Rental Cars

[ksucrcoop]

Best way to get upgrades (i.e. a convertible) / Good prices?

TIA

[Rage Against the McKee]

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.

[SkinnyBenny]

Actually not a terrible idea.

[Mikeyis4dcats]

google for codes.  plenty of codes out there for all sorts of scenarios.    Look at the travel forum on fatwallet too.

[michigancat]

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.

[Rage Against the McKee]

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.

[GoodForAnother]

ask

[Mikeyis4dcats]

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

[scottwildcat]

 

[Rage Against the McKee]

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.

[meow meow]

Is there any better vehicle to drive than a rental?  Want to drive over that curb with this ford Taurus, why yes please.

[Bloodfart]

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.

[bones129]

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.

[mocat]

Favorite rental cars?

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

[Mr Bread]

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. 

[Dr Rick Daris]

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.

[steve dave]

rent the kind of car you want. your company probably has an agreement with at least one rental car company to get reduced rates.

[Super PurpleCat]

I always get stuck with mid-90s Buick/Oldsmobile-ish boats.   

[GoodForAnother]

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 

[star seed 7]

I always get stuck with mid-90s Buick/Oldsmobile-ish boats.   

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.

[WillieWatanabe]

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.

[Stupid Fitz]

ask

This. You will get a better car 90% of the time.

[GoodForAnother]

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

[Dr Rick Daris]

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.

[mocat]

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.