This happened to my mom at the Phoenix airport, and her luggage was stolen via this method. None of the employees would fess up to taking the car while she was trying to unload the trunk. The cops told her this happens all the time. She said that management just didn’t seem to care at all that their employees where stealing their customers’ luggage.

I gave up using anyone else, unless I’m somewhere they aren’t, and then I’ll go Hertz.

I’m just sayin.

Whenever I think of rental cars I think back to 1975 and the Pinto I rented.

Always had wondered what happened when moving forward at 10 mph or so and tossing the auto tranny in reverse.

Well, car comes to a shuddering halt and engine dies.

Cool!!!!

Started right up but there was a definite difference in tranny operation.

Drove right back to the rental outlet and demanded a different vehicle. Got one with an aplogy for the problem with the first car.

Sent a brief note to corporate telling of the excellent service from that outlet and the manager’s good attitude.

Never had to try that experiment again. Now I know.

Great Story about the rental GM minivan vs the Sienna. Although, I dont really find much useful information in such accounts as the only rentals that have ever broke down on me were a Fiat Punto and a Toyota Camry.

Rental cars suck period. People abuse them, they are not properly maintained. They are optionless rejects or unwanted surplus. All of them, even the Toyotas.

If you are the one delivering the stuff I don’t envy you. You have along drive ahead in a less than impressive ride, you might have to trade out again before you even leave Florida. If you don’t get there in the dead of night there is a nice road side stand before you get to the exit of the base that has some amazing fruits and vegetables. It’s west on the exit that huge Peach orchard is on. Huge watermelons too for $4-5.

There is also a Taco John’s on the base, what I would give for some Super Taco Bravos right now and a handful of Churros.

netrun that story was so funny, sad that nothing changed though.

GM VP tells him: “Sorry, I work for GM, I only drive GM.”

Owner behind the counter tells him: “We had GM minivans but everyone complained too much because they kept falling apart on them. I sold all but one of them, for a substantial loss, and now only buy Sienna’s. No more complaints from customers.

“I do have one remaining GM minivan that I couldn’t sell. I drive it to and from work. If you want to rent that, you’re welcome to it.”

GM VP: “OK, we’ll take that.” He and his family then experienced GM rental hell week. When GM VP got back to work, he called a meeting for all plant employees.

GM VP: “We talk about quality. We claim to build quality. But I am here to tell you that we are lying to ourselves. This has to change or we will be out of business.”

True story. Happened at my dad’s plant, the Chevy plant in Cleveland, Ohio. The quality? Never changed. I doubt it ever will. Ch.7 here we come.

It’s a rant about the customer service, not so much about the type of car. Although a more reliable brand might have been better able to stand up to that sort of abuse.

Stick with Enterprise.

Isn’t it evident that title (’Thrifty Sucks’) and content completely damn a rental company?

But then again, some cars makes and rental agencies do have cultural similarities. Which brings up a question: Do car manufacturers have any pull regarding how rental agencies may abuse their product / brand? Some people base future car purchases on rental experiences.

Or consider this: Let’s say some Thrifty manager had a line on a dozen or so off lease Audi A6’s. Methinks Audi Marketing would speed dial corporate’s ex-Navy Seal Legal Hit team to kill sue the Thrifty SOB’s right quick. But would Thrifty have a case? Can they rent any make/car they can buy?

It might, in the end, be less of a hassle.

Sorry kind of irrate after riding back from lunch against the SUV murder squad.

Probable answer: same problem Ford previously had – since belts are supplied by similar companies, it has to be the engineering of the car manufacturer at fault.

As for Thrifty, well…… thanks for the warning!

As for Cry-slur minivans, I already knew…. craptastic doesn’t even begin to describe them.

Unless the car has zero miles on it when you began your journey (which it may have) I just dont see how it is relevant. Shouldnt the mileage have been the first thing written, after all, 10K mile in a rental car may be the equivalent or more of 100K miles of wear and tear in the hands of a private owner. I thought you guys were all about full disclosure?

I bet I have rented 30-40 cars in my travels and unless you get one with very low miles, they are generally far from “Mint” condition. That included foreign and domestics, GM’s and Toyotas, and yes, lots of Chryslers.

We will continue to steer clear of Thrifty. Thanks for the warning.

On that note, you may want to upgrade to a Sienna next time (because Odyssey’s don’t exist on rental lots….and neither should Caravans).

I’m not sayin, I’m just sayin.