List your upgrades!
Dec 9, 2008, 11:05 pm
#541
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: ORD
Programs: ua 1k, hh diamond, spg PLT, marriott PLT
Posts: 617
Location: PDX (weekly)
Status: Avis First
Rental: Intermediate
Upgrade: Always either Santa Fe (actually Like) or mercury suv (very much dislike)
Status: Avis First
Rental: Intermediate
Upgrade: Always either Santa Fe (actually Like) or mercury suv (very much dislike)
Dec 10, 2008, 9:45 am
#542
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Long Island, NY
Programs: DL Plat, CO Gold, Avis First, HH Silver
Posts: 624
12/8/08
Location: DCA
Status: First
Reserved: Full
Received: Old Mercury Grand Marquis with 25,000+ miles on it
Pretty disappointing, my first rental as a First and I would have rather have had just about any Intermediate they had on file there. I actually had a Sonata 2 weeks ago that I loved.
Location: DCA
Status: First
Reserved: Full
Received: Old Mercury Grand Marquis with 25,000+ miles on it
Pretty disappointing, my first rental as a First and I would have rather have had just about any Intermediate they had on file there. I actually had a Sonata 2 weeks ago that I loved.
Dec 10, 2008, 11:22 am
#543
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Washington DC; UA 1MM, Marriott Lifetime Plat
Posts: 959
12/8/08
Location: DCA
Status: First
Reserved: Full
Received: Old Mercury Grand Marquis with 25,000+ miles on it
Pretty disappointing, my first rental as a First and I would have rather have had just about any Intermediate they had on file there. I actually had a Sonata 2 weeks ago that I loved.
Location: DCA
Status: First
Reserved: Full
Received: Old Mercury Grand Marquis with 25,000+ miles on it
Pretty disappointing, my first rental as a First and I would have rather have had just about any Intermediate they had on file there. I actually had a Sonata 2 weeks ago that I loved.
I asked why no upgrade as a First. They said they basically only have the Marquis for "Premium" class and my profile specifically excludes this one car. A little questioning and they suddenly "discovered" they had a Charger (I love that car!).
Dec 13, 2008, 12:21 am
#544
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: TLV now - formerly LAS
Programs: King of Rental Cars, BA Gold, Virgin Gold, AA MM Gold, A3 Gold, SK Gold, Hotel SuperElite
Posts: 7,357
Location: LAS
Status: President's Club
Reserved: Subcompact
Received: Pontiac Solstice, Saturn Sky, Mustang, on several occasions
Status: President's Club
Reserved: Subcompact
Received: Pontiac Solstice, Saturn Sky, Mustang, on several occasions
Dec 15, 2008, 9:46 am
#545
Join Date: May 2008
Location: YYZ
Programs: Avis CHM, Hertz Plat, National EE, SPG Plat, Hyatt Diamond, Le Club Plat, CX Gold
Posts: 367
Location: YYZ
Status: CHM
Reserved: Intermediate
Received: '09 Chrysler 300c Hemi (Black)
All the '09 300c's have the revamped 5.7 Hemi VVT under the hood. It's good for something like 370HP and just under 400 torques. They also redid the rear axle ratio so the revs are lower, especially on the highway.
Unbelievable performance from such a big car. With ESP and traction control on, flooring it down a dry road, you're destroying the rear wheels. Massive amounts of torque and highway power... such a fun car to drive.
The real problem with the 300's (or any of the other LX based vehicles like the Charger and Magnum) is the handling. I think there are submarines that handle better. You can absolutely explode down straightaways and then you have to go ever so slowly around the corners.
Status: CHM
Reserved: Intermediate
Received: '09 Chrysler 300c Hemi (Black)
All the '09 300c's have the revamped 5.7 Hemi VVT under the hood. It's good for something like 370HP and just under 400 torques. They also redid the rear axle ratio so the revs are lower, especially on the highway.
