How to Re-Write An Avis Press Release

Robert Farago
by Robert Farago

Jeremy Clarkson's strident, xenophobic and bombastic opinions aside, he's a rare bird, a true master of the craft. Case in point: former car salesman and failed Top Gear presenter Jason Dawe. " How to test drive a car properly" begins in the great Clarksonian "I'll get to the car bit when I bloody feel like it" tradition, trying to amuse us with tales from the mattress department. (Snoring is sooooo funny.) And then… "How can you possibly get a proper feel for a new car when you find yourself driving around the local industrial estate with an over anxious salesman sat beside you bellowing into his mobile and indicating the next turn back to the garage? Rental offers a very simple solution, with a lot of the main fleets offering a huge choice of vehicles. The chances are that if you have your eye on a car, your local rental agency will be able to get it for you. And hire doesn’t have to be expensive – ignore the published tariffs and do some bargaining – you might be surprised at the deals with which you could end up. For the sake of spending just a couple of hundred pounds for a week’s rental, you could save yourself thousands if you find the car isn’t for you." I suppose if you're looking for the car that isn't for you, a rental is as good a place as any in which to look. And now a word from our sponsor– I mean another word from our sponsor: "Avis confirm that rental experiences influence new car buying decisions. On handing back the rental car 44% of UK renters said they were slightly or much more likely to add the model to their next new car shopping list." So Jason, which is it: slightly or much more likely?

Robert Farago
Robert Farago

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  • LosgatosCa LosgatosCa on May 21, 2008

    I'll pile on and agree somewhat with the 'rent to buy' theory. 6 years ago my wife and I lusted after a new Discovery. We had a well used land Cruiser that we needed to let go and knew lots of friends in Arizona who swore by them. We went to Hertz, rented a new one for a week and took off to California. Ummmm.....off road? Nothing better. On road? Ugh. We saved ourselves from a mistake and went with another Land Cruiser for our off-road adventures.

  • Suto Suto on May 21, 2008

    I had a rental 2002 Focus that was a fun car. Too bad the interior (and to a lesser extent, the exterior) is so ugly. Also, worst engine sound ever. I had a 2003 rental Corolla. Ugly car, but quiet as a tomb, comfortable, and awesome gas mileage compared to my Protege. Too bad it wasnt as fun. If you don't care about cars, get a Corolla. Would recommend to my mother, sister, grandmother.... everyone who isn't a hoon.

  • Sammy Hagar Sammy Hagar on May 21, 2008

    Sort of O/T, but I've been trying to set up a weekend rental w/a Prius for almost two months now...still no luck (always gone). Seems to be a very popular choice, which I suspect has equal parts to do w/fuel prices and long test-drives. I just want to rent one to see what what it's limits are (meaning don't buy an Enterprise Prius in the state of Washington w/out a thorough inspection).

  • Nemphre Nemphre on May 21, 2008

    Does anyone offer rentals with a manual transmission? If so, I could get on board with this.

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