List your Free car upgrades here (Outside of Ultimate Choice)
Nov 23, 2016, 6:31 am
#4156
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: NYC
Programs: DL PM, Marriott Gold, Hertz PC, National Exec
Posts: 6,736
Agree - I really like it and it's "under-classed" as a D (for manual versions) in my view.
That said, its diesel engine is underpowered to make it competitive with other cars in its price and size range, at least as anything other than entry-level. (With 139 hp, the top models really should have another 40 or 50!)
That said, its diesel engine is underpowered to make it competitive with other cars in its price and size range, at least as anything other than entry-level. (With 139 hp, the top models really should have another 40 or 50!)
Slightly off topic, it does occasionally amaze me how much better car engines have gotten. My first car, from the late 80s, had a 5L V8 which generated 190hp. Today, we're getting 245hp out of a 2L.
Nov 26, 2016, 1:51 pm
#4157
Moderator: Hawaii-based airlines & Hawai'i forums
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Ka ʻĀpala Nui, Nuioka
Programs: NEXUS/Global Entry, Delta, United, Hyatt, IHG, Marriott, and Hertz
Posts: 18,038
LGA (One-Way to Manhattan)
Reserved: F
Received: YQ 2016 Toyota RAV4 XLE AWD. 12,000 miles and the Sirius/XM was still enabled.
Reserved: F
Received: YQ 2016 Toyota RAV4 XLE AWD. 12,000 miles and the Sirius/XM was still enabled.
Last edited by FlyinHawaiian; Nov 28, 2016 at 12:15 pm
Nov 28, 2016, 11:35 am
#4158
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: SEA, but up and down the coast a lot
Programs: Oceanic Airlines Gold Elite
Posts: 20,391
HLE Seattle Rainier Avenue
Reserved: C (Midsize, expected Corolla)
Received: VW Passat, 12kish miles, 35 or so mpg, decent handling (but no XM). Liked it, would drive again.
Reserved: C (Midsize, expected Corolla)
Received: VW Passat, 12kish miles, 35 or so mpg, decent handling (but no XM). Liked it, would drive again.
Nov 28, 2016, 11:40 am
#4159
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: CLE (mostly)
Programs: UA Plat, Hyatt Explorist, Mlife Gold, Starbucks Gold
Posts: 823
DFW
Reserved: C (Toyota Corolla)
Received: F6 (Nissan Altima, with windshield and roof covered in bird crap).
Went to Gold Canopy and was given a different (clean) Altima.
Reserved: C (Toyota Corolla)
Received: F6 (Nissan Altima, with windshield and roof covered in bird crap).
Went to Gold Canopy and was given a different (clean) Altima.
Nov 28, 2016, 5:11 pm
#4160
Join Date: May 2016
Programs: UA 1K MM, SIXT Platinum, Hertz PC, Marriott Gold
Posts: 14
LHR
Reserved: D
Assigned: H Nissan Qashqai
Rented: F Audi A3 S Line S tronic 1.4
Requested the audi....did not want to drive the nissan...but heard they are good cars.
Quite the effort to get what i wanted...lhr is low on cars till christmas and Hertz uk wont easily give away an "Automatic" for some reason..
Reserved: D
Assigned: H Nissan Qashqai
Rented: F Audi A3 S Line S tronic 1.4
Requested the audi....did not want to drive the nissan...but heard they are good cars.
Quite the effort to get what i wanted...lhr is low on cars till christmas and Hertz uk wont easily give away an "Automatic" for some reason..
Last edited by BlauPassportflyer; Nov 28, 2016 at 5:17 pm
Nov 28, 2016, 7:21 pm
#4161
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Near Detroit.
Posts: 18
LAS
Reserved: Tesla Model S @99.00 per day. (a weekend special I guess)
Received: AMG C63 but NOT the S version! Only a base C63
(those .......s)
Reserved: Tesla Model S @99.00 per day. (a weekend special I guess)
Received: AMG C63 but NOT the S version! Only a base C63
(those .......s)
Dec 3, 2016, 5:55 am
#4162
Moderator: Hawaii-based airlines & Hawai'i forums
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Ka ʻĀpala Nui, Nuioka
Programs: NEXUS/Global Entry, Delta, United, Hyatt, IHG, Marriott, and Hertz
Posts: 18,038
EWR (One-Way to Manhattan)
Reserved: F
Assigned: Q4 2016 Toyota RAV4 LE AWD. 3,400 miles.
I checked out Gold Choice which was predominately B and C class cars; Nissan Sentras and Versas with a random Kia and Ford. The best car in Gold Choice was a YF 2016 Hyundai Sonata SE with 16,000 miles and working Sirius/XM which I decided to take over the RAV4.
Reserved: F
Assigned: Q4 2016 Toyota RAV4 LE AWD. 3,400 miles.
