Oppo, I'm scared...

"Alex B" (alexb420) 08/12/2014 at 11:32 • Filed to: None

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My mom and I are going to Colorado next week. We will be renting a car. My dad is an avis preferred member, so usually he gets nice cars (for a rental car) such as Subaru Legacy, Mazda 5, Fiat 500, Ford Focus, etc. It all sounds great, but he can't get the avis preferred under my moms name so he set us up to rent from Hertz. Economy class cars. I looked online to see what they rent out and it looks like they have two options, a Kia Rio, or a smart fortwo.

Neither of which are great cars. I know kia has come along way, but being stuck in a Kia econobox for a week doesn't sound pleasant. The smart fortwo I'm hoping we get, because at least it's different. Although if we did, my mom would probably through a fit and demand a new car. Ugh. Which would Oppo rather drive?

Party-vi > Alex B 08/12/2014 at 11:34

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Kia. It'll be fun, and unlike the Smart it should at least be useful.

Alex B > Party-vi 08/12/2014 at 11:35

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True. We got rented a forte once, it was a decent car, the rio shouldn't be too bad.

Nothing > Alex B 08/12/2014 at 11:36

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I've used online travel sites (hotwire, travelocity, etc) to book rental cars. I've been able to get better deals through them than dealing directly with the rental car company. And usually end up in a better class of car, as well. Maybe have your parents try that and see if you can get a better car.

thebigbossyboss > Alex B 08/12/2014 at 11:38

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HAHAHAHA smart for two. I would not pay money to drive one of those.

Dasupersprint - base trim is enough > Alex B 08/12/2014 at 11:38

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You'll be hapilly surprised by the Kia.

Crocket Bernet > thebigbossyboss 08/12/2014 at 11:41

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I would pay not to drive one of those.

mcseanerson > Alex B 08/12/2014 at 11:41

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Kia 138 horsepower

thebigbossyboss > Crocket Bernet 08/12/2014 at 11:42

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One time I almost had to take one of those for a trip in 2013. (demo car). Luckily the S class was nearby so I just took that instead. hahaha.

Crocket Bernet > thebigbossyboss 08/12/2014 at 11:44

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It's like you dodged a bullet while finding a pot of gold!

cabarne4 > Alex B 08/12/2014 at 11:47

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The Kia is alright, the smart is arguably better than a bicycle.

Usually when I rent economy class from Hertz, I end up with a Ford Fiesta. And if they offer me something else, I tell them to find the keys to a Fiesta.

Why? Because it's genuinely a great rental. The automatic isn't terrible, it's got a decent stereo, great fuel economy (last time I had one, I averaged 48 mpg US). It's fairly comfortable, and actually keeps up at freeway speeds (with good road manners, too... Most eco-boxes are buzzy and slow on the freeway).

One time I ended up with a Chevy Sonic sedan. Avoid at all costs.

Side note: pretty much no Hertz has ForTwos, and usually only one Kia, so you always get bumped to "compact" class. Here's a pretty recent fleet guide from flyer talk:

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/hertz-go…

The most common ones I've seen are the Fiesta, Focus, Yaris, Accent, Mazda2, Sonic, and Cruze. The Chevy's are awful, the rest aren't bad.

mcseanerson > Nothing 08/12/2014 at 11:48

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Personally I like to set it up at the rental place so I can drive down the road and see who has what good on the lot. Last time I got a Mazda 3s from thrifty.

Nothing > mcseanerson 08/12/2014 at 11:53

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Depends on the location, I think. When I went to Disney earlier this year, it was literally "pick whatever you want, it's the same price", whereas when I flew into a Syracuse, I booked ahead of time on hotwire. Smaller airports you can either get stuck in something really nice because that's all they have left, or something really crappy, because that's all they have left.

Since he's in an economy at Hertz, doesn't hurt to use Hotwire or whatever as a price/vehicle comparison.

Alex B > cabarne4 08/12/2014 at 11:55

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Cool. I have looked at the fleet guide, and that's where I found out they had a fortwo. Hopefully well end up with a fiesta or a focus. I hear good things about them.

