Car Hire USA - Which car did you receive?

[AdMEL]

For those that have hired a car in the USA recently (say in the last 12 months), who did you hire it from, which group did you reserve, which car (make/model) did you receive and have a choice of?

I'm especially interested in Netfllights, Argus and other third party car hire brokers recommended by other members, as I'll be hiring a car from SFO in July (from about the 9th) for about 3 weeks and I'm 6'9", so I need to know exactly which car I might have a choice of, or receive.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Sprucegoose]

For those that have hired a car in the USA recently (say in the last 12 months), who did you hire it from, which group did you reserve, which car (make/model) did you receive and have a choice of?

I'm especially interested in Netfllights, Argus and other third party car hire brokers recommended by other members, as I'll be hiring a car from SFO in July (from about the 9th) for about 3 weeks and I'm 6'9", so I need to know exactly which car I might have a choice of, or receive.

Thanks in advance.

what car would suit you given your height?

 

[AdMEL]

what car would suit you given your height?

Generally, a larger car, but not necessarily - it depends on the car and the interior layout. In general, large Australian cars are best, followed closely by European cars. Japanese cars are the worst.

I usually hire Commodores (the most comfortable) or Falcons in Australia, the occasional Statesman, Audi A4 & A6, Mercedes C200 last weekend, all of which are fine. I've also driven a current Mini MEL-SYD (very comfortable!) and have driven Toyota Corollas and Yaris', but are only good for short distances.

As most of the USA cars are totally different to here, I need to know what I can expect to actually get (rather than the often obsolete models shown on the websites of the car hire companies), so I can research it, as my travel mate wants smaller for lower cost!

 

[blueflamenco]

For those that have hired a car in the USA recently (say in the last 12 months), who did you hire it from, which group did you reserve, which car (make/model) did you receive and have a choice of?

I'm especially interested in Netfllights, Argus and other third party car hire brokers recommended by other members, as I'll be hiring a car from SFO in July (from about the 9th) for about 3 weeks and I'm 6'9", so I need to know exactly which car I might have a choice of, or receive.

Thanks in advance.

I have hired a number of times with Enterprise and I highly recommend them. The last was about a month ago in SFO and everything was flawless as usual.

I'm not into cars at all so I don't recall the type of car we even had but my boyfriend (who like you is very, very tall) drove comfortably. I can tell you that I usually choose the "full size car" or "standard SUV" with them. We have always been given a selection of cars, if you change your mind and want something different they can usually accommodate you.

Their website has the cars that they usually carry...
Enterprise Rent-A-Car: Minivan rentals, pickup truck rentals, economy, luxury rental cars<

Their rates are also very competitive and their service has always been superb

 

[drron]

I hire regularly in the USA through a third party broker as it is generally a lot cheaper-though occasionally hiring direct can be so always check.If using a third party broker beware if they are offering a Hertz car-every time instead of the full size i have reserved I have got an intermediate car so I avoid them even if the cheapest(hint say you will drop off downtown-they give the depot address and compare that with the Hertz depots).
However I have always got the reserved size or upgraded if it is with Dollar.Fullsize as ordered if Avis or Alamo.With Dollar it is a Dodge charger and you can put the seat right back.upgraded vehicle has been an SUV with even more room.
I use Driveaway or Globalcars-more recently Driveaway usually the best.

 

[Grooba]

Last month I hired a car using Thrifty out of LAX for a week. We booked direct with them and booked the smallest size (compact I think), the make of car booked on the website was a Dodge.

Upon arrival there were no compact cars available so we got upgraded to an economy size car. The options were a Ford and a Nissan - my wife won't get into a Ford ever again so the Nissan it was.

Don't remember exactly what model but it was nice and new with a little over 1,000 miles on the clock.

 

[rrian]

Thank you AdMEL for your input to my thread on LAX car hire. In your case, at 6'9", you should perhaps look at a convertible or one with a sunroof. Seriously though, I think your best bet might be a 4WD to provide that added headroom.
In my case, in November 2009 I booked and pre-paid a Thrifty car rental through Cartrawler. The booking was for a Ford Focus or similar (code CCAR) and the Dodge Caliber was in that category. I decided on arrival that these were too small to store our two standard international size bags in the trunk so upgraded to the Chrysler Sebring size or similar. I was charged around US $170 for this even though I had been offered this upgrade by Cartrawler for wround $60. I had a choice of about a dozen cars in the Sebring category including a PT Cruiser and a current model Ford Mustang hardtop. We chose size over style, even though we were headed for Route 66. The Sebring was primitive by Oz basic model Commodore and Falcon standards, had numerous scratches and a missing reflector, all of which were photographed in the Thrifty yard, and its cruise control worked intermittedly. Good luck with yours, and travel well.