Unbelievable performance from such a big car. With ESP and traction control on, flooring it down a dry road, you're destroying the rear wheels. Massive amounts of torque and highway power... such a fun car to drive.
The real problem with the 300's (or any of the other LX based vehicles like the Charger and Magnum) is the handling. I think there are submarines that handle better. You can absolutely explode down straightaways and then you have to go ever so slowly around the corners.
Dec 29, 2008, 7:00 pm
#546
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: MFE / SAT
Programs: UA Premier Silver, Hyatt Platinum, Marriott Silver
Posts: 3,681
Location: EYW (Key West, FL)
Status: President's Club
Reserved: Full Size
Received: Grand Marquis
Status: President's Club
Reserved: Full Size
Received: Grand Marquis
Dec 29, 2008, 7:10 pm
#547
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: BOS / PHL / PEK / YYZ
Programs: Delta Platinum, Marriott Titanium, United Silver
Posts: 223
Expecting the usual "no cars, have a free 'upgrade' to this SUV" deal, we simply reserved an intermediate this trip to PDX.
Date: 12/23 to Tomorrow
Status: just preferred
Reserved: intermediate
Received: Corolla with 11k miles on the odometer
This thing is like 17 inches shorter in length and has an almost foot shorter wheelbase than your average 'intermediate'...actually its a compact/subcompact. Only small car on the lot, too. Not the best time for an arctic blast to come blowing through
Got stuck on ice in the hotel parking lot and almost had to call Roadside Assistance.
Date: 12/23 to Tomorrow
Status: just preferred
Reserved: intermediate
Received: Corolla with 11k miles on the odometer
This thing is like 17 inches shorter in length and has an almost foot shorter wheelbase than your average 'intermediate'...actually its a compact/subcompact. Only small car on the lot, too. Not the best time for an arctic blast to come blowing through
Got stuck on ice in the hotel parking lot and almost had to call Roadside Assistance.
Dec 30, 2008, 10:29 pm
#548
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: LAX/TPE
Programs: United 1K, JAL Sapphire, SPG Lifetime Platinum, National Executive Elite, Hertz PC, Avis PC
Posts: 42,333
Location: LAS
Status: Preferred
Reserved: Midsize
Received: Offered a 2dr Mustang (blech!), so asked if I could walk the lines and see if anything caught my eye - they said yes, out I went, spotted an Altima Hybrid, which they obliged me with as it had CA tags and my rental was back to LAX.
I wanted a hybrid, but not this one - what a piece of crap. Low tire pressure warning, not cleaned and just had an all-round feeling that the car was on its last legs...but at least the MPGs were good.
Status: Preferred
Reserved: Midsize
Received: Offered a 2dr Mustang (blech!), so asked if I could walk the lines and see if anything caught my eye - they said yes, out I went, spotted an Altima Hybrid, which they obliged me with as it had CA tags and my rental was back to LAX.
I wanted a hybrid, but not this one - what a piece of crap. Low tire pressure warning, not cleaned and just had an all-round feeling that the car was on its last legs...but at least the MPGs were good.
Jan 5, 2009, 1:53 am
#549
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Chicago
Programs: Cards with lots of logos on them
Posts: 591
Location: LAX
Status: President's Club
Reserved: Full Size
Received: Chevy Impala w/35k miles and it smelled funky
Switched: Mustang Convertible w/15k
Status: President's Club
Reserved: Full Size
Received: Chevy Impala w/35k miles and it smelled funky
Switched: Mustang Convertible w/15k
Jan 5, 2009, 11:09 am
#550
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: LAX/TPE
Programs: United 1K, JAL Sapphire, SPG Lifetime Platinum, National Executive Elite, Hertz PC, Avis PC
Posts: 42,333
Location: FLL
Status: Preferred
Reserved: Midsize
Received: Agent with quite a bit of 'tude saw I had an old Prius reservation which I thought was long canceled. Because of that, she flatly refused to upgrade me to a Prius (even though no one wants one anymore), and flatly refused to give me anything but a midsize car.
