National - Slightly OT: Beware if you purchased an Impala sold by Enterprise RAC

How enterprising <cough, bad pun> of them.:eek:

http://www.kansascity.com/842/story/1385463.html

Makes you wonder which safety features National chooses to purchase for its vehicles...

Yet one more reason I'll never buy an ex-rental. National does skimp on safety features up here. Many of their midsize cars - which are supposed to have anti-lock brakes according to the website - do not as it is an option (PT Cruiser) or not even available at all on the base model (Kia Spectra, Hyundai Elantra). One case I know of is the Chevy Cobalt. In Canada, the base model is not available with air conditioning, so you have to go up to the LT model, which inlcudes anti-lock brakes and a host of other features. National appears to have gotten some fleet-only model which just adds A/C onto the base model. I'm looking forward to 2012 when electronic stability control becomes mandatory on all new vehicles.

How can I tell whether the model I'm renting is/isn't equipped with certain safety features?

Maybe the safest bet is to grab the nearest SUV or Volvo in the lot.

How can I tell whether the model I'm renting is/isn't equipped with certain safety features?

Slam on the brakes as you approach the exit gate...if they make a loud noise and you leave tread marks, politely ask for another car. :D

Okay, okay....what I usually do is check for the ABS light to come on when you turn the ignition on. IF it does, then that means it has ABS (obviously). Also look for a button that says "ESP off" or something like that, then it means in most cases it has electronic stability control. Not always though, as I know most of the Toyota vehicles you can't disable it. Then there should be a light on the dash that looks like a car skidding (little car symbol and two swooshy tire paths).

I've also rented enough to know what has what. I've yet to find a fullsize car without ABS, and ESC can be found sporadically. Off the top of my head, I know the 2010 Fusion does, Hyundai Sonatas in the USA, Kia Rondo, and I think 2009 and up Pontiac G6's. Most Premium/Luxury models would have the full complement of safety features.

Maybe the safest bet is to grab the nearest SUV or Volvo in the lot.

Careful with that...I know that 4WD isn't even a confirmed feature when you check out the SUV examples on National's website, and I've heard of some FWD Escapes floating around in the mix. Actually I just checked and 4WD isn't listed for any SUV category in the US and but it IS listed on the Standard SUV category in Canada. Go figure...

I don't have an issue with a company picking choosing options in their fleet vehicles, but actively deleting a standard feature seems sneaky and wrong.

I mean, how many used car website/dealerships, etc have every single option/feature listed? Not many, they rely on the manufacturers standard equipment listings or for consumers to do due diligence using that same information. If I was looking to buy a used car, one of the first things I would do is check the OEM manufacturers website to see what was included as standard (along with sites like Edmunds and MSN Autos, etc).

What is even worst is that the problem just doesn't stop with Enterprise selling the vehicle the first purchaser, individuals susequently purchasing the vehicle from the person who bought it from Enterprise also will have a problem and may not realize that the vehicle was alternatively equipped by deleting standard equipment.

I realize they are not breaking the law, but its pretty unethical in a way too. I mean, someone mentioned Volvo on here (I own an S80), they are one of the safest vehicles, but if Enterprise strong armed GM to drop side airbags for a cost savings, whose to say they didn't with Volvo or any other manufacturer. The concept of OEM equipment is kind of lost.

It's been a few days since I read the article, but I don't think ERAC removed the side air bags. I think they just didn't order any cars equipped with them, but then proceeded to sell them with a description of the side air bags being included with the vehicle.

Yet one more reason I'll never buy an ex-rental. National does skimp on safety features up here. Many of their midsize cars - which are supposed to have anti-lock brakes according to the website - do not as it is an option (PT Cruiser) or not even available at all on the base model (Kia Spectra, Hyundai Elantra). One case I know of is the Chevy Cobalt. In Canada, the base model is not available with air conditioning, so you have to go up to the LT model, which inlcudes anti-lock brakes and a host of other features. National appears to have gotten some fleet-only model which just adds A/C onto the base model. I'm looking forward to 2012 when electronic stability control becomes mandatory on all new vehicles.

I just rented one of their cars and I couldn't figure out how to put gas in the damn thing!!! There was NO MANUAL! The fuel release was under the driver's carpet. Ridiculous. Apparently manuals cost money.

I just rented one of their cars and I couldn't figure out how to put gas in the damn thing!!! There was NO MANUAL! The fuel release was under the driver's carpet. Ridiculous. Apparently manuals cost money.

I've always found the manual in the glove compartment; I've been lucky I guess.

I've always found the manual in the glove compartment; I've been lucky I guess.

Your luck is different from mine. I see a manual in the glove box no more than 1/2 the time.

As for the original topic, I blame GM more than Enterprise in this situation. Some low-level person preparing Enterprise's offering may have checked an OEM equipment list and relied on it. GM purposely built a lesser standard of equipment (still legal, it will protest).

Last, statistics routinely show that SUVs are not the safest vehicles by several measures. Size can be good, but size used poorly is not, and a higher enter of gravity leads to greater rollover probability - a particularly deadly form of accident.

I don't have an issue with a company picking choosing options in their fleet vehicles, but actively deleting a standard feature seems sneaky and wrong.

I mean, how many used car website/dealerships, etc have every single option/feature listed? Not many, they rely on the manufacturers standard equipment listings or for consumers to do due diligence using that same information. If I was looking to buy a used car, one of the first things I would do is check the OEM manufacturers website to see what was included as standard (along with sites like Edmunds and MSN Autos, etc).

What is even worst is that the problem just doesn't stop with Enterprise selling the vehicle the first purchaser, individuals susequently purchasing the vehicle from the person who bought it from Enterprise also will have a problem and may not realize that the vehicle was alternatively equipped by deleting standard equipment.

I realize they are not breaking the law, but its pretty unethical in a way too. I mean, someone mentioned Volvo on here (I own an S80), they are one of the safest vehicles, but if Enterprise strong armed GM to drop side airbags for a cost savings, whose to say they didn't with Volvo or any other manufacturer. The concept of OEM equipment is kind of lost.


Enterprise didnt delete a standard feature. The fleet version of the Impala for those years did not come with standard side air bags. This wasnt limited to Enterprise but many other "fleet" companies recevied the same type of car. The "retail" version of the car had standard side airbags. The controvery surrounding Enterprise is that when these vehicles were sold, they had the manufacturers "retail" specs in error, which listed side airbags as standard. Enterprise wasn't trying to cut corners and the vehicles in question certainly were not unsafe, although the consumer did receive wrong information. Many manufacturers produce "fleet" vehicles which are optioned dfferently in some cases than the "consumer" version.

Enterprise didnt delete a standard feature. The fleet version of the Impala for those years did not come with standard side air bags. This wasnt limited to Enterprise but many other "fleet" companies recevied the same type of car. The "retail" version of the car had standard side airbags. The controvery surrounding Enterprise is that when these vehicles were sold, they had the manufacturers "retail" specs in error, which listed side airbags as standard. Enterprise wasn't trying to cut corners and the vehicles in question certainly were not unsafe, although the consumer did receive wrong information. Many manufacturers produce "fleet" vehicles which are optioned dfferently in some cases than the "consumer" version.

I disagree:

Enterprise officials defended their decision to delete the side air bags on roughly 66,000 Impalas as one that did not violate any federal mandate. That decision saved the company $175 on each Impala, which would total about $11.5 million.

The company made a specific decision to eliminate the side airbags to save money.

This thread has gotten out of hand - I'm locking this thread.

peteropny - moderator - National

Edit: Update on this issue http://www.detnews.com/article/20090905/AUTO01/909050312/1148/GM++Fleet+airbags+required