What's the Best Rental Car?

"Steve in Manhattan" (blogenfreude01)
09/07/2014 at 19:02 • Filed to: None

I live in Manhattan. Not willing/able to spend crazy money for an R8 or GT-R (except when my girlfriend won't know). Midrange Civics boring, C300s from Zipcar uninspiring, no more BMW 3 series to be had - what's your favorite rental car? I need inspiration, I need ... something fun to rent. Sure, I only drive 4-5 times a year, but shouldn't I have some fun?

DISCUSSION (22)

My citroen won't start > Steve in Manhattan
09/07/2014 at 19:05

Get a Mini from Sixt.

Arben72 > Steve in Manhattan
09/07/2014 at 19:06

Doesn't bmw have bmw on demand in Manhattan?

area man > Arben72
09/07/2014 at 19:07

Zipcar has a few higher end E classes and Audis

AM3R > Steve in Manhattan
09/07/2014 at 19:07

only 4-5 times a year? That means you SHOULD go crazy!

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > Steve in Manhattan
09/07/2014 at 19:09

My Dad got a Grand Cherokee Limited off a midsize upgrade, I guess that counts for something.

Racescort666 > Steve in Manhattan
09/07/2014 at 19:10

You can't get a Camaro or Mustang from Hertz?

Aaron Brown > Steve in Manhattan
09/07/2014 at 19:14

http://ambrown.kinja.com/a-guide-to-car…

Steve in Manhattan > Arben72
09/07/2014 at 19:18

I'll check next time I'm in need.

Steve in Manhattan > Racescort666
09/07/2014 at 19:20

I can, but they're plasticky and I assumed the base models can't be pleasant to drive. I'm willing to be proven wrong, however, so I'll get a Hertz Mustang next time. My preference is smaller, but hey ....

Steve in Manhattan > AM3R
09/07/2014 at 19:24

You have no idea - when I lived in DC I had the SHO, garaged, and could drive anywhere at anytime. Now I feel as though I need a 'reason' to get a car. A couple visits to the family in MD/DC, leaf peeping with the girlfriend, Montauk once or twice, and that's it. Keeping a car here, of course, is cost prohibitive - $450 plus for a garage, plus insurance, plus whatever your payment is ... even a Fit or Yaris is out of the question. But if I hit the lottery? GT-R. Drove one on Gran Turismo once ... seemed very nice.

Steve in Manhattan > My citroen won't start
09/07/2014 at 19:27

Have gotten Mini and Clubman from Zipcar - base car with automatic (all that's offered of course) is ZZZZ. Now if they had a Cooper Works .... I think my '91 CRX Si got into my psyche and functions as a yardstick, but of course no modern road car is as direct and balanced.

Steve in Manhattan > Aaron Brown
09/07/2014 at 19:29

Thanks for this ...

Steve in Manhattan > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies
09/07/2014 at 19:30

Ha! So did I, back in 2000, when I was in MD staying at a friend's house studying for the NY bar exam. Surprised how much I liked it - somehow it seemed less cumbersome than the Explorer and Blazer, it's competition at the time.

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > Steve in Manhattan
09/07/2014 at 19:41

This is the current one, it's a 2014. It's pretty damn nice.

Steve in Manhattan > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies
09/07/2014 at 19:48

Cars have changed so much since I sold my last one in 2001. How surprised was I to find that a Civic LX I recently rented had a backup camera. In a next-to-bottom-of-the-line compact.

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > Steve in Manhattan
09/07/2014 at 19:52

Companies are already getting ready for 2017 it seems.

Steve in Manhattan > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies
09/07/2014 at 19:55

Like Clarkson said - the stuff that's in an S-Class now you'll see in your car in 5-10 years.

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > Steve in Manhattan
09/07/2014 at 19:56

YES! A twin turbo V8 in a Camry!

AM3R > Steve in Manhattan
09/07/2014 at 19:57

Haha, I live in NoVa, right outside of DC. I usually take the metro in.

Whenever I spend a few days in NY I just walk because it's usually fall when I go.

I drove a GTR in forza once. Very nice!

Steve in Manhattan > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies
09/07/2014 at 20:01

Within reason ... more like that radar thing that lets you see further down the road at night.

Steve in Manhattan > AM3R
09/07/2014 at 20:03

Lived in DC for a long time, Cleveland Park. Had an SHO in the garage so I could get the hell out of that city at the weekend. I love Manhattan, but that ability to escape once in a while was nice.

Steve in Manhattan > Arben72
09/07/2014 at 20:14

Oh well - http://www.bmwusa.com/standard/conte…

They probably had too many knuckleheads backing them into things. I was ready to reserve for 2nd week October for Vermont road trip.