MK5 Golf GTI

General => Random Chat => Topic started by: Kregiel on February 02, 2014, 10:18:57 pm

Title: Car rental in USA - where to rent and what?
Post by: Kregiel on February 02, 2014, 10:18:57 pm
Hi Guys,

Will be heading to USA for hols and planning to rent a car over there. Was considering among those few Corvette, Camaro, Dodge Challenger and Ford Mustang

If anybody has any experience with the car rental companies and those models and want to share

CHeers
Paul
Title: Re: Car rental in USA - where to rent and what?
Post by: Leonard on February 02, 2014, 10:22:34 pm
Hertz do a Camaro SS out of San Fran
Title: Re: Car rental in USA - where to rent and what?
Post by: Marc-5-GTI on February 02, 2014, 10:25:39 pm
Haha, I'm going to Florida in June and renting a Toyota Yaris! $25 extra per day cause I'm 21!  :fighting:
Title: Re: Car rental in USA - where to rent and what?
Post by: Kregiel on February 02, 2014, 10:26:54 pm
Hertz do a Camaro SS out of San Fran

Cheers!

Have you rented this model? Is it a barge on wheels or handling is decent?

Paul
Title: Re: Car rental in USA - where to rent and what?
Post by: holepunch on February 02, 2014, 11:14:30 pm
I have done two road trips in the US and used Hertz both times. For my California trip I had this fine piece of Korean design for 2 weeks (£220) and was actually ok.

(https://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fdaz.co%2Fmedia%2Fbb311%2Fholepunch2%2F9014fa92170c4c876094d3f379f0421c_zpsb6fc7ff1.jpg&hash=005a4dec526b76acb64a9d40ede85ab019d5ca56)

Then when I got to Vegas my girlfriend got me this for the day (£100) again from hertz


(https://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fdaz.co%2Fmedia%2Fbb311%2Fholepunch2%2F28ff3e0b9f82548fe4f6828209cde897_zpsbd37f7dc.jpg&hash=6ede44d43bc0fd2b57a22452db22fc81c1a3ed26)
Title: Re: Car rental in USA - where to rent and what?
Post by: SkyJawa on February 03, 2014, 12:05:07 am
Avoid Dollar, rude useless tw4ts.

Usrentacar is a good site.

Bet the Camarillo ss is great, we had a stang vert for 3 weeks, gutless for the engine and power but handled ok!!
Title: Re: Car rental in USA - where to rent and what?
Post by: rich83 on February 03, 2014, 12:07:07 am
Haha, I'm going to Florida in June and renting a Toyota Yaris! $25 extra per day cause I'm 21!  :fighting:

Count your lucky stars... most of the time its a blanket 'NO' until you are 25
Title: Re: Car rental in USA - where to rent and what?
Post by: Leonard on February 03, 2014, 02:40:29 pm
Hertz do a Camaro SS out of San Fran

Cheers!

Have you rented this model? Is it a barge on wheels or handling is decent?

Paul

No was planning to hire it.

Its PROPERLY FAST and handles ok

http://www.topgear.com/uk/videos/series-15-episode-3-camaro-ss-vs-e63-amg

Oooo yeah forgot the chassis is based on the VXR/Monaro so not bad and loads of oversteery goodness  :evilgrin:
Title: Re: Car rental in USA - where to rent and what?
Post by: simonp on February 04, 2014, 10:26:28 pm
PM cmdrfire about his experiences.  :rolleye:
Title: Re: Car rental in USA - where to rent and what?
Post by: Hedge on February 04, 2014, 10:42:01 pm
PM cmdrfire about his experiences.  :rolleye:

 :signLOL:

 :mad: :driver:  :fighting:
Title: Re: Car rental in USA - where to rent and what?
Post by: cmdrfire on February 05, 2014, 03:37:28 pm
Last summer I rented a V8 Camaro. I booked some crappy 6-cylinder Impala and sweet-talked the lady into giving me the Camaro. Did a road trip over a few days from Washington DC to NYC. Was awesome, had a lot of fun.
(https://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Ffarm6.staticflickr.com%2F5537%2F9034946745_934f9c140b_c.jpg&hash=977f451f1980eb20b817036ed263908e63886a10) (http://flic.kr/p/eLosTT)

Couple of weeks ago I was in the US for business. Office rented me some 4-cyl thing but again I was able to sweet-talk the lady into giving me a V8 Dodge Challenger (in bright red). Covered about 1200 miles in it driving from SF to LA and then back up again a day later. No pics yet, but I'll upload one soon.

Both cars were amazing, very "American", very classic muscle cars and a nice different experience from European cars. I paid a total of US$200 for the Dodge Challenger for five days renting from Oakland and returning to SF. Was a bit more for the Camaro, but not much more - it's way cheaper to rent a decent car out there than in Continental Europe. Rented from Avis both times. Petrol is cheap, I was filling a full tank for like US$60-70. I did a lot of miles on both trips.


But... be careful speeding.

On the drive back up to SF I was driving a leetle bit fast. Out of nowhere a California Highway Patrol Crown Vic pulls up, red lights blazing. Smokey dun got me. Reckon I must've been caught by a Cessna (in Cali at least, they have speed enforcement planes!). Anyhoo, I pull over, CHP guy steps out, wearing the classic brown uniform.

(https://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ridelust.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2012%2F05%2Fbufordtjustice-01.jpg&hash=e5d623e39d32921593d55734369f0f6d208cba1d)

Comes up to my window, I'm a bit nervous 'cos I was going quick, looks in and asks for license and registration, tells me I was pulled over for speeding. Comes back after writing the ticket to say I'll have to go to court in March (!) but I later find out that this is apparently standard operating procedure - they give you a court date but then send you a fine. Told me I was doing 108 (!) in a 65... driving safely but too fast for the road.

