National - Chrysler 300 - Luxury Rental?

This car has always preturbed me, and here is an example why.

I rented a Premium from MKE last week, and the only car available was a 300. Thinking that would be OK, I entered it to find cloth seats, no Sat, nothing, just an entry level 300.

When I pulled to the gate, in her super friendly midwestern manner, the agent told me "Wow, you are lucky. Normally that is a Luxury car."

Really? I would be mega :mad: if I actually rented a Luxury car, and instead of a Caddy or Infiniti, I was shown a 300, even with leather.

So here is where my confusion goes into overdrive. Gate agent says it is a Luxury car. Contract says I wanted a Premium and this is what was parked there. Key fob indicantes it's an FCAR.

My question then, what is a 300? Is it like the Taurus, where the Limited is a PCAR, but SEL or SL is an FCAR? How can it ever have enough options to get to luxury status? Can I assume that the car's "ranking" is established by the guy who checks in the new shipment of cars. If he thinks something is a Full-Size, he enters it into the system as such. If a Premium or Luxury, the same is true.

Note: This is not the first time I've experienced "Luxury Envy" from a 300. In EWR the agent also mentioned that I could get an upgrade to a Premium car, only to be given keys to a cloth 300 with, yet again, FCAR written on the key tag. The same happened with an Avalon in ORD, which with leather seats, I would consider a PCAR, but with cloth, just an FCAR (as this one indicated being).

You're not alone in griping about this...

In Canada, the Chrysler 300C is the sample Luxury car. In that case, at least you're getting something worth upgrading to (versus a V6 cloth seat base model). I've never unerstood why the rental companies have such a fascination with the Chrysler 300. A Dodge Charger is always a Fullsize, but if you suddenly take that exact car and slap a Chrysler logo on the front of it and suddenly it's a Premium or Luxury car. It makes no sense at all.

Personally I would've gone ahead as though they didn't have the car I reserved, and picked something else (even from a higher category). If they refused that, I would've walked. Rental companies will only do bad so long as their customers let them.

My question then, what is a 300? Is it like the Taurus, where the Limited is a PCAR, but SEL or SL is an FCAR? How can it ever have enough options to get to luxury status? Can I assume that the car's "ranking" is established by the guy who checks in the new shipment of cars. If he thinks something is a Full-Size, he enters it into the system as such. If a Premium or Luxury, the same is true.


I would like to think there's a more rigorous car classification process based on now-centralized fleet buys, rather than just going by what the local car receiving guys feel like that day.

In general, you describe class creep: rental agencies lifting cheap cars up to another class. It's calling a base Nissan Sentra a midsize; calling a base 4-cyl Nissan Altima or Ford Fusion a full size; calling a VW Jetta a special Standard. It's been an issue for a while but has gotten much worse. Everybody is doing it - check out the Hertz or Avis lots or the forums on FT. Tuneman has it right. Ask for a better car, a rate reduction, or walk when you have the time and will.

Yup, I also recv'd a 300 as a Luxury car, but it was brand new and had leather seats, so I didn't mind.

What I did mind was being offered a Kia Amanti as premium?!!! C'mon now.

Corp reclassed cars...and retagging over a million cars takes a while.

Chry 300 with certain equipment is a Premium.

Chry 300 loaded with leather and a hemi is a Luxury.

That is how it was and how it will be. How the ones you guys are talking about ended up with an FCAR designation on a key tag is beyond me.
Cities do not "class" their own cars. Corp does it.

The new Taurus was a Ford 500. It Was a Premium due to it's Size last year. In the new class it was moved down to a Full Size.

Altima is Full, Fusion is a Standard. Jetta is a Specialty.
Corporate RE-classed the use of the Standard Class. That used to mean something like a Monte Carlo or any Full Size Two Door. Now it's something in-between a Mid and a Full....Malibu, Sonata, Fusion, etc.

Kia Amanti is a Premium as it's a fully loaded larger than a Full Size automobile. Quit slammin the Kia Brand Gang. We have no probs with them.

Size is not the only deciding factor of vehicle class in rental car. How it comes equipped and the Sticker Price are also a factor. That's how a Maxima and a Grand Marquis are both Premium vehicles. Or how a CTS and a DTS are both Luxury vehicles. Sizes are a bit different but equipment-wise they are pretty much the same.

Corporate RE-classed the use of the Standard Class. That used to mean something like a Monte Carlo or any Full Size Two Door. Now it's something in-between a Mid and a Full....Malibu, Sonata, Fusion, etc.


