Rental Car Roulette!

"Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo" (akioohtori)
08/07/2018 at 14:41 • Filed to: Rental Cars

Well tomorrow I fly out to one of my least favorite cities on Earth, Las Vegas, for my annual “why do I do this every year?” Defcon trip. This year I opted to rent a car so I could drive off into the mountains one day and maybe never come back. But what will it be!?

[edit: I acknowledge that Vegas is more than “The Strip” and related businesses and I shouldn’t judge the whole city by my experiences there.]

As some none of you may remember, I originally “requested to reserve” a Jeep Wrangler through Sixt’s specific model reservation, but was declined due to “vehicle availability.” Riiiiight.

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Weirdly the next cheapest option was to go through Priceline and reserve a “PFAR” class car. The Sixt website lists that as the following three cars, all of which I know nothing about.

Mercedes GLA

The GLA is what they show in the picture on the reservation and the one they highlight as the name of the car, ie “Merdesdes-Benz GLA or similar.” What they tells you is there is a 100% chance this is not the car I will be getting.

That said, on the face of it this looks like an OK option. I’ve heard they’re not great, but I don’t really know much more than that.

Looks like the power is from either a 1.6 or a 2.0 I4, wich sounds pretty pathetic. And looking at the power figures it is pretty pathetic! Low end is 120HP, about the equivalent of a scooter, all the way up to a dizzying 208HP. All this in a 3,500 lbs car... I’m crossing my fingers I get one of the other options.

The GLA starts at $34k and apparently gets a 7.8 from US News. That all seems fine.

Volvo XC60

Given that I own a C30, I feel like this one would make me feel the most at home! Looks like they did a refresh in MY 2017, so unknown if it’d be a 1st gen or a 2nd gen. Of the three, it is certainly the best looking regardless of model year.

Despite being a crossover, I find these to be at least interesting to look at, especially the 2nd generation ones and is probably what I’d pick of the three.

Power is pretty good, between 200 and 300 HP depending on year and engine, butt that is pared with a staggering 4,000 - 5,200 lbs curb weight. Volvo gonna Volvo. In rental car spec I would expect the low end and hope to be surprised.

Looks like prices start at $40k and it gets an 8.3 from US News. That gives the Volvo the highest starting MSRP, which is interesting. Perhaps the only interesting thing I learned today!

Mazda CX-9

Wait what? :double checks:

Yes. Maxda CX-9.

Ok.... I didn’t actually know this was even a thing before... right now. Apparently it is:

mid-size crossover SUV manufactured since April 2006 by Mazda in Japan

Well that clears that up.

That said, looking at the pictures of the 2nd gen it looks pretty OK. It appears to only comes with one engine, a 2.5L T4 that produces a tepid 227 HP to haul around the 4,200 lbs curb weight.

By the look of it, this is 4,200 pounds of car. I imagine you go to the Mazda dealership and ask for “an car” of approximately the same shape and size as everyone else is buying and they’d direct you to this.

Looks like the Mazda starts at $32k and gets a 8.4 from US News. Lovely.

Or similar SUV

There is always that option too. I’m not entirely familiar with the mid-luxury crossover market. In the past when renting from Sixt I’ve received a A3, which was terrible, and a CTS, which was surprisingly good, so I’m not sure what to expect here. Maybe a X3? (Is that a thing?) Or maybe a :googles: XT4?

What does Oppo think?

DISCUSSION (17)

Just Jeepin' > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo
08/07/2018 at 14:50

Find another way to rent a Wrangler. Not that I’m biased.

KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo
08/07/2018 at 14:55

For the Love of all that is Holy!Anything but the GLA.

Cx-9 is very good despite its size. it’s got 310 Lb/ft of torque down low and pulls nicely.

I haven’t driven the new XC 60 but it’s been getting good reviews. The rental spec most likely will end up being the T5 AWD with a 250HP 4 cly turbo

CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever > Just Jeepin'
08/07/2018 at 14:56

I loved my rental wrangler in Halifax. 10/10 would rent again

https://oppositelock.kinja.com/nova-scotia-in-a-jeep-featuring-rallydarkstrikes-villag-1820590945

Just Jeepin' > CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever
08/07/2018 at 15:00

Nice, I hadn’t seen your piece before. I agree that a Wrangler is a great way to explore any rural area, and a suboptimal way to do a daily highway commute.