I checked out Gold Choice which was predominately B and C class cars; Nissan Sentras and Versas with a random Kia and Ford. The best car in Gold Choice was a YF 2016 Hyundai Sonata SE with 16,000 miles and working Sirius/XM which I decided to take over the RAV4.
Dec 5, 2016, 8:22 pm
#4163
Join Date: May 2016
Programs: UA 1K MM, SIXT Platinum, Hertz PC, Marriott Gold
Posts: 14
LHR
PC
Booked B: Vauxhall Corsa (Economy)
Received: C - Vauxhall Mokka - not a great car, but less terrible with the diesel engine.
LHR
PC
Booked C: Ford Focus (compact)
Received: D - Volvo V40
Swapped for a Kia Optima (F) - a weird one but my father is 91 and he has issues with the roofline in the V40 and I needed the car to take him out to lunch for his birthday. Optima was fully loaded (no CarPlay though) - but self-parking, heated/ventilated seats, 360 camera, radar cruise, were all present.
PC
Booked B: Vauxhall Corsa (Economy)
Received: C - Vauxhall Mokka - not a great car, but less terrible with the diesel engine.
LHR
PC
Booked C: Ford Focus (compact)
Received: D - Volvo V40
Swapped for a Kia Optima (F) - a weird one but my father is 91 and he has issues with the roofline in the V40 and I needed the car to take him out to lunch for his birthday. Optima was fully loaded (no CarPlay though) - but self-parking, heated/ventilated seats, 360 camera, radar cruise, were all present.
What can you expect as an upgrade for a PC with an X class reserved just before christmas?
Dec 6, 2016, 6:15 am
#4164
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Gloucestershire
Programs: BA Gold (ex-GGL, maybe future Silver), Hilton Diamond
Posts: 6,199
I never book X - for UK-resident rates there's a huge step up between D and X and a decent gap between C and D, and I rarely get a better upgrade from a D than a C... so my regular booking is a C.
That said, right before Christmas availability will be very tight indeed. I wouldn't expect you to get downgraded, but X group cars are rare, and there are limited opportunities for a manual car in higher groups - and people with an automatic reservation have to take priority because if you pass your test in an automatic in the UK, you can't drive a manual.
So it's a gamble I'm afraid... you could literally get anything from a Kia Optima (D/F) through to a Mercedes B-Class (F), Nissan X-Trail (W), all the way up to a Mitsubishi Shogun (W6 - not common but even less popular, hence they tend to sit on the lot). If what you get is way off base then go speak to the staff in the Gold booth - they're *much* more flexible, and seem to have better access to stock than those in the main area. If the Gold booth is closed when you arrive, you'll probably be out of luck.
There are a few Mondeos (Ford Fusions in the US) around in Group X and they are decent, though sloooow if you get the 1.5 diesel.
That said, right before Christmas availability will be very tight indeed. I wouldn't expect you to get downgraded, but X group cars are rare, and there are limited opportunities for a manual car in higher groups - and people with an automatic reservation have to take priority because if you pass your test in an automatic in the UK, you can't drive a manual.
So it's a gamble I'm afraid... you could literally get anything from a Kia Optima (D/F) through to a Mercedes B-Class (F), Nissan X-Trail (W), all the way up to a Mitsubishi Shogun (W6 - not common but even less popular, hence they tend to sit on the lot). If what you get is way off base then go speak to the staff in the Gold booth - they're *much* more flexible, and seem to have better access to stock than those in the main area. If the Gold booth is closed when you arrive, you'll probably be out of luck.
There are a few Mondeos (Ford Fusions in the US) around in Group X and they are decent, though sloooow if you get the 1.5 diesel.
Dec 6, 2016, 7:40 am
#4165
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 1999
Location: Seat 1A, Juice pretty much everywhere, Mucci des Coins Exotiques
Posts: 34,339
EWR (One-Way to Manhattan)
Reserved: F
Assigned: Q4 2016 Toyota RAV4 LE AWD. 3,400 miles.
I checked out Gold Choice which was predominately B and C class cars; Nissan Sentras and Versas with a random Kia and Ford. The best car in Gold Choice was a YF 2016 Hyundai Sonata SE with 16,000 miles and working Sirius/XM which I decided to take over the RAV4.
Reserved: F
Assigned: Q4 2016 Toyota RAV4 LE AWD. 3,400 miles.
I checked out Gold Choice which was predominately B and C class cars; Nissan Sentras and Versas with a random Kia and Ford. The best car in Gold Choice was a YF 2016 Hyundai Sonata SE with 16,000 miles and working Sirius/XM which I decided to take over the RAV4.
Dec 6, 2016, 7:18 pm
#4166
Moderator: Hawaii-based airlines & Hawai'i forums
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Ka ʻĀpala Nui, Nuioka
Programs: NEXUS/Global Entry, Delta, United, Hyatt, IHG, Marriott, and Hertz
Posts: 18,038
The XM/Sirius was a dealbreaker for me, plus I had a RAV4 (with sat radio) the week before. But, I agree, I would happily get a RAV4 for an F rental most of the time.
