Hire car upgrade; what did you get?
Discussion
Have been hiring cars for many years, mostly one way airport hires. Today ordered an economy and got “the biggest upgrade I ever gave a customer”. Last rented by the princess of Netherlands (and in the suv thread) but not too bad for a one way to Bristol airport.
So what did you get?
So what did you get?
Last time I was in Hawaii we had booked an economy class car (Elantra or similar) and were given the choice of a Wrangler or a V8 Mustang foc (probably because they account for 90% of the hire options there). We had been before and done the Mustang thing already and knowing what some of the roads and trails could be like we took the Wrangler - was surprising fun to drive.
Flew up to Glasgow with a colleague who was 6’7 and we’d specifically noted we needed a car with sufficient space for him to be able to drive. He was assured in the phone booking that their economy offering would suffice.
We turn up and they try put us in a Hyundai i10. After a little reviewing the agent saw the note about required legroom, apologised and upgraded us to a Discovery 5 with less than 500miles on the odometer - substantial upgrade for the week and it was fairly well equipped but seemed to have the most underpowered engine and a dreadful manual gearbox.
We turn up and they try put us in a Hyundai i10. After a little reviewing the agent saw the note about required legroom, apologised and upgraded us to a Discovery 5 with less than 500miles on the odometer - substantial upgrade for the week and it was fairly well equipped but seemed to have the most underpowered engine and a dreadful manual gearbox.
Got an Escalade in Orlando when I'd booked a standard SUV on a "glitch" deal that charged for 5 days no matter how long you had it - so it was £150 for 18 days. In that environment the Escalade was just awesome. I've been disappointed every trip since!
A european colleague was thrilled to be be given a Merc GL instead of a supermini at Heathrow but they made an odd fuss about him taking the full CDW cover. When he got to his hotel he realised that whole passenger side was scraped.
A european colleague was thrilled to be be given a Merc GL instead of a supermini at Heathrow but they made an odd fuss about him taking the full CDW cover. When he got to his hotel he realised that whole passenger side was scraped.
Edited by Sheepshanks on Sunday 9th October 05:57
About 2007 I was out in Germany for a holiday including going to the Grand Prix. The hire car was a VW Passat estate. This had a problem - A/C would only blow hot and it was very hot weather.
We went to the local Europcar hire shop and they had low stock but were very helpful and lent us a new W221 S350L Mercedes for a couple of days! The Fiat Croma wagon that followed later was a bit of a let down after that!
We went to the local Europcar hire shop and they had low stock but were very helpful and lent us a new W221 S350L Mercedes for a couple of days! The Fiat Croma wagon that followed later was a bit of a let down after that!
Edited by j555 on Saturday 8th October 22:34
I changed job recently and the new gig has involved a fair bit of travel so far. I've hired cars four times now (with another next week), each time I've selected Ford Focus or similar. First twice I had Mercedes, an A class then a CLA. Third time they failed to provide one at all. Last time they presented me with a Range Rover Velar 
When I used to travel a lot the company policy was VW Golf auto or equivalent. Mostly got an upgrade as most Golf sized cars were manual. Had a S class somewhere in Europe, maybe Switzerland? Had a 335d estate in Germany which made 260kmh on the autobahn. Had a big pick up truck in the USA which was a huge and made us laugh as we had our suitcases in the cab. Also had a Mustang in LA, nice but a waste given how tough the local cops were on speeding.
Agree with the subsequent let down…worst so far abroad has to be the Fiat 500L, in the uk got to be a Vauxhall crossland which my local hertz knows that I would rather downgrade than drive! Surprised recently by an MG SUV thingy which was fully loaded inc radar cruise which was actually quite good to drive.
In 2014, I started a new job and whilst my company car was ordered I had a 1.0 turbo Focus hire car. The (brand new) Focus broke after a week so the hire company gave me a brand new Mitsubishi Outlander D4D SUV. As a diligent, and new employee I checked there was no additional charge. I was really surprised how much I liked this and ended up keeping it for four months and would have rather had it than the company car when it came (Toyota Avensis)
Edited by LastPoster on Saturday 8th October 22:37
Booked a golf, got a z4m, Frankfurt airport. Got a speeding fine (10 euros). But also got to vmax it on a derestricted bit of autobahn early one morning. Good fun. at least good fun once. It got to 155mph so effortlessly than after about 10 seconds it was a bit boring. Or rather, needed too much concentration for the amount of excitement returned.
Going the other way. Once booked a long wheel base van to move some furniture. Got given a swb transit with two near legal limit tyres and cracks in the windscreen. Made all kinds of weird noises and engine light would go on and off. Was basically told to take it or leave it. I took it as I wasn't going far and drove it gingerly. Luckily the stuff fitted in.
I suspect someone had hired it before and used it as a donor vehicle for parts they needed including two tyres!
I suspect someone had hired it before and used it as a donor vehicle for parts they needed including two tyres!
MarkGArgyle said:
Agree with the subsequent let down…worst so far abroad has to be the Fiat 500L, in the uk got to be a Vauxhall crossland which my local hertz knows that I would rather downgrade than drive! Surprised recently by an MG SUV thingy which was fully loaded inc radar cruise which was actually quite good to drive.
Myself and Mrs TC7 are in Tuscany atm, booked a juke or similar size as it was same price as a fiat 500 or similar at £16 per day, was offered the big mg suv as the upgrade but declined as didnt see it working well in small tuscan towns. They gave us a vw t roc convertible instead or the regular t roc we would of been given for no extra charge. Perfect really as the suns been out every day so far and makes a pretty boring car have some flair. Regular error messages about sensors on the adaptive cruise control that throws multiple yellow lights on the dash has made me glad its not mine however, not great for a 4000km car.
Edited by TC7 on Saturday 8th October 22:54
My favourite was having a base model Astra subbed out for a Saab 9-3 Turbo Convertible. Only problem was we ordered the Astra so we could transport a new floor standing printer/copier from Cheshire to our Oxford office… We did the only sensible thing and unboxed the printer on my mate’s driveway and broke it down to its constituent parts so it would fit on the back seat/boot with the roof down. It was a fun if blustery journey!
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