 

[jamesatfish]

For some data points, I've hired from Hertz in the US twice this month:

SFO: Requested Infinity GX35 (small SUV), got Infinity GX35

NYC: Requested Mercedes G Class (small SUV), got Caddy SRX (small SUV)

So in both cases I was specific about the type of car I wanted (rather than booking a class) and ended up pretty much with what I requested. Both bookings were made online.

Prior to that I've mainly requested (and received) the GX35 for West Coast hires, but I don't usually hire on the East Coast so can't offer any more data there.

 

[BAM1748]

Couple of months back wanted a compact to whizz around San Francisco in normally don't specify the make the model, used Alamo and chose a Chev Cobolt which was pretty indestructable, just picked it out of the row of cars I was told I could choose from.

I like to pick the size when I book and choose the colour make and model when I get there, adds to the adventure not knowing.

Matt

 

[cove]

I booked a full sized car thru Expedia and got a Chevy Malibu from Alamo at LAX airport.I went for white so everyone can see you and there was a choice of 20 in a line when I got there from QF107.
I figured Expedia had better buying power than just myself and I should have just ducked into a store to buy a GPS as their price to hire it for the month was about the price to buy one.
It is a good idea not to get lost in Los Angeles and the Malibu is a pretty ordinary American built GM vehicle that is carrying the 3 of us.I judged the full sized idea from the Toyota Camry mentioned but I did not see any of those to pick from.

 

[cove]

Remember if you drink alcohol then get off the plane and drive you are really asking for big trouble. They jail then heavily fine folks who drive over the limit.
I think that would take the prize if you have a holiday all planned out but your Ford,Chevy or Chrysler something is no longer going to be driven by you.
I don't know if it is one phone call for Australians but making bail to get released would seem pretty important and then you can use Prime Time or equivalent to get around.

 

[AdMEL]

Thank you AdMEL for your input to my thread on LAX car hire. In your case, at 6'9", you should perhaps look at a convertible or one with a sunroof. Seriously though, I think your best bet might be a 4WD to provide that added headroom.
In my case, in November 2009 I booked and pre-paid a Thrifty car rental through Cartrawler. The booking was for a Ford Focus or similar (code CCAR) and the Dodge Caliber was in that category. I decided on arrival that these were too small to store our two standard international size bags in the trunk so upgraded to the Chrysler Sebring size or similar. I was charged around US $170 for this even though I had been offered this upgrade by Cartrawler for wround $60. I had a choice of about a dozen cars in the Sebring category including a PT Cruiser and a current model Ford Mustang hardtop. We chose size over style, even though we were headed for Route 66. The Sebring was primitive by Oz basic model Commodore and Falcon standards, had numerous scratches and a missing reflector, all of which were photographed in the Thrifty yard, and its cruise control worked intermittedly. Good luck with yours, and travel well.

No worries. I assume you were joking about the convertible or cars with sunroof! In my experience, convertibles and cars with sunroofs are generally bad, as they have less bedroom than the same model without. Having said that, I've driven a mate's Saab 2006 93 convertible, which is fine. I've also driven the following cars with sunroofs and they were fine: Mercedes C200 (a little tight on bedroom), Audi A4 & A6, Mini, Calais, Statesman, G6E. As you can see, they're all Australian or European and they all handle well! I despise 4WD's and most Japanese or Korean cars - bland, lacking in leg room and poor handling. I realise there aren't too many good American cars either. Wouldn't mind a Mustang though!

 

[AdMEL]

Remember if you drink alcohol then get off the plane and drive you are really asking for big trouble. They jail then heavily fine folks who drive over the limit.
I think that would take the prize if you have a holiday all planned out but your Ford,Chevy or Chrysler something is no longer going to be driven by you.
I don't know if it is one phone call for Australians but making bail to get released would seem pretty important and then you can use Prime Time or equivalent to get around.

You would have to drink a fair bit, considering I think the legal blood alcohol content in most US states is 0.08 or 0.1%, i.e. Twice ours!

In any event, I don't finding out! Will be staying overnight in San Francisco before collecting car!

 

[munitalP]

Hired ex LAX through Thrifty. Had a Dodge Charger - LOTS of room, economy was surprising as well. This was an F car and there was quite a lot of choice out in the car park to choose from

munitalP