Consolidated "Renting at ATL; What Kind of Cars to Expect?" Thread
#76
Join Date: Jan 2012
Programs: Hilton Honors, Hertz Presidents Circle, National Executive Elite
Posts: 272
Did either of you happen to see what was in the Adrenaline Collection area?
I've got a rental next weekend for a mountain drive and was really hoping for a Camaro SS or Mustang GT, as those 2 are much, much faster (and better at going around corners) than a Challenger R/T.
I've got a rental next weekend for a mountain drive and was really hoping for a Camaro SS or Mustang GT, as those 2 are much, much faster (and better at going around corners) than a Challenger R/T.
#77
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: YYZ/FLL/PBI
Programs: Star Alliance Elite
Posts: 72
Looks like I didn't update this thread with my experience from last June.
I booked the Infiniti Q60 (Group E) XBAR (E) Infiniti Q60 or similar at ATL.
My name wasn't on the board, so I had to goto the counter. First Q60 assigned to me was a 3.0t but had a cut in the sidewall of the tire, no go for me since I was going to be visiting route 129. Walked around saw an awd 3.0t but I wanted a rwd so I kept looking, and found a rwd 3.0t and asked to have that one.
Sadly the one I got had around 33k and probably had a hard life, it broke down about 1.5 hours from ATL. It ate it's belt, causing the water pump, alternator and AC to stop working. It then overheated and died on the highway, I was able to pull into a gas station and call for help. Thank god, I still had cell coverage at this point. About 6 hours wasted getting towed to get another car, happens to be I got pretty much the same car the second time around.
I got towed to Nashville airport since I was closer to it than going back to ATL. Selection there was not great, they had 2 Q60, one was a red sport! I was happy to get it, but then after walking outside and checking it out, it too had a big cut in the sidewall as I had to go get the only other Q60 in the lot which was basically the same spec as the one that blew up on me.
Some pictures from my trip to the Tail of the Dragon.
The roads and scenery was amazing.
Foothills Parkway, North of 129.
Fontana Dam Area, 28 East off 129.
The car preformed well and was surprisingly fast, it feels under rated at 300hp. The weak points were the stock brakes and auto transmission which could have been quicker shifting to enjoy the roads, it also lacked paddle shifters and down / up shifting was backwards. I'm sure the upgraded brakes on the Sport or Red Sport would have been a great help. My biggest surprise was how well it handled, it was equipped with stock 255/40/18 run flat tires on all four corners. The squared setup provided a lot of front end grip and that resulted in less under-steer than most modern cars, the car felt very neural which was a pleasant surprise. The lack of locking differential was apparent powering out of tight turns. After about midway thru the 318 turns in 11 miles, the brakes started to over heat and shutter, not wanting to risk failure or excessive fading and going off a cliff, I backed off and tried to use the brakes less giving time to cool.
All in all, I was impressed with the Q60 3.0t, how it handled a hard beating and it made my first TOTD experience an enjoyable one.
I booked the Infiniti Q60 (Group E) XBAR (E) Infiniti Q60 or similar at ATL.
My name wasn't on the board, so I had to goto the counter. First Q60 assigned to me was a 3.0t but had a cut in the sidewall of the tire, no go for me since I was going to be visiting route 129. Walked around saw an awd 3.0t but I wanted a rwd so I kept looking, and found a rwd 3.0t and asked to have that one.
Sadly the one I got had around 33k and probably had a hard life, it broke down about 1.5 hours from ATL. It ate it's belt, causing the water pump, alternator and AC to stop working. It then overheated and died on the highway, I was able to pull into a gas station and call for help. Thank god, I still had cell coverage at this point. About 6 hours wasted getting towed to get another car, happens to be I got pretty much the same car the second time around.
I got towed to Nashville airport since I was closer to it than going back to ATL. Selection there was not great, they had 2 Q60, one was a red sport! I was happy to get it, but then after walking outside and checking it out, it too had a big cut in the sidewall as I had to go get the only other Q60 in the lot which was basically the same spec as the one that blew up on me.
Some pictures from my trip to the Tail of the Dragon.
The roads and scenery was amazing.
Foothills Parkway, North of 129.
Fontana Dam Area, 28 East off 129.
The car preformed well and was surprisingly fast, it feels under rated at 300hp. The weak points were the stock brakes and auto transmission which could have been quicker shifting to enjoy the roads, it also lacked paddle shifters and down / up shifting was backwards. I'm sure the upgraded brakes on the Sport or Red Sport would have been a great help. My biggest surprise was how well it handled, it was equipped with stock 255/40/18 run flat tires on all four corners. The squared setup provided a lot of front end grip and that resulted in less under-steer than most modern cars, the car felt very neural which was a pleasant surprise. The lack of locking differential was apparