Rental Car companies....

"POD" (podimus)
09/25/2013 at 23:09 • Filed to: First World Problems

I am dreading Monday. My Speed3 goes into the body shop to finally get the hail damage fixed. While it's getting the auto equivalent of the mumps worked out of most of it's sheet metal, my insurance company tells me I'm entitled to a rental car.

Sweet! This could be good. I'll try something fun, maybe a V6 mustang, possibly a FR-S. Something similar to my Speed3 from a performance stand point, but rear wheel drive. I was getting excited by the prospects.

I'm only allow a "comparable" vehicle. In this case, comparable (according to the rental companies) is a Kia Rio.

Kia. F*cking. Rio.

Not even a hatchback. The sedan. Shivers of pure joy are running up and down my spine due to the unrestrained elation I feel at that prospect.

Joy of joys. I've got to drive through Jasper (one of my favorite mountain drives) next Thursday, and I'll most likely get to do it in a Kia sedan.

There are other "comparable" cars....

Hyundai Elantra sedan:

No, just... Just no.

Toyota Corolla:

Hell, please kill it with fire, no!

Or a Focus. The Focus could be ok.

Except also sedan, and automatic only.

I understand that the rental company is basing comparable on platform size and vehicle segment. I just hate (and by hate I mean when I show up to the rental counter my gaze will cause the rental clerk to feel more heat then if they were to engage in the practice of self immolation) that a car that is only sold with a six speed close ratio manual, only sold as a hatchback, and only comes with one motor option (I'm talking MazdaSpeed3, not Mazda3) is reduced to a Kia Rio by the rental companies.

/Rant over

DISCUSSION (32)

dogisbadob > POD
09/25/2013 at 23:12

All rental cars are fun. The fastest car is the rental car!

And the Focus's automatic is actually a DCT so fast shift times to cut that extra tenth off your lap :p

Dunnik > POD
09/25/2013 at 23:14

Pro tip: when you show up and are given your car, inspect it and find/invent some issue with it (high mileage is a good one). They may not have anything else and may upgrade you to something slightly bigger, with no additional charge to you or your insurance company.

P.S. Hail damage, ow :/

For Sweden > POD
09/25/2013 at 23:15

Get the Elantra.

POD > dogisbadob
09/25/2013 at 23:18

The Focus is what I'm angling for. When I brought up the DCT point with the rep on the phone his response was, "No sir, it's an automatic."

About 3 minutes of conversation ensued about how the focus uses a dual clutch and an electronically controlled manual transmission, all at the end of which the rep said, no, we only carry automatics....

POD > For Sweden
09/25/2013 at 23:19

Really? Are you making a funny? Is there something about the Elantra that I'm missing?

For Sweden > POD
09/25/2013 at 23:22

As you're not going to get a McLaren P1 from the rental lot, the Elantra is the best car among the options you've been given.

POD > Dunnik
09/25/2013 at 23:23

It's worth a shot. My biggest want is something with a respectable power to weight ratio. I know that's probably a pipe dream though.

The hail damage was pretty extensive. Every body panel except the passenger doors. Somewhere around 400-500 individual dents. =(

twinturbobmw > POD
09/25/2013 at 23:23

Translation:
We have a DCT, but don't drive it like a DCT.

saabstory | fixes bikes, breaks cars > POD
09/25/2013 at 23:24

I mean, fair enough. He's a car rental rep, not a gearhead. If rental car companies were run by car guys rather than businessmen, you'd be in an FR-S.

POD > For Sweden
09/25/2013 at 23:26

In which respects?

The power to weight ratio is my biggest want for the rental. I haven't looked up the weight or power output of the options yet. Feature wise, all I need is cruse and A/C. The rest of the features don't add a lot of value for me personally.

POD > saabstory | fixes bikes, breaks cars
09/25/2013 at 23:27

There was one company that had an FR-S, but it was in the shop.

Firewrx234 > POD
09/25/2013 at 23:28

Maybe you'll be lucky, when mine was in the shop I got upgraded to the next class up because they were out of econoboxes. I didn't get much better, I almost had a 2014 fusion and I ended up with a 2012 Malibu instead. But at least it wasn't a corolla...

