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General Discussion => Essentially Flyertalk => Topic started by: ksucrcoop on April 09, 2013, 05:02:59 PM

Title: Rental Cars
Post by: ksucrcoop on April 09, 2013, 05:02:59 PM
Best way to get upgrades (i.e. a convertible) / Good prices?

TIA
Title: Re: Rental Cars
Post by: Rage Against the McKee on April 09, 2013, 05:04:27 PM
Best way to get upgrades (i.e. a convertible) / Good prices?

TIA

Drive the crappy car they give you a few blocks away and let enough air out of a tire for it to look low, then take it back to the lot. They will just give you a better car rather than make you wait on them to get the tire fixed.
Title: Rental Cars
Post by: SkinnyBenny on April 09, 2013, 05:47:46 PM
Actually not a terrible idea.
Title: Re: Rental Cars
Post by: Mikeyis4dcats on April 09, 2013, 06:49:20 PM
google for codes.  plenty of codes out there for all sorts of scenarios.    Look at the travel forum on fatwallet too.
Title: Re: Rental Cars
Post by: michigancat on April 09, 2013, 07:05:19 PM
I've found that if you book the "compact or bigger" from hotwire or something on a weekend you end up with a Crown Vic.
Title: Re: Rental Cars
Post by: Rage Against the McKee on April 09, 2013, 07:08:25 PM
I haven't actually let the air out of a rental before, but I booked a Chevy Cobalt one time, drove it a block, had the tire pressure light come on, and drove it back to the lot. They didn't feel like airing the tires to the proper level, so they just gave me a Dodge Charger instead. I'm pretty sure letting some air out of one of the tires would do the trick just about every time.
Title: Re: Rental Cars
Post by: GoodForAnother on April 09, 2013, 07:12:00 PM
ask
Title: Re: Rental Cars
Post by: Mikeyis4dcats on April 09, 2013, 08:56:19 PM
I haven't actually let the air out of a rental before, but I booked a Chevy Cobalt one time, drove it a block, had the tire pressure light come on, and drove it back to the lot. They didn't feel like airing the tires to the proper level, so they just gave me a Dodge Charger instead. I'm pretty sure letting some air out of one of the tires would do the trick just about every time.

until they give you another Chevy Cobalt
Title: Re: Rental Cars
Post by: scottwildcat on April 09, 2013, 09:56:17 PM
 :driving:
Title: Re: Rental Cars
Post by: Rage Against the McKee on April 09, 2013, 10:13:57 PM
I haven't actually let the air out of a rental before, but I booked a Chevy Cobalt one time, drove it a block, had the tire pressure light come on, and drove it back to the lot. They didn't feel like airing the tires to the proper level, so they just gave me a Dodge Charger instead. I'm pretty sure letting some air out of one of the tires would do the trick just about every time.

until they give you another Chevy Cobalt

Yeah, well, that would kind of suck.
Title: Re: Rental Cars
Post by: meow meow on April 09, 2013, 10:18:48 PM
Is there any better vehicle to drive than a rental?  Want to drive over that curb with this ford Taurus, why yes please.
Title: Re: Rental Cars
Post by: Bloodfart on April 09, 2013, 10:21:13 PM
I haven't actually let the air out of a rental before, but I booked a Chevy Cobalt one time, drove it a block, had the tire pressure light come on, and drove it back to the lot. They didn't feel like airing the tires to the proper level, so they just gave me a Dodge Charger instead. I'm pretty sure letting some air out of one of the tires would do the trick just about every time.

until they give you another Chevy Cobalt

Yeah, well, that would kind of suck.

I feel like they would be trying to compensate you for your troubles and would most likely upgrade you to save future business.  I think Nuts Kicked has a pretty good plan here.  I am def willing to try the next time i rent.
Title: Re: Rental Cars
Post by: bones129 on April 09, 2013, 11:56:08 PM
Best way to get upgrades (i.e. a convertible) / Good prices?

