Rental Car Experiences?

andres3

suydam said:

What do you have to do to get a speeding ticket in Florida? When we were there everyone was driving 80 at least!

All it takes typically is being at the wrong place at the wrong time (that time of the month). Usually takes going 15 over, along with good weather and sunshine.

Anyone ever been pulled over while it was raining or snowing? Nope? Doubt it!

tjc78

Typically when it is raining or snowing you slow down a bit. So, that could explain it as well.

Mr_Shiftright

Do you like yellow?

http://sacramento.craigslist.org/cto/5841083609.html

kyfdx

Mr_Shiftright said:

Do you like yellow?

http://sacramento.craigslist.org/cto/5841083609.html

That's every third H3, where I live. Wasn't sure they came in any other color.

Michaell

tjc78 said:

Typically when it is raining or snowing you slow down a bit. So, that could explain it as well.

Ah, but then there's the "driving too fast for conditions" infraction.

henryn

I've never known anyone who received a moving violation for "driving too fast for conditions". I know it's possible, I've just never seen it, or heard directly from anyone on the receiving end.

andres3

I hit some heavy fog a long time ago on a long drive up I5 in CA. Never felt safer from a speeding ticket with visibility so low! Of course, it was never more dangerous to speed either. If everyone does everything right it'll all be OK. When some goof-off decides to park it in one of the travel lanes that's when you hear about those yearly 40+ car pileups.

Michaell

andres3 said:

I hit some heavy fog a long time ago on a long drive up I5 in CA. Never felt safer from a speeding ticket with visibility so low! Of course, it was never more dangerous to speed either. If everyone does everything right it'll all be OK. When some goof-off decides to park it in one of the travel lanes that's when you hear about those yearly 40+ car pileups.

"Tule" fog can be deadly, that's for sure.

And, speed differential is probably the largest contributing factor to those multi-car pileups you hear about in bad weather.

Mr_Shiftright

kyfdx said:

Mr_Shiftright said:

Do you like yellow?

http://sacramento.craigslist.org/cto/5841083609.html

That's every third H3, where I live. Wasn't sure they came in any other color.

Some people love 'em. They used to rent the H2s as I recall.

imidazol97

suydam said:

What do you have to do to get a speeding ticket in Florida? When we were there everyone was driving 80 at least!

Have out-of-state plates.

kyfdx

imidazol97 said:

suydam said:

What do you have to do to get a speeding ticket in Florida? When we were there everyone was driving 80 at least!

Have out-of-state plates.

Or, a rental car barcode on your window.

fintail

Or possibly local plates and a high end car.

Today I saw a pair of identical grey/beige Altimas parked in front of a hotel, rentals. I don't know if anything says "rental" more today than a base model Altima, it's as loud as an Impala Limited, but at least a handful don't sell to fleets.

berri

Oh, I just saw a bunch of Hyunkia's in the rental garage last week; sedans, crossovers and vans. If you just want something comfortable to tool around while on travel, the Altima is alright really. Now for your sojourn, I'd expect you will be looking for something more interesting Fin

fintail

Thinking of Hyunkia, Genesis has been in many fleets too, and Cadenza/Credenza from time to time as well. I know National had the K9 for awhile, but I think that event has passed. For the time and distance I will be driving, yes, I want something more than the lowest price rental fodder.

fintail

Sandman, call up Hertz ATL and tell them to have a fancy fleet during the middle of next week

On the road today, a rental Explorer ignoring pedestrians crossing a driveway, and what I am pretty sure was a rental 300 that looked like a higher option car.

berri

If you end up premium with a 300, better be a Hemi!

fintail

There's been inflation in rental car categories. In Murica, "Premium" will likely get you a new style Impala (if you are lucky, LTZ, but LT probably more common), maybe a Taurus, at one time Azera or Cadenza, etc. At Hertz anyway, I have read even the Lacrosse has been bumped to "luxury", along with 300, maybe Avalon, etc - cars that were once "Premium". I rented "Luxury", as I am using points.

In Europe, "Premium" is usually 4cyl E/5er etc, "Luxury" is a 6cyl variant.

sandman_6472

We picked up 3 Mercedes today...a CLA, a C and an E and drove them back to our office. We also had 7 Tahoes/Suburbans ready to rent. Finally with season here, we're getting rentable vehicles in. Yay!!

The Sandman

fintail

New style E or 2010-16 E?

fintail

Saw another rental CTS in the workplace parking garage, same spec as the other - 3.6, pano, HUD. Nice.

I'll have my ATL rental tomorrow afternoon, anxious to see what I get, or what I talk my way into.

jpp5862

fintail said:

Saw another rental CTS in the workplace parking garage, same spec as the other - 3.6, pano, HUD. Nice.

I'll have my ATL rental tomorrow afternoon, anxious to see what I get, or what I talk my way into.

Good luck fin. A friend of mine who rents from Hertz often is on his third Dodge Journey. He tried Avis last week and gladly paid an extra $15/day for a Jag XE.

Look forward to hearing what you get and your experiences here in the Southeast.

fintail

On the ground in ATL today, got the car earlier today and drove around a bit. And the Hertz "luxury" class rewarded me with:

A basic Chrysler 300. The typical generic "luxury" standby in more than one fleet.

Leather, no roof, no nav, doesn't appear to have steering wheel radio controls (?), playskool quality reverse cam resolution (but at least it has one), 12K miles, light wear and tear, but not too bad for a rental. I still get a MB W210 feel with some of the controls. I gave it a 5 minute detail inside, cleaning the controls and windows, and now it passes muster.

On the plus side, the big V6 is whisper quiet at idle, has a lot of power, and it is very smooth and serene on the highway. Seats are decent, it has bluetooth, USB, SD card, etc, and one cool thing - XM Radio is active. That'll come in handy on my road trips. It'll probably get decent mileage for a big gasser, and it takes RUG. Fuel is super cheap here, so no problem. I didn't think to get a pic, but it is dark grey with black interior.

When I arrived, I saw the car in my spot, saw that it was very basic, and went to the Gold desk to see what else was available. The nice agent told me nothing was available in my class, but she could get me a "deal" on an upgrade. Infiniti Q50 for 25/day, CLA for 40/day, XT5 for 75/day (!). I thought about the Infiniti, but after examining the car (pretty beat up, absolutely basic 2.0 model with nothing on it), decided the Chrysler was a better value - as this is a points rental, it is costing me little.

Other cars I noticed - "dream cars" had a Cayman, a C63, and a Tesla (I didn't even ask - 100+ per day no doubt), the normal spots were a sea of Chevy and Nissan. The agent mentioned they used to have several Cadillac, but not anymore - I guess the rumor that Caddy has cut back fleet sales might be true.

fintail

Update - it has steering wheel controls. They are behind the spokes, which seems odd to me. No manual of course, so I had to look it up online.

berri

That engine is pretty noisy on the uphill pavement in the minivans, but hopefully won't be as noticeable in a 300 sedan. I've only driven a 300 with a Hemi, but I'm not complaining

tjc78

fintail said:

Update - it has steering wheel controls. They are behind the spokes, which seems odd to me. No manual of course, so I had to look it up online.

That's a Chrysler thing. Been that way since the mid 90s. Pretty sure it started on the Grand Cherokee. I know at the office in the early 2000s we had a 96 wth controls just like that and a recent Chrysler town and country I drove was the same.

stever

That's the way they are on my '09 Grand Caravan but I would have sworn they were on top of the steering wheel.

tjc78

I actually never minded the placement, your hands naturally fall there.

fintail

I am sure I will adapt. Maybe just easier having a pictogram explaining what does what.

fintail

Noticing other rentals around in this touristy area - Camry, Altima, Charger, a 300 with roof, XT5, Sentra.

I noticed my car has a decent sized scratch on the roof. I am pretty sure I didn't do it, didn't notice it upon delivery. However, the Hertz invoice doesn't seem to have an area for damage at all - based on the wear and tear on the car already (how the heck does the headliner get spots?), I think they just don't care.

fintail

In Savannah today, rental car paradise, Altimas and Hyundais as far as the eye can see. Saw another rental 300 that appeared to have the next option group up from mine.