Stapleface > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo
08/07/2018 at 15:08

You're getting a Kia Soul. With leather. Actually, a Soul! with the Turbo would be the best of that bunch in terms of driving experience probably.

CompactLuxuryFan > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo
08/07/2018 at 15:29

The GLA is definitely the worst of the three, but the engine is unexpectedly not the weak spot. Base engine in the US is the top 2.0L (besides the AMG), and those 208 ponies mean it will outrun any XC60 you’re likely to get. The new T5 XC60 was actually declared a dog by Car & Driver. I’d say it’s more likely you’d get a previous generation XC60 , which is tried and true . Overall, I think I’d go for the CX-9, even if you don’t need a third row. It’s really long but surprisingly fun to drive! And the interior on the upper trims is very nice!

Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo > Stapleface
08/07/2018 at 15:31

I’d be totally fine with that. I like the Soul. I wish they’d done more with it.

Nom De Plume > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo
08/07/2018 at 15:42

These choices are reflective of the more typical self loathing that lands one in LV. Surely you can forgo mediocrity and pick one side of the spectrum to lean towards.

Eric @ opposite-lock.com > Just Jeepin'
08/07/2018 at 15:53

But in Las Vegas in August? For me, that would be a hard no. I mean it’s potentially better on trails around there, but I can’t see doing a major trip off road in a stock rental car (maybe a specialty rental company?).

All of these would probably handle most trails out there and would be fine for getting to Mount Charleston, which is where every sane person that ends up in Las Vegas would much rather be.

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo
08/07/2018 at 15:54

Do you have an actual need for a crossover like thing? Honestly I would rather try to get a normal car and just ask what they have on hand. Usually in a place like Las Vegas, they should have a lot of stuff at least. I wouldnt recommend anything with a convertible roof in this heat but you should be able to find something fun anyways. Who knows, maybe a convertible would go really cheap because nobody wants to fry in the heat. As I learned recently, some rental companies even carry Miatas which is neat.

Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)
08/07/2018 at 15:59

Long story that I probably shouldn’t say until after the trip haha. But in general I agree with you 100%.

Just Jeepin' > Eric @ opposite-lock.com
08/07/2018 at 16:04

I’ve not been to Vegas other than the airport briefly, but A/C works fine in modern Wranglers, and I’d rather at least have the option of popping the panels out of the top if it’s not scorching.

Stapleface > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo
08/07/2018 at 16:25

Yeah, I’m not quite sure why they never offered it with AWD. The design is kind of ho-hum, but it’s an efficient use of space for sure.

Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo > Stapleface
08/07/2018 at 16:28

I was going to say that, but I swear they did offer it in AWD for like... one model year.

But yeah, with a slight lift, AWD, and passable traction control it could compete with the Renegade. Similarly lowered and with a faster engine it could be pretty cool too.

Sadly what we got was just a somewhat bland but mostly OK designed- by- committee box.

Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo > Just Jeepin'
08/07/2018 at 16:31

I don’t disagree and I’ll see what I can swing at the rental desk, but I’m not holding my breath.

I do contest that the AC works well in modern Wranglers. We had a rental 4D wrangler last year in SLC and while the AC was adequate, those roof panels radiated heat into the cabin the entire time we had the car. It was never intolerable but also not what I would describe as comfortable, especially for a new car.

That said, I’d still do it.

Eric @ opposite-lock.com > Just Jeepin'
08/07/2018 at 16:31

It’s never not scorching in Vegas in the summer. Hell, it’s rare year-round, except at night for part of the year. It’s a terrible, boring, place that I would rather avoid, where a hot dry wind blows leaflets with advertisements for strip clubs with naked ladies printed on them along with dust/sand/stench 24/7 and drunks wander the streets/casinos.

Just Jeepin' > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo
08/07/2018 at 16:37

Interesting. I guess I shouldn’t make assumptions; my Wrangler is now two generations out-of-date, and I only use the A/C once or twice a year.

(Especially once I realized that the condensation valve drips directly onto a control arm. I mean, seriously? As if Jeeps don’t have enough rust problems?)