National - Sign of things to come? 50k mile vehicle

Just got back from YUL where we had an EI rental. Only 2 FS cars when we got there. An Impala or a Mazda 6. Took the Mazda 6, should have gone for the Impala. 79,800 km on the Mazda 6, which is not too far short of 50,000 miles. Noticed after we got to the hotel that the keytag had Enterprise on it so the car must have been borrowed from the Enterprise location a few aisles down. More (and newer) cars on Sunday but still.

The car was quite worn too. Suspension/struts/steering. Taking the bump highway corners at speed, the steering wheel felt as if the tires weren't tracking after every bump.

I certainly hope not, but it's gotten to the point where I'm not even surprised to get a rental with more miles on it than my own three year old car. A rental with less than 10K miles, that's the rarity.

WRT the Enterprise stickered fleet, however, car cleanliness has been noticeably better than the equivalent-miles National fleet.

If it's getting this bad with National, I can't imagine what it's like with Rent A Wreck. The one time I rented with them (11 years ago - don't ask how I can remember that specifically), I got a beat up Nissan hatchback with nearly 100k miles, a broken door latch (the passenger door wouldn't open from the inside), and a 4-cylinder engine that I don't think was hitting on all 4 cylinders (it wouldn't go over 45 uphill).

Most cars I've seen with National lately have 20-30k miles. Few have XM and most of those aren't activated (or have expired). Many reek of cigarettes, electrical smells, or cleaning supplies. Several have had maintenance problems (defective remotes, squeeky brakes, etc.).

Things have certainly gone downhill. I can usually find a decent car, but it's much harder than it used to be.

Hope that's a rarity; I've had good fortune on my recent rentals. 814 and 5 miles on the odometer on two occasions. :)

Hope that's a rarity; I've had good fortunate on my recent rentals. 814 and 5 miles on the odometer on two occasions. :)

I've generally found National cars to be in the 15-20k range. I've gotten a good number of new cars under that, plus a few straying into the thirties. However, I've had a few high mileage cars, like a 42k Mazda6 I got last December. The record holder, however, is the 4-cylinder Fusion with 61k I got at YLW. I chatted with the agent about it and she said she had just helped a family out to a Grand Cherokee with 80k. As they are a franchise in a relatively low-demand location, higher mileage vehicles were to be expected. They were, however, impeccably maintained.

If it's getting this bad with National, I can't imagine what it's like with Rent A Wreck. The one time I rented with them (11 years ago - don't ask how I can remember that specifically), I got a beat up Nissan hatchback with nearly 100k miles, a broken door latch (the passenger door wouldn't open from the inside), and a 4-cylinder engine that I don't think was hitting on all 4 cylinders (it wouldn't go over 45 uphill).

I don't have to imagine...

I went with them in Edmonton about a year and a half ago when all the other agencies were sold out. They told me all they had was a minivan, but when I got there I found a full lot of Cavaliers, Grand Ams, Sebrings, etc. I was told "They all need to go in for service". I was directed to a 2002 Chevrolet Venture with 172,000 km on it. It had no anti-lock brakes and the suspension made serious knocking sounds over bumps. I remember the glove box lid refused to stay shut and also the power mirror switch was gone. And when I say gone I don't just mean it didn't work...it was GONE. There was a hole in the driver's door where the switch used to be. The best ailment was the square hole in the dashboard cover where the fuel gauge was. So that would mean rather than refueling, one could just make the needle point at F. I, however, took the honest route, and got to pay $30 for 100 km of driving for that...

I was directed to a 2001 Chevrolet Venture with 172,000 km on it. It had no anti-lock brakes

Anti-lock brakes were standard equipment on all 2001 Chevrolet Venture models.

Anti-lock brakes were standard equipment on all 2001 Chevrolet Venture models.

Could be one of those vehicles where the car rental agency was able to order it without certain safety features.

Could be one of those vehicles where the car rental agency was able to order it without certain safety features.

Must've been. There was no ABS light on the dash and it went sliding through the Safeway parking lot when I first applied the brakes. Pretty conclusive test. Also I now remember it was actually a 2002. I was surprised that a minivan from 2002 wouldn't have ABS as well.

40K Highlander on in the Exec. Selection area of RDU. I almost took it - nothing appeared to be wrong - but ended up going for the Terrain next door which had 2400 on it.

Wow. And I used to think 15K miles was bad! I haven't run across any of these high-milers yet... and hope I don't have to.

Wow. And I used to think 15K miles was bad! I haven't run across any of these high-milers yet... and hope I don't have to.

Honestly as an Exec. member who gets to choose - I would prefer a better selection with high-mileage over a worse selection with low-mileage.

There was no ABS light on the dash and it went sliding through the Safeway parking lot when I first applied the brakes. Pretty conclusive test.

Don't mean to nitpick or to hijack the thread, but ABS won't stop you from sliding. If the tires don't have any traction, then ABS won't help you stop, just like all or four wheel drive won't help you go. ABS is designed to allow you to control (steer) the car, and in SOME circumstances to stop in a shorter distance.

The lowest mileage car I've pulled off the Executive Selection in the last three months had about 9,000 miles on it. The average mileage has been around 20,000. The highest was 32,000.

I'm getting very dismayed with the awful selection I've seen this year with National, which seems to get worse. On top of that, I'm finding myself waiting longer to be picked up at airports I frequent like LAX — last night three National buses that were not full drove by without stopping, and the fourth stopped at the UA terminal to pick me and a couple of other renters up. During that period Avis had about 10 buses that stopped at that terminal, and Hertz had nearly as many as Avis did. I've had a similar problem at MSY, where I waited 45 minutes one night for a National bus to show up. This was around 9:00 PM — probably not the busiest period, but not middle of the night either. It finally took a phone call to the National office to get a bus to show up.

