Another rental: the review

"PetarVN, GLI Guy, now with stupid power" (petarvn)
11/11/2015 at 14:53 • Filed to: None

Since the GLI is still in the shop, and sharing a car with my mother got annoying, she decided to get another rental. We reserved a “dodge dart or similar”, but got something a bit.... Bigger.

Yep, we got a boat.

A few things I can note about this thing are:

1) it’s quick. The 300hp it has gets it out of the way quite well.

2) I haven’t seen an interior this plasticy in awhile.

3) what’s steering feel?

4) it’s something I wouldn’t mind going a long distance in.

Also, I like how it looks?

DISCUSSION (33)

Caleb "If a rally car can do it, so can my Malibu" M. S. > PetarVN, GLI Guy, now with stupid power
11/11/2015 at 14:56

300hp? My 3.2 V6 in my Malibu makes 252

Your boy, BJR > Caleb "If a rally car can do it, so can my Malibu" M. S.
11/11/2015 at 15:02

These generally have a 3.9

Party-vi > PetarVN, GLI Guy, now with stupid power
11/11/2015 at 15:02

Speaking as someone that did a long distance trip in one of these (Baltimore to Charlotte, NC and back), do not go on a long distance in one of these. It’s turrible.

norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback > Your boy, BJR
11/11/2015 at 15:03

3.6*

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > Caleb "If a rally car can do it, so can my Malibu" M. S.
11/11/2015 at 15:03

3.6*

Caleb "If a rally car can do it, so can my Malibu" M. S. > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
11/11/2015 at 15:04

Yep, thanks

FSI - alcohol enthusiast with a car problem > PetarVN, GLI Guy, now with stupid power
11/11/2015 at 15:04

It may be outdated and has a horrible interior but it’s the perfect rental. It’s big and plushy, has a large trunk and its v6 isn’t half bad. I kinda liked it.

Your boy, BJR > norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback
11/11/2015 at 15:06

The one i rented had the LZG 3.9L V6

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > Caleb "If a rally car can do it, so can my Malibu" M. S.
11/11/2015 at 15:08

As for the HP difference, in 2012 the 3.6 was revised to make 305 hp up from the 252-257 it made prior.

Caleb "If a rally car can do it, so can my Malibu" M. S. > Your boy, BJR
11/11/2015 at 15:08

That’s practically a V8

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > Your boy, BJR
11/11/2015 at 15:08

In 2011 or 2012 they killed the 3.5 and 3.9 models and replaced them with the 3.6.

Your boy, BJR > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
11/11/2015 at 15:10

Good. The 3.9 was garbage.

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > PetarVN, GLI Guy, now with stupid power
11/11/2015 at 15:10

The last one I had as a rental was in 2013, and it looked exactly the same as this one minus the sun roof. Also the check engine light was on the entire time I drove it. I didn’t bother to check the engine.

Your boy, BJR > Caleb "If a rally car can do it, so can my Malibu" M. S.
11/11/2015 at 15:11

No self respecting V8 is under 305ci.

LongbowMkII > Your boy, BJR
11/11/2015 at 15:13

the 1st gen camaro z/28 with it’s 302ci V8 laughs at you.

Your boy, BJR > LongbowMkII
11/11/2015 at 15:15

Oh, hell, what’s a couple of cubes between friends. But to put it in non America terms- any V8 under 5 whatever-the-fucks

shop-teacher > Party-vi
11/11/2015 at 15:24

Disagree. These are excellent highway cruisers. I cracked off a 1500 mile trip in one with nary a complaint.

What was miserable was the Camry I had to drive the first 500 miles of that 2000 mile trip. That was pure torture.

Party-vi > shop-teacher
11/11/2015 at 15:34

Flat cardboard seats, dismal stereo and no balls. Not how I want to spend 800 miles.

Klaus Schmoll > PetarVN, GLI Guy, now with stupid power
11/11/2015 at 15:54

How old is that thing to still do rental duty? Over here a rental is never more than 6 or 9 months old.

shop-teacher > Party-vi
11/11/2015 at 15:57

Seats were flat, but I’m not carving corners. I found them to be plenty soft and supportive where it counts. Stereo was fine, and it had plenty of power to quickly merge onto the interstate. Perhaps the difference is mine was a well optioned car (I rented from Hertz).

That Camry on the other hand, those seats had me in pain after 40 miles. After 80 miles I had to stop and buy a cushion for my butt and a pillow for my back. After 500 miles I stopped and traded the car for the Impala. It was either that or burn the Camry to the ground.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > Klaus Schmoll
11/11/2015 at 15:58

Fleets can still buy W-Body Impala “Limiteds.” Odds are that's got less than 5,000 miles on it.

Party-vi > shop-teacher
11/11/2015 at 16:02

I think my Impala was through Enterprise, so it was a base model.

Klaus Schmoll > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
11/11/2015 at 16:04

And yet it looks like the rear has bumper has already seen a re-spray.

shop-teacher > Party-vi
11/11/2015 at 16:04

I think that’s the answer then.

Base model W-body Impala: miserable.
Well optioned W-body Impala: pretty good way to chew up a lot of interstate.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > PetarVN, GLI Guy, now with stupid power
11/11/2015 at 16:40

Kinja'd!!!

Impala Ltd. or just a leftover?

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > shop-teacher
11/11/2015 at 18:16

Funny you should mention that. We had the generation Impala before that, and tolerated it. My Dad tossed the keys to it to my Mom, and took the rental Camry. Saying that car is better at anything is an outright lie, or at the very least dogging the Camry for being a Camry. It’s notoriously a shitbox. The Camry is notorious for being great at nothing, but good at everything. That Impala was dreadful.

shop-teacher > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies
11/11/2015 at 19:30

I never rode in or drove the generation before this one, so I can’t comment on them. But I can say the 2010 Camry I rented was a miserable piece of crap. It was pretty new too, I think it had 3 or 4k miles on it. The seats were torture devices, the glovebox rattled incessantly, and the wind noise was horrible. I stopped 1/4 of the way through a 2000 mile trip to trade it for another car. You never saw someone so happy to climb behind the wheel of a W-body Impala. That car was heavenly in comparison. I wouldn’t want to own one, but chewing up a ton of interstate miles in it was downright pleasant.

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > shop-teacher
11/11/2015 at 19:34

My Dad has five fused discs and found the Camry much more liveable. I will give the Impala this, at least it’s not an Altima. That car has zero redeeming features.

shop-teacher > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies
11/11/2015 at 19:44

Ha! When I rented the Camry, my other option was an Altima.

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > shop-teacher
11/11/2015 at 19:52

I always assumed the CVT hate was just another bandwagon pro-manual thing, until I rode in the Altima. It’s terrible. Along with the rest of the car. It also has the worst seats I’ve ever sat in. I’ve found more good qualities in the Aveo we have at work.

shop-teacher > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies
11/11/2015 at 20:44

Wow, worse than an Aveo! That’s saying something!

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > shop-teacher
11/11/2015 at 20:45

It’s more comfortable, more fun to drive, and more manual.

PetarVN, GLI Guy, now with stupid power > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
11/11/2015 at 23:25

ltd