I don't like airports like this. No Emerald Aisle, special "line" at the desk where they have a car picked out for you. I asked if I had a choice, no. Only upgrades to "larger" cars if I wanted to pay more.

I was put in a crappy, high-mileage, poorly maintained Chevy Malibu that shook like a wooden roller coaster when I braked, and drifted to the left during normal driving.

Not the best driving experience of my life.

Not a big fan of SDF, either, although I had better luck with the counter. The lady gave me a Grand Prix (which I hate) and I asked for another vehicle. She rummaged around and called out what she had available, so I took an Impala LTZ. If you really hate the vehicle, escalate it to the manager on duty. Might help (might not)...

I have had a completely different experience with SDF this week. This is my second rental here - one as an Emerald Exec about 22 months ago landed me a Chevy Trailblazer for a full size rental, which was useful as there were three of us with luggage, and a client situation meant that we ended up taking the car all the way to Chicago at no extra charge instead of paying three airline change fees because they needed SUVs up there.

This week... I have to preface this story with the fact that this is the week before the Kentucky Derby and I'm returning the car early Thursday evening. So it's likely that they may have better cars than usual. There was a line at the counter, and I went and stood in line, but close to the Emerald Club sign. The station manager spotted me and called me over and greeted me warmly. I handed him my drivers license and my Emerald Exec Elite card in lieu of a reservation number. He went over, found my reservation, came back, and as I'm getting ready to explain that a Malibu or a HHR are not going to be acceptable, I swear that he said:

I was flabbergasted. I didn't even know that National had Camaros. Sadly, I need far more headroom than a Camaro can afford, and I am transporting clients tomorrow. I explained my situation and thanked him. His reponse was:

More amazed silence on my part. I believe my jaw actually dropped.

And then, I can't believe I did this, but I actually had the gall to ask if he had any crossovers, and that I love the Acadias. Now, even for me, that's a bit over the top. I mean, take the freaking Town Car and go. But I'm almost 6'4", one colleague is 6'6" and another is 6'2" and what the heck.

He smiles and says:

and proudly returns 10 seconds later with the keys to a fully loaded Buick Enclave (same vehicle, better appointed). We start chatting and I tell him how I'm using all my 2009 regular free days for a six-day SEA-GEG one-way PGAR rental, and he thanks me for my business, introduces himself and says how few members realize that one-ways are the best redemption option, and asks if there's anything else he can do for me. He tells me the best place to get gasoline a couple of exits before the airport, and I'm on my way.

Thanking him, I head out to the lot, find the Enclave and load my luggage. As I'm pulling out of my spot, I see the manager again. He's now out in the lot checking on the returns, and talking with customers who are returning their vehicles. He sees me and waves with a huge smile on his face, and I roll down the windows and thank him again, shake his hand and go on my way.

To Cincinnati... I flew MDW-SDF because airfare on ORD-CVG was over twice as expensive, and I may have to be in Frankfort on Thursday anyway.

All of this for a $49/day weekday FCAR rental.

Amazing. No way I'd ever rent from anybody else at SDF.

I think the way you exit SDF prevents them from easily building a booth system for such aisles.

I have to agree with OP. My luck at SDF is horrible.

I am a local renter, so I do not rent here. However, I was driving into Ohio last week and needed an SUV due to expected snow. Reserved a standard SUV and even used two free days and three paid days. Checked in at the counter and was told they had no vehicles in the class I had reserved. They offered to upgrade me to a Suburban and I said fine as long as it was four wheel drive. None were. They were all big FBI type, black and ominous, great for corporate transportation but stink for one guy needing a 4WD or even a FWD for snow.

So I ask for a FWD anything. They offer an Impala and I take it after saying that I should get a better rate, which they do. I get to the cars and find a Grand Cherokee and two Wranglers, all 4WD. I march back in and ask to get one of these cars. They said the Cherokee was promised to another customer that had already picked up the keys but was waiting for someone to arrive on another flight. Ok, I'll try to believe that. So, they put me in the Wrangler.

It was not too bad. Brand new, 27 miles, and I put 500 more on before the week was out. It was an up scale one so it was actually a good drive. It was a bit hard for me to get my old legs up and into the cabin, but I could, barely.

In the end, an OK rental that took over an hour and I did not have to wait in line. Next time, I will rent local and not use National if this occurs.

I am flying into SDF again on the 23rd, anyone have any updates about what is on the lot in the Full size car class?

Had a 2012 Charger last week. Not fully loaded, but close.

Thanks for the feedback, I try to avoid the Impala mainly so hopefully they have Chargers

A few weeks ago I was initially given a Malibu (I think) and was given a choice of Optima, Malibu, Impala, and another generic sedan (Mazda 6, Camry, or something like that). I took the Optima. Not bad.

A few weeks earlier I was offered a $30 upsell to a G37x (with 11,000+ miles on it; sat. radio not active), which I took. The 3 day weekend rental ended up being $63 total.

Friday night near midnight, had a PCAR reservation which seemed to stump the agent. He looked around for a while and offered me my choice of Standard Crossovers (SGAR). Since I like them I wasn't too upset and asked to see the keytags. I picked out an Edge Limited (LTD2) over an Equinox LT (2SH4).

The Edge Limited in my opinion is far superior to most if not all of the "official" PCARs, and gets decent gas mileage (24 in mixed city/rural driving) for its heft. The Equinox in the LT trim would not get the same endorsement - for a PCAR reservation I expect leather seats and a working sat radio.

I agree! I love the Edge Limited; I'd like the Escape more if I could find them in Titanium trim.

If possible, I prefer the Lincoln MKX to the Edge Limited, although the MKX doesn't come with a rear view camera as a standard option. The extra hp in the MKX is noticeable.

Any more recent updates?

Looking back at my 2012 rentals, SDF charged me for a LCAR when the rental was a PCAR (Genesis). This was the rental when the counter agent insisted that the keys with an "FX37" tag and a contract for an "FX37" were really for a G37x. I guess his condition was contagious, as I did not notice the billing issue until yesterday.

2/5 had a compact rental with upgrade code to intermediate. The counter agent grabbed a bunch of keys out of a bucket and offered me my choice of a Dodge Caravan, Chevy Captiva, or Dodge Challenger. I took the '13 Challenger with 3k miles, although it's a base model with no special interior features and no sat radio. The guy in front of me was offered the same three cars, and he quipped "Can't you just give me a standard car with four-doors??" Pretty satisfied considering the disappointing past reviews I've seen for this non-aisle location.

Btw Hertz had about 5 Chevy Sparks lined up.