My wife and I flew to Florida to visit my daughter and her family. Rented an "intermediate" car from a major rental agency. I've had excellent service from this company before. Went to the garage to find the car, and it turned out to be a Mitsubishi Mirage-https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mitsubishi_Mirage. The thing was pathetic 3 cylinder, 95hp death trap. The AC was very poor, so bad that at stoplight I'd put the transmission in neutral and rev the engine to 2500rpm. So much for an "intermediate" car!!!
This is a rental car rant
- Thread starter Marcozi
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I don't blame you. I'd be PO'd too.
Did they run out of cars?
No way in a warm, intemperate climate a Mitsu Mirage is an "Intermediate" car.
Propflux01
$100 Site Donor 2025
Did you go back and return the vehicle?
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That would be a terrible experience!
Always rent direct from one of the big 3 (National, Avis, Hertz) I prefer them in that order. Sign up for their loyalty program, unless you're flying into a tiny airport you walk right by the desk to a row of cars and select whatever you want. Show your license on the way out and you're on the road.
On one hand, it would be better for customers if they would use relatively standard terminology to classify their vehicles; sub-compact, compact, mid-size, etc.
But - looking on Hertz's website for instance, their (dated) classification brochure shows an image of a Corolla. Both the Corolla and Mirage are described on their respective manufacturers' websites as Compact. I know which one I'd rather have, but there is a logical connection between the class of car you reserved and the one you got.
Edited to add - the Hertz brochure shows the Corolla under the "Intermediate" heading.
But - looking on Hertz's website for instance, their (dated) classification brochure shows an image of a Corolla. Both the Corolla and Mirage are described on their respective manufacturers' websites as Compact. I know which one I'd rather have, but there is a logical connection between the class of car you reserved and the one you got.
Edited to add - the Hertz brochure shows the Corolla under the "Intermediate" heading.
I also got a Mirage as an intermediate car once but I think it was with National. Not impressed by the vehicle.
95 hp? More like 78 hp.
Yes, they're pathetic!
Yes, they're pathetic!
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This is more of an issue since Covid and declining vehicle inventory.
Before this, you could reserve anything and get almost anything you wanted.
These days, I only rent full sized "cars".
That way, if they try squeezing me into anything else, it's usually an SUV.
Before this, you could reserve anything and get almost anything you wanted.
These days, I only rent full sized "cars".
That way, if they try squeezing me into anything else, it's usually an SUV.
I was in Tucson Airport and Budget ran out of cars just as I had got the key to my rental the rep says they are all out of cars.
Holy Smokes, there were about 25 people waiting in line and fuming.
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If I reserve a full-size with Avis, I'll typically get upgraded to an intermediate SUV, like a Ford Bronco, Chevy Equinox, etc., especially in the larger metros, because Avis has many more of these SUVs in inventory than they have full-size cars. It's only when I do the occasional one-way drop, I'll get their least appealing car/SUV, because they want it out of their local inventory.
I set my rental car preference to full size. The difference in price is often minor. The difference in satisfaction is significant.
I was in Tucson Airport and Budget ran out of cars just as I had got the key to my rental the rep says they are all out of cars.
Holy Smokes, there were about 25 people waiting in line and fuming.
That’s likely why they call themselves “Budget.”
It sounds like the car was appropriately named.
My wife said we don’t need to spend extra $20 for one day rental for a Hyundai compact SUV Tucson and ended up with sub compact really low rent Venue with cruddy AC and ride AND she complained.
Sorry about the cruddy offering.
Sorry about the cruddy offering.
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I too rent full size cars, often meaning a Jetta or Altima in rental car world.
No, there were cars in the different categories.
If it makes you feel better, they tried giving me, an at the time 6’2” 300lb man with 2(!!!) rear facing car seats a Hyundai Accent. Then got offended when I was like “really…? Yall gave me a Charger R/T last time.”
