Hertz - Long term upgrades?

I am looking at doing a two month rental (5/24 - 7/24) at EWR since it brings the total monthly cost down to around 850-875/mo. Since I am taking an extended lease, is there any way to get a free upgrade (either luxury or midsize SUV)? Any tips/help would be appreciated from the Flyertalk gods.

Thanks.

I am looking at doing a two month rental (5/24 - 7/24) at EWR since it brings the total monthly cost down to around 850-875/mo. Since I am taking an extended lease, is there any way to get a free upgrade (either luxury or midsize SUV)? Any tips/help would be appreciated from the Flyertalk gods.

Thanks.

Welcome to Flyertalk. "Free upgrade"?
What sort of vehicle are you going to rent? If you rent full-size (F), then you may get an upgrade to a midsize-SUV, depending on availability. You could also go the desk and ask for something different if you don't like what you find in your stall. But I think you're overly optimistic (or naive) if you're expecting a luxury SUV.

I don't think EWR has many high end cars anymore. The ones they do have appear to be rented regularly out.

I would imagine the largest upgrade you would get would be to a small SUV (Q4) if you are renting a fullsize.

Long term rentals decrease your chance of an upgrade.

I have a colleague who long-term rents (about 8 months into it now) from Hertz, he returns the car about once every 2/3 weeks for a refresh (i.e. vehicle swap) and always gets an upgrade, he has managed this through two ways;
1 - After a few months getting presidents circle by calling Hertz and asking, I believe you need $5k revenue (maybe $7k) or 120 days of rentals if you aren't renting week in/week out through returns)
2 - By getting the email address of the location manager and communicating through him for upgrades.

However, he was helped out on this by some significant customer service let-downs during his rentals which gave him an excuse to begin corresponding with the manager in the first place.

He rents a C class in the UK (Ford Focus) on a severely discounted corporate code and gets a variety of cars, including those from the prestige collection, but mainly in the more exotic higher class cars (Audi A3, SUV type cars, Estates, Saloons etc)

Well if you there is a location manager that is consistently giving away prestige vehicles on midsize reservations then that is a location manager that won't be there for very long.

Locations usually pay about $700+ in depreciation a month for a prestige car. The goal is to have your depreciation costs be 30% or less of revenue.

Since I am taking an extended lease, is there any way to get a free upgrade (either luxury or midsize SUV)?

I think what the OP means is either the luxury class, or a midsize SUV, not a luxury SUV. Generally I think upgrades are saved for shorter rentals to address shortfalls in the lower car classes and to get so revenue on a particular higher-class unit that would otherwise sit collecting dust on the lot. When no-one is upgraded, it's possible to see the same car in the same stall when you return a few days later (this has happened to me with some agenices in the past). For a monthly rental, it's hard to say. They may bump you to a Premium car or maybe a YF which would be a full-size but a nicer equipped model. That would be the best way for Hertz to honour the extended business you're giving them but to not give away the farm.

If you're not happy with what you get, it never hurts to ask nicely and see what they can find, stressing the fact that you'll have to live with it for 30 days or so. I'm sure they'll be more than accomodating.