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Want an interesting rental car in the US, possible?
Jasper - 3/9/07 at 02:44 PM

Off to the states (Washington) on business next month - got my flights free on the Amex reward points, so thought I'd splash out on a better rental car as I've got to drive a fair way.

Seems that it's very hard to rent anything decent or interesting from the regular rental people, for instance Avis list various crap 4 doors saloons in their sports car range.

Can anybody recommend a decent company to rent from - or am I just liable to end up with some American piece of crap as usual. It would be nice to actually get something with a V8 under the bonnet.

DarrenW - 3/9/07 at 02:48 PM

Wasnt it hertz that a limited edition fleet of Shelby Mustangs on the books?

vinny1275 - 3/9/07 at 02:52 PM

quote:
Originally posted by DarrenW
Wasnt it hertz that a limited edition fleet of Shelby Mustangs on the books?


Yup.

There was talk a while back of a new-shape mustang going onto their list. I'm not sure if they ever did manage that. There must be someone you can rent something decent (for americana) from, may need some lccal knowledge tho. Have you tried the US Locostbuilders site?

Cheers


Vince

smart51 - 3/9/07 at 02:53 PM

I had a Hyundai Sonata auto the last time I went to Detroit. The understeer and total lack of steering feel was very interesting.

Jasper - 3/9/07 at 02:55 PM

They do have the new shape Mustang on the list - but I recon it will just be the basic model - probably with some wheezy 6 cylinder engine....I've email them and asked if they can guarantee this car ....

I check with LB in the US....

DarrenW - 3/9/07 at 02:56 PM

https://www.hertz.com/rentacar/reservation/gaq/index.jsp?targetPage=whatView.jsp

zilspeed - 3/9/07 at 04:00 PM

I had a charger which was perfectly agreeable.

afj - 3/9/07 at 04:18 PM

my brother had a chrysler 300c said it was very nice 12mpg

skydivepaul - 3/9/07 at 04:49 PM

i upgraded my compact rental car that i had booked to a mustang convertible last month in Florida. only cost $15 per day extra.
only the V6 but it was pretty good for a rental car.
rented it from Dollar and they have branches at most airports

cheers

Paul

speedyxjs - 3/9/07 at 04:52 PM

quote:
Originally posted by smart51
I had a Hyundai Sonata auto the last time I went to Detroit. The understeer and total lack of steering feel was very interesting.


Typical american car handling (albeit not an american car )

martyn_16v - 3/9/07 at 04:56 PM

I ended up with a Pontiac Sunfire last time I was there, sounds far more exciting than it actually is

akumabito - 3/9/07 at 06:50 PM

I ended up with a 1967 Cadillac Coupe DeVille... but then again.. I was renting it from a friend of a friend.. and I only paid $100 for a week... oh, but I had to promise to return it with all the fluids changed and a full tank of gas... (Little did I know at that time, LOL!!)

Kinda looked like this:



Only it was dark blue, the paint was faded and chipping, it had some dents, the rear windshield was cracked, the ass was dragging slightly, the shocks were worn out. etc., etc., etc...

Oh, afj, you think the Chrysler 300C's 12MPG was bad? Hah! I wish the old Caddy did 12MPG! The Caddy's ancient 7 liter engine managed a phenomenal 7.5 MPG on average.. That's about 31 liter per 100km..

In one week, we drove about 1,200 miles in that thing.. I guess we burned about 160 gallons of fuel that week. It was a good thing fuel was still cheap-ish back then. (2003).. at about $1.60 a gallon, I paid about $260 in fuel.. + 100 for the car, + I forgot, but I think about 50 or so for oil.. plus some fines..

It was worth it though.

Jasper - 4/9/07 at 09:51 AM

Hmmmmm - cheers chaps, gonna try for the Mustang .....

Hertz actually guaranteed me the Mustang - all the other rental people I tried wouldn't - so I'm a happy chap - even if it will be the V6

[Edited on 4/9/07 by Jasper]

iank - 4/9/07 at 10:09 AM

In North America I've had a Ford Thunderbird (from Vancouver CA in about 97) and a Jaguar XJ8 (Dallas in about 02). Both upgrades as they'd run out of 'normal' cars .

I know which one I'd have again