Avis mystery car rental-ugghh

[97K15004WD]

My sister in law very wealthy however eternal bargain hunter fell into same rental trap with Avis random. They embraced the weekend with Tesla Model 3 they got however the Bed and Breakfast lacked charging so Whole Foods for 30 mins a day while they explored Asheville area.

Too bad a little as they thought EV was this experience but I said you charge at home and trips yes this hassle.

The retailer or developer that owns the "mall" where the Whole Foods is located, removed the multiple EV chargers from the Whole Foods in Columbia, SC and replaced it with just one (and that one has been broken for a long time - look at the comments).

https://chargehub.com/en/stations/sc/columbia/whole-foods-market-cross-hill-market.html?locId=89548

So, if you rent an EV and expect to charge it at any Whole Foods, might want to check first. Save yourself the disappointment and heartache.

 

[y_p_w]

The retailer or developer that owns the "mall" where the Whole Foods is located, removed the multiple EV chargers from the Whole Foods in Columbia, SC and replaced it with just one (and that one has been broken for a long time - look at the comments).

https://chargehub.com/en/stations/sc/columbia/whole-foods-market-cross-hill-market.html?locId=89548

So, if you rent an EV and expect to charge it at any Whole Foods, might want to check first. Save yourself the disappointment and heartache.

One of my first Tesla charging experiences was at a Whole Food parking lot, but it was Tesla, which had real time updates on availability, including how many might be down and how many are in use.

 

[John105]

I remember an analysis I read back in school when doing a hybrid project, that a single digit percent (5? 7? I forgot) of the aerodynamic drag of a car comes from the mirror. ?

Lexus played the cd game from birth (aerodynamics was 1/4 objectives). My LS is .26 and would be .25 with the air suspension. My BMW 335 coupe is .30, when the 328 is .28. The missing information in all of the above is frontal area. So much goes back to hs.

 

[dishdude]

Imagine being this dumb. How does someone like this make it through life?

https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/electric-car-traps-mom-daughter/

 

[Torrid]

Imagine being this dumb. How does someone like this make it through life?

https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/electric-car-traps-mom-daughter/

You've got to be kidding me.

 

[JeffKeryk]

Imagine being this dumb. How does someone like this make it through life?

https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/electric-car-traps-mom-daughter/

The doors are operated by a separate battery; they just had to push the little button on the door handle. The cars also have a traditional door lever to open the door.

I keep saying these cars are different. If you don't know how to operate them, renting them is a lousy, and possibly dangerous, deal. They are not for everyone.
When we test drove our Model 3 in Dec 2018, a tech rode along explaining the nuances. Even Lexus explains the operation of their cars upon taking ownership of your new vehicle.
It sounds to me like Hertz and possibly other rental companies need to up their game. I'm sure this is not the 1st time and it won't be the last.

 

[Torrid]

The doors are operated by a separate battery; they just had to push the little button on the door handle. The cars also have a traditional door lever to open the door.

I keep saying these cars are different. If you don't know how to operate them, renting them is a lousy, and possibly dangerous, deal. They are not for everyone.
When we test drove our Model 3 in Dec 2018, a tech rode along explaining the nuances. Even Lexus explains the operation of their cars upon taking ownership of your new vehicle.
It sounds to me like Hertz and possibly other rental companies need to up their game. I'm sure this is not the 1st time and it won't be the last.

The emergency handles are pretty obvious too. I had the car yell at me a lot early on because I kept using those at first before I got used to the button.

 

[JeffKeryk]

The emergency handles are pretty obvious too. I had the car yell at me a lot early on because I kept using those at first before I got used to the button.

That's pretty common for new riders. It's close to muscle memory.

 

[PimTac]

I keep saying these cars are different. If you don't know how to operate them, renting them is a lousy, and possibly dangerous, deal. They are not for everyone.

They should haves walked, to the competition and rented a ICE car.

 

[JHZR2]

I don't understand what this argument has become. Don't stop in stupid places a bad times of the night. What are we doing this late other than making bad decisions of time to travel or working which I would hope would be close enough to not need to charge just to get home.

How does one guarantee this?

I’ve been on long trips and needed fuel, and the stops have been in less than savory places. Some I’d have no idea because I didn’t know the area. Others I’d have never expected.

Even in my EV thread, I found a Walmart that ended up being closed. And had to sit at a charge point in a far obscure corner. How many other unknown places was I supposed to scout out to not not make “bad decisions”?

Easier said than done once you leave your sphere of experience.

