Diary of the Rental Car - mainly US stuff
Discussion
I own a 2016 Mustang V8 over here but dang! I like the look of that SS Camaro.
I spent a bit of time in LA last year but was stuck driving the girlfriends VW Passat CC.
She thought it exotic whilst I was just missing my V8 back home.
The previous times in LA back in the 90s I rented an Oldsmobile Cutlass Ciera, a Pontiac Grand Am, a 1995 Mustang 'vert and also a 1971 Mustang 'vert.
My mate was in charge of renting a car back then in Florida. He turned up in a massive Lexus. I was furious as I wanted a Yank not some blinged up Toyota.
Seems the locals thought we were royalty as a Lexus was twice the price of the equivalent Caddy.
The valets always parked it by the hotel entrance not round the back with the hoi polloi.
I spent a bit of time in LA last year but was stuck driving the girlfriends VW Passat CC.
She thought it exotic whilst I was just missing my V8 back home.
The previous times in LA back in the 90s I rented an Oldsmobile Cutlass Ciera, a Pontiac Grand Am, a 1995 Mustang 'vert and also a 1971 Mustang 'vert.
My mate was in charge of renting a car back then in Florida. He turned up in a massive Lexus. I was furious as I wanted a Yank not some blinged up Toyota.
Seems the locals thought we were royalty as a Lexus was twice the price of the equivalent Caddy.
The valets always parked it by the hotel entrance not round the back with the hoi polloi.
jimmsy said:
GrandAndrew said:
Looks like a lot of fun!
I'm travelling to Texas, hiring a car in Austin next month, none of the major players seem to offer muscle cars. Am I missing something?
I'm off to Austin with work next month too. Last time I went I had work reserve a mid-size car with nav, I talked them down to $20 a day upgrade to get a convertible Camaro SS Auto. I think that's the cheapest muscle car. If you fly with BA then they give a discount, and if you're just nice to them they love to give a discount. Apparently a colleague of mine had a mustang for a $5 upgrade fee.I'm travelling to Texas, hiring a car in Austin next month, none of the major players seem to offer muscle cars. Am I missing something?
Location: Tampa International Airport (used domestic side rental desks)
Extra cost: ZERO
mattman said:
Our company HQ is based about an hour outside Philly - so have to go there quite regularly - back again in November.
I forgot one!!! Another trip to Philly but flying into Newark - had a bit of an argument as they tried to suggest a Honda Jazz was an intermediate car - i refused and after some words had been said, i ended up with a Nissan Altima
Damn thinh was all over the place on the road - eventually found out it had random tyre pressures all round between 45 and 55 psi! once i sorted that it helped the road manners - but was still a Nissan
So far, PHL appears to have the worst car offerings in the Preferred scheme - Toronoto the best.
Still waiting to find a Mustang in the "Exchange & Go" aisle though
tyre pressures aside, what was the altima like?I forgot one!!! Another trip to Philly but flying into Newark - had a bit of an argument as they tried to suggest a Honda Jazz was an intermediate car - i refused and after some words had been said, i ended up with a Nissan Altima
Damn thinh was all over the place on the road - eventually found out it had random tyre pressures all round between 45 and 55 psi! once i sorted that it helped the road manners - but was still a Nissan
So far, PHL appears to have the worst car offerings in the Preferred scheme - Toronoto the best.
Still waiting to find a Mustang in the "Exchange & Go" aisle though
gf and I are heading to LA for 2 weeks over xmas and that's what we've gone for.
GIYess said:
Just home from England.. OOhh exotic haha. Got an equally exotic 2017 corsa. Actually surprisingly great wee car. Can't understand what people complain about them for.
Get yourself an Ecoboost Fiesta next time 
Best hire car for me was two weeks and 2500 miles in a 2017 Camaro SS (the 6.2 V8). That engine. Oh my
GIYess said:
Just home from England.. OOhh exotic haha. Got an equally exotic 2017 corsa. Actually surprisingly great wee car. Can't understand what people complain about them for.
They're fine - nothing really terrible or special about themOn this website there's just a race to condemn them, for some reason
Back in Kos and this time I have the pleasure of a Kia Picanto - actually the engine seems quite smooth even if the interior has been styled and made by Blue Peter.
But at 30 euros a day to hire can you expect any more?
Family transport and slippery roads after a storm so won’t be trying to find the limit of the skinny tyres this time
But at 30 euros a day to hire can you expect any more?
Family transport and slippery roads after a storm so won’t be trying to find the limit of the skinny tyres this time
mattman said:
Back in Kos and this time I have the pleasure of a Kia Picanto - actually the engine seems quite smooth even if the interior has been styled and made by Blue Peter.
But at 30 euros a day to hire can you expect any more?
