Nothing handles like a rental car - a book of confessions
Discussion
This sounds like quite an interesting read.
I recall once my mates Land cruiser Prado had a power steering pump that was going bad. It was around $300 AUD for a genuine replacement. I was called upon to help out with the operation of fitting a new one. I arrived and was told big Dave was just out grabbing the replacement part. Some time went by and Dave arrived with said part, which happened to have an entire land cruiser attached to it. The bugger worked out it was only a little over $100 to rent a land cruiser for the day so we proceeded to swap the parts from one car to the other.
I believe he has pulled this trick several more times since.
I recall once my mates Land cruiser Prado had a power steering pump that was going bad. It was around $300 AUD for a genuine replacement. I was called upon to help out with the operation of fitting a new one. I arrived and was told big Dave was just out grabbing the replacement part. Some time went by and Dave arrived with said part, which happened to have an entire land cruiser attached to it. The bugger worked out it was only a little over $100 to rent a land cruiser for the day so we proceeded to swap the parts from one car to the other.
I believe he has pulled this trick several more times since.
Back in the 80's I was in the RN and we had just arrived in Canada. 3 of us managed to hire a brand new car even though we only had two provisional licences and a full motorbike licence between us. The car served as transport and a hotel for our planned road trip.
In 48 hours we had 2 minor crashes (a mail box and a semi truck), and had locked the keys in the car. Trying to fish the keys out we accidentally broke the side window the window, but not before we had removed most of the window trim. There was at least one incident where we left the road at speed on a long deserted road.
We dropped the car back at about 6 in the morning, and posted the keys through the letterbox. Our ship sailed 3 ours later
In 48 hours we had 2 minor crashes (a mail box and a semi truck), and had locked the keys in the car. Trying to fish the keys out we accidentally broke the side window the window, but not before we had removed most of the window trim. There was at least one incident where we left the road at speed on a long deserted road.
We dropped the car back at about 6 in the morning, and posted the keys through the letterbox. Our ship sailed 3 ours later
Diesel Meister said:
swisstoni said:
During the Monaco GP weekend, the circuit is reopened as a normal road outside racing hours.
During the night I stuffed a hire car into the Armco at exactly the same place (Portier) that Senna famously did.
Tricky corner.
Like making love to a beautiful woman, eh? During the night I stuffed a hire car into the Armco at exactly the same place (Portier) that Senna famously did.
Tricky corner.
I definately did not take a RAV2 up the highest volcano in Mexico..The electronic diff would have smelt a bit on the way up and the way back down and volcanic ash is not good for door seals and paintwork.
In fact, if the well known hire car company had not taken a bribe and given our 4x4 to another customer, then none of this would have happened.
In fact, if the well known hire car company had not taken a bribe and given our 4x4 to another customer, then none of this would have happened.
Enjoy a hire car story.
"Some people I know" drove up Mauna Kea in Hawaii in a one wheel drive rental ford mondeo.
The altitude goes up to 13,796 feet from sea level and at about 9,000 feet at the visitor centre a road sign reads "Warning Hazardeous Road ahead" and something else like "must stop to acclimatise and gain info before proceeding".
They knew they were running out of daylight so past that sign at about 35mph and proceeded to take on the unsurfaced very steep risky road, with little insight as to what lay ahead. The only other cars seen were full on proper off road 4x4 or visitor trucks and vans specifically designed for the conditions. The road was VERY rough and VERY steep and the challenge to get up safely was quite something. Stopping and hill starting in that mondeo supposedly seemed like a total no no.
They left sea level at about 34c and arrived at the top in flip flops, shorts and t-shirts in the only normal car there, to find everyone else in full outdoor arctic like gear huddled around big 4x4 tanks watching the sun going down at -8 or so.
Brilliant adventure. They couldn't recommend it enough. They went back down just before losing the last daylight and then went back up again in the dark just to see what it was like.
Rental car was returned in tip top condition having been to the top of the highest island/sea mountain in the world.
RW
"Some people I know" drove up Mauna Kea in Hawaii in a one wheel drive rental ford mondeo.
The altitude goes up to 13,796 feet from sea level and at about 9,000 feet at the visitor centre a road sign reads "Warning Hazardeous Road ahead" and something else like "must stop to acclimatise and gain info before proceeding".
They knew they were running out of daylight so past that sign at about 35mph and proceeded to take on the unsurfaced very steep risky road, with little insight as to what lay ahead. The only other cars seen were full on proper off road 4x4 or visitor trucks and vans specifically designed for the conditions. The road was VERY rough and VERY steep and the challenge to get up safely was quite something. Stopping and hill starting in that mondeo supposedly seemed like a total no no.
They left sea level at about 34c and arrived at the top in flip flops, shorts and t-shirts in the only normal car there, to find everyone else in full outdoor arctic like gear huddled around big 4x4 tanks watching the sun going down at -8 or so.
Brilliant adventure. They couldn't recommend it enough. They went back down just before losing the last daylight and then went back up again in the dark just to see what it was like.
Rental car was returned in tip top condition having been to the top of the highest island/sea mountain in the world.
RW
jamesson said:
The Crack Fox said:
"Over the peak we stopped for a photo, at which point the Twingo’s dash illuminated with ‘le spanneur electronique du merde’
'merde' is feminine so it would be 'de la merde' Sounds an entertaining read and I look forward to it.
But I think the franglais is funnier.
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff