Car hire in the States
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Discussion

theboyfold

Original Poster:

11,469 posts

255 months

Monday 18th July 2005
quotequote all
Can anybody suggest a good firm to use in California? I'm looking for a soft top for about a week, pick up in SF and drop off in LA.

Cheers

up-the-dubs

4,282 posts

258 months

Monday 18th July 2005
quotequote all
Unless someone knows a specific one, you'll probably just have to Google to get the big players: Hertz, Alamo, Thrifty, etc etc etc.

The problem I found trying to rent from one place to another is that you'll need to find somewhere that has an office in each locale so that they can recieve the car and ship it back. The small local places, the cheap ones, won't allow you to do this. Although SF and LA are not that far apart.

A load of mumbo jumbo, Dubs stylee.

theboyfold

Original Poster:

11,469 posts

255 months

Monday 18th July 2005
quotequote all
that's what I've done Dubs, just Googled and seen what I've got. Most places have branches in major airports so it doesn't look too bad.
Just thought somebody might have had a good experience with a similar situation.

up-the-dubs

4,282 posts

258 months

Monday 18th July 2005
quotequote all
We just sold our house in Florida and always used Alamo. Always found them to be cheapest (3 week rental usually) and very good to deal with. Never once had a problem.

If thats any good to you.

M3 Mitch

538 posts

258 months

Tuesday 19th July 2005
quotequote all
IIRC when you rent a car at one office and drop it off in another office the receiving office keeps the car, at least that's what one operator (Enterprise) told me. So they may or may not want to charge you extra to do this. Not everybody has ragtops available, and a stick shift is very rare on a US rental car.

Awhile back Budget advertized it's "fun fleet" which included ragtop Mustangs, I have rented these and while they are not M3's they ain't bad.

LA traffic is well beyond your worst nightmares, BTW, so by all means take the "loss-damage-waiver" ie the insurance that the company offers on the car. Even though your own insurance and/or credit card may in fact cover you, for a week's peace of mind the price charged is not unreasonable IMHO.

ErnestM

11,621 posts

296 months

Tuesday 19th July 2005
quotequote all
Hertz has the new Mustang soft tops, but they tend to be a little pricier. But like their advertisement says "There's Hertz and ... then there's 'not exactly Hertz' "

Never had a problem with them. Always got the car I was promised...

ErnestM

JMGS4

8,931 posts

299 months

Tuesday 19th July 2005
quotequote all
ALAMO 100% Hertz also good,
BUT get all your bookings/payments done in GB and use an all incusive voucher through your travel agent, otherwise they'll think up all sorts of rip-off insurances that you'll have to pay extra for....... you'll also probably get a better price as they buy blocks of bookings at the beginning of the year.
Just remember the car hire trade is the biggest group of rip-off artists in the world!!!!

zeorze

5 posts

258 months

Tuesday 19th July 2005
quotequote all
I have used in the past a company called Fox Rent A Car www.foxrentacar.com/ in the past they used to be in California only but have grown quite a lot recently.


>> Edited by zeorze on Tuesday 19th July 07:59

theboyfold

Original Poster:

11,469 posts

255 months

Tuesday 19th July 2005
quotequote all
Thanks for the advice guys, the last time I done it I had a Chysler Sebring soft top, was fine until I tried to turn a corner or 90, Big Sur isn't a great place for autos!


angrys3owner

15,855 posts

258 months

Tuesday 19th July 2005
quotequote all
recognise that pic, last time I was out there we hired a sebring from Alamo, couldn't really fault it for crusing about California / Nevada / pretty much everywhere - did 3000 miles in two weeks and saw an awful lot. one thing to note though is most of the big companies do charge you for a different location drop off and if it's out of state it will be horrendous, but you'll probably be ok with SF / LA.

Have fun! what would be good if one of the American chaps on here that lives in LA or SF could give you some advise, because they'll probably know somewhere better.

vetteheadracer

8,273 posts

282 months

Tuesday 19th July 2005
quotequote all
Hired a Mustang convertible in Philly last year and then a Sebring in California last October.

They definitely do SF airport Sebrings with National (I Think it was National) and it was ridiculously cheap for 2 weeks something like £270, it might be more for an LA drop off.
We went SF down to Santa Cruz, Monterey and across to Salinas then down through the farming bit to LA, Came back up Pacific Coast Highway and it was a huge disappointment as it was cold and very foggy all day when we did it.

aliged

1,081 posts

268 months

Tuesday 19th July 2005
quotequote all
PM me your details fella and I'll come back to you with a quote. I'm a Travel Agent. There should be no drop off fee for within California.


Ali

theboyfold

Original Poster:

11,469 posts

255 months

Tuesday 19th July 2005
quotequote all
aliged said:
PM me your details fella and I'll come back to you with a quote. I'm a Travel Agent. There should be no drop off fee for within California.


Ali


Hi mate, the email got bounced back, not sure it's correct? Can you send me one and I'll reply to it! Cheers

madmike

2,372 posts

295 months

Tuesday 19th July 2005
quotequote all
Any of the big companies will accomodate you, Hertz, Enterprise, Alamo, etc.

Finding a manual transmission is nigh impossible tho.

Each one of these companies will let you pick up one place and drop of at another, and shouldn't charge you extra for it.