 

[Torrid]

They should haves walked, to the competition and rented a ICE car.

As a person that worked with Hertz for 11 years under contract, the last 2 of which bought out by them I wouldn't give them a dime of my money. I like EVs and all, but if I was under the impression that I was getting an ICE car and I planned for that I wouldn't be too pleased. That said, manager's special is death in the wrong scenario. That's how my company travel worked out. I've ended up with Corollas(which I preferred), minivans, and even a Hummer H2. I don't like the unknown. I had a project in Vail, CO which required carrying close to 1,000lbs of equipment up the mountain. They wanted to give me a 4Runner. I'm pretty sure that was over the payload capacity of the vehicle and I knew the naturally aspirated V6 was going to struggle climbing the mountain with 2 people and that much gear, plus our bags. Mind you this was a Hertz supplied rental due to the project we were working on. It was like pulling teeth just to get a Tahoe instead.

 

[dishdude]

The doors are operated by a separate battery; they just had to push the little button on the door handle. The cars also have a traditional door lever to open the door.

I keep saying these cars are different. If you don't know how to operate them, renting them is a lousy, and possibly dangerous, deal. They are not for everyone.
When we test drove our Model 3 in Dec 2018, a tech rode along explaining the nuances. Even Lexus explains the operation of their cars upon taking ownership of your new vehicle.
It sounds to me like Hertz and possibly other rental companies need to up their game. I'm sure this is not the 1st time and it won't be the last.

Apparently they also couldn't navigate letting Hertz know where the car was towed to and just abandoned it. Total idiot that has no business renting a car, electric or ICE. Probably shouldn't even leave the house...not sure how they dress themselves or manage to cross the street.

 

[Torrid]

How does one guarantee this?

I’ve been on long trips and needed fuel, and the stops have been in less than savory places. Some I’d have no idea because I didn’t know the area. Others I’d have never expected.

Even in my EV thread, I found a Walmart that ended up being closed. And had to sit at a charge point in a far obscure corner. How many other unknown places was I supposed to scout out to not not make “bad decisions”?

Easier said than done once you leave your sphere of experience.

There isn't. It's a risk we all take traveling unless you know the area. I'm not sure it matters what the vehicle is powered by.

 

[Torrid]

Apparently they also couldn't navigate letting Hertz know where the car was towed to and just abandoned it. Total idiot that has no business renting a car, electric or ICE. Probably shouldn't even leave the house...not sure how they dress themselves or manage to cross the street.

This happened a lot. This is how cars get labeled as stolen and then recovered and someone forget to update the status to no longer say stolen. There's plenty of stories of Hertz towing cars on a legitimate rental. That's how it happens.

 

[JeffKeryk]

They should haves walked, to the competition and rented a ICE car.

You are just being logical again.
I would only add that Hertz, or whoever, needs to learn about their products and advise their customers.
This is a safety issue and Hertz is at fault.

 

[JeffKeryk]

How does one guarantee this?

I’ve been on long trips and needed fuel, and the stops have been in less than savory places. Some I’d have no idea because I didn’t know the area. Others I’d have never expected.

Even in my EV thread, I found a Walmart that ended up being closed. And had to sit at a charge point in a far obscure corner. How many other unknown places was I supposed to scout out to not not make “bad decisions”?

Easier said than done once you leave your sphere of experience.

I think the point is, avoid the situation. Using the wrong tool for the job can have bad results.

 

[JHZR2]

I think the point is, avoid the situation. Using the wrong tool for the job can have bad results.

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.

 

[demarpaint]

They should haves walked, to the competition and rented a ICE car.

Exactly, use the obligatory "no thanks" and rented from someone with an ICE car.

 

[PimTac]

Imagine being this dumb. How does someone like this make it through life?

https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/electric-car-traps-mom-daughter/

Apparently they also couldn't navigate letting Hertz know where the car was towed to and just abandoned it. Total idiot that has no business renting a car, electric or ICE. Probably shouldn't even leave the house...not sure how they dress themselves or manage to cross the street.

A lot of mistakes here on both sides. To be honest, I have zero experience with any EV. If I was put in that situation I would be scrambling to figure out the basics. You cannot take someone who has driven ICE cars for 40-50 years and suddenly stick them into a EV and not expect any issues.

 

[y_p_w]

A lot of mistakes here on both sides. To be honest, I have zero experience with any EV. If I was put in that situation I would be scrambling to figure out the basics. You cannot take someone who has driven ICE cars for 40-50 years and suddenly stick them into a EV and not expect any issues.

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.