Car Rental USA
Discussion
Who are the best car rental companies? We want to rent something interesting.
4 of us going over (2 couples) and my mate is fancying a Mustang or similar convertible. My parents spend a lot of time over there and last time they went they had a brand new corvette convertible. Fact is that unless its a road trip you're on, its pretty much too hot to have the roof down, if you're on the way to a restaurant etc then you are a sweaty mess by the time you get there.
We are going over for a week of relaxation/golf/nights out and I do tend to suffer from the heat.
My immediate thought was forget the convertible but if we want something fun, lets get a big V8 barge and waft around in air conditioned style etc with a nice large engine under the bonnet?
I just need some ideas/recommendations etc?
4 of us going over (2 couples) and my mate is fancying a Mustang or similar convertible. My parents spend a lot of time over there and last time they went they had a brand new corvette convertible. Fact is that unless its a road trip you're on, its pretty much too hot to have the roof down, if you're on the way to a restaurant etc then you are a sweaty mess by the time you get there.
We are going over for a week of relaxation/golf/nights out and I do tend to suffer from the heat.
My immediate thought was forget the convertible but if we want something fun, lets get a big V8 barge and waft around in air conditioned style etc with a nice large engine under the bonnet?
I just need some ideas/recommendations etc?
Mustang convertable...ok if you sit in the front, for 4 people not a great choice.
Place to start would be the companies that service your airport.
Some great deals if you book from outside the US.
Four people, two sets of clubs, you should be looking at a full size sedan.
I concur with your opinion regarding top down convertables in the heat, we use top up and AC on the way to a restaurant, top down on the way home.
Assume you are aware convertables have smaller trunks/boots.
Place to start would be the companies that service your airport.
Some great deals if you book from outside the US.
Four people, two sets of clubs, you should be looking at a full size sedan.
I concur with your opinion regarding top down convertables in the heat, we use top up and AC on the way to a restaurant, top down on the way home.
Assume you are aware convertables have smaller trunks/boots.
Just a couple of points:
You might find some decent discount codes over on Flyertalk, but beware some rental companies require proof that you are eligible to use them.
The leg room in the back of Mustang convertibles is pretty tight and there's not much space in the boot. The Chevy Impala has a huge boot and as it's a bit unpopular with the domestic buying public most of the rental places are running them. Alternatively both the Ford Fusion (not the same as the Fusion in the UK, thankfully) and the Ford Taurus are pretty decent for driving and space.
If you are offered an "upgrade" to a Lincoln Towncar or Mercury Marquis, please don't do it. Bench seats, column shifts and bed spring suspension is fun for about ten minutes, and then you will wish you had a proper car.
Oh, take out a policy at Insurance4carhire to prevent insurance shaftage from the rental companies. It's the normal for US/Canadian credit cards to cover LDW/CDW but not ours, a policy from I4CH for £110 will save you approx $20-30 per day.
You might find some decent discount codes over on Flyertalk, but beware some rental companies require proof that you are eligible to use them.
The leg room in the back of Mustang convertibles is pretty tight and there's not much space in the boot. The Chevy Impala has a huge boot and as it's a bit unpopular with the domestic buying public most of the rental places are running them. Alternatively both the Ford Fusion (not the same as the Fusion in the UK, thankfully) and the Ford Taurus are pretty decent for driving and space.
If you are offered an "upgrade" to a Lincoln Towncar or Mercury Marquis, please don't do it. Bench seats, column shifts and bed spring suspension is fun for about ten minutes, and then you will wish you had a proper car.
Oh, take out a policy at Insurance4carhire to prevent insurance shaftage from the rental companies. It's the normal for US/Canadian credit cards to cover LDW/CDW but not ours, a policy from I4CH for £110 will save you approx $20-30 per day.
Going to CA for a 3 week driving tour and went for the Mustang convertible. I booked through Netflights and they were much cheaper than going direct with the rental companies plus allowed me to pick up and drop off in separate locations. Avis seemed to have a decent collection of out of the ordinary cars but getting something that will seat 4 and fill that requirement may not be easy I had looked at the Camero but decided to go with a convertible.
Are you going to be based in the same place? Probably not relevant, but if you are looking to tour point-to-point be aware that the hire cars are state registered and it'll cost an arm and a leg to drop one off in a different state.
My only experience of hiring in the US was a Chrylser 300C V6. Nice enough car by US standards and worth going for if its standard rate, but not worth paying a premium for IMHO, it didn't feel at all special.
I think they'r pretty dire to drive, but can't you get a convertible version of the Chrysler Sebring? On the coupe side, Chargers and Challengers were pretty numerous while I was in Florida (along with the obligatory Mustang).
My only experience of hiring in the US was a Chrylser 300C V6. Nice enough car by US standards and worth going for if its standard rate, but not worth paying a premium for IMHO, it didn't feel at all special.
I think they'r pretty dire to drive, but can't you get a convertible version of the Chrysler Sebring? On the coupe side, Chargers and Challengers were pretty numerous while I was in Florida (along with the obligatory Mustang).
If you're just pottering around towns, get the biggest sedan you can, and all four of you will be comfy.
If you're planning on covering some miles, you might find the biggest SUV you can more comfortable and with better views.
I'd save things like convertible Mustangs for a couple, or rent two of them...
If you're planning on covering some miles, you might find the biggest SUV you can more comfortable and with better views.
I'd save things like convertible Mustangs for a couple, or rent two of them...
Forget the convertible. Personally I love it but I don't give a s
t if I'm a sweaty mess or freezing my ass off and there's only the two of us and my missus feels the same.
If you want to seat four in comfort get a barge or a SUV. Personally I'd have the barge. Chrysler 300 or something like that.
t if I'm a sweaty mess or freezing my ass off and there's only the two of us and my missus feels the same.If you want to seat four in comfort get a barge or a SUV. Personally I'd have the barge. Chrysler 300 or something like that.
We're touring California and Nevada (starting next Friday!) in a Nissan Xterra. Although, when we land at LAX I might try blagging an upgrade to something bigger/better. We can't really have anything sporty as we'll be lugging three suitcases around with us. 
iAlex said:
Arese said:
iAlex said:
Thanks guys, friend has decided he will be looking for an Escalade or similar now 
Tell him to insist on 22" chromies.
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