Rental Car Experiences?

Michaell · March 2018

I finally had a chance to exercise the A4 last night. Highesy 150 between Ojai and Carpenteria is pretty twisty. Held the corners well - I’m sure there was more grip, but my courage ran short in the dark - and, there was rain over the weekend and that was a fire area, so I was concerned about rock and mudslides.

But, I was able to glimpse why cars like this are popular.

andres3 · March 2018

Michaell said:
I finally had a chance to exercise the A4 last night. Highesy 150 between Ojai and Carpenteria is pretty twisty. Held the corners well - I’m sure there was more grip, but my courage ran short in the dark - and, there was rain over the weekend and that was a fire area, so I was concerned about rock and mudslides.

But, I was able to glimpse why cars like this are popular.

CR recently proclaimed the A4 a winner in the luxury compact segment. Is yours equipped with the "S-Line" package? Usually includes a "S-line" side marker badge.

Michaell · March 2018

andres3 said:

I finally had a chance to exercise the A4 last night. Highesy 150 between Ojai and Carpenteria is pretty twisty. Held the corners well - I’m sure there was more grip, but my courage ran short in the dark - and, there was rain over the weekend and that was a fire area, so I was concerned about rock and mudslides.

But, I was able to glimpse why cars like this are popular.
CR recently proclaimed the A4 a winner in the luxury compact segment. Is yours equipped with the "S-Line" package? Usually includes a "S-line" side marker badge.

Not an S-Line. I’ve read it’s a configuration you can’t get in the showroom.

fintail · March 2018

Parked by a new Malibu rental at work. Must have been fresh, was black and very shiny, actually looked good in that color, contrasting against the trim.

Jogged by a hotel that had a rental fleet in the valet area - Altima, Sentra, Impala, Sonata.

andres3 · March 2018

Michaell said:

andres3 said:

Michaell said:
I finally had a chance to exercise the A4 last night. Highesy 150 between Ojai and Carpenteria is pretty twisty. Held the corners well - I’m sure there was more gri but my courage ran short in the dark - and, there was rain over the weekend and that was a fire area, so I was concerned about rock and mudslides.

But, I was able to glimpse why cars like this are popular.
CR recently proclaimed the A4 a winner in the luxury compact segment. Is yours equipped with the "S-Line" package? Usually includes a "S-line" side marker badge.

Not an S-Line. I’ve read it’s a configuration you can’t get in the showroom.

The Arizona Silvercar rental did have that S-Line badge. Go figure.

I think Audi secretly gives S-Line cars an extra 25 or so horses under the table. I swear my A3 (sport package at the time it was called) and the rental A4 with S-line seemed a little livelier than they should have been.

imidazol97 · March 2018

andres3 said:
I think Audi secretly gives S-Line cars an extra 25 or so horses under the table. I swear my A3 (sport package at the time it was called) and the rental A4 with S-line seemed a little livelier than they should have been.

Do they use a slightly higher (numerically) final drive ratio which makes the car feel perkier at the expense of gas mileage.

kyfdx · March 2018

S-Line is an appearance package

For instance, every A3 TDI was an S-Line

At one time, long, long ago, it might have involved some performance options, but not any time in recent memory.

andres3 · March 2018

imidazol97 said:

andres3 said:
I think Audi secretly gives S-Line cars an extra 25 or so horses under the table. I swear my A3 (sport package at the time it was called) and the rental A4 with S-line seemed a little livelier than they should have been.
Do they use a slightly higher (numerically) final drive ratio which makes the car feel perkier at the expense of gas mileage.

I agree with @kyfdx that it is now an appearance package.

However in 2006 it was more then that, not sure if that qualifies as "long, long ago."

I don't believe they'd alter the drive ratios, as that could get them EPA fines. I think though they might secretly alter the ECU and other programming just a tad to be more responsive to throttle inputs.

My car in "dynamic and S" mode is a different split personality from "comfort & D mode."

I'm wondering if in the past they built that personality difference right into the car when the "adjustment" was not yet available. It could have all been tied to "S-mode" on the transmission, but now that they separate the functions and make them user controllable, they can charge more for it!

tjc78 · March 2018

Same model years you drove?? Programming changes often, so that can be the difference. My 2017 Enclave “feels” a touch slower than my 15 was and also gets a little better mileage despite being functionally identical vehicles.

fintail · March 2018

Report of the fleet seen today at a Sixt branch in Munich. One would expect a lot of BMW content, and they'd be right.