I had a back-up reservation at National, so I told her to cancel everything, and I went downstairs to the Aisle and picked up an almost brand new Malibu with leather - not as bad a ride as I expected. She made absolutely no effort to save the sale, and let me walk.
Status: Preferred
Reserved: Midsize
Received: Agent with quite a bit of 'tude saw I had an old Prius reservation which I thought was long canceled. Because of that, she flatly refused to upgrade me to a Prius (even though no one wants one anymore), and flatly refused to give me anything but a midsize car.
I had a back-up reservation at National, so I told her to cancel everything, and I went downstairs to the Aisle and picked up an almost brand new Malibu with leather - not as bad a ride as I expected. She made absolutely no effort to save the sale, and let me walk.
Jan 6, 2009, 6:07 am
#551
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: NRT/PDX
Programs: Willamette Valley Cropdusters Silver Elite, National Tent Frequent Stay program, Ed's Rent-a-tractor
Posts: 3,357
Location: GUM
Status: First/President
Reserved: Intermediate (Car Group B)
Received: Compact (Car Group C). Toyota Yaris w/25k miles.
Supposedly an upgrade. An example of a Car Group B Intermediate is a Toyota Vits. I would call this model an Economy or Compact at best. Also, the reservation rates were somewhat higher for a Car Group C Compact than a Car Group B Intermediate.
Status: First/President
Reserved: Intermediate (Car Group B)
Received: Compact (Car Group C). Toyota Yaris w/25k miles.
Supposedly an upgrade. An example of a Car Group B Intermediate is a Toyota Vits. I would call this model an Economy or Compact at best. Also, the reservation rates were somewhat higher for a Car Group C Compact than a Car Group B Intermediate.
Jan 23, 2009, 7:43 pm
#552
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Chicago
Programs: Cards with lots of logos on them
Posts: 591
Location: SNA
Status: President's Club
Reserved: Full Size
Received: Saturn Vue
Status: President's Club
Reserved: Full Size
Received: Saturn Vue
Jan 23, 2009, 7:55 pm
#553
Moderator: Avis and Rental Cars
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 8,036
What's your take on the Vue? A coworker vowed to never take one again. I figured that it couldn't be too bad, so when I was given one, I took it. Ugh, the seats were horrendous, it felt tiny, had pitiful pickup and felt very cheap, overall... other than the pitiful pickup, it reminds me of the Solstice, now that I think of it.
Jan 26, 2009, 11:06 am
#554
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Washington DC; UA 1MM, Marriott Lifetime Plat
Posts: 959
I'm no small guy - 6 foot tall and over 215 pounds.
I find the Vue very comfortable. Actually, other than the old 35K + mi one I once got from LAX, I really like the car.
I find the Vue very comfortable. Actually, other than the old 35K + mi one I once got from LAX, I really like the car.
Jan 27, 2009, 9:42 am
#555
Join Date: Sep 2006
Programs: No more shiny cards -- former LH SEN, SPG Platinum, Flying Blue Platinum, BA Silver
Posts: 704
What's your take on the Vue? A coworker vowed to never take one again. I figured that it couldn't be too bad, so when I was given one, I took it. Ugh, the seats were horrendous, it felt tiny, had pitiful pickup and felt very cheap, overall... other than the pitiful pickup, it reminds me of the Solstice, now that I think of it.
I totally agree with your comments on the pick up, the thing felt very under powered. Did not notice seats being uncomfortable, was surprised that I noticed the similarities in some of the smaller switchgear between it and the Saab 9-5 that I drive at home.
Shame the similarities did not extend to engines, the pick up from the engine in my Saab 9-5 .... the thing bolts like a bat outta hell
even as you start thinking of hitting the gas pedal 
PS: if you ever want rip-roaring, thrown-into-the-back-of-your-seat acceleration from a car that looks like it doesn't have it - by a Saab 9-5 Aero with the hi pressure turbo engine.
Va va voom !!!!!!!!!!!!!