The demise of free satellite radio in AVIS rentals: "AVIS Blast"
Aug 4, 2010, 9:14 pm
#16
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But does the XM/Sirius ever actually sound good? I've gotten it free in several different Avis cars (typically compacts or midsize), and every time it has sounded like a bad Real Audio computer feed ("swishing"/"phasing" kinds of effects that really detract from listening for me), like the bit rate being processed is a bit too low. But these have been in different places in the country, and I don't understand why there'd be the same reception problem each place. So, given that I've never heard it sounding better (in cars), I wonder if it ever does???
Aug 4, 2010, 10:48 pm
#17
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The other thing to remember is that the audio systems in these cars aren't reset to factory default after each user, so some settings may need to be tweaked. I've gotten plenty of Avis rentals where the bass was pushed to max and the treble was near 0.
Aug 5, 2010, 10:49 pm
#18
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Actually I was just in a 2011 Hyundai Sonata (June 2010 registration) last week Wed to Fri, and the XM radio was working just fine. It was my first rental as Preferred member, and they upgraded me from subcompact to the Sonata @SMF, so no complaints.
Just got a 10,000 mile Hyundai Accent today @OAK, and the XM radio works fine too... perhaps the cancellation is only in certain locations?
Just got a 10,000 mile Hyundai Accent today @OAK, and the XM radio works fine too... perhaps the cancellation is only in certain locations?
Aug 6, 2010, 7:03 pm
#19
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Aug 7, 2010, 6:25 am
#20
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Thats correct, and per my AVIS agent, XM/Sirius stopped giving out free trials for AVIS rentals. Now, we all know how poor desk agent's information usually is, but it does seem to fit in this case.
Aug 8, 2010, 10:39 am
#21
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And, no, to the other poster: The FM radio on these compacts sounded just fine. Again, these were digital artifacts, nothing like any analog audio problems. The problems only occured on XM (this was before the radios were merged). It's just that I was out in rural areas where the FM choices were few. And, for that matter, none of these places were blocked by mountains (I don't remember all the specifics, but one was a rental from MCO where I was driving to/along the Space Coast in Florida).
Aug 9, 2010, 4:15 pm
#22
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picked up a car at BUF today and they don't have the units yet...so why shut off all of the satellite radio's in the cars before i have the option of even renting one? going to be a long week driving around upstate NY with no howard stern...
Aug 9, 2010, 4:16 pm
#23
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You're telling me... I live and work in upstate NY and rent cars everyweek... its going to be a very long week in upstate NY!!
Aug 10, 2010, 11:28 am
#24
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Maybe they didn't shut them off, but SIRUSXM did...they are trying to do anything to drive up revenue.
Last edited by Steph3n; Aug 10, 2010 at 11:59 am
Aug 10, 2010, 7:45 pm
#25
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This is very disappointing news as this was one of the benefits which makes me chose Avis over other brands.
Agree, this would be the right thing to do. Or only have the free radio in higher class cars to which elites get upgraded to.
Agree, this would be the right thing to do. Or only have the free radio in higher class cars to which elites get upgraded to.
Aug 17, 2010, 7:36 am
#28
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I am now renting a Chevy Traverse from LAX that has fully working XM. So maybe only the luxury cars have XM? That's how it used to be when Avis first started with XM.
Aug 17, 2010, 8:04 am
#29
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Aug 17, 2010, 10:34 am
#30
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I had an Acadia last week with XM that worked just fine (out of PHX).
PS. it only had 4 miles on it when I got in!
PS. it only had 4 miles on it when I got in!
Last edited by trm2; Aug 20, 2010 at 4:31 pm Reason: adding postscript