München Stachus:
Audi A4 TFSI (1 Auspuffrohr)
Audi A3 TDI
BMW 225xe
3x BMW 430i Cabrio (SR)
BMW 420i Cabrio (SR)
BMW X1 xDrive20d
BMW 740Ld xDrive
BMW 116i (M-Paket auf SR) und BMW 118d (M-Paket auf WR)
BMW X5 xDrive40d
BMW 530i Lim
BMW X4M40i
Mercedes S560
VW Tiguan
RR Sport
Maserati Levante

Neu vom Transporter:
2x BMW M2 (beide schwarz,SR)
BMW M240i Cabrio (schwarz,SR)
BMW M140i (weiß,WR)
2x BMW X4 xDrive20d
2x BMW 540i xDrive Touring
BMW 630i GT
2x MINI JCW Cabrio (SR)

I am sure today at Seatac, you can have your choice of Altimas, Sentras, Sonatas, Accents, Corollas, Malibus, etc.

berri · March 2018

You might be a little too varied there

andres3 · March 2018

fintail said:
Report of the fleet seen today at a Sixt branch in Munich. One would expect a lot of BMW content, and they'd be right.

München Stachus:
Audi A4 TFSI (1 Auspuffrohr)
Audi A3 TDI
BMW 225xe
3x BMW 430i Cabrio (SR)
BMW 420i Cabrio (SR)
BMW X1 xDrive20d
BMW 740Ld xDrive
BMW 116i (M-Paket auf SR) und BMW 118d (M-Paket auf WR)
BMW X5 xDrive40d
BMW 530i Lim
BMW X4M40i
Mercedes S560
VW Tiguan
RR Sport
Maserati Levante

Neu vom Transporter:
2x BMW M2 (beide schwarz,SR)
BMW M240i Cabrio (schwarz,SR)
BMW M140i (weiß,WR)
2x BMW X4 xDrive20d
2x BMW 540i xDrive Touring
BMW 630i GT
2x MINI JCW Cabrio (SR)

I am sure today at Seatac, you can have your choice of Altimas, Sentras, Sonatas, Accents, Corollas, Malibus, etc.

No Kia Stingers though! For shame. It's possible Stingers will become performance rental queens.

fintail · March 2018

If sales don't match expectations, there could be a fleet sale. Maybe not as likely in Germany, where I suspect the Stinger has a much tougher row to hoe. And knowing US fleets, base models.

I remember the K900 was in some fleets (maybe National) for a time, along with Cadenza. They don't seem to be in fleets lately.

andres3 said:

No Kia Stingers though! For shame. It's possible Stingers will become performance rental queens.

fintail · March 2018

Update from DUS:

- BMW 760LI
- BMW M2
- BMW 220i Cabrio
- Range Rover Sport
- Mini S Cabrio (in rot)
- viele MB E- Cabrios
- viele Jag. E-Pace
- BMW M140i ( auf SR)
- BMW 630i GT in weiss

This was spotted at Sixt somewhere, a T-Roc, guess it is pretty new:

From Sixt Bremen, someone got this 740Xd:

With this interior, wow:

Update from SEA:

Probably lots of Altimas, Sentras, Malibus, Accents, and if you are lucky an Explorer or 300.

andres3 · March 2018

Anywhere I can rent an M2 in the US for a reasonable $$$ amount? I'd like an extended test drive, and my experience with BMW dealers in the area is that their attitude is such that you should be able to tell their cars are just 100X so far superior to other cars in a 2 mile test drive that you don't even question it.

Arrogant much?

fintail · March 2018

I've heard of only fairly basic BMWs in US fleets, certainly no M cars outside of specialty fleets or maybe Hertz "dream cars" or similar.

fintail · April 2018

Saw two nicer rentals on the road today - a Q50 and an XTS.

Sandman6472 · April 2018

Have a '17 Hyundai Elantra SE with about 32,500 on the clock. Has been abused and the inside is stained but it was that or a Sonic. Tried to swap into a new Encore at my office but couldn't get it done. Since it's just a couple more days, keeping it. It shows me getting 33.8 on the mpg gauge in the dash. I know I did about 100 miles on a quarter of a tank and it showed 426 when I got it on a full tank.
I want my vehicle back though!!

