Hertz - Ford 500 or Toyota Camry?

I will be travelling for 9 days with my wife and 2 kids. We won't be driving very long distances, and we tend not to be light packers.

This board seems to favor the Camry, but I was wondering if anyone thought that the Ford edged it out. The total cost is nearly the same.

Thanks!

To Own: Camry
To Rent: Either

Ford> More powerful engine (Camry's are Almost always 4 cyl)
Camry> Better Fuel Economy (500 Has 6 cyl engine)

Roominess> about equal both inside and Trunk

Heads or Tail's? You make the call

Reserve a specific model and hope they dont have it upon your arrival. Then hit em up for a sweet UG.

Junkie-

I agree with Junkie that I'd own the Camry over the Ford...mostly due to better mileage and a bulletproof drivetrain. Camry handling and power is excellent.
Since it's someone else's potential maintenance problem...the 500 is new, but it's CVT (Continuous Variable Transmission) is smooth and easy to adjust to. The driving position and ergonomics are similar to an SUV. And for you non-light packers, the trunk is huge. You could install some seats and book it for the next Rolling Stones farewell tour. As I noted in another post, if they have the 500's wagon/SUVish bigger brother, the Freestyle (not Freestar), it would be right on the money for your trip.
______________

"If everything seems under control, you're just not going fast enough."
- Mario Andretti

[QUOTE=Junkie]Ford> More powerful engine (Camry's are Almost always 4 cyl)
Camry> Better Fuel Economy (500 Has 6 cyl engine)

Roominess> about equal both inside and Trunk

QUOTE]

The 500 has a LOT more passenger and trunk room. Rear seat comfort is limo-like (not that it matters all that much to your kids...). You can literally fit 10+ golf bags in the trunk - someone I know claims to have seen it done.

The last time I drove a Freestyle on the highway, I got 23.5 MPG with my lead foot. The Five Hundred will most likely get better mileage, as it's a bit lighter than its sister, the Freestyle.

My choice is with the Five Hundred.

I have rented both, and I'd take the Camry SE over the Ford 500 and it be a toss-up between the 500 and a Camry LE.

The SE is just more fun to drive, but the 500 is very roomy (though with two kids, the Camry will be fine) and has a nice ride (the SE is sportier).

I rented the Ford 500 & Camry. I will list my pros & cons of each.

Ford 500:

Pros: 1. More power.
2. Larger trunk & more interior room.

Cons: 1. Worse gas mileage. Average 26-27 mpg highway.
2. Front passenger seat not comfortable. My travel companion had to
to prop herself up with pillow. Little back support there.


Toyota Camry:

Pros: 1. Very good gas mileage for size of car. (33-35 Highway).
2. Decent ride & comfortable seats. SE better than LE.
3. Reasonable accerelation for 4 cyl.

Cons: 1. Ford has more power.
2. Trunk smaller than Ford.


For me, I always take Camry over the Ford. Especially if it is a SE. One reason I bought a new Camry for my own personal transportation. I did get a 5 speed and I like that. Manual tranny not available on the Ford.

Ford 500's? I'm still seeing Tauri where I rent. Does this really mean the end of the Taurus for Hertz rental cars? That's the best news since the demise of the Ford Tempo!

No, they still have New Taurus's too. Ford is continuing to build them as rental spec vehicles.

Received a Camry at BOI on a mid-size rental this past weekend...

My wife found it a bit muddier (not as tight, suspension and steering-wise) than her Acura but did like the stereo :)

Sure hauls butt for a 4 banger; we did some good grades on I84 and it had legs left at 70, even with the AC on. Perhaps this one had a 6; I didn't look. It got around 28 mpg for the trip (around 800 miles total).

I would say it would be OK for a family of 4 if the kids were pre-teen. Trunk was spacious for us, but perhaps not for a family.

Overall I thought it a good value for 18.00/day. I noted a whole parking lot full of Toyotas at this station, which is an independent. They don't accept PC's and only have Gold counter service, which was prompt and efficient.

Will attempt to rent a 500 on our trip to ORD next month as comparison. We rented a Taurus there a couple of weeks ago.

Pat

Are the Ford 500s at Hertz the four wheel drive versions?