OK, Paminaz. The ES service promise is this:

•Only National offers the Executive Selection - a special area of our lot featuring fullsize and higher class cars.

Since you note that Corporate classes the cars, and Malibu, Sonata, Fusion are Standard, then we should never see these vehicles on ES as they are low class.;) That works for me.

In fact, centralized buying and classification should result in a more consistent experience.

OK, Paminaz. The ES service promise is this:

•Only National offers the Executive Selection - a special area of our lot featuring fullsize and higher class cars.

Since you note that Corporate classes the cars, and Malibu, Sonata, Fusion are Standard, then we should never see these vehicles on ES as they are low class.;)

This week, I have a 2009 Saturn Aura, which is the exact same car as the Malibu, and my key says FCAR. So, I don't know how a Malibu isn't the same.

This week, I have a 2009 Saturn Aura, which is the exact same car as the Malibu, and my key says FCAR. So, I don't know how a Malibu isn't the same.

They are in the process of re-tagging all cars. Up until the changeover...the Malibu Was a Full size...Now a Standard. It's the vernacular interpretation. It doesn't mean it's any smaller than it used to be.
The Aura was a Mid Size...now it's a Standard. Both are something you would find on the regular Emerald Aisle.
The Impala, Malibu and Aura each have the same Headroom and leg room, the Impala has 3 inches more shoulder and hip room.

They are in the process of re-tagging all cars. Up until the changeover...the Malibu Was a Full size...Now a Standard. It's the vernacular interpretation. It doesn't mean it's any smaller than it used to be.
The Aura was a Mid Size...now it's a Standard. Both are something you would find on the regular Emerald Aisle.
The Impala, Malibu and Aura each have the same Headroom and leg room, the Impala has 3 inches more shoulder and hip room.

If the Malibu and Aura are basically the same car, why was one a mid-size and one a full-size?

Kia Amanti is a Premium as it's a fully loaded larger than a Full Size automobile. Quit slammin the Kia Brand Gang. We have no probs with them.


The Kia has the "premium" look thanks to its exterior looking like a hybrid of the Mercedes E-Class, Chrysler 300 grille, and Lincoln Town Car rear. :)

The Amanti isn't selling well, which is probably why it's getting dumped on corporate fleets.

However, the 2010 Kia Amanti replacement- the Kia Cadenza, looks much better.

If the Malibu and Aura are basically the same car, why was one a mid-size and one a full-size?

Trunk size? Price? I tried to get trunk size from GM's web site. They don't list it. Tried other sites...can't find it. Their wheel bases are a bit diff. Engine sizes are diff.
Corp did the change...we have to play their game. I believe in questioning authority but sometimes you just don't get answers to your questions.

We all have policies and procedures/rules and regulations and the Way they Do Things "at" work. It's the way it IS and we have to go along with what is.

The ES Aisle will have guaranteed Midsize and you may find some Standard. EE Aisle will have FCAR or better. If you have a prob, always request a Manager at the location you are renting.

The reason is the Enterprise take over. Enterprise is actually upleveling the car class. If you know they now give you Cobalt as Mid-size and Corrolla as Full-Size, then you know why 300 is Luxury.:mad:




This car has always preturbed me, and here is an example why.

I rented a Premium from MKE last week, and the only car available was a 300. Thinking that would be OK, I entered it to find cloth seats, no Sat, nothing, just an entry level 300.

When I pulled to the gate, in her super friendly midwestern manner, the agent told me "Wow, you are lucky. Normally that is a Luxury car."

Really? I would be mega :mad: if I actually rented a Luxury car, and instead of a Caddy or Infiniti, I was shown a 300, even with leather.

So here is where my confusion goes into overdrive. Gate agent says it is a Luxury car. Contract says I wanted a Premium and this is what was parked there. Key fob indicantes it's an FCAR.

My question then, what is a 300? Is it like the Taurus, where the Limited is a PCAR, but SEL or SL is an FCAR? How can it ever have enough options to get to luxury status? Can I assume that the car's "ranking" is established by the guy who checks in the new shipment of cars. If he thinks something is a Full-Size, he enters it into the system as such. If a Premium or Luxury, the same is true.

Note: This is not the first time I've experienced "Luxury Envy" from a 300. In EWR the agent also mentioned that I could get an upgrade to a Premium car, only to be given keys to a cloth 300 with, yet again, FCAR written on the key tag. The same happened with an Avalon in ORD, which with leather seats, I would consider a PCAR, but with cloth, just an FCAR (as this one indicated being).