The Sandman

berri · April 2018

Had another rather low mile new '18 Equinox. Like the previous one, it was pretty decent overall with one glaring exception. This one had very noticeable wind noise around both A pillars. Don't know if they replaced the windshield or factory inconsistency.

andres3 · April 2018

berri said:
Had another rather low mile new '18 Equinox. Like the previous one, it was pretty decent overall with one glaring exception. This one had very noticeable wind noise around both A pillars. Don't know if they replaced the windshield or factory inconsistency.

Going to go for "What is factory inconsistency?" for $1,000 Alex.

Just playing the odds, an the chances an '18 model having a replacement windshield are low. And Equinox's did earn the nickname Cheapinox when they were first introduced.

suydam · April 2018

The new models are quite different though.

berri · April 2018

Going to go for "What is factory inconsistency?" for $1,000 Alex
What is poor quality in assembly?

Seriously, the other one I rented didn't have this, so that is why I wondered if it had the windshield replaced.

fintail · April 2018

Saw a rental Mazda 6 today,

Sandman6472 · April 2018

Don't kid yourself about newer vehicles and replacement windshields. Happens all the time as cars come back with little chips or worse with very low miles. I see the windshield replacement truck regularly at the maintenance area working on a variety of different vehicles. Lot of trucks on the highways down here in South Florida and they don't always put those screens over their cargo. Little pebbles and rocks can be coming out from their beds and bouncing off the streets into anyone's windshield. Sad but true, I know it happened to our Mazda3 early in it's life but since the crack was so small, wife decided to have them put that rezin in the crack and let it seal it up. Worked like a charm and after awhile, we just forgot it was there, the job was that good. I was for total replacement while she said no. The glass guy said do it her way first and if the crack gets any bigger, they'll just come back and replace the whole thing. We followed his advice and that was that.

The Sandman

fintail · April 2018

I read on Flyertalk that someone got a Honda Pilot from Hertz in Las Vegas - that's a tad unusual.

fintail · April 2018

The new leering eyes CLS is in the Sixt fleet in Germany:

This one reportedly had widescreen and multibeam lighting.

Sandman6472 · April 2018

Worked the West Palm Beach auto auction last Thursday and saw a bunch of ex-Sixt rentals going through one of the lanes and later on saw where they were parked. All kinds of MB's and Audioslave about to go through the line, a very impressive lineup. Have done the auction twice now and after a few minutes, once I get situated, it's really fun, lots of energy and lots of folks. Could do more days during the week but owe my loyalty to Hertz right now for the 3 days each week. Also like Tuesdays off if possible, as four days if work is plenty since I am supposedly retired!!

The Sandman

fintail · April 2018

Meanwhile in Germany, someone got a new style CLS rental:

It's a 400d, something I wish we got here. I think it's ~340hp and ~500 lb/ft. Ah, to be in the first world.

Widescreen, for the "Tokyo by night" experience:

Michaell · April 2018

Saw a FB post from a friend of mine who travels pretty much every week for a consulting gig. He posts pictures of his rental (Bay Area). Lots of interesting things have popped up - Ram pickup, Wrangler, etc.

This week he posts a picture of a Miata RF. Who knew those could be found to rent?

fintail · April 2018

Assuming it is a stick, maybe a Turo or small local specialty rental firm? I am not aware of any manual cars in mainstream American fleets.

Michaell · April 2018

fintail said:
Assuming it is a stick, maybe a Turo or small local specialty rental firm? I am not aware of any manual cars in mainstream American fleets.

No, I believe my friend rents through National.

fintail · April 2018

Do they make those in automatic?

Michaell said:

No, I believe my friend rents through National.

kyfdx · April 2018

fintail said:
Do they make those in automatic?

Michaell said:

No, I believe my friend rents through National.

Yes

ronsteve · April 2018

Anyone here experienced Hertz Ultimate Choice yet? Basically depending on your reservation and/or loyalty status, you are able to pick any car in a certain zone (or zones), and they'll print off your agreement at the exit.