TIA

Drive the crappy car they give you a few blocks away and let enough air out of a tire for it to look low, then take it back to the lot. They will just give you a better car rather than make you wait on them to get the tire fixed.

Interesting.
Title: Re: Rental Cars
Post by: mocat on April 10, 2013, 01:26:18 AM
Favorite rental cars?

I've had two in a row of the new Beetle. Fantastic.
Title: Re: Rental Cars
Post by: Mr Bread on April 10, 2013, 04:05:38 PM
Favorite rental cars?

I've had two in a row of the new Beetle. Fantastic.

Once in college I had a Geo Metro that didn't have power steering.  It was like driving a shoe. 
Title: Re: Rental Cars
Post by: Dr Rick Daris on April 10, 2013, 04:09:29 PM
I haven't actually let the air out of a rental before, but I booked a Chevy Cobalt one time, drove it a block, had the tire pressure light come on, and drove it back to the lot. They didn't feel like airing the tires to the proper level, so they just gave me a Dodge Charger instead. I'm pretty sure letting some air out of one of the tires would do the trick just about every time.

until they give you another Chevy Cobalt

Yeah, well, that would kind of suck.

I feel like they would be trying to compensate you for your troubles and would most likely upgrade you to save future business.  I think Nuts Kicked has a pretty good plan here.  I am def willing to try the next time i rent.

yeah. they don't care about you or your business or the random odds of you possibly renting from them again. they'll give you closest comparable thing they have.
Title: Re: Rental Cars
Post by: steve dave on April 10, 2013, 04:11:35 PM
rent the kind of car you want. your company probably has an agreement with at least one rental car company to get reduced rates.
Title: Re: Rental Cars
Post by: Super PurpleCat on April 10, 2013, 04:34:26 PM
I always get stuck with mid-90s Buick/Oldsmobile-ish boats.   :curse:
Title: Re: Rental Cars
Post by: GoodForAnother on April 10, 2013, 04:35:47 PM
rent the kind of car you want. your company probably has an agreement with at least one rental car company to get reduced rates.

or 4  :gocho:
Title: Re: Rental Cars
Post by: star seed 7 on April 10, 2013, 05:06:10 PM
I always get stuck with mid-90s Buick/Oldsmobile-ish boats.   :curse:

when i was 21 i rented a car in orange county and only one place around would rent to under 25's.  so i went there, and they gave me some tiny toyota pos that would only get up to 75.  most scared i've ever been in a vehicle was driving that car at max speed on LA freeways with everyone else flying by me.
Title: Re: Rental Cars
Post by: WillieWatanabe on April 10, 2013, 09:10:32 PM
Favorite rental cars?

I've had two in a row of the new Beetle. Fantastic.

Once in college I had a Geo Metro that didn't have power steering.  It was like driving a shoe. 

this made me laugh harder than it should.
Title: Re: Rental Cars
Post by: Stupid Fitz on April 10, 2013, 09:11:22 PM
ask

This. You will get a better car 90% of the time.
Title: Re: Rental Cars
Post by: GoodForAnother on April 11, 2013, 09:38:46 AM
for real, this is how to do it

you: hello I have a reservation
car monkey: oh yes sir I have you right here in our system
you: great
car monkey: I see we have you in an intermediate class car here
you: yes, but do you know if there are any free upgrades available?
car monkey: yes I will give you a hummer absolutely free
you: tremendous
Title: Re: Rental Cars
Post by: Dr Rick Daris on April 11, 2013, 09:58:50 AM
i worked at enterprise rent a car for six months ten years ago. the reservation is taken as a courtesy and means absolutely nothing. that, i can guarantee you. it's exactly like that seinfeld episode if you've seen that seinfeld episode. also, lol at them giving you an upgrade just for the heck of it if they actually happen to have the car that you reserved on their lot.
Title: Re: Rental Cars
Post by: mocat on April 11, 2013, 10:04:31 AM
let me just say that Avis Preferred / Budget RapidRez is the absolute BITB. You just show up and bypass the counter and get straight into your car and drive away. I mean every time it happens it makes me smile.
Title: Re: Rental Cars
Post by: GoodForAnother on April 11, 2013, 10:08:52 AM
let me just say that Avis Preferred / Budget RapidRez is the absolute BITB. You just show up and bypass the counter and get straight into your car and drive away. I mean every time it happens it makes me smile.