The reason is the Enterprise take over. Enterprise is actually upleveling the car class. If you know they now give you Cobalt as Mid-size and Corrolla as Full-Size, then you know why 300 is Luxury.:mad:

I know you aren't happy but a Corolla is Not re-classed as a Full Size. It's was and still is a Mid size.

The reason is the Enterprise take over. Enterprise is actually upleveling the car class. If you know they now give you Cobalt as Mid-size and Corrolla as Full-Size, then you know why 300 is Luxury.:mad:

Well, I don't think it can be completely blamed on Enterprise, since all the major car rental companies are implementing some sort of class creep due to the economy.

Corp reclassed cars...and retagging over a million cars takes a while.

Chry 300 with certain equipment is a Premium.

Chry 300 loaded with leather and a hemi is a Luxury.

That is how it was and how it will be. How the ones you guys are talking about ended up with an FCAR designation on a key tag is beyond me.
Cities do not "class" their own cars. Corp does it.

Oh, the PHX rental fleet... it used to be the best fleet at National before taken over by corporate. I remember a time when the EE had hidden gems like H3s, M35s, FX35s, etc. It used to make paying the rediculous PHX rental tax worth it.

In the end, I think we all agree there is too much swapping in car classes on the rental lot with what you reserve. I miss the days when an FCAR aisle == comfy Impalas and the PCAR aisle = a Volvo, no questions asked. If you wanted to drive a good car with leather, you rented a PCAR, and if you wanted a big car that was economic, you got an FCAR. If you wanted to impress your client (or wife), you got a Luxury, but if you wanted to ensure your expense report was approved, you rented an ICAR. And in my world, there is no "Standard" class. I still can't tell how this is better or worse than the ICAR.

I'm excited for this corporate standardization in car class, thank you for the heads up Paminaz. Even with car-class creep, maybe this will end our question "How can a 300 be a luxury car?" (sans the gas-guzling Hemi).

What if National asked frequent renters how they would class the cars? It would bring consistency in renter's expectations when reserving. Nothing is worse than paying extra for a Premium and recieving keys to a Taurus.

My votes:
ICAR = Malibu, Altima, Sonata, Fusion
FCAR = Maxima, LaCrosse, Taurus, Camry
PCAR = S60/V70, Avalon (leather), Genesis or Azera

Note the lack of Chrysler brands and the HHR. ;)

My votes:
ICAR = Malibu, Altima, Sonata, Fusion
FCAR = Maxima, LaCrosse, Taurus, Camry
PCAR = S60/V70, Avalon (leather), Genesis or Azera

Note the lack of Chrysler brands and the HHR. ;)

Maxima & LaCrosse for MY2010 are too expensive to be rented as FCAR, at least until the 4-cylinder LaCrosse is released and then you won't want it. GM will continue to need to dump a lot of Impalas into fleets. Due to passenger room, trunk room and standard V-6, Impala beats Malibu as FCAR. (No, it's not a stylin' ride.)

If Altimas and Fusions are well equipped I could be satisfied with them as FCAR. Base Altima 2.5S and 4-cyl Fusion S or SE belong in Standard, as does a 4-cyl base Hyundai Sonata.

I am very happy with Maximas as Premium. Volvo S60s are out of production for MY2010; they actually were EPA compacts as one would quickly discover when trying to load four adults and luggage.

Hyundai Genesis V-6 models would likely make a fine Premium but I don't think that's a model Hyundai is trying to put into fleets aggressively.

Sorry, but GM needs to sell HHRs and Chrysler is desperate to sell PT Cruisers. If not bought by EntNatA'mo, be sure they will be found in other rental fleets.:rolleyes:

Sorry, but GM needs to sell HHRs and Chrysler is desperate to sell PT Cruisers. If not bought by EntNatA'mo, be sure they will be found in other rental fleets.:rolleyes:

Thank God Fiat is killing off the PT Cruiser. ;)

Maybe we'll be seeing some Alfa Romeos at National locations in the future.

Thank God Fiat is killing off the PT Cruiser. ;)

Maybe we'll be seeing some Alfa Romeos at National locations in the future.

I was about to correct you on that one...but I didn't see the latest announcement! YAY! I just really hope it STAYS dead this time...

