz in the past, they've always been good, it's a shame they don't do any older US cars, I've had some fantastic V8's from them in the 90's.
They do a Corvette for £150/day or if you can live with a solid roof they have Camaro SS, Dodge Charger and Mustang for £130. For some obscure reason the prices are much higher if you pay in advance.
I'd recommend applying for their Gold Card membership, that way the car will be waiting for you and you can jump the inevitable long queue. If you can go to a Hertz office in the UK and get them to work out what insurance you need etc, you'll save a lot of hassle.
As just mentioned, look for every scratch, chip in windscreen, dented wheels, broken trim, missing spare or toolkit. Hertz are the best imo, but they'll still assume you did the damage unless you have proof.
The hills north of LA are fun, plenty of mobile speed traps around though, so enjoy the torque but keep the speed down. Sounds like fun, enjoy yourself!
They do a Corvette for £150/day or if you can live with a solid roof they have Camaro SS, Dodge Charger and Mustang for £130. For some obscure reason the prices are much higher if you pay in advance.
I'd recommend applying for their Gold Card membership, that way the car will be waiting for you and you can jump the inevitable long queue. If you can go to a Hertz office in the UK and get them to work out what insurance you need etc, you'll save a lot of hassle.
As just mentioned, look for every scratch, chip in windscreen, dented wheels, broken trim, missing spare or toolkit. Hertz are the best imo, but they'll still assume you did the damage unless you have proof.
The hills north of LA are fun, plenty of mobile speed traps around though, so enjoy the torque but keep the speed down. Sounds like fun, enjoy yourself!
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