Diary of the Rental Car - mainly US stuff
Discussion
I've been travelling a lot with work this year, mainly to the US, and each time i pick up a rental. I hadn't joined one of the regular use schemes perviously, but having done so, the cars have got slightly better as i have gone on. I always try and get a US car - whats the point in going to another country and driving cars you can see/get in the UK?
Not sure how much interest people may have, but thought it would be nice to record them somewhere and add to them as i go along
Started with this - Chevy Cruze LTZ RS - actually not a bad little car with some unknown sized 4 cylinder. Leather lined and full of toys, standard rental fare
Next up was a trip to Philly during a snow storm - I requested a 4x4 and got a Ford Edge. Quite a big car for European standards, but with the V6 and auto, it was set to highway cruising more than anything. No offroading more than a snowy Walmart car park
Next trip to Philly and probably the worst rental i've had in a long time - Nissan Sentra was a hateful, noisy, slow, tin can made of foil and plastic bags
Learning my lesson from the last trip, i refused the offered Sentra and received a Jeep Cherokee - challenging looks that only a mother could love, it did everything it needed to do in moderation and no more.
For this trip i took advantage of the "Exchange and Go" line, to leave the assigned brown Kia behind and take on a redneck pickup. The Nissan Frontier (Navara in the UK) was pretty pointless as a rental, basic inside and slow with an auto mated to the V6. Nothing in the back meant it would spin its wheels taking off from any slight incline
Another 'standard' sedan, another Chevy Cruze but the 2017 model this time - still pretty vanilla inside, but quite competent if you are not looking for any fun.
A different country for the next one - holiday in Kos saw us take a car for a couple of days to explore the island. Not much selection available, so we ended up with a Nissan Juke - another hateful car that i will never drive again
Back to the other side of the pond for the next trip, Canada this time, Toronto - a nice little upgrade to a Dodge Challenger - only the V6, but looked the part, sounded good and would spin the wheels up with a little provocation
Family holiday meant that we needed a wagon that would take both kids and luggage around LA - a GMC Terrain was pretty big and swallowed everything we took with ease. Not the fastest thing in the world but relatively competent
Back to philly and another exchange at the rental desk - after refusing the offered Hyundai's they gave me this - it was a little battered around the edges but OH MY, was sooooooo good. 6.2 litre, V8 Auto SS - turn off traction control and it would spin up the wheels at the slightest sneeze on the throttle. Was brilliant fun, made epic noise and strangely enough, i had lots of colleagues wanting to borrow it
It also left its mark on a few bits of US tarmac
And then to the most recent - back in Toronto again - and they seem to have better cars than Philly - this time a new 300C although only the V6 - hugely comfortable and well equipped. No sports button and refuses to spin the wheels no matter what. I've wanted a 300C when they were launched but never quite got round to it - so its good to try one without having to buy it!
Thats all for now - I am to add more as i get them.
Not sure how much interest people may have, but thought it would be nice to record them somewhere and add to them as i go along
Started with this - Chevy Cruze LTZ RS - actually not a bad little car with some unknown sized 4 cylinder. Leather lined and full of toys, standard rental fare
Next up was a trip to Philly during a snow storm - I requested a 4x4 and got a Ford Edge. Quite a big car for European standards, but with the V6 and auto, it was set to highway cruising more than anything. No offroading more than a snowy Walmart car park
Next trip to Philly and probably the worst rental i've had in a long time - Nissan Sentra was a hateful, noisy, slow, tin can made of foil and plastic bags
Learning my lesson from the last trip, i refused the offered Sentra and received a Jeep Cherokee - challenging looks that only a mother could love, it did everything it needed to do in moderation and no more.
For this trip i took advantage of the "Exchange and Go" line, to leave the assigned brown Kia behind and take on a redneck pickup. The Nissan Frontier (Navara in the UK) was pretty pointless as a rental, basic inside and slow with an auto mated to the V6. Nothing in the back meant it would spin its wheels taking off from any slight incline
Another 'standard' sedan, another Chevy Cruze but the 2017 model this time - still pretty vanilla inside, but quite competent if you are not looking for any fun.
A different country for the next one - holiday in Kos saw us take a car for a couple of days to explore the island. Not much selection available, so we ended up with a Nissan Juke - another hateful car that i will never drive again
Back to the other side of the pond for the next trip, Canada this time, Toronto - a nice little upgrade to a Dodge Challenger - only the V6, but looked the part, sounded good and would spin the wheels up with a little provocation
Family holiday meant that we needed a wagon that would take both kids and luggage around LA - a GMC Terrain was pretty big and swallowed everything we took with ease. Not the fastest thing in the world but relatively competent
Back to philly and another exchange at the rental desk - after refusing the offered Hyundai's they gave me this - it was a little battered around the edges but OH MY, was sooooooo good. 6.2 litre, V8 Auto SS - turn off traction control and it would spin up the wheels at the slightest sneeze on the throttle. Was brilliant fun, made epic noise and strangely enough, i had lots of colleagues wanting to borrow it
It also left its mark on a few bits of US tarmac
And then to the most recent - back in Toronto again - and they seem to have better cars than Philly - this time a new 300C although only the V6 - hugely comfortable and well equipped. No sports button and refuses to spin the wheels no matter what. I've wanted a 300C when they were launched but never quite got round to it - so its good to try one without having to buy it!
Thats all for now - I am to add more as i get them.
I always use Avis - they have Mustangs, Camaro's and Challengers - but their stock does change dependent on location
does this work?
https://www.facebook.com/mattperry73/videos/102120...
does this work?
https://www.facebook.com/mattperry73/videos/102120...
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
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
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
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!
Back in Philly again - just 7 days after the last visit
This weeks rental is a little more "redneck" than the last few - Still an Auto, V6 petrol. Actually not too bad speed wise but the turning circle of a small supermarket and with the back unloaded it skips around all over the place on rough roads.
On the plus side, it does have Nav, cruise, diff lock etc so as a pickup, its not quite as basic as expected.
This weeks rental is a little more "redneck" than the last few - Still an Auto, V6 petrol. Actually not too bad speed wise but the turning circle of a small supermarket and with the back unloaded it skips around all over the place on rough roads.
On the plus side, it does have Nav, cruise, diff lock etc so as a pickup, its not quite as basic as expected.
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