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.