Avis mystery car rental-ugghh

[JeffKeryk]

Unfortunately that point is next to impossible. If someone is going to or through some unknown place, it’s hard to know what to avoid, or if a stop, for fuel or charging, is going to be an unsavory location.

It’s fine if one has endless time to scope out where to stop and to move on if they can. That isn’t practical.

The thing is, an EV requires more substantial time exposure in these bad conditions, sitting for long periods to have any real amount of range addition. That’s the issue.

It’s downright stupid to have these things in fleets when the use profile doesn’t align smartly.

I guess I was trying to politely say that EVs, especially Teslas, are poor rental cars for a myriad of reasons. The rental companies may be setting their customers up for trouble, in many cases.

Teslas have the best charging infrastructure, but if you don't know how to open the door, that's a non-starter right out of the gate.

 

[PimTac]

I’ve been there with any number of rental cars. I remember being on a trip in Chicago in the winter and nothing was said about winter driving, although there was an ice scraper on the floormat. I’ve had to fiddle around a while with oddball gear selectors. How to open the filler door. Open the glovebox. Open the trunk.

A learning curve with a rental car isn’t unique to EVs.

True but that learning curve is usually a short one. The reason for that is the standardization across the automotive industry. Door handles are generally the same. Lights and wiper controls are the same and so on.

Now if you rent a brand new Toyota/Lexus with the electronic door handles then there will be a small learning shift on that. But if you rent a vehicle with multiple changes then that learning curve gets longer

 

[PimTac]

I guess I was trying to politely say that EVs, especially Teslas, are poor rental cars for a myriad of reasons. The rental companies may be setting their customers up for trouble, in many cases.

Teslas have the best charging infrastructure, but if you don't know how to open the door, that's a non-starter right out of the gate.

And part of that blame resides with the rental company. The workers are just pushing customers into them without any sort of guidance. In the scenarios posted here you have a lineup of people late at night. The rental employee is just processing people through. Customers are tired and in a strange place. It become that perfect storm when you expected a regular sedan but suddenly get a EV and you have never driven one.

The same can be said if you rent a subcompact car and person at the desk tells you that all that is left is a Ford F550 pickup with the extra long bed and double cab.

 

[JeffKeryk]

True but that learning curve is usually a short one. The reason for that is the standardization across the automotive industry. Door handles are generally the same. Lights and wiper controls are the same and so on.

Now if you rent a brand new Toyota/Lexus with the electronic door handles then there will be a small learning shift on that. But if you rent a vehicle with multiple changes then that learning curve gets longer

Spot on.
I still struggle at times with that dang Tesla. These cars are different.
My father was a Yale U grad; he could not operate my car. My grand nieces took to it like nothing.

 

[JHZR2]

I guess I was trying to politely say that EVs, especially Teslas, are poor rental cars for a myriad of reasons. The rental companies may be setting their customers up for trouble, in many cases.

Teslas have the best charging infrastructure, but if you don't know how to open the door, that's a non-starter right out of the gate.

The point I was trying to get at in the interest of being fair, is that these “risks” can also happen with an ice. One certainly could run out of gas. I can’t count how many times I’ve gotten a rental ICE car with a low tank.

The thing is I can rectify that, beautiful gas station or one in the slum, in five minutes. For EV, most chargers even if finding them is easy, are sub par. Even the 250-350kW units are slow.

The Tesla human-machine integration thing is different. They did their stuff in a somewhat non-intuitive way. But it doesn’t take long to learn. It’s not really a matter of being tech savvy or not. It’s finding nested items. Or looking for something as ubiquitous as an internal door handle and not finding it. Do it once and you’re good. But you have to waste the effort to do so

 

[JeffKeryk]

The point I was trying to get at in the interest of being fair, is that these “risks” can also happen with an ice. One certainly could run out of gas. I can’t count how many times I’ve gotten a rental ICE car with a low tank.

The thing is I can rectify that, beautiful gas station or one in the slum, in five minutes. For EV, most chargers even if finding them is easy, are sub par. Even the 250-350kW units are slow.

The Tesla human-machine integration thing is different. They did their stuff in a somewhat non-intuitive way. But it doesn’t take long to learn.

I'm nearly 5 years in, and I struggle at times. Of course I have 2 brain cells left, and they argue. So there's that.

 

[PandaBear]

True but that learning curve is usually a short one. The reason for that is the standardization across the automotive industry. Door handles are generally the same. Lights and wiper controls are the same and so on.

Now if you rent a brand new Toyota/Lexus with the electronic door handles then there will be a small learning shift on that. But if you rent a vehicle with multiple changes then that learning curve gets longer

Door handle does impact aerodynamics, although not as much as mirrors. This IMO is the reason a lot of car's door handle switch from the "up side down cup" design to the "bar" design today. I think it is a good try for Tesla to come up with this kind of design where you can push then pull it open and still keep the door flush while driving. I do not like that the window glass has to go down slightly to open and close the door, as that's another thing that can break (stuck open, or glass shatter / ear drum popped when the door close if the window glass stuck closed).