hertz #1 gold and national executive club also do this.  national is the best because you just pick whatever car you want and drive it away.
Title: Re: Rental Cars
Post by: michigancat on April 11, 2013, 10:42:42 AM
i worked at enterprise rent a car for six months ten years ago.

SO DID MY WIFE. :sdeek:
Title: Re: Rental Cars
Post by: Boom Roasted on April 11, 2013, 10:48:45 AM
let me just say that Avis Preferred / Budget RapidRez is the absolute BITB. You just show up and bypass the counter and get straight into your car and drive away. I mean every time it happens it makes me smile.

hertz #1 gold and national executive club also do this.  national is the best because you just pick whatever car you want and drive it away.
Budget is great if you are under 25.  Can still get the rapid rez perks and everything without paying the under 25 fee if you sign up for USAA.  Has savd me money and time on multiple occasions and they are generally good about giving you a better car if you ask.
https://www.usaa.com/inet/pages/rental_cars_main_public?akredirect=true
BITB discount and is actually a better deal about 75% of the time than my company discount with Budget.
Title: Re: Rental Cars
Post by: pissclams on April 11, 2013, 10:49:04 AM
i worked at enterprise rent a car for six months ten years ago. the reservation is taken as a courtesy and means absolutely nothing. that, i can guarantee you. it's exactly like that seinfeld episode if you've seen that seinfeld episode. also, lol at them giving you an upgrade just for the heck of it if they actually happen to have the car that you reserved on their lot.

that's funny because exactly 10 years ago, a young version of pissclams was employed by hertz and we gave free upgrades all of the time.  it was our policy.  we would actually offer them to people without waiting for them to ask.  oh well, i guess that ends the old enterprise versus hertz debate once and for all.
Title: Re: Rental Cars
Post by: Stupid Fitz on April 11, 2013, 12:19:44 PM
let me just say that Avis Preferred / Budget RapidRez is the absolute BITB. You just show up and bypass the counter and get straight into your car and drive away. I mean every time it happens it makes me smile.

Avis is pretty good, but National pimp slaps all other rental cars straight in the face. 
Title: Re: Rental Cars
Post by: GoodForAnother on April 11, 2013, 01:31:30 PM
let me just say that Avis Preferred / Budget RapidRez is the absolute BITB. You just show up and bypass the counter and get straight into your car and drive away. I mean every time it happens it makes me smile.

Avis is pretty good, but National pimp slaps all other rental cars straight in the face.

yep  :thumbs:
Title: Re: Rental Cars
Post by: Emo EMAW on April 11, 2013, 01:34:58 PM
The Enterprise people are super rough ridin' nice.  I like that.   :thumbs:
Title: Re: Rental Cars
Post by: mocat on April 11, 2013, 01:38:14 PM
Another great thing about Avis is, unlike every other car rental company, their advertisements do not make me want to throw my TV out the window.
Title: Re: Rental Cars
Post by: The Tonya Harding of Twitter Users Creep on April 11, 2013, 02:09:14 PM
The butthurt in this article is pretty great

http://www.sportspickle.com/news/15975/enterprise-rent-a-car-accused-of-hiring-former-ncaa-athletes-solely-to-help-company-softball-team
Title: Re: Rental Cars
Post by: Dr Rick Daris on April 11, 2013, 02:27:02 PM
i worked at enterprise rent a car for six months ten years ago.