On top of that, this year I've had too many issues with arriving at the airport to be told "We have no cars" even though I had a reservation booked weeks in advance, I've had waits of over 15 minutes to get through the exit gate because only one window was open, and I've had too many cars that stunk inside or had obvious mechanical issues, including warning lights that wouldn't go out for items that had not been dealt with.

I miss the days when being an Executive Selection member at National meant nice, low mileage, full-featured cars, often with active XM. Lately it seems the Executive Selection is high mileage, base model, or full of minivans. After last night's experience, I'm debating giving up the generous frequent rental program and going back to Avis. The National free days are great, but the nice cars and quick service I enjoyed for years seems to be gone.

Picked up at MIA an Impala with 220 miles and one at FLL with 350. But I agree that it's getting harder to find such mileage cars (had to look at quite a few cars first).

Don't mean to nitpick or to hijack the thread, but ABS won't stop you from sliding. If the tires don't have any traction, then ABS won't help you stop, just like all or four wheel drive won't help you go. ABS is designed to allow you to control (steer) the car, and in SOME circumstances to stop in a shorter distance.

Couldn't agree with you more. I've had many situations in newer cars with the brakes applied full, and I'm still rolling towards what I need to avoid. I had a situation last Christmas in a Volvo S40 which had low-pro tires. I applied the brakes in snow and went sliding sideways. In the case of this Venture, I'd be willing to bet the tires were balder than Homer Simpson, yet I know it didn't have ABS because the front tires locked up when braking in snow. I felt no pulsation at all that one would feel in an ABS-equipped car. Like an earlier poster said, it was likely a fleet model.

Couldn't agree with you more. I've had many situations in newer cars with the brakes applied full, and I'm still rolling towards what I need to avoid. I had a situation last Christmas in a Volvo S40 which had low-pro tires. I applied the brakes in snow and went sliding sideways. In the case of this Venture, I'd be willing to bet the tires were balder than Homer Simpson, yet I know it didn't have ABS because the front tires locked up when braking in snow. I felt no pulsation at all that one would feel in an ABS-equipped car. Like an earlier poster said, it was likely a fleet model.

Homer Simpson isn't completely bald- he still has 2 little hairs on his crown.:)

Honestly as an Exec. member who gets to choose - I would prefer a better selection with high-mileage over a worse selection with low-mileage.
Interesting how personal preferences differ. I would actually prefer a brand new lower model car than a worn out premium car.

Interesting how personal preferences differ. I would actually prefer a brand new lower model car than a worn out premium car.

Ditto.. I'd take a loaded low km Fusion (Standard) any day over a High Mileage Luxury Town Car. :)

Ron.

Interesting how personal preferences differ. I would actually prefer a brand new lower model car than a worn out premium car.

Agreed. Personal preferences differ. That said, my preference for better cars with higher mileage would cease before we got to worn out. Most 20-40K mileage rental cars aren't worn out. I'm sure there are exceptions.

This is a weird one.. picked up a loaded 2010 Fusion @ YVR today.. had 25k KM. I had to look twice to confirm! :)

Ron.

This is a weird one.. picked up a loaded 2010 Fusion @ YVR today.. had 25k KM. I had to look twice to confirm! :)

Ron.

Ford started shipping the MY2010 Fusions very early. MY2010 can ship to dealer/go on sale to consumer? from 1/1/2009. That car may well have nine months of use on it.

I would think of a loaded Fusion as a happy find.

Ford started shipping the MY2010 Fusions very early. MY2010 can ship to dealer/go on sale to consumer? from 1/1/2009. That car may well have nine months of use on it.

I would think of a loaded Fusion as a happy find.

YVR has a LOT of fully loaded Fusions - leather, AWD, Sun Roof, Sony Audio, etc. Have yet to see a Fusion Hybrid though.

Ron.

The "nicer" sedans in Exec Sel at ORD and IAD (where I've tended to rent a lot), i.e., Avalons, in my recent (past 6-9 months) rentals have all been over 30k miles. I remember a couple of months ago, I was at ORD and walked to 4-5 different Avalons and they each were in the 30k+ mile range.

Ford started shipping the MY2010 Fusions very early. MY2010 can ship to dealer/go on sale to consumer? from 1/1/2009. That car may well have nine months of use on it.

I would think of a loaded Fusion as a happy find.

I was curious, so I checked the MFG Date.. it's JUN 09. Someone has done a lot of driving! 25k in 4-5 mths.

Ron.

The lowest mileage car I've pulled off the Executive Selection in the last three months had about 9,000 miles on it. The average mileage has been around 20,000. The highest was 32,000.
...The National free days are great, but the nice cars and quick service I enjoyed for years seems to be gone.

Hi, Mr. Sullivan, my name is Meghan and I work for National Car Rental. We were very concerned to read about your recent experiences and would like to contact you directly to address the issues you dealt with. I sent you an email today with my contact information -- please feel free to contact me or send me a number where you can be reached. We look forward to speaking with you soon.

Got an Avalon from the LGA executive aisle with 42000 miles on it yesterday. That's my record.

Hi, Mr. Sullivan, my name is Meghan and I work for National Car Rental. We were very concerned to read about your recent experiences and would like to contact you directly to address the issues you dealt with. I sent you an email today with my contact information -- please feel free to contact me or send me a number where you can be reached. We look forward to speaking with you soon.

Meghan,

If you start contacting every customer who can report that they have been disappointed in National's declining customer service and quality of vehicle issues, you are going to be a very busy woman. On the other hand, I would think that it would do wonders for your own job security!