 

[PandaBear]

And part of that blame resides with the rental company. The workers are just pushing customers into them without any sort of guidance. In the scenarios posted here you have a lineup of people late at night. The rental employee is just processing people through. Customers are tired and in a strange place. It become that perfect storm when you expected a regular sedan but suddenly get a EV and you have never driven one.

The same can be said if you rent a subcompact car and person at the desk tells you that all that is left is a Ford F550 pickup with the extra long bed and double cab.

It really boils down to the rental company does not have enough cars.

EVs in rental today is meant to only cover a small portion of the market, in addition to a sufficiently sized fleet. Having an EV with 25% charge is not as bad as someone reaching the counter wanting an minivan and were told you can get a Yaris.

 

[JeffKeryk]

It really boils down to the rental company does not have enough cars.

EVs in rental today is meant to only cover a small portion of the market, in addition to a sufficiently sized fleet. Having an EV with 25% charge is not as bad as someone reaching the counter wanting an minivan and were told you can get a Yaris.

Except most people know how to open the Yaris door.

 

[PimTac]

It really boils down to the rental company does not have enough cars.

EVs in rental today is meant to only cover a small portion of the market, in addition to a sufficiently sized fleet. Having an EV with 25% charge is not as bad as someone reaching the counter wanting an minivan and were told you can get a Yaris.

And this comes back to my earlier point. If EVs are a bigger percentage of a rental fleet versus demand for them then you have this problem. Is the rental company making that decision or is there an outside force dictating that EVs have to be at that level?

 

[Oillover]

It’s downright stupid to have these things in fleets when the use profile doesn’t align smartly.

+1
Words of Wisdom

 

[BHopkins]

My wife and I are traveling to Kentucky to visit our son and his family in a few weeks. Even after having followed this discussion thread, I decided to go with a Model 3 for our rental car, to be picked up when we fly into Nashville.

I read through all the difficulty that @GON went through, and I agree with what many of you said, that an EV may not be the best choice for a rental car. But I want to drive a Tesla, so I can experience one, and understand a little better when we have discussions here on BITOG, about driving one. It is about a 2 hour drive from Nashville to my son's, so I figure that will give us some good road time with it. Then we can drive around Owensboro to gain some city driving experience with it.

I've mapped out Supercharger stations along the route to our son's home. There isn't a Supercharger in Owensboro, where our son lives. But there are a few EV charge stations. Since this is a vacation, our schedule is pretty flexible, so I feel at ease about range to charge stations. I found a Supercharger station only 6 miles from BNA, so it shouldn't be too hard to return the car at the required 80% charge.

Hopefully it is a good experience. The rental rate on the Model 3 was actually one of the better rates.

Any suggestions from those of you with EV, particularly Tesla, experience? @JeffKeryk? Others?

 

[PandaBear]

My wife and I are traveling to Kentucky to visit our son and his family in a few weeks. Even after having followed this discussion thread, I decided to go with a Model 3 for our rental car, to be picked up when we fly into Nashville.

I read through all the difficulty that @GON went through, and I agree with what many of you said, that an EV may not be the best choice for a rental car. But I want to drive a Tesla, so I can experience one, and understand a little better when we have discussions here on BITOG, about driving one. It is about a 2 hour drive from Nashville to my son's, so I figure that will give us some good road time with it. Then we can drive around Owensboro to gain some city driving experience with it.

I've mapped out Supercharger stations along the route to our son's home. There isn't a Supercharger in Owensboro, where our son lives. But there are a few EV charge stations. Since this is a vacation, our schedule is pretty flexible, so I feel at ease about range to charge stations. I found a Supercharger station only 6 miles from BNA, so it shouldn't be too hard to return the car at the required 80% charge.

Hopefully it is a good experience. The rental rate on the Model 3 was actually one of the better rates.

Any suggestions from those of you with EV, particularly Tesla, experience? @JeffKeryk? Others?

Tesla's side mirrors do not show the view similar to other cars, and a lot of my friends hit their cars on the side when turning around parking lot columns. I usually won't blame a car for a driver mistake but this risk is there, so when you turn just keep this in mind.

 

[BHopkins]

Thank you. This will be very helpful to know, particularly when retrieving a rental car at an airport.

 

[JeffKeryk]

My wife and I are traveling to Kentucky to visit our son and his family in a few weeks. Even after having followed this discussion thread, I decided to go with a Model 3 for our rental car, to be picked up when we fly into Nashville.

I read through all the difficulty that @GON went through, and I agree with what many of you said, that an EV may not be the best choice for a rental car. But I want to drive a Tesla, so I can experience one, and understand a little better when we have discussions here on BITOG, about driving one. It is about a 2 hour drive from Nashville to my son's, so I figure that will give us some good road time with it. Then we can drive around Owensboro to gain some city driving experience with it.