SO DID MY WIFE. :sdeek:


where? six months seems to be about the avg length of time that most can last. i realized that i would be quitting about a week in, but needed the "work" experience to get another job since my previous job as an aggieville bartender coupled with my non business related degree weren't exactly going to lead to fortune 500s knocking down my door. worst job i've ever had in my life. just the worst jerry.
Title: Re: Rental Cars
Post by: ben ji on April 11, 2013, 02:33:27 PM
i worked at enterprise rent a car for six months ten years ago.

SO DID MY WIFE. :sdeek:


where? six months seems to be about the avg length of time that most can last. i realized that i would be quitting about a week in, but needed the "work" experience to get another job since my previous job as an aggieville bartender coupled with my non business related degree weren't exactly going to lead to fortune 500s knocking down my door. worst job i've ever had in my life. just the worst jerry.

Tell me more! I always saw enterprise at college job fairs and wondered how bad it could be.

Heard from a friend of a friend that worked there for a couple months that they basically make you manager of a location in a real shitty neighborhood and you work 60 hours a week.
Title: Re: Rental Cars
Post by: The Tonya Harding of Twitter Users Creep on April 11, 2013, 02:38:12 PM
I met Rick Daris one time and he would not shut up about his stupid rental car job he had. Do not want to hear about it again

i used to work at a rental car place and now i have a good paying job and im so much better for it  :blah: :blah: :blah:

So annoying

Title: Re: Rental Cars
Post by: Dr Rick Daris on April 11, 2013, 02:42:46 PM
no. you don't manage an enterprise immediately. you are just one of the several workers there wearing a suit and tie walking around trying to sell damage waiver to people while simultaneously taking reservations for cars that you don't currently have on your lot. they tell you how much you can make but it's based on the fact that you'll be working overtime. so your workday is from like 6-6. most of enterprise rentals are insurance related. your car is in the shop and your insurance company has a contract with enterprise. so you pick the person up at the collision repair place and drive them to enterprise and then try to sell them insurance while you're at it. they already aren't happy and then now you're trying to sell them stuff. when you get to enterprise and find out that there actually is a car there for them then you are pretty happy. sometimes there isn't. then the person is even madder. then you try calling around to all of the other enterprises to see if they have any. sometimes they do but sometimes they don't. if they do then you tell the guy that his car is at a different enterprise and then you drive him over to that one. he's really, really happy by now. if no other enterprises have cars that they are willing to give you then you basically just have to wait and hope that someone returns one really soon. you also start calling the auto body shops close by to see if maybe someone just returned the car there when they were picking up their car. all the while you have to continue taking reservations for cars. someone wants a car in in two hours and you don't have any? oh yea sure no problem. a mid-size at 3pm sir. yes sir, no problem. just horrible.
Title: Re: Rental Cars
Post by: Dr Rick Daris on April 11, 2013, 02:44:49 PM
I met Rick Daris one time and he would not shut up about his stupid rental car job he had. Do not want to hear about it again

i used to work at a rental car place and now i have a good paying job and im so much better for it  :blah: :blah: :blah:

So annoying

easy there, turkey whacker.
Title: Re: Rental Cars
Post by: steve dave on April 11, 2013, 02:50:10 PM
let me just say that Avis Preferred / Budget RapidRez is the absolute BITB. You just show up and bypass the counter and get straight into your car and drive away. I mean every time it happens it makes me smile.

hertz #1 gold and national executive club also do this.  national is the best because you just pick whatever car you want and drive it away.

I have status with Hertz and National. I prefer Hertz. They text me a the car I'm given before I arrive at the airport and I can then request a different one if I don't like it. I'm on a pretty good run of getting a small SUV when booking an intermediate. when will the ride end? man, don't know. hold onto your hats folks.
Title: Re: Rental Cars
Post by: steve dave on April 11, 2013, 02:50:55 PM
Hertz and Enterprise usually have lower rates than National for the same cars in my experience. My company may just have lower negotiated rates with them though.
Title: Re: Rental Cars
Post by: The Tonya Harding of Twitter Users Creep on April 11, 2013, 02:59:12 PM
the first and only time i rented a car was when i was waiting on my car to be repaired. it was a 5 day rental and on day 4 or so MHK had a mild hail storm and the car had a little hail damage plus i ramped that puppy on a curb pretty good.