At MCI the "Gold" zone was fairly "meh." Mostly Altimas and Jeep Compasses, with a couple stray Sonatas, a Rogue, and a Dodge Journey. I chose a Sonata and wasn't impressed. It was a stripper rental package, and while it did have XM radio, there wasn't even a backup camera. And I dare say Hyundai has missed the mark on handling, because I've never driven a car that felt so disconnected from the road, even my old Corolla with its classic Toyota lack of road feel. On the bright side, it didn't break and averaged 35 mpg on roughly 75% highway/25% city use. We'll see how Ultimate Choice goes at EWR next weekend.

suydam · April 2018

The Elantra I rented from Dollar in Dec. had backup cam and blind spot warning. It was a great car and handled well. I haven’t driven a Sonata.

fintail · April 2018

I suspect "Ultimate Choice" will be pick any color Altima you want. This program is definitely in response to National, with their longtime "pick your car" option.

fintail · April 2018

Kind of a short term rental driven by someone else, rode in 2 Lyft cars with co-workers today. First was a Sentra - maybe the perfect car for the job, as it will fit 4 reasonably enough, and you won't feel bad about putting it to work. Second was a nearly new Impreza - interior materials seemed better than I recall for those.

tjc78 · April 2018

fintail said:
I suspect "Ultimate Choice" will be pick any color Altima you want. This program is definitely in response to National, with their longtime "pick your car" option.

When I traveled heavily, I loved Emerald Aisle. Picking the car was nice, but skipping the counter and only showing my license on the way out along with a quick signature saved so much time.

fintail · April 2018

Fortunately, Hertz has a similar ideal now with the free zero status Gold program - find your name on the board, get the car, drive away. Now that I think of it, I've only gone to the counter when renting in Germany, as I rent from (cheaper) non-airport stations, and it is the only option. I suspect others allow you to find your name and spot, get the car, and just show ID on the way out. Getting a nice car, that's another story

I think National tends to have a nicer fleet than most domestics - but I have Hertz PC via a status match, and a ton of gold points from another program, so I will be using them for the short term.

tjc78 said:

When I traveled heavily, I loved Emerald Aisle. Picking the car was nice, but skipping the counter and only showing my license on the way out along with a quick signature saved so much time.

suydam · April 2018

So on my trip this weekend I didn’t rent anything but I was a passenger on several Uber and Lyft drives. Here’s something that surprised me. I was in a BMW 328i and an Acura TSX. Now these are not makes I have any familiarity with but I expects them to have nice interiors, given their price. I was surprised to find both interiors were pretty similar to most cars I’ve driven lately. Mix of hard and soft plastics, fake wood trim. Neither was as nice as either m Encore or Volt. Are there levels you have to jump through to get better interiors?

ronsteve · April 2018

Hertz Ultimate Choice taketh, but this week Hertz Ultimate Choice giveth. Ended up with a 2019 Cherokee Limited with just 800 miles on it. All the bells and whistles, did a fine job. Booty warmers were nice on a cold and rainy Sunday morning while we waited to head toward the starting line of the NJ Marathon. Auto stop/start was definitely something different so I can't judge how well Jeep did with it. Don't think Jeep is a contender to replace my Volvo but was a nice ride for the weekend.

tifighter · May 2018

Current car rental-

Pros- it’s roomy. Beautiful interior, even on this base T5. 34mpg over two days of desert highway driving seems good to me. Comfortable and quiet, and the smaller wheels on this base spec are a bonus.
Cons- Motor always feels like the 4cyl it is. Turbo lag, although the T6 should fix this issue. The GPS is beyond terrible, always giving turn directions about 100 meters after I pass the turn. Infotainment is complex, but capable.
Verdict- when it’s time to replace the XC70, I might consider the V90 CC when they offer it with the T8 configuration. The 4cyl feel in a car like this just doesn’t float my boat.

fintail · May 2018

Hertz?

Michaell · May 2018

Where are you?

iluvmysephia1 · May 2018

tifighter, are you at Moab, UT?

tifighter · May 2018

Valley of Fire, NV. Rental from Sixt.

fintail · May 2018

Oh yeah, Sixt has some Volvos in Germany too. I wonder if there's a fleet dump of S90 as it appears to not be selling too well. I wonder if it is less able than a 5er/E/A6 with a standard 4.

I know Sixt in Las Vegas had some S-Class, at least in the past.

tifighter · May 2018

Choice was S90 or CTS for the class I booked. I was curious about the newer Volvos so I went that route. They were loaded with Range Rovers and RR Sports. If there are any locations Sixt should load up on the spendy stuff in the US, Vegas and Miami would seem to be the obvious candidates.

berri · May 2018

in the US, Vegas and Miami would seem to be the obvious candidates.

Well, until they get stolen or cracked up in those two cities

fintail · May 2018

Some highlights from the Sixt branch in Stuttgart where I rented the Jaaaaaag:

Around here. more like "enjoy your Camry/Altima"

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