I've mapped out Supercharger stations along the route to our son's home. There isn't a Supercharger in Owensboro, where our son lives. But there are a few EV charge stations. Since this is a vacation, our schedule is pretty flexible, so I feel at ease about range to charge stations. I found a Supercharger station only 6 miles from BNA, so it shouldn't be too hard to return the car at the required 80% charge.

Hopefully it is a good experience. The rental rate on the Model 3 was actually one of the better rates.

Any suggestions from those of you with EV, particularly Tesla, experience? @JeffKeryk? Others?

Start with there is no key. You will get a key card that unlocks the door via a sensor on the pillar between the driver side windows. Perhaps Youtube it. My neighbors called me asking how to get in when they rented one in San Diego. As the vehicle owner, my cell phone app does all this; I have no need for the key card. Once you are in, the car is on.

No gauges in front of you will take getting used to; learn to glance over your right hand to the touch screen tablet; pertinent info is right at the top. Learn voice controls for climate; you don't wanna be futzing with the touch screen. It can be dangerous for beginners IMO.

You will love 1-pedal driving; at least most people do, but not everyone. Learn to modulate movement with the accelerator... I rarely use the brake pedal but I am 5 years in.

Set your destination and the car will tell you when and where to stop for charging. It will also precondition the battery for faster charging.

I think the rental cars have the cheaper interior, not sure. My neighbor told me our car is much nicer. In all honesty, I think Teslas may not be good rentals for some people. Their operation can be frustrating for many. I think Hertz should give you a lesson.

If I were you, I would schedule a test drive with Tesla Model 3 RWD and learn the basics. Seriously. This will give you a starting foundation. And learn voice commands.

These cars are a blast to drive once you become familiar with them. Have fun with it. The refreshed Highland will be available next year. I'm a buyer...

 

[y_p_w]

Tesla's side mirrors do not show the view similar to other cars, and a lot of my friends hit their cars on the side when turning around parking lot columns. I usually won't blame a car for a driver mistake but this risk is there, so when you turn just keep this in mind.

The cameras can be helpful. All it takes to get the side camera view to use the turn signals.

 

[JeffKeryk]

The cameras can be helpful. All it takes to get the side camera view to use the turn signals.

And you can move the display on the touch screen. I moved it to the top. No substitute for BSM, but pretty good. You get used to it.

 

[y_p_w]

Any suggestions from those of you with EV, particularly Tesla, experience? @JeffKeryk? Others?

Find a safe place to stop and try out the navigation. The important thing to note is that charging is one of the immediate navigation options and you can find real time information on charging prices and availability.

Also - the pedal is really more of an indicator of what speed you're trying to achieve. It won't really coast that well. It was bizarre at first going downhill and having to stay down on the pedal to maintain speed. It will use regenerative braking to help control the speed.

Not sure how much you want it to be like a gas-powered car, but you can try putting it in "creep mode" which is closer with less regenerative braking.

I don't have as much experience with a rental, but do with a loaner where Supercharging was complimentary. I wasn't sure why, but I could add it to my Tesla app and use my phone as a key. Not sure if your rental will have that.

And there is the chance you prep for all this and you get a different car class/model than you reserved. That's always a possibility with any car rental.

 

[BHopkins]

Thanks, @JeffKeryk and @y_p_w, for the advice. When I made the reservation Hertz sent me to a page they have that is devoted to Tesla functions and features. The reservation is specifically for a Tesla Model 3 standard range.

They covered the key card, both unlocking and "starting" the car. I also saw where Hertz Teslas will display a QR on the screen when you first start the car. Scanning the QR code will allow the renter to set up their phone as the key.

Thanks for the advice on voice controls. It had not occurred to me that they can be helpful, to avoid fiddling with the screen while driving. I'll do some homework on it.

Good advice on finding somewhere to park and learn the navigation. The trip from BNA to my sons home is about 140 miles, with no superchargers in his city. There is a Supercharger station at 106 miles that I'm planning on stopping at to charge. It will be interesting to see if the navigation will recommend to charge there. From what I understand, the Supercharger will bill Hertz, and Hertz will pass the charging costs on to me.

 

[JeffKeryk]

Thanks, @JeffKeryk and @y_p_w, for the advice. When I made the reservation Hertz sent me to a page they have that is devoted to Tesla functions and features. The reservation is specifically for a Tesla Model 3 standard range.

They covered the key card, both unlocking and "starting" the car. I also saw where Hertz Teslas will display a QR on the screen when you first start the car. Scanning the QR code will allow the renter to set up their phone as the key.

Thanks for the advice on voice controls. It had not occurred to me that they can be helpful, to avoid fiddling with the screen while driving. I'll do some homework on it.

Good advice on finding somewhere to park and learn the navigation. The trip from BNA to my sons home is about 140 miles, with no superchargers in his city. There is a Supercharger station at 106 miles that I'm planning on stopping at to charge. It will be interesting to see if the navigation will recommend to charge there. From what I understand, the Supercharger will bill Hertz, and Hertz will pass the charging costs on to me.

Push the right steering wheel button. Say, "Navigate to blah-blah-blah." Step on gas and go. The car will tell you what to do.