when i returned it enterprise told me i owed them $450 for the damage and i told them no way because all the other cars on the lot had a little hail damage and asked to speak to a manager. after waiting 15 minutes the same guy came back out and told me not to worry about the hail damage and i was good to go. pretty great rental car story if you ask me.
Title: Re: Rental Cars
Post by: Dr Rick Daris on April 11, 2013, 03:12:55 PM
airport car rental places are different beasts then non airport car rental places. def not potatoh/potato. more like potato/car rental place.
Title: Re: Rental Cars
Post by: WillieWatanabe on April 11, 2013, 03:14:55 PM
no. you don't manage an enterprise immediately. you are just one of the several workers there wearing a suit and tie walking around trying to sell damage waiver to people while simultaneously taking reservations for cars that you don't currently have on your lot. they tell you how much you can make but it's based on the fact that you'll be working overtime. so your workday is from like 6-6. most of enterprise rentals are insurance related. your car is in the shop and your insurance company has a contract with enterprise. so you pick the person up at the collision repair place and drive them to enterprise and then try to sell them insurance while you're at it. they already aren't happy and then now you're trying to sell them stuff. when you get to enterprise and find out that there actually is a car there for them then you are pretty happy. sometimes there isn't. then the person is ever madder. then you try calling around to all of the other enterprises to see if they have any. sometimes they do but sometimes they don't. if they do then you tell the guy that his car is at a different enterprise and then you drive him over to that one. he's really, really happy by now. if no other enterprises have cars that they are willing to give you then you basically just have to wait and hope that someone returns one really soon. you also start calling the auto body shops close by to see if maybe someone just returned the car there when they were picking up their car. all the while you have to continue taking reservations for cars. someone wants a car in in two hours and you don't have any? oh yea sure no problem. a mid-size at 3pm sir. yes sir, no problem. just horrible.

(https://goemaw.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.the-mainboard.com%2Fstyles%2Fdefault%2Fxenforo%2Fsmilies%2Fdonotwant.gif&hash=42c645dec539688ead6d672bf4cd88ee5a6798da)
Title: Re: Rental Cars
Post by: pissclams on April 11, 2013, 03:16:00 PM
let me just say that Avis Preferred / Budget RapidRez is the absolute BITB. You just show up and bypass the counter and get straight into your car and drive away. I mean every time it happens it makes me smile.

hertz #1 gold and national executive club also do this.  national is the best because you just pick whatever car you want and drive it away.

I have status with Hertz and National. I prefer Hertz. They text me a the car I'm given before I arrive at the airport and I can then request a different one if I don't like it. I'm on a pretty good run of getting a small SUV when booking an intermediate. when will the ride end? man, don't know. hold onto your hats folks.

yup, very much like when i worked there 10 years ago. hertz = no problems + best cars - hassle.
Title: Re: Rental Cars
Post by: Dr Rick Daris on April 11, 2013, 03:21:51 PM
you turkey whackers wouldn't know a good car rental place if it sold you damage waiver and then punched you in the face and ran over you with a chevy cobalt. what a stupid message board.  :flush:
Title: Re: Rental Cars
Post by: Emo EMAW on April 11, 2013, 03:23:49 PM
The folks at the Avis place in Tel Aviv totally tried to scam me but I busted them.  They dealt with me quite fairly after that.
Title: Re: Rental Cars
Post by: mocat on April 11, 2013, 03:41:15 PM
airport car rental places are different beasts then non airport car rental places. def not potatoh/potato. more like potato/car rental place.

quick Q: who would ever need to rent a car from a non-airport?
Title: Re: Rental Cars
Post by: Rage Against the McKee on April 11, 2013, 03:42:46 PM
airport car rental places are different beasts then non airport car rental places. def not potatoh/potato. more like potato/car rental place.

quick Q: who would ever need to rent a car from a non-airport?

