Car sizes
Aug 14, 2012, 10:53 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 2,188
Car sizes
A problem common among many companies. When we rented a "full size" car from Dollar at ONT, our choices were a Chevy Malibu and a Nissan Altima (and, perhaps, a behemoth Lincoln Town Car, parked in the same area from which we were told we could choose a car). The Malibu and Impala, both from Chevy, are both considered full size, but they are not the same size. The Malibu should be considered a mid-size at best, but I have seen it included as full-size at a few companies. The Altima wasn't much bigger, and was basic in terms of amenities, but it did the job for us in this particular case.
Aug 16, 2012, 4:28 pm
#2
Join Date: Aug 2011
Programs: UA 2P, UC, Hertz 5*, Hilton Diamond
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It depends on the location. Usually the Malibu can be swapped out for both a Fullsize and a Midsize whenever they run out of one car class. Sometimes it depends on the location & person in charge (manager). Its like the Corolla, its considered a midsize at Hertz but its a Compact at Dollar, Thrifty. The Corolla is in fact a Compact BTW.
Aug 23, 2012, 1:59 pm
#3
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The Malibu is certainly not a full size and should not be considered as such (I seem to get that as a Standard a lot) but the Altima is close enough to be a full size. Plus, as you said it has a lot of features. During my time at Enterprise that car was our most sought after Full Size and I don't recall people ever complaining about it as a choice.
Aug 26, 2012, 9:13 am
#4
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The Malibu is certainly not a full size and should not be considered as such (I seem to get that as a Standard a lot) but the Altima is close enough to be a full size. Plus, as you said it has a lot of features. During my time at Enterprise that car was our most sought after Full Size and I don't recall people ever complaining about it as a choice.
I'm not a fan of the headroom in that vehicle--I'm only about 6', but my head literally touches the roof and I can't look straight out at eye level, even with the seat as low as it can go. Otherwise, it seems like a well-designed, solid car--just not a fullsize.
Aug 26, 2012, 4:18 pm
#5
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Unfortunately, just about every rental company now considers the Malibu a fullsize.
I'm not a fan of the headroom in that vehicle--I'm only about 6', but my head literally touches the roof and I can't look straight out at eye level, even with the seat as low as it can go. Otherwise, it seems like a well-designed, solid car--just not a fullsize.
I'm not a fan of the headroom in that vehicle--I'm only about 6', but my head literally touches the roof and I can't look straight out at eye level, even with the seat as low as it can go. Otherwise, it seems like a well-designed, solid car--just not a fullsize.
Aug 27, 2012, 2:18 pm
#6
Join Date: Aug 2011
Programs: UA 2P, UC, Hertz 5*, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 513
Unfortunately, its the location/station. With the Malibu I have seen it used as both a Fullsize and a Midsize, sometimes even on the same day. The problem is that most people either don't know any better or they don't care which is why it ends up being like that.