Hertz - Anyone else noticing an increase in new cars/service getting better?

Thought I'd share a thought as I've been complaining numerous times on the drop in quality of cars provided by Hertz - but recently it has started to get a lot better.

My regular location, in the UK (MAN Airport), appears to have gotten a lot of new cars in the past month or so... is anyone else seeing this? It looks like the glut of old 30k+ mile models has vanished?

Past 6 weeks or so, always booking class C, I've been given a variety of cars made up of (some cars multiple times);

Nissan Quashqai (~1-2k miles on the clock)
Audi A3s (1-3k miles on the clock)
Kia Karens (~2k miles on the clock)
Volkswagen Golf Estate (13 miles on the clock)
Passat CC (~1k miles on the clock) - lovely car too


Not an old mondeo in sight, I'd probably spent at least the past 6 months at least getting mondeos for the majority of the time with 30k+ miles on the clock - and I haven't noticed any on the lot either. It seems like all the old models have been removed, and replaced with a much wider variety of manufacturers than the old set - which was pretty much mostly Ford based.

So, at least from my small perspective I'm a lot happier than I was a few months ago - Hertz is starting to provide the quality service it used to. The number of agents at the desk and drop-in also seems to have increased - however, based on the lack of movement of dropped-off cars I suspect that is at the expense of the drivers at the back end

PS: I'm presidents circle, hence getting upgrades is nice. However, this post is more around the fact they have new cars full stop rather than upgrades.

Edit: I notice that YYZ is apparently getting new cars too ; http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/hertz/952109-yyz-has-major-issues.html

In two rentals this month, I've had relatively new cars for both (sub 2,000 miles on the clock for each) - definite improvement on the recent 30k+ mileage vehicles I've seen. ^

I have a similar anecdotal experience - I have stripped the protective plastic off the hood of two Hertz rentals in Scottsdale in the Q2 timeframe.

Nope. My last rental (GSO) had nearly 35K miles.

I have two rentals at DUB and LHR in the next week or so. Am curious to see what vehicles materialise: booked standard automatic (Mazda 6 or equivalent) in Dublin and standard manual (Passat 2.0 or equivalent) at Heathrow.

I wish SEA could get some of the new car love, as last week the first car I received reaked of smoke and heavy cleaning fluid and the seat was worn out so much that it felt as if you were sitting on the seat metal directly... and the replacement for that was better as far as the smell and seat, but it was a tired and worn out Camry...

Week before that in PHL, received an awesome CX9 upgrade from being 5 star I presume and it was well enjoyed... week before that in ONT, had a nice Altima Hybrid...

Seen quite a few nice rentals in the smaller locations, but the larger locations seem to have more worn out cars and needing replacements fast!

AMS as well the past few months all have low milage cars again.

Got a brand new (800 miles) G37 at LAX on 05APR and kept it for 40 days. The Bluetooth connection to my iPhone worked perfectly, plus it came with an iPod/iPhone adapter cable.

Got a brand new (800 miles) G37 at LAX on 05APR and kept it for 40 days. The Bluetooth connection to my iPhone worked perfectly, plus it came with an iPod/iPhone adapter cable.

I've rented that car several times. I'm glad you loved it. When it comes to those cars and the service revolving around it, LAX is perfect for it.

I just got back from 8 days in SF, I had a good experience, considering the circumstances. I got into the rental car garage around 130P last Wed, the line for the non gold, pc, 5* was at least 200 ppl deep, sucks for them. My name wasn't on the board, but the gold counter was like a 10 min wait and 3 ppl ahead of me, np. They didn't have my Ford Edge :( but I got a Nissan Rogue, 8K miles, plus a $50 discount for the wait/inconvenience which paid for my tank of gas (I bought the tank ahead of time). but I had a long walk to my SUV and noticed how there were like no cars in the garage, and there were very boring choices.. HHR's, Camrys, Sentras... According to my agent the car preparers were being especially slow, but I am Gold so I got the last SUV available in the garage, that didn't have someone's name on it :rolleyes:.

The return guy last night around 9PM was nice, quick, with no issues. I had a good exp at SFO I hope others do as well.

My name wasn't on the board

They didn't have my Ford Edge :( but I got a Nissan Rogue, 8K miles

You paid for an Edge and got a crappy Rogue? :eek: I wouldn't call this an improvement. Neither is not being listed on the board.

The one and only time I rented a car at SFO (for one week, with a return at LAX), I had already prepaid for a G35, which they didn't have, and neither was my name on the bord. At first, the agent tried to offer some really crappy alternatives. No deal. Then, she offered more suitable alternatives, but with a upgrade surcharge! :eek: In the end, we settled with an Audi Q7 w/o any surcharge.

SFO seems to suck. At least at LAX, I always got the Premium or Fun Collection car I had reserved (or a free upgrade).

You paid for an Edge and got a crappy Rogue? :eek: I wouldn't call this an improvement. Neither is not being listed on the board.


Yeah I gave the agent hell for not being on the board, but my rate was so incredibly low on the edge, plus the $50 off I wasn't complaining much. I kept trying to bargain for a better SUV, but she kept saying the ROgue was the only one available ATM. I guess I should complain about the washers for being so damn slow and not getting more cars out in a timely manner.

IDK all in all the service is better than I have been getting since this past winter.

My last two rentals from DCA have been 2010 Mustangs (reserved C) with about 2000 miles on each one.

The return service has also gotten much quicker.

Yes... And no.

Flight into MIA had been delayed as we had been diverted to Nassau as the airport had closed due to bad weather. I had called hertz twice to ensure the car I that I had booked, would be there, as I booked a specific model (Mustang), and being a #1 Club Gold member, hoping it would be honoured. Both times was promised as a Gold member it would be there, and they honour it for 24 hrs.

It wasn't. I can understand being late that they would be struggling, but after being promised I was told I got labelled as a no-show!!! However the manager pulled us from the queue and tried her best to get something for us to get to the hotel, and managed to find a Black Corrola. I didn't care at that point, I just wanted to get the hotel for a shower and sleep. I can also understand that we were late by about 8hrs because of weather and other issues, but I had called twice, and I didn't change flights and came in on the same code flight. There were many looking for cars that weren't there, and the Gold Canopy was closed.

Next day, have picked up the car I was promised.

The catch, on the phone they said I would get the 2010 model Ford Mustang and they were setting it aside for me. So I rushed down. When I got there, again there were none available. Waited at the Gold Canpy area, and they provided me with a convertible Mustang in Red. I was starting to get frustrated with Hertz and their "promises", and still am. In addition, the convertible had no Sirius and about 17k on the clock.

So... Yes to service by the manager, no to everything else.

But have noticed that they forget to keep up their XM or Serius subscriptions in Hertz cars, I always choose the upgrade and all I get is the demo channel. Usually I complain when i come back and get a discount of some kind that is far more valuable than the XM. Make sure you check to see that the satellite radio functions.

Glasgow last weekend - brand new Focus. Gold service worked smoothly too.
Which was nice as the last few rentals there have been very high mileage stuff.