Dec 7, 2016, 4:56 pm
#4167
Join Date: May 2016
Programs: UA 1K MM, SIXT Platinum, Hertz PC, Marriott Gold
Posts: 14
I never book X - for UK-resident rates there's a huge step up between D and X and a decent gap between C and D, and I rarely get a better upgrade from a D than a C... so my regular booking is a C.
That said, right before Christmas availability will be very tight indeed. I wouldn't expect you to get downgraded, but X group cars are rare, and there are limited opportunities for a manual car in higher groups - and people with an automatic reservation have to take priority because if you pass your test in an automatic in the UK, you can't drive a manual.
So it's a gamble I'm afraid... you could literally get anything from a Kia Optima (D/F) through to a Mercedes B-Class (F), Nissan X-Trail (W), all the way up to a Mitsubishi Shogun (W6 - not common but even less popular, hence they tend to sit on the lot). If what you get is way off base then go speak to the staff in the Gold booth - they're *much* more flexible, and seem to have better access to stock than those in the main area. If the Gold booth is closed when you arrive, you'll probably be out of luck.
There are a few Mondeos (Ford Fusions in the US) around in Group X and they are decent, though sloooow if you get the 1.5 diesel.
That said, right before Christmas availability will be very tight indeed. I wouldn't expect you to get downgraded, but X group cars are rare, and there are limited opportunities for a manual car in higher groups - and people with an automatic reservation have to take priority because if you pass your test in an automatic in the UK, you can't drive a manual.
So it's a gamble I'm afraid... you could literally get anything from a Kia Optima (D/F) through to a Mercedes B-Class (F), Nissan X-Trail (W), all the way up to a Mitsubishi Shogun (W6 - not common but even less popular, hence they tend to sit on the lot). If what you get is way off base then go speak to the staff in the Gold booth - they're *much* more flexible, and seem to have better access to stock than those in the main area. If the Gold booth is closed when you arrive, you'll probably be out of luck.
There are a few Mondeos (Ford Fusions in the US) around in Group X and they are decent, though sloooow if you get the 1.5 diesel.
Last couple times I have reserved C and D and gotten a D3 elite and F (audi a 3)
This reservation is for Christmas week (peak season I know) and fortunately was able to use autoslash to get an x reservation for 160 gbp for the week. Great considering my previous reservation for that week had it at 325 for X and 260 for C.
Haven't had gold booth closed on my later arrivals last time...hope it won't be as I'm coming in around 21h....
Really intrigued to find out what they will offer. Have driven the mondeo/insignia...and whilst not bad cars am looking more for a a4 or the likes...guess it will be the luck of the draw. Saw that they sometimes are classified as x?
If you notice a big gap try autoslash? Its worked great for me...you can even book a higher car class and see what autoslash churns out as a cheaper option and cancel if it doesnt suit.
Dec 8, 2016, 5:23 pm
#4168
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 1999
Location: Seat 1A, Juice pretty much everywhere, Mucci des Coins Exotiques
Posts: 34,339
MIA
Plat
Reserved F, given Mercedes CLA 250.
Within my limited US experience, MIA has the best Platinum upgrades.
Reserved F, given Mercedes CLA 250.
Within my limited US experience, MIA has the best Platinum upgrades.
Dec 9, 2016, 9:29 pm
#4169
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Montreal
Posts: 586
YYZ Terminal 1
Saw a rare C $60/day base rate for the T4 class before discounts.
PC
Booked Durango (T4)
Offered: Durango R/T or Yukon SLE (T6)
Asked for a Yukon SLT and received a 2016 one with 13,000km. It seems much more loaded than the 2015 one. I'm a happy camper.
Saw a rare C $60/day base rate for the T4 class before discounts.
PC
Booked Durango (T4)
Offered: Durango R/T or Yukon SLE (T6)
Asked for a Yukon SLT and received a 2016 one with 13,000km. It seems much more loaded than the 2015 one. I'm a happy camper.
Dec 16, 2016, 8:09 am
#4170
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Gloucestershire
Programs: BA Gold (ex-GGL, maybe future Silver), Hilton Diamond
Posts: 6,199
Last Heathrow rental of 2016:
LHR (£15/day all in, 3 weekend days).
PC
Booked C
Received K - Kia Sportage KX2 (4WD, nav, backup camera, don't think it has front parking sensors but generally well equipped. 4WD increases the fuel consumption though).
LHR (£15/day all in, 3 weekend days).
PC
Booked C
Received K - Kia Sportage KX2 (4WD, nav, backup camera, don't think it has front parking sensors but generally well equipped. 4WD increases the fuel consumption though).