... I got my fine the other day... on a nice letter from the California Supreme Court titled "THE PEOPLE VS [me]".

Fine? US$900. Ouch. They don't kid around. And don't think you can ignore it if you've got any plans to go back...
Title: Re: Car rental in USA - where to rent and what?
Post by: rich83 on February 05, 2014, 08:42:28 pm
OUCH.. but i guess that would have pretty much been a ban over here.
Title: Re: Car rental in USA - where to rent and what?
Post by: Wolf Burger on February 05, 2014, 09:53:55 pm
Driving around LA and Hollywood and up to San Francisco was the best holiday I ever had.

DO NOT under estimate the distances!!
I first went to Vegas and drove to the Grand Canyon.

Enjoy yourself.

"Whilst looking in the trunk of my hire car for a gas can in San Fran some douchebag bumped his automobile into me, hit me right up my fanny. I had no choice other than to call  911. The Sheriff said it was lucky he it me rather than damage my rear fender" I had insurance.

Title: Re: Car rental in USA - where to rent and what?
Post by: simonp on February 05, 2014, 10:28:23 pm
hit me right up my fanny.

I do hope you're American and not a lady...
Title: Re: Car rental in USA - where to rent and what?
Post by: DanGB on February 09, 2014, 02:29:22 pm
I hired a car a couple of weeks ago from LAX airport from Hertz. would recommend them. Was for a LA work trip fr 7/8 days, but covered over 500 miles with sightseeings.
The car came with free loss/damage waiver which meant you wont pay for any damage, which was lucky, as the car aquired a hole in the front bump and grill whilst I had it..  :confused:

I picked the cheapest car, a 1.6 Kia, but the smallest they had when I arrived was a 2.0L Jetta, so they gave me that instead.

The Hertz facility is good, regular shuttle bus from the terminals every 5-10 mins. In the facility they have self service terminals, where you do a video conference with an agent in another part of America. Easy and no queues. Keys are left in the car, and you drive out, show your license and away you go!
found a 15% off voucher code so even better!
Title: Re: Car rental in USA - where to rent and what?
Post by: vwgolfgtimk5 on February 09, 2014, 06:52:58 pm
Remember that you can turn right on a red light unless there is a sign to tell you otherwise, and you can undertake freely.

Road trips in the US are fun.

Where are you going?
Title: Re: Car rental in USA - where to rent and what?
Post by: Kregiel on February 09, 2014, 10:12:13 pm
Remember that you can turn right on a red light unless there is a sign to tell you otherwise, and you can undertake freely.

Road trips in the US are fun.

Where are you going?

flying to San Francisco, then LA, Vegas and sight seeing all the way

Paul
Title: Re: Car rental in USA - where to rent and what?
Post by: vwgolfgtimk5 on February 10, 2014, 06:42:26 am
That's a good road trip which I've done before. If you take HWY1 from SF to LA it's a looong drive but scenic. Keep your eyes peeled for Bixby bridge in Big Sur it's featured in a lot of TV commercials.

I lived in San Diego for 9 years and here is a small list of stuff to do in LA:

Fathers Office that has amazing burgers and a great selection of craft beers, my fav.
Casa Escobar for really good Mexican food, great ambience too. For dessert head on over to Diddy Riese for ice cream sandwiches.
Runyon Canyon for a hike up to Mulholland drive, a rewarding view of LA at the top. Or just drive Mulholland drive and gawk at the amazing views and residences.
Venice beach, 3rd street promenade, Sunset strip, Rodeo drive, Santa Monica all have shopping, restaurants etc.
In 'n Out for good fast food burgers. Google the secret menu!
Title: Re: Car rental in USA - where to rent and what?
Post by: cmdrfire on February 10, 2014, 07:12:10 pm
Remember that you can turn right on a red light unless there is a sign to tell you otherwise, and you can undertake freely.

Road trips in the US are fun.

Where are you going?

Apparently not in the State of California, according to the CHP trooper who pulled me.



flying to San Francisco, then LA, Vegas and sight seeing all the way

Paul

Nice route. As mentioned I drove from SF to LA via I5 which was the inland route. Very boring and full of nothing but farmers and Mexican radio. Traffic in LA sucks. Had a meeting in Long Beach then went up to the Valleys.
I had a bit more time to drive back to SF so I took US101 which runs nearer the coast, bit more curvy and runs along US1 (Pacific Coast Highway) for a bit. Much nicer drive, still a bit boring in places.

It's worth renting something decent, a V6 at least if you can and a V8 if possible.

Watch out for the CHP.

Agree with VWGolfGTIMK5, In 'n Out do a great burger, got one on US101 and enjoyed it very much!
Title: Re: Car rental in USA - where to rent and what?
Post by: vwgolfgtimk5 on February 10, 2014, 07:16:28 pm

Apparently not in the State of California, according to the CHP trooper who pulled me.

9 years in CA and I didn't know that  :surprised:
Title: Re: Car rental in USA - where to rent and what?
Post by: cmdrfire on February 10, 2014, 07:30:53 pm

Apparently not in the State of California, according to the CHP trooper who pulled me.

9 years in CA and I didn't know that  :surprised:

Yeah, I didn't think it was thing either (having previously driven in the US and paying no attention to it) but apparently in Cali the leftmost lane is the "passing lane" and he told me off about it (didn't write it up on my citation though, figured the speeding was enough!).
Title: Re: Car rental in USA - where to rent and what?
Post by: simonp on February 11, 2014, 07:52:30 am
I'm glad they have satellite radio in cars nowadays, as I had to retune the radio about 17 times driving from LA to San Diego once. Say that, though, I had a Fiesta saloon last time and it didn't work in that!