Prestige Car Changes in Australia
#76
Join Date: May 2006
Programs: Hertz PC, QF Plat, Velocity Gold, HHonors Gold, SPG Gold
Posts: 2,803
FAIL Hertz!
Rav4 to substitute a X5 - Not even close
I hope they gave you a big discount ???
SYD Airport recently failed to provide a X5 for me, which wasn't acceptable as a President's Circle member with a very high CVI on their system.
I sent feedback weeks ago, heard nothing.
I am not renting from Europcar which has a newer fleet and much better vehicles in Australia
Rumors that Hertz are getting Porsche though here!
Rav4 to substitute a X5 - Not even close
I hope they gave you a big discount ???
SYD Airport recently failed to provide a X5 for me, which wasn't acceptable as a President's Circle member with a very high CVI on their system.
I sent feedback weeks ago, heard nothing.
I am not renting from Europcar which has a newer fleet and much better vehicles in Australia
Rumors that Hertz are getting Porsche though here!
#77
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: SFO/DTW
Programs: DL PM 0.5MM, Hyatt Globalist, HHonors Gold, SPG Plat, Marriott Gold, Avis PC, National EE, Hertz PC
Posts: 1,988
Just completed a 1 day rental from SYD Airport.
Very limited car selection - lot had about 25 cars total FCAR or smaller.
I booked a PCAR - received a brand new Holden SV6 Storm with 500km on it. Keyless entry was broken. Great car (standard nav, backup cam, parking sensors, self parking) No heated/cooling seats.
Only saw 1x BMW X5 on the lot. (I believe they only have 4 in the fleet) and it was reserved.
Lots of 1 series tho, but no Porsche
Very limited car selection - lot had about 25 cars total FCAR or smaller.
I booked a PCAR - received a brand new Holden SV6 Storm with 500km on it. Keyless entry was broken. Great car (standard nav, backup cam, parking sensors, self parking) No heated/cooling seats.
Only saw 1x BMW X5 on the lot. (I believe they only have 4 in the fleet) and it was reserved.
Lots of 1 series tho, but no Porsche
#79
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 5,439
Seems like the fleet's been updated again for Prestige in Australia
It now goes Q2 > A4 > Q5 > Q7 > SQ5, with not all locations having the A4, and the Q2 replacing the old A3. The Q2s are brand new, and the Q5 and Q7 both seem to be updated to the latest 2017 model.
Interestingly they now have the Skoda Superb under PCAR which would be my pick out of them all.
It now goes Q2 > A4 > Q5 > Q7 > SQ5, with not all locations having the A4, and the Q2 replacing the old A3. The Q2s are brand new, and the Q5 and Q7 both seem to be updated to the latest 2017 model.
Interestingly they now have the Skoda Superb under PCAR which would be my pick out of them all.
#80
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 5,439
Another Hertz Australia prestige update - it seems like all the models are now the 2017-18 models - the last of the B8 Q5/SQ5's are gone. Lots of them now at Pickles
All the Q2s seem to be the base model TFSI, and the Q5s the base TDI with no sunroof, active cruise control etc. The A4's are the petrol version, but some of them now do have the sunroof and the Audi Virtual Cockpit installed. None of those have active cruise control still, sadly. Some of the Q7's also appear to have Audi VC, but haven't had a chance to rent one yet.
All the Q2s seem to be the base model TFSI, and the Q5s the base TDI with no sunroof, active cruise control etc. The A4's are the petrol version, but some of them now do have the sunroof and the Audi Virtual Cockpit installed. None of those have active cruise control still, sadly. Some of the Q7's also appear to have Audi VC, but haven't had a chance to rent one yet.
#81
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 5,439
Another Hertz Australia fleet update.
B5 which used to be the Megane 225 is now the brand new Golf GTI. Rates seem pretty reasonable so got a chance to rent one this week.
The Skoda Octavia appears to have joined the fleet under PCAR (which given it's in the same category as the Superb... one would imagine that Superb would be the pick). The Audi lineup of Q2/A4/Q5/Q7/SQ5 appears unchanged, though I did still see the odd older gen SQ5 running around.
B5 which used to be the Megane 225 is now the brand new Golf GTI. Rates seem pretty reasonable so got a chance to rent one this week.
The Skoda Octavia appears to have joined the fleet under PCAR (which given it's in the same category as the Superb... one would imagine that Superb would be the pick). The Audi lineup of Q2/A4/Q5/Q7/SQ5 appears unchanged, though I did still see the odd older gen SQ5 running around.
