Hertz - Did you ever get a 'slipped through the system' car?

I realised ours had 'slipped through' after leaving Hertz at MEL, without any kind of cleaning or checking that it was OK to rent.

The Holden Statesman (aka Chevrolet Caprice in the mid-east and the limo version of the new Pontiac G8) was less than 3/8 full iof fuel and had a stain inside the driver door and was a bit dirty overall. It is a great long distance car to rent.

Being a public Holiday (Good Friday) and getting a triple upgrade (I had a code for a double upgrade but nothing of that kind was available), I was told I'd have to wait for another car to be prepared.
I was assured the fuel (or lack of) problem would be taken care of by an adjustment at the end of the rental.

The fuel was resolved by Hertz at the end.
When I described the stain inside and the fat there was a Neverlost unit in the car, the agents agreed the car had 'slipped through' entirely and had not been checked in or out at all.

I was offered a card with a promo code for a day's free rental with my next booking.

Is this a fair thing for all involved?
I was otherwise happy with everything, just annoyed Hertz let this one through and I got it. ;)
I'm an occasional renter, through Hertz #1 Gold and try to use Hertz when I can.

Cheers!

last year, i took a long term rental out of JFK and drove it to the Cape. I was there a few days when the smell started.... it wasn't really describeable... but i was at the ocean, so i figured... i must have run over something, etc.

I washed the car, didn't help. I looked under all the seats, nothing, in the trunk, nothing. Could not find the smell for the life of me. I drove around with my windows open for a few days before finally crying uncle and calling hertz to trade out for a new vehicle.

As I went through the car to make sure I had everything. I took it to vaccuum it out (we were at the beach, lots of sand) and in the trunk I lifted up the wheel cover to get at the sand and BAM. a ziplock bag of ..... well aged chicken. After retching for a bit, and tossing it out, the car was fine within a day.

I was pretty furious about it, but realistically, I'm not sure a.) why ANYONE would put food there. b.) why it would be part of the standard cleaning/prep for the car.

Either way, JFK Hertz was way awesome when i got back and gave me I think 2 or 300 off the rental for the inconvienience.

I realised ours had 'slipped through' after leaving Hertz at MEL, without any kind of cleaning or checking that it was OK to rent.

The Holden Statesman (aka Chevrolet Caprice in the mid-east and the limo version of the new Pontiac G8) was less than 3/8 full iof fuel and had a stain inside the driver door and was a bit dirty overall. It is a great long distance car to rent.

Is the Statesman really just an incarnation of the Caprice and the other now-extinct GM RWD platforms? I always thought Holdens chassis were pretty much indigenous.

No, the Saudi Chevy Caprice is not the same as the American Chevy Caprice. The Saudi Caprice is the same as the Holden Statesman from Australia. He meant to say the Middle East... KSA, UAE, Kuwait, etc.

No, the Saudi Chevy Caprice is not the same as the American Chevy Caprice. The Saudi Caprice is the same as the Holden Statesman from Australia. He meant to say the Middle East... KSA, UAE, Kuwait, etc.

Presumably they build the ME Caprices in Australia and then rebadge them?

That is what I am pretty sure of. They're basically re-badged Holden Statesmen (Statesmans?) but in LHD configuration. There's no resemblance with the American Caprice nor were any components shared, except for the 5,7 litre motor.

The Statesmen were built in Australia while we had our own Caprice. The Saudis had the American Caprice until the Americans stopped making them.

Yes, I should have noted the Statesman is the luxury, long wheelbase version of the Commodore, aka US Pontiac G8 (sedan & ute aka sport truck) which is currrently rebadged in LHD and sold as the Chevy Caprice replacement, aka the new Chevy Caprice!
Model overview (http://www.holden.com.au/www-holden/action/modeloverview?modelid=7000) 195kw v6, 5 speed auto. Holden Stateman minisite (http://www.holden.com.au/www-holden/jsp/campaigns/statesman_caprice/statesmanCapriceFrame.jsp)

My upgrade was from a Group C top a Group F (Ford Fairlane - a stretched luxury Ford Falcon, or similar Holden - the Statesman).
If I'd prepared better, I'd have specifically asked for a Group G as a result of the mixup (the Toyota Prius).

I mention it as I suppose the G8 may become a rental option at least in V6 if not V8. The GM engines are world designs - the Alfa Romeo and Saab V6s are made in Australia ans exported and some non-turno variants are used in the Commodore and Caprice (and the G8 v6).

The steering and ride is very pleasant and the car was surprisingly well put together.

Build quality isn't generally as good as a Japanese car but I find the interior materials and finish far superior to any GM rental product I've tried in the states.

I liked the Pontiac G6 (hated all the other GM cars and the Mustang ragtop) and think this is a good sibling to the G6.


In the US and elsewhere, if the 'slipped through' is an honest mistake, is the coupon for a free day's rental a fair deal?

Thanks!