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Rental Car Experiences?

740 messages,  Last post on May 22, 2013 at 11:12 AM

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Messages Page 49 of 75

#472 of 740 Re: 2013 Ford Taurus Limited - a nice free upgrade, but... [fintail] by igozoomzoom

Sep 01, 2012 (10:21 am)

Replying to: fintail (Sep 01, 2012 8:08 am)
The Enterprise location near my home is like that. I rented from them in 2010 when my Mazda3 was almost totaled in 2010. I went through three different POS crappers before I finally came unglued and went elsewhere!
 
First, they gave me a 2009 Dodge Avenger with over 30k miles on the odometer. It was bad enough that it had the weak 2.4L 4-cylinder engine, but it had some mechanical issues that made it unbearable. It would hesitate, almost to the point of stalling, if you pressed the gas pedal more than about half-way to the floor. The A/C compressor would also kick on at the worst possible times. Several times, it kicked on while I was trying to accelerate as quickly as possible. Most cars will turn off the A/C compressor under hard acceleration to avoid draining much-needed power. Not this thing!
 
I took it back and all they had was a PT Cruiser (no way!) and a Chevy Aveo...I was screwed no matter what! I took the Aveo with the promise that I could exchange it for a Sonata, Optima, Fusion or even a Focus on the following day (which was a Saturday). I drove it home and parked it. They didn't call me with anything better on Saturday and closed at noon, so the Aveo stayed parked until Monday. My parents still had my mom's old '95 Jeep Grand Cherokee (with 220k miles on it) and I drove that instead.
 
I returned on that Monday and insisted on something, anything vaguely similar in size and quality to my 2006 Mazda3. I knew that I would be stuck in a rental for at least three weeks (ended up being 33 days) and I wanted something tolerable, nothing more!
 
So they came up with a 2010 Toyota Corolla LE that had 28k miles on it and reeked of cigarette smoke. It hadn't been washed or vacuumed, but I took it anyway. I also learned that it had the Check Engine AND Tire Pressure lights were ON, the alignment was out of whack and it was trashed inside (glovebox door broken off, stains and burns on passenger seat and large rip in rear seat fabric...just to hit the high points). I made it about three miles before I spun it around in the middle of the highway and gave it back to them.
 
I called the Mazda dealership that I used for service and asked them if I could 'rent' a service loaner for a few weeks. They took pity on me and said they could work something out for me. Then I called State Farm (the at-fault driver's insurer) and told them that I ditched Enterprise and that I expected them to cover the rental from the Mazda dealer even though it would be about $10 more per day.
 
When I got to the dealer, they gave me a 2007 Mazda6 that had been sitting unsold on their used lot for over six months. It was a hideous color called Violet Gray (pretty much as ugly as it sounds- gray with a purple hue). But I was glad to get it and gladly drove it for the next month!

#473 of 740 Re: 2013 Ford Taurus Limited - a nice free upgrade, but... [igozoomzoom] by fintail

Sep 01, 2012 (11:46 am)

Replying to: igozoomzoom (Sep 01, 2012 10:21 am)
The worst I recall was a Kia Spectra that had been abused. I want to say it was under 30K miles, but the interior was trashed and it had some bruises outside, too. Enterprise, of course. At least it was cheap. Contrast that with a ~19K mile Regal I rented from Alamo/National last year, which was nearly flawless. Years ago I remember an Enterprise Malibu that had electrical gremlins - dead stereo, idiot light malfunctions...I forget the mileage though.
 
PT Cruiser was probably the most hated rental vehicle of all time. Once the novelty wore off (probably sometime in 2001), they were something you'd always get "stuck with" rather than wanting. My mother had one as a rental once, and even she hated it - and she's not a car enthusiast.

#474 of 740 My local Enterprise.. by kyfdx HOST

Sep 02, 2012 (7:27 am)

... is within walking distance of my house. (less than 2 miles).
 
I'd love to be able to use them, but they are only open from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM... I work a pretty normal shift.. but, if I had to wait to get a car when they opened, I'd be 90 minutes late for work... and, if I hit any traffic on the way home, I'd never make their 6 PM close time.
 
And, it's a suburban location, not an airport... would never trust them by dropping the car off and just getting the credit card charges later... to sleazy and as mentioned, the local cars are total crap..
 
What kind of way is that to run a business?

#475 of 740 National, again by seank2

Sep 04, 2012 (11:24 am)

I found myself back at the Albany, NY airport a few weeks ago for another family funeral. Since the Emerald Aisle at National was so accommodating for the last one, I tried them again, especially since their prices were literally half everyone else's. All in, 3 day rental was $60.00.
 
I arrived at noon on Friday, and the guy in the booth offers me my choice of (1) Dodge Avenger (2) Dodge Grand Caravan (3) Chrysler 300. After a split second of pondering, I took the black over black 300. It turned out to be a 2012 300 Limited, with the Pentastar and the 8 speed auto, black over black leather, showing 12,000 miles.
 
I've never, ever been much of a Chrysler fan, but this car may change my mind. UConnect, with bluetooth that even my Blackberry can use, Sirius, dual auto climate, and one of the best interiors in an American car I've seen in years; it almost gives my Mercedes a run for the money. I was very impressed with the car, which showed some interior signs of abuse, with several scuffs on the back seat, but the overall quality of the car was spectacular. My father and uncle, from whom I got my "car guy" gene, were also very impressed with the vast improvement in quality of the car, and its interior. Even my stepmother who won't be caught dead in anything less than her X5, loved it.
 
When I returned the car, 360 miles and 3/4 tank of fuel later, I even said to the return clerk that the 300 was a heck of a car. She agreed and said they've been getting better and better cars, which in a small market like Albany is saying something.
 
I've sworn off American cars for a long time, since their quality and general competitiveness have been lacking. This 300 may make me reconsider. Now if they'd put the 8 speed in the 300C or the SRT (both of which are expected for 2013), they may have a buyer.

#476 of 740 . by fintail

Sep 26, 2012 (6:52 pm)

Saw a rental GLK and rental Infiniti M today - both likely Hertz Prestige vehicles.

#477 of 740 objections dropped by steve_ HOST

Sep 28, 2012 (2:43 pm)

Car-rental companies to support legislation on recalls (Detroit Free Press)
 
No word on whether they can still order fleet cars without "standard" safety equipment.

#478 of 740 Hertz time by stickguy

Sep 28, 2012 (4:40 pm)

have to make a business trip to Va in 2 weeks (from NJ) and driving ends up being the most practical way to do it. So, not using my car. Booked a Hertz "intermediate" through the Hertz counter at the local AAA office. Will be interesting to see what I get, since the description was "Mazda 6 or similar". next size up (standard) was Potiac G6 or similar.

#479 of 740 Re: Hertz time [stickguy] by fintail

Sep 28, 2012 (6:24 pm)

Replying to: stickguy (Sep 28, 2012 4:40 pm)
And the G6 has been out of fleets for some time now. I love how they never update those pages.
 
Lots of Mazda6 in fleets though.

#480 of 740 Re: objections dropped [steve_] by fintail

Sep 28, 2012 (6:30 pm)

Replying to: steve_ (Sep 28, 2012 2:43 pm)
I doubt it. Some overpaid useless corporate bozos didn't think of the potential fallout, but now they know.

#481 of 740 . by fintail

Oct 08, 2012 (4:12 pm)

Read today that National has a new car class code - UXAH. This would be "premium elite hybrid", and the car wearing the code was an ES hybrid. First Lexus rental I have known of since some slow-selling GS were sent to fleets around 1995. Interesting move.

Messages Page 49 of 75

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