In late December reserved a Maserati Ghibli for pickup at MUC airport.
When I got there, they had subbed a BMW M5. That's cool, have driven that car before, knew the controls well (as an M3 owner), not disappointed.
I noticed every time I stopped on it, the traction control kicked in even on non-freezing, non-wet, perfect roads. Didn't think all that much about it, just "wow, I forgot how much power this car has!"
Nope. Car was equipped with bald, summer high-performance tires! Same tires that it is equipped with from the factory-- and I feel these were the very same ones (as in never replaced-- many kilometers after they should have been) One of the fronts even was a mismatch-- a Continental of some type.
So, my entire trip-- a driving trip around the Dolomites-- was ruined. Every time I hit anything even -resembling- winter weather (remember-- this was late December) the car would go nuts.
I was 3 hours south of Munch when I started my many, many, many calls to Sixt. Some reps were very sympathetic. One came up with a "stay there, we'll get you a new car delivered from Bolzano" So I did. Nothing. More calls, more broken promises, more unreturned calls. More excuses. Waited 48 hours before being told Bolzano is more of a franchise, and they won't do anything (and never were considering it.)
In the town I was staying in Italy, the one time I took the car out, I spun out in the town square-- good thing I've been to BWW M-school! The town police then forbade me from further driving the car upon seeing the bald, summer-only, high-performance tires, albeit with a great sense of humor, like "they screwed yo, stupid American!"
Full disclosure, it was remarkably warm where I was and very little snow and ice. But EVERY time I hit snow or ice, the car's traction control kicked in and I still spun, sometimes rather hilariously.
Finally I gave up on the trip and returned the car to Innsbruck airport. I had planned to go to some ski areas, but that was completely impossible due to the tires.
I did a January Euro delivery on my M3 (which had rental snow tires) and have pretty good competence in snow and ice. As I mention above, have been on BMW's skidpad in S.C. both for an all-day private M-school as well as another time during performance center delivery and have been to Skip Barber. I know how to handle a car in winter weather IF the tires are suited.
Sixt responded with like a meaningless credit and-- bizzarely-- claimed that I got a "discount for renting a car with summer tires"
As a Sixt customer you naturally expect impeccable service at all times. We are sorry that you have had a different experience this time.
Whenever possible we look for a solution that suits you. As a gesture of goodwill, we have reduced your invoice by EUR 50.00 as promised. No further credit is possible.
Please find attached a copy of the signed rental agreement as well as a copy of it in English, both stating the discount for receiving a vehicle with summer tires as well as your agreement.
The bolded is completely made up. My rental agreement says the EXACT OPPOSITE-- it says "tires suited for winter use"
I have disputed the entire charge in hopes Sixt would at least contact me to discuss, they have stonewalled and Chase says they have gotten absolutely no useful input from Sixt.
Won't use Sixt again, needless to say, and really, really disappointed with all the lies and nonsense and incompetence they showed during this.