Family transport and slippery roads after a storm so won’t be trying to find the limit of the skinny tyres this time
just shows how much we get our pants pulled down and spanked really - 30pd equiv in the US would be a whole heap nicer than that!But at 30 euros a day to hire can you expect any more?
Family transport and slippery roads after a storm so won’t be trying to find the limit of the skinny tyres this time
Toronto, the week before last.
Booked with rentalcars.com a Nissan Ultima, "or similar" from Thrifty at Pearson Airport.
I got a new Volvo V60 T5 AWD wagon. WIN!
It was a very nice car to drive, and since the limit's only 100km/h, there was little point having something sportier....I was offered a Challenger at no extra cost, but the boot was too small for our luggage!
Booked with rentalcars.com a Nissan Ultima, "or similar" from Thrifty at Pearson Airport.
I got a new Volvo V60 T5 AWD wagon. WIN!
It was a very nice car to drive, and since the limit's only 100km/h, there was little point having something sportier....I was offered a Challenger at no extra cost, but the boot was too small for our luggage!
irocfan said:
just shows how much we get our pants pulled down and spanked really - 30pd equiv in the US would be a whole heap nicer than that!
Put it in context though - hire companies in the US have thousands and thousands of cars supported by the manufacturers so costs are stupidly low. Whereas a small Greek island like kos and the rental company has maybe 20-30 cars and won't get anywhere near the same baseline cost level - so fees will be higher.Back in Philly again and managed to avoid the designated Jeep Compass to pick up this instead
Same banana yellow as the previous trip's SS coupe i had, but this is the smaller engined V6 RS with 335bhp. It will still spin its wheels with some provocation and the TC off, but not as mad as the SS. Typically i get the convertible on a week where temps are only 50 degrees, but its not stopping me get the roof down
Same banana yellow as the previous trip's SS coupe i had, but this is the smaller engined V6 RS with 335bhp. It will still spin its wheels with some provocation and the TC off, but not as mad as the SS. Typically i get the convertible on a week where temps are only 50 degrees, but its not stopping me get the roof down
New year, new travels
This week i'm in Houston, the allocated car didn't have my Preferred Plus upgrade and had a dirty interior, the Santa Fe on the exchange lot smelt of weed and the other couple of cars were dull compacts. So back to the office and they gave me this thing, the V6 version, but lots of toys to play with
This week i'm in Houston, the allocated car didn't have my Preferred Plus upgrade and had a dirty interior, the Santa Fe on the exchange lot smelt of weed and the other couple of cars were dull compacts. So back to the office and they gave me this thing, the V6 version, but lots of toys to play with
Back in the US again! Back at Philly
As usual, had to reject the allocated car in my Avis Preferred spot as it had damaged bumpers, scratches, broken wheel trims and smelt of smoke - don't want to risk getting charged for someone elses damage so back to the office to see what the kind ladies can do.
The result? The completion of the "muscle car set" - a 2017 Mustang to go with the Challenger and Camaro(s) i've had in the last 12 months.
This one is "only" the ecoboost, so although it doesn't have the growl and drama of a V8 its still pretty fun and with sport mode engaged it will easily get sideways with a little provocation. Turn off traction control and it does a reasonable burnout too.
Out of the 3, the Camaro SS was my favourite - the 6.4 V8 was awesome, more power than needed, smokey burnouts, sideways at every turn - the interior felt more encompassing and i felt more connected with the car. I love the styling of the Challnger though and the Mustang is not exactly the ugly sister. Just wish we could have them all in RHD in the UK!
woke up this morning to freezing conditions as well so had an interesting coating of ice across the car. Even in Snow/Wet mode is still likes to wag its tail!
As usual, had to reject the allocated car in my Avis Preferred spot as it had damaged bumpers, scratches, broken wheel trims and smelt of smoke - don't want to risk getting charged for someone elses damage so back to the office to see what the kind ladies can do.
The result? The completion of the "muscle car set" - a 2017 Mustang to go with the Challenger and Camaro(s) i've had in the last 12 months.
This one is "only" the ecoboost, so although it doesn't have the growl and drama of a V8 its still pretty fun and with sport mode engaged it will easily get sideways with a little provocation. Turn off traction control and it does a reasonable burnout too.
Out of the 3, the Camaro SS was my favourite - the 6.4 V8 was awesome, more power than needed, smokey burnouts, sideways at every turn - the interior felt more encompassing and i felt more connected with the car. I love the styling of the Challnger though and the Mustang is not exactly the ugly sister. Just wish we could have them all in RHD in the UK!
woke up this morning to freezing conditions as well so had an interesting coating of ice across the car. Even in Snow/Wet mode is still likes to wag its tail!
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