I got my first rental car

"Decay buys too many beaters" (decay) 09/26/2013 at 18:40 • Filed to: Rental Car, Chevrolet Captiva

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Well, it looks like I'll be driving one of these for the next few days

So I go up to the rental counter and the guy asks me "are you renting the Charger" to which I answer "I don't know, you tell me". Nope, apparently I'll be renting a Chevrolet Captiva. Upon hearing the name, I couldn't even picture the car in my head. Just another one of many invisible appliance type vehicles that people seem to love.

Well, apparently the Captiva is a FWD 4 cylinder "SUV", that has less pick up than my two point slow Jetta, and a fairly decent interior.

Full review after I get some more time behind the wheel.

trynthink > Decay buys too many beaters 09/26/2013 at 18:43

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Chevy Captiva = aborted Saturn Vue with a restyled front fascia, destined for permanent service at rental car agencies. What a sad existence. At least it gets a 10/10 will hoon because rental.

Decay buys too many beaters > trynthink 09/26/2013 at 18:47

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And my company graciously decided to cover the collision insurance as well

Mikeado > Decay buys too many beaters 09/26/2013 at 18:54

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I'll be interested to find out if there's anything noteworthy about it. I've always thought of this as a pretty nothing car having not been in one.

Decay buys too many beaters > Mikeado 09/26/2013 at 19:01

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Most noteworthy (albeit negative) thing so far is that the automatic transmission has a manual mode... It's terrible

It takes around a second or two to react to user input and the gears are selected via two pushbuttons on the side of the shifter.

Mikeado > Decay buys too many beaters 09/26/2013 at 19:07

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On the side of the gearstick? Does that mean you could change gear by accident?

Decay buys too many beaters > Mikeado 09/26/2013 at 19:09

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They are really small buttons and relatively hard to press, so I think an accidental shift is unlikely.

BlazinAce - Doctor of Internal Combustion > Decay buys too many beaters 09/26/2013 at 19:09

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Just for the sake of curiosity, this car has gotten a lot of praise here in Brazil since its release a few years ago, and those features you found to be crap are all that's "in" in Brazil right now.

Bland SUV exterior? Check

4 cylinder engine lacking any remote resemblance to power? Check

FWD for life, even when it would make more sense to have AWD? Check.

Sucky Auto-manual transmissions? Check and check.

Yes, that's how sad our car market is.

Decay buys too many beaters > BlazinAce - Doctor of Internal Combustion 09/26/2013 at 19:12

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You just came pretty close to describing the US relationship with the prius.

POD > Decay buys too many beaters 09/26/2013 at 19:13

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My condolences. I'll be joining the dregs of the rental car society on Monday. Hopefully you can abuse that car to no end and at least wring some fun out of it!

Decay buys too many beaters > POD 09/26/2013 at 19:14

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I've already figured out how to turn off traction control and break the front tires free :)

And I've only driven it about 5 miles so far.

POD > Decay buys too many beaters 09/26/2013 at 19:15

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Dinger loves his ranger. > Decay buys too many beaters 09/26/2013 at 19:50

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I remember hearing a local stealership's ad on the radio, mentioning the Captiva. I didn't even have a clue what it was.

Mikeado > Decay buys too many beaters 09/26/2013 at 20:08

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Fair enough. It's an odd idea, although I guess I can kind of see their logic ("change gear with the gear stick").

Bengal55 > Decay buys too many beaters 09/27/2013 at 01:27

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The one you posted is much more interesting looking than the one I bet you're in. If you're in the US then you're most likely driving this:

Which you may say "dayum that looks alot like a last generation Saturn VUE" then you'd be onto something. This is GM's "fleet only" rental Crossover that is basically just a re-badged and slightly "refreshed" Saturn VUE of yesteryear. I'd also wager a good bet that you have the Ecotech I4 good for about 180hp and about 172lb.ft of torque through a 6 speed to the front and not the v6. It is appliance, it is sold only for fleet use, and it should do exactly what you want it to do with absolutely no emotion of any kind LOL.

Enjoy!

Decay buys too many beaters > Bengal55 09/27/2013 at 07:20

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Yep, that does look exactly like the one I have.

It's a tragically unemotional car. To drive, to look at, etc... its the automotive equivalent of plain white bread.