i can't speak specifically for lot to lot and what vehicle you'll get, but one way within state prob won't lead you to get a pos, but it is possible.
just ask the clerk nicely what cars they got and say you want a maxima to test drive.
i no show about 2/5 of my rental bookings...you just don't show and nothing happens
you can double book the classes and they'll say "which one do you want to take?"
yeah you could do that swap at airport, say a headlight burned out or bad vibrations above 60. that's pretty lame though.