In morning when location opens NYC managers will pull all reservations for day and for EC members (easily noted from reservation) will begin process by printing out contract and putting things aside. Depending upon availability location *may* try to assign vehicle based upon what's specified on reservation. If things are tight (and for NYC locations they often are, especially for high volume periods such as weekends or holidays), will at least do their best to have something ready for scheduled reservation arrival time.

What usually happens is upon getting to counter manager or CSR will let EC member know what they have in terms of inventory and or if they've already put something aside in reserved class. Main point is to have contract and everything else ready so EC member just needs to approve vehicle choice, have said ride attached to contract and complete paperwork so are in and out quickly.

City locations are famously short inventory especially during peak periods (weekends and major holidays) so even EC members may have to wait for vehicles that are being brought in from out of area (usually airports). Have always found locations in city will give EC members their choice of anything above vehicle class reserved for same daily rate if nothing reserved is available. Have been offered luxury, SVUs and premium vehicles all on intermediate class reservation with no change in rate.

In general have always found airport locations on average have wider selection than in city garages.

City garages have only set inventory and that is often highly dependent on what is returned by customers. Since many customers do one-way rentals into say Manhattan you never know what might show up including luxury and premium rides. Sometimes a vehicle must go back to airport or wherever it belongs, other times they will let a customer have it, this especially if EC member.

" Not sure if the NYC crowd is a picky crowd that would expect exactly what they reserve and a nice car"

Ohhh yes!

Have witnessed many a nasty exchange between National customers at NYC locations (Manhattan) and managers and or CSR.

People often have a huge sense of entitlement and come into location with attitude "I reserved "X" vehicle! Why don't you have it ready?" Again city locations are famously short of inventory and often what they've got doesn't match up with reservations. There were and or are times when you cannot get anything from a Manhattan location besides large or maybe mid-size SUVs. That or maybe there's nothing but IICARs and customer reserved a family sized SUV, large car or minivan.

Keep in mind even for EC members National's policy is with valid reservation they will get you something, it may not be reserved class but you're free to decline. However, if you want or need a SUV and all they've got is intermediate cars or large trucks you can end up sitting about waiting.

For EC members managers will often call around to other locations in city to see if they have what customer wants. Said customer will then either have to get themselves over to location (assuming availability) or other arrangements. Usually in such situations EC members will get something taken off reservation, credits, free days put in bank or whatever to make up for say costs of taxi and or other inconveniences.

Personally, my advice is if someone needs or wants a specific class or type of ride reserving at airports is better way to go. On average you'll find airports often have better and wider selection, especially of higher end, premium, luxury, EVs..