POD > twinturbobmw
09/25/2013 at 23:28

That's probably true, but I got the impression the rep just didn't know what was in the car and just stuck with the company line of "all we carry are automatics".

scoob > POD
09/25/2013 at 23:29

Kinja'd!!!

For Sweden > POD
09/25/2013 at 23:29

The Elanta is the most comfortable, best looking from the inside, and most fun to drive (I've rented both).

The Focus has a DCT, but it shifts on a geologic time scale in manual mode.

Tim (Fractal Footwork) > POD
09/25/2013 at 23:30

Try complaining to your insurance company over the comparison price of the vehicle. Not sure if this will actually work, but just an idea. It should if you took them to court, but ain't nobody got time for that...

POD > For Sweden
09/25/2013 at 23:31

Ahh, those are all great points. Thanks very much for the info on the Focus DCT.

I wonder if the rental company will let me drive each around the block a few times before deciding.

POD > Tim (Fractal Footwork)
09/25/2013 at 23:33

I did try talking to my claims rep (twice now) about the glaring differences drive train and performance orientation of the vehicle options. No dice. But I may try again tomorrow with the price argument. Who knows, could work, thanks for the idea!

For Sweden > POD
09/25/2013 at 23:34

As you're going to be going to a neighborhood location where business is slow, probably.

offroadkarter > POD
09/25/2013 at 23:45

get the focus, out of those options, trust me, get the focus

POD > offroadkarter
09/25/2013 at 23:50

Any points about the focus in addition to the DCT that you like over the other options?

I'm going to ask the rental company if I can drive the Focus and the Elantra around the block a few times before deciding.

offroadkarter > POD
09/25/2013 at 23:57

I test drove a new focus at a ford test drive event at the carlisle all ford nationals, they had a little course setup that I turned into an auto cross course since it was the end of the day. I thought it was fun to drive and comfortable.

I don't really have a ton to specify, its just a better car. Looks better, built better, is better.

POD > offroadkarter
09/26/2013 at 00:01

Sweet that they let you auto cross it on their course! Fun to drive is going to be important. I do think the Focus looks the best out of the options I have. It has always kinda reminded me of a sad catfish. Mind you, the Speed3 looks like a manic goth queen.

Thanks for the feedback! Which ever car they end up giving me is going to get the worst gas mileage it possible can. I feel some hoonage coming on.

offroadkarter > POD
09/26/2013 at 00:16

It was towards the end of the day, it was funny, everyone who grabbed the v6 mustang went flying around and they didn't bat an eye. My friend jumped in the V6 F150 and nailed it on the straight and they started freaking the fuck out. Either way, we all got away with some shit.

Kinja'd!!!

Victorious Secret > POD
09/26/2013 at 00:21

I owned a Focus, the DCT is not slow...

The Focus spanks the Elantra in all categories. Shopped a top trim Elantra and a Focus Titanium. Wasn't even a contest.

Went back when the Elantra GT came out, still wasn't much of a contest. Focus is that much better.

Turn off TC, you'll actually chirp off the line in healthy amounts. Not much else I can add, apart from the fact that in no point during my ownership of a Focus did I say "wow, this DCT is slow"

Compared to an F12? LOL ITS SLOW. Compared to the Veloster or Dart? Its much faster. Compared to the torque converter of the Elantra? HAH. If they were manuals, yea I'd still be saying Focus. The MTX-75 is astonishingly good if not a little dated with its 5 speeds.

Tim Tom > POD
09/28/2013 at 02:26

If the Focus is not available get the Elantra. It's much much more comfortable than Rio, hell it is one class bigger than Rio, the Hyundai i30/Elantra seems to be the car of choice for this class across Hertz/Avis in the whole EU, it isn't even remotely exciting but it is not a bad car. And you can always pay the upgrade for better car from your own pocket...

HugePanic > POD
09/28/2013 at 03:07

Get yourself a better car next time, just to prepared for the rental car guys.

Even if you drive a GTI, you would most propable get only a KIA/ford next time.

Get a Audi a6, BMW 5 or similar, then you will get something like this next time....

POD > Tim Tom
09/28/2013 at 08:27

Thanks Tim! I'm hoping they have a Focus in stock, there are 5 different locations in my city so one of them should. If not, I'll be in the Elantra.

