Originally Posted by
ExecPlatinum_Lord
I've been renting monthly for over 5 years now (equal to leasing a car, and I can change vehicles, colours as needed :-); I have been enjoying various models (from G6E's, to Caprices & Aurions (been a couple years now for those..) - and most recently C200's, X5's, X3's and 320i's. Always have 1-2 rentals open for 30 days, sometimes 3 for my partner and I (and our visiting mates from the US).
We currently have an X3, our monthly rate is $1260 (all in) -(about $45/day) - with the AAA Rate. Got a call today from the local office; asking me to bring the car in, as they need to "renew my rental". The rates have now shot up to $3593 (with our Corp Rate (10%) and $$3340 (15%) with the Amex Plat rate. (that's now $119/128 day - vs the previous $45/day).
I placed a phone call to a mate of mine in Melbourne, at Hertz HQ - and was advised there was an "issue with the rates for the BMW's for the past few months", apparently they were being rented "below their cost"... and that a full audit was underway with all BMW contracts - with clients being asked to return their vehicles for a "rate adjustment". ...! My mate says "heads are rolling (or at least "a head") once they finish the investigation.
Anyone else have recent experience with strange BMW rates in Oz?
Seriously strange stuff happening now.
I've been a loyal Hertz renter for quite a few years; but will be looking now at Europecar and their A5's and A6's for the next few months. Treating any customer this way is just wrong, let alone one of their top tier renters, who also happens to be a Platinum.
Have noticed this. When BMW's came onto the fleet, I was able to rent 118i's for ~$120 for 4 days! Did so several times. That was the case for a couple of months, then it all changed and the prices doubled/tripled and sometimes quadrupled! I figured they had mistakenly priced them below cost at the start. The same thing happened when they brought Mercs onto the fleet a couple of years ago. Make while the sun shines!
With regard to Europcar, I understand A6's and many other Audis are being removed from the fleet and replaced with Mercs, at least in Melbourne, but I think everywhere. Haven't been able to book A6 for a while. E200 Merc has replaced them. More C200's on fleet than A4's. I actually prefer the C200 anyway. Didn't much like the E200 though. Finally, in my experience, Europcar service, both at their locations and when calling, is terrible, compared to Hertz (or Avis).