Turo Decision: Which car to rent?

"DanimalHouse" (thrillerwa09)
01/13/2017 at 00:50 • Filed to: None

April. Central California Coast. Monterey.

Yep, we’re doing a small family meet up in the Monterey area, the lodging accommodations are paid already, so I’m interested in splurging for a fun Turo rental, instead of the standard Nissan Altima.

Trying to keep my budget under ~$115 per day, I figure a convertible would be the way to go as we travel down Hwy 1 from the SFO area. I’d prefer a two seat roadster, but I’d settle for a 4-seater. Selfishly, I don’t want to shuttle the rest of the family around, would rather just be me and the wife (for both our sanity).

So you Opponauts know these cars better than me... I’ve got these in mind....

Very Affordable: Mazda MX-5 (NC) ~$40/day

Miata is always the answer.

Mid-Range: BMW Z4 (both E85 & E89 models available) ~$80/day

Rollin’ like a mid-level manager! JDGAF!!!

SHARK SAYS OM NOM NOM!!!

Upper End: Porsche Boxster 981 ~$115/day

Don’t worry about luggage, it has a trunk AND a frunk!

I mean, it sort of HAS to be the Boxster, doesn’t it??

DISCUSSION (15)

Bytemite > DanimalHouse
01/13/2017 at 00:57

Go big or stay home!

Get the Boxster. That looks droolworthy.

A wailing flat-6 right behind your ears as you cruise down highway 1? Come on.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > DanimalHouse
01/13/2017 at 00:58

Yup. If your gonna splurge, go Boxter.

InFierority Complex > DanimalHouse
01/13/2017 at 00:59

Rent 3 Miatas for the price of the Boxster and stage your own mini SCCA spec miata race.

Or just go with the Boxster because MR. An I6 Z4 is also so damn tempting.

G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3 > DanimalHouse
01/13/2017 at 01:05

Is a six cylinder F-type available? If not, the Porsche.

Luke's Dad Sold His 2000TL To Get a Sienna > DanimalHouse
01/13/2017 at 01:09

Part of me says E89 Z4 because there’s a part of me that just thinks it’s the most beautiful car that nobody thinking practically would buy.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > Luke's Dad Sold His 2000TL To Get a Sienna
01/13/2017 at 01:14

I’m so sad they quit making it, but not surprised because I’ve never seen one in real life.

RallyWrench > DanimalHouse
01/13/2017 at 02:01

All good choices, but the boxster wins, hands down. The best performance, with two trunks. The z4 drives really well though. The NC is great, but for your purposes doesn’t really compare.

derf > RallyWrench
01/13/2017 at 02:12

Yeah, no bad choices there. If the Boxster wasn’t a manual and one of the Z4s was, I might be inclined to go BMW. Then again, the PDK might be fun to play with. Even the NC would be a lovely drive and then you’d have more budget room to do something else extra.

I suppose I haven’t been very helpful. :)

derf > DanimalHouse
01/13/2017 at 05:02

In an attempt to be somewhat more helpful than I was in my previous reply: I have an E46 M3, and I’ve driven both the NC Miata and the 987 Boxster. I’d take the Boxster.

Especially if it’s a manual. That gearbox is just perfect.

Demon-Xanth knows how to operate a street. > DanimalHouse
01/13/2017 at 07:56

Having been there, the Miata. You’ll be stuck behind someone doing 30MPH before braking before each turn. Also, if you go up far enough, look up Alice’s diner near La Honda. There are almost always cool rides in the parking lot.

DanimalHouse > Luke's Dad Sold His 2000TL To Get a Sienna
01/13/2017 at 08:28

The only downside I see is very minimal trunk room with the hard top roof down.

That said, I’d definitely be willing to keep wearing the same pair of underwear over and over to drive a car that beautiful!

DanimalHouse > G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3
01/13/2017 at 08:29

F-types are around $185/day and above. It’s one of my favorite cars today, hands down, but just not budget practical for a 4-night trip.

Arrivederci > DanimalHouse
01/13/2017 at 12:21

Gotta be the Boxster, cost be damned. If not Boxster, then Miata. I wouldn’t pay more for a Z4 than a NC, but maybe that’s just me.

G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3 > DanimalHouse
01/13/2017 at 12:21

True. If you want something a little cheaper than a Boxster but you can still take the roof off, how about this?

Audistein > DanimalHouse
06/16/2017 at 02:26

I just took a really quick look at some available stuff.

Get an M3 convertible. You won’t regret it. https://turo.com/rentals/cars/ca/oakland/bmw-m3/274525?s=pFACeNSz

Just the tunnel at Devil’s Slide on Hwy 1 would make that worth it. Won’t fit much luggage at all unless you put bags on the rear seats pretty much.

BMW 335i convertible if the M3 is too much. https://turo.com/rentals/cars/ca/san-francisco/bmw-3-series/276220?s=pFACeNSz

Still with BMW, but maybe something more luxurious and very powerful which actually fits 4 people? BMW 650i convertible. https://turo.com/rentals/cars/ca/san-francisco/bmw-6-series/240866?s=pFACeNSz

Here’s a loaded Z4 35i, so the big engine and dual clutch transmission I believe. https://turo.com/rentals/cars/ca/millbrae/bmw-z4/71453?s=pFACeNSz

As for something different, how about a C7 Vette? It’s a targa rather than a convertible, so you’ll have to see where you put the bags since the roof has to go in the trunk. https://turo.com/rentals/cars/ca/san-francisco/chevrolet-corvette/230875?s=pFACeNSz

Why get a Boxter when you can get a 2014 991 911 Cabrio for less? https://turo.com/rentals/cars/ca/foster-city/porsche-911/164299?s=otFXdfS2

Final suggestion. If you can find your way to San Jose first, you could get this first gen Viper. Might be a little much for a casual drive and I’m not sure if you can keep the roof in the car or not. https://turo.com/rentals/cars/ca/san-jose/dodge-viper/223306?s=B4-3Sc-y