Because Economy hasn't always been as successful as Compact or Intermediate. The most successful in my experience is Wild Card (or some iteration thereof, as named by the specific company offering the option). Essentially, this is where you let the rental counter pick the car, and they promise that it will be a compact or larger (or mid-size or larger, depending on the company).

That's when the renter's attitude, report, and repartee with the counter person can potentially influence the car that the counter person issues. When they ask me what kind of car I want, I always say I don't care, that's why I left it up to you. I'm flexible. What are you short of as far as reservations coming after me? (Usually it is the compacts). So I end up being given the higher priced cars in lower reservation demand.

I've never seen pickup trucks on the airport rental car lots. Not saying that they don't exist in some dark corner somewhere, but I've never seen one. I've seen SUVs, minivans, and full size vans, but no pickups. Or maybe you were just being snarky/sarcastic?

Speaking of minivans, I got the convertible once when I remarked that the family in line behind me and might prefer the minivan, when no regular cars were available at the moment. Just little things like that.

But I'm specifically after a Challenger now, and have about a half dozen more car rentals scheduled over the next couple of months to try and fit one in the schedule. It sounds like first have to narrow down the companies that carry that particular car in their inventory.

I'm just looking for more strategies to save a few dollars while breaking the monotony of the work travel experience... just like so many look for on the flight side of the travel equation. If you have a tip, I'd be delighted to hear it, just like aces_high and I have shared. Thanks!