people who need car repairs
Title: Re: Rental Cars
Post by: mocat on April 11, 2013, 03:51:57 PM
Doesn't your insurance just handle that for you?
Title: Re: Rental Cars
Post by: The Tonya Harding of Twitter Users Creep on April 11, 2013, 04:10:21 PM
Doesn't your insurance just handle that for you?

yeah, for the most part. they still call and ask you what you think about what theyve come up with...
Title: Rental Cars
Post by: Tobias on April 11, 2013, 04:11:25 PM
oh man, used to be the saturday guy at the u-haul at gas 4 less for a while in college.  between all the  army dudes and college students and the fact that "reservations" might as well have been written on a bar napkin, I would spend all day counting the hours until i could escape ruining people's days/lives so I could go black out with my friends.  pretty dark times really
Title: Re: Rental Cars
Post by: Rage Against the McKee on April 11, 2013, 04:13:56 PM
Doesn't your insurance just handle that for you?

Yeah, but you still have to get your car from the rental agency. Some agencies will deliver the car to you, but even then you have to return it.
Title: Re: Rental Cars
Post by: GoodForAnother on April 11, 2013, 05:15:40 PM
let me just say that Avis Preferred / Budget RapidRez is the absolute BITB. You just show up and bypass the counter and get straight into your car and drive away. I mean every time it happens it makes me smile.

hertz #1 gold and national executive club also do this.  national is the best because you just pick whatever car you want and drive it away.

I have status with Hertz and National. I prefer Hertz. They text me a the car I'm given before I arrive at the airport and I can then request a different one if I don't like it. I'm on a pretty good run of getting a small SUV when booking an intermediate. when will the ride end? man, don't know. hold onto your hats folks.

they didn't do that for me when I went to colorado in january.  fuckers.  I had to talk to a person!   :curse:

but every other time with hertz they've given me an upgrade so  :thumbs:

where? six months seems to be about the avg length of time that most can last.

my dad worked at erac for 19 years
Title: Re: Rental Cars
Post by: ChiComCat on April 11, 2013, 05:38:12 PM
let me just say that Avis Preferred / Budget RapidRez is the absolute BITB. You just show up and bypass the counter and get straight into your car and drive away. I mean every time it happens it makes me smile.

hertz #1 gold and national executive club also do this.  national is the best because you just pick whatever car you want and drive it away.

I have status with Hertz and National. I prefer Hertz. They text me a the car I'm given before I arrive at the airport and I can then request a different one if I don't like it. I'm on a pretty good run of getting a small SUV when booking an intermediate. when will the ride end? man, don't know. hold onto your hats folks.

they didn't do that for me when I went to colorado in january.  fuckers.  I had to talk to a person!   :curse:

but every other time with hertz they've given me an upgrade so  :thumbs:

where? six months seems to be about the avg length of time that most can last.

my dad worked at erac for 19 years

I hope it was doing more than RD did.  Nothing is worse than working customer service for a company with a crap product/service.
Title: Re: Rental Cars
Post by: GoodForAnother on April 11, 2013, 06:45:25 PM
let me just say that Avis Preferred / Budget RapidRez is the absolute BITB. You just show up and bypass the counter and get straight into your car and drive away. I mean every time it happens it makes me smile.

hertz #1 gold and national executive club also do this.  national is the best because you just pick whatever car you want and drive it away.

I have status with Hertz and National. I prefer Hertz. They text me a the car I'm given before I arrive at the airport and I can then request a different one if I don't like it. I'm on a pretty good run of getting a small SUV when booking an intermediate. when will the ride end? man, don't know. hold onto your hats folks.

they didn't do that for me when I went to colorado in january.  fuckers.  I had to talk to a person!   :curse:

but every other time with hertz they've given me an upgrade so  :thumbs:

where? six months seems to be about the avg length of time that most can last.

my dad worked at erac for 19 years

I hope it was doing more than RD did.  Nothing is worse than working customer service for a company with a crap product/service.

he got into management, made pretty decent money