I was looking at upgrading as well, but they didn't have anything performance (or even sporty) orientated. The vehicles got bigger, but not necessarily more fun. Maybe I'll get lucky though and there will be something there that wasn't listed on their website.

POD > HugePanic
09/28/2013 at 08:38

I truly love my car, fun, simple, not very many luxury or bloat features. Exactly what I wanted. A 5 - door hatch with a manual transmission, the best power to weight ratio for a hatchback in the North American market (Focus ST was not available at the time, but the P/W is the same), A/C, Cruise control, good after market support, and a low cost to entry. The Speed3 checks all of those boxes with aplomb. I know the Speed3 isn't for everyone. It's unruly, FWD, and the styling is polarizing, but it's a blast to drive.

The BMW 5 series or Audi A6 (neither of which are cars I would own, too big, too many extra features, etc.) would get you placed in a "Cadillac CTS or similar" by the rental company. Which is the same dilemma I'm facing, and seems to be pretty standard for the industry. If you have any vehicle that is considered specialty for it's segment, or is higher end, you'll be placed in something at the base of the segment you bought into.

Tim Tom > POD
09/28/2013 at 11:43

Everything has pros and cons. I personally really loath Hertz and I can't understand how the global top companies are still using it as preferred rental service. In my company AVIS is just nr2. preferred, so should be used only when Hertz is not available, but I always get cars from Avis, in my destinations (Slovakia/Austria/Germany/Malaysia) I always get better car for better price. I recently had VW Passat wagon for 8 days for 300 EUR, Hertz was offering me for this price range Fiat Punto or similar (it's Kia Rio category, but much worse car). However on Vienna airport I usually get into Hertz Kiosk to pick a car (I often don't know that I will be traveling so make no or very late reservations), as there it is much much faster to get a car than from AVIS, and since my company has gold status for all employees they always upgrade me. I usually get to drive BMW 1 or Mercedes C class from Vienna airport Hertz. Thing is - if you drop off Focus or Hyundai i30, you can leave a horseshit on the seats, and nobody will say a word. I often leave the gas tank just at 3/4 full because I most of the time am gunning to the airport at last call, and they never even billed me for that. If am returning their "premium selection" car, I have to get on the road 30min early and stop at a gas station car wash, because I know they will bill me for the 20 dead bugs on the front hood, and if I am really unlucky and there is a guy at the drop-off place, he will scan every body panel of the car with Superman's x-ray vision. I especially hate this moment. You stand next to the car and wait till a 18 year old acne covered ginger Dieter runs around the car for 10 minutes till he gets you the "stamp of approval" in the book. As preferred you of course don't have to stay and wait there, but you very much should find the time, if you don't want to pay for stained back seats, even though you did not even open back doors the whole duration of your rental.

What I wanted to say with that lengthy comment is - DON'T get a nice car from rental companies. It takes longer on such cars for them to make money on it, therefore they pay attention to every detail in such cars, whereas on cheap Korean cars, that usually don't stay in their carpark longer than 6 months they even let me go with giant door scratch that someone left in mall garage my door.

POD > Tim Tom
09/28/2013 at 12:04

Thanks again! I don't rent cars often, when I have it's usually been from Thrifty because of their Blue Chip program. Book it online, skip the counter, the car is waiting for me at the terminal (usually a free segment upgrade too), and I load my luggage and drive away.

Unfortunately, I'll be traveling out of province while my car is in the shop and the Thrifty agencies in Alberta place GPS trackers in their cars and bill you an obscene amount if you leave the province. So I'm stuck with Hertz or Enterprise. Which really does suck because they do have an FR-S in their rental fleet.

Very good point about the Premium rental category. I'll stick with the Focus if I can get it and just used the manual mode and keep the revs up. Should still make for a bit of fun while driving through the mountains. Not 280+ horsepower turbo charged fun, but fun none the less.

Cheers!

Spasoje > POD
09/28/2013 at 19:18

Rental car companies don't really know what they're doing in that regard. They thought a Suburban was "comparable" to our XC90 - so their lack of awareness can sometimes be convenient... :)

A Rio is one size class below your Mazda, so it's actually not comparable...in that case, don't hesitate to point that out as many times as necessary.

Having said that, size is how that industry segments their fleet. Everything else has nothing to do with it, especially since all rentals here are automatics anyway - so the other three are all fair game.