RoadHead -- Armand > Alex B 08/12/2014 at 11:56

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Last time I rented a car in Colorado, it was to attend a funeral. Obvious choice? Black Hummer.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > Alex B 08/12/2014 at 11:58

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You'll be much happier with the Kia

fhrblig > Alex B 08/12/2014 at 11:59

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The Kia won't be a bad car. You could get stuck with a Spark...

norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback > Nothing 08/12/2014 at 12:01

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How do you fly into "a Syracuse"?

Jayhawk Jake > Alex B 08/12/2014 at 12:01

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The rio is actually pretty nice.

Alex B > fhrblig 08/12/2014 at 12:03

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Haha, yes. I don't like to think about such things. :-| Kia makes decent cars now,I pi just can't get the last generations of rio out of my head.

Jayhawk Jake > cabarne4 08/12/2014 at 12:04

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I like the Cruze and Sonic, although I guess I haven't had a rental one. The Accent is awful.

fhrblig > Alex B 08/12/2014 at 12:10

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I thought Avis Preferred was free, why doesn't she just sign up for it?

In a few days, I'm flying to Milwaukee to meet my sister and then drive in a rental car to upper Michigan. I don't know what we'll end up with, but I booked a midsize because that is the class that usually runs out first. Then they give you an upgrade.

TwinCharged - Is Now UK Opponaut > Alex B 08/12/2014 at 12:11

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You won't be bowled over by the Rio, but crucially, I don't think you'll be underwhelmed either. It's just a simple, good value car. If you're planning on going around the city, then the Fortwo's the better choice but I'd go for the Rio.

Nibbles > TwinCharged - Is Now UK Opponaut 08/12/2014 at 12:15

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Nah. There are too many ForTwos in downtown Denver already. Either someone will mistake it for their own car, or he'll be wandering for hours trying to figure out which one was his :)

Nibbles > Alex B 08/12/2014 at 12:17

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The Rio is a largely more competent car than the ForTwo. Plus you're less likely to get your rented Rio confused with the thousands upon thousands of ForTwos in this town (I'm assuming Denver/Boulder) ;)

Nothing > norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback 08/12/2014 at 13:22

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It's challenging, but doable.

norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback > Nothing 08/12/2014 at 13:28

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I've flown in and out of Syracuse a couple times but I've never flown into a Syracuse.
Are you from NY or were you just connecting through?

Nothing > norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback 08/12/2014 at 13:34

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I initially started to type "a small airport" and missed removing the "a".

I'm originally from northern NY (Massena). I was back visiting family a couple of months ago.

norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback > Nothing 08/12/2014 at 13:36

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Ok, I'm from Syracuse but I live in Oswego. Massena is nice, as is the rest of that area.

cabarne4 > Jayhawk Jake 08/12/2014 at 20:10

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Friend of mine got the Accent once. I wouldn't say awful (I'd reserve that title for the Smart), but definitely not very good.

The Cruze and Sonic look alright, but the transmission in either is absolutely horrible (the Cruze is slightly better, though). The Sonic averaged 26 mpg, because the tranny couldn't figure out what gear it wanted on a flat stretch of interstate. High speeds confuse it. Could just be because everyone flogs rental cars, and the tranny learned to keep it in a lower gear though.

The Fiesta and Focus are my go-to rentals. I prefer a Fiesta, because it's usually just me and I appreciate the slightly better economy. Haven't gotten the 2 yet, but I hear it's a Fiesta with a Miata dashboard (kind of wanna try it out). Yaris's aren't great, but they're not bad. Almost forgot, I had a rental Corolla once. It was... forgettable. Honestly, not terrible, and if I had to rent one again I wouldn't mind. Decent mpg, fairly comfortable, decent stereo, cruised alright... but literally a beige Toyota in every. single. way.

cabarne4 > Alex B 08/12/2014 at 20:11

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Yeah if you rent economy, they pretty much ALWAYS bump you up to compact. Definitely ask for one of the Ford's if they have one. The infotainment system is weird (lots of buttons), but not at all bad once you figure it out.