Thank God Fiat is killing off the PT Cruiser. ;)


That plan changed this summer. It's staying in production, perhaps long term.

http://blogs.insideline.com/straightline/2009/09/fiat-wants-mid-2011-makeovers-for-chrysler-minivans-caliber-pt-cruiser.html

That plan changed this summer. It's staying in production, perhaps long term.

http://blogs.insideline.com/straightline/2009/09/fiat-wants-mid-2011-makeovers-for-chrysler-minivans-caliber-pt-cruiser.html

Wall Street Journal ran an article a few days ago apparantly speculating that the PT is gone. I found a link to the article but it only gives the first 100 words or so, requiring a prescription to read beyond. Apparantly Chrysler LLC is making an announcement about its five-year product strategy, so we'll know for sure then. Fingers crossed!

I found a link to the article but it only gives the first 100 words or so, requiring a prescription to read beyond.

You can get a 30-day prescription for $3, but I guess the WSJ isn't generic!

You can get a 30-day prescription for $3, but I guess the WSJ isn't generic!

Prescription hey? ;)

So if you've got a fever, the only cure is more Wall Street? :D

Had a Premium reserved in OAK this past weekend and was disappointed after driving a 300 with cloth, annoyingly small windows, and little power. I was even more surprised when I saw the receipt said I had been driving a Luxury car?!?!?

The day I reserve a Luxury car and get a 300 is the day I walk away from my reservation. It's an average FCAR and with some options perhaps a PCAR, but never a Luxury

Wall Street Journal ran an article a few days ago apparantly speculating that the PT is gone. I found a link to the article but it only gives the first 100 words or so, requiring a prescription to read beyond. Apparantly Chrysler LLC is making an announcement about its five-year product strategy, so we'll know for sure then. Fingers crossed!

Sorry, Tuneman, but today's product development presentations pointed to a refreshing, not a cessation of production for - and I'm not making this up - a PT Cruiser Final Edition to come 1Q2010.

Sorry, Tuneman, but today's product development presentations pointed to a refreshing, not a cessation of production for - and I'm not making this up - a PT Cruiser Final Edition to come 1Q2010.

The PT Cruiser "Final Edition" should be me taking a rocket launch to the Toluca plant :D

PT Cruiser Final Edition

There are many, many different sources from which the American auto industry could draw inspiration in order to show that they're looking forward with dynamic new ideas as we approach the second decade of the 21st century...

...and they choose to use a name that relates to newspapers. :D

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I have been noticing this as well. I'm a fan of things being more consistent. I've been lucky though that Executive selections at my frequented locations have been decent lately. I did snag a 2010 Lacrosse at FLL last month after picking a car with less than 1/8th tank of gas, getting in a dirty S60 with no working power outlets, and going back to try to get something decent. I was given the Lacrosse and the guy acted like it was a luxury car or something. It's got attractive styling and drives nicely but my paperwork said "FCAR" on it. When I parked it at my hotel next to a new Malibu I was shocked to see how very very similar in size they are and how exacting they compare in the A and C Pillars.... Hmmmm. I'm thinking the Buick is a "gussied" up Malibu.

The ES Aisle will have guaranteed Midsize and you may find some Standard. EE Aisle will have FCAR or better. If you have a prob, always request a Manager at the location you are renting.

I assume you mean that the Emerald Aisle has guaranteed midsize and the Executive Selection has FCAR or better?

I'm thrilled with the rebranding of Malibus as SCAR; I now have a concrete reason to refuse one on an FCAR reservation. Hate those things.

When I parked it at my hotel next to a new Malibu I was shocked to see how very very similar in size they are and how exacting they compare in the A and C Pillars.... Hmmmm. I'm thinking the Buick is a "gussied" up Malibu.

The new LaCrosse is based on the Epsilon II platform, which is also to be used for the upcoming new Saab 9-5. The current Malibu is based on the previous-generation Epsilon I platform. (The next one will probably be Epsilon II.)

Weirdly, the previous LaCrosse, which was less expensive, was based on the larger W-body platform underpinning the Impala.

I have been a lurker for quite some time and this one is enough to make me post finally......................Well I am currently in wonderful Tulsa and I had reserved a Premium car but when I arrived they had none on the lot. The nice young man says "hey I only have Luxury cars left on the lot and they are all brand new I will upgrade you for free". I say wow cool, he says I will call and get them to pull the plastic off the seats and bring you one around. Lo and behold I get a 2010 Chrysler 300 touring, plain as plain can be, not even leather on this bad boy 6 miles on the odometer. I ask him if he is kidding and he says nope all Chrysler 300's are now luxury cars. And sure enough the Key tag says LDAR plain as day. National has lost their minds if they think this is a luxury car, Heck it doesn't even have auto headlights on it much less sat radio or cd changer I didn't know they made one this plain. Guess luxury is not what it once was huh?