#82
Moderator: American AAdvantage, Travel Safety/Security & Texas, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: AUS / GRK
Programs: AA, HHonors, Hertz
Posts: 13,485
Another Hertz Australia prestige update - it seems like all the models are now the 2017-18 models - the last of the B8 Q5/SQ5's are gone. Lots of them now at Pickles
All the Q2s seem to be the base model TFSI, and the Q5s the base TDI with no sunroof, active cruise control etc. The A4's are the petrol version, but some of them now do have the sunroof and the Audi Virtual Cockpit installed. None of those have active cruise control still, sadly. Some of the Q7's also appear to have Audi VC, but haven't had a chance to rent one yet.
All the Q2s seem to be the base model TFSI, and the Q5s the base TDI with no sunroof, active cruise control etc. The A4's are the petrol version, but some of them now do have the sunroof and the Audi Virtual Cockpit installed. None of those have active cruise control still, sadly. Some of the Q7's also appear to have Audi VC, but haven't had a chance to rent one yet.
I reserved SQ5's for a day in Melbourne and 2 days in Sydney, both in a few weeks. I'd have gotten one in CNS, but they only had normal vehicles.
I'll try to report back how they both go.
#83
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 5,439
I think I'm the resident AU prestige renter, so I'll chime in
Fleet is still now Q2 (all base model, bleh), A4 (mix of base model and ones with sunroof and Audi Virtual Cockpit), Q5 (mostly base model) and Q7 (with some options). SQ5's are mostly the new gen but there are a few old-gen Diesel's still floating around, if that's what you prefer.
Honestly though, I'd go for a P class if possible - you have the Skoda Octavia/Superb/VW Passat all in that category, and those are fully decked out with all the options including active cruise. Not to mention being a VW, it's more or less the same car as the Audi that's being rented for 2x the price.
Fleet is still now Q2 (all base model, bleh), A4 (mix of base model and ones with sunroof and Audi Virtual Cockpit), Q5 (mostly base model) and Q7 (with some options). SQ5's are mostly the new gen but there are a few old-gen Diesel's still floating around, if that's what you prefer.
Honestly though, I'd go for a P class if possible - you have the Skoda Octavia/Superb/VW Passat all in that category, and those are fully decked out with all the options including active cruise. Not to mention being a VW, it's more or less the same car as the Audi that's being rented for 2x the price.
#84
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: MEL CHC
Posts: 21,024
Great Ocean Road (from Melbourne)
Same in Sydney, unless you are driving out of the city.
#85
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 5,439
To add: Golf GTI is another option they have now under B5, which is usually quite a bit cheaper than the Audi's. They are pretty good for performance but feature set is a bit slim, and fuel consumption higher than the Q2 (to be expected)
#86
Moderator: American AAdvantage, Travel Safety/Security & Texas, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: AUS / GRK
Programs: AA, HHonors, Hertz
Posts: 13,485
A car for a day in Melbourne will be a liability.
Great Ocean Road (from Melbourne)
Same in Sydney, unless you are driving out of the city.
Great Ocean Road (from Melbourne)
Same in Sydney, unless you are driving out of the city.
What information do you have on how Hertz handles Presitge vehicles in either city?
#87
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 5,439
What do you mean exactly, handles. Each prestige model is in its own category, so what you book is what you get. The only exceptions are P (technically not prestige, but again as I said, my pick of the lot), or the Mystery Prestige, which will be a Q2 unless for some reason, they don't have any of those left, in which case it will be an A4.
Both SYD and MEL will have no shortage of each model in inventory.
Both SYD and MEL will have no shortage of each model in inventory.
#88
Moderator: American AAdvantage, Travel Safety/Security & Texas, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: AUS / GRK
Programs: AA, HHonors, Hertz
Posts: 13,485
I reserved the SQ5 from South Yarra. It looks like an easy trolly ride from the Flinders Station area, or heck we can Uber too. We have a Q7 at home and are interested in the SQ5.
In SYD, it seems that every place has all the vehicles--and the rental rates are very reasonable, like A$75/day for the SQ5.
#89
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 5,439
Ahh, I thought you meant literally the MEL and SYD airports.
If you mean non-airport locations, then I believe in SYD only William Street has prestige vehicles in stock, not sure about MEL. For the rest, they will get a driver to drive it to the non-airport location, and I find rates are generally more expensive as well.
If you mean non-airport locations, then I believe in SYD only William Street has prestige vehicles in stock, not sure about MEL. For the rest, they will get a driver to drive it to the non-airport location, and I find rates are generally more expensive as well.
#90
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: San Francisco/Sydney
Programs: UA 1K/MM, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Something, IHG Gold, Hertz PC, Avis PC
Posts: 8,157
Thankfully a VW Passat drove in which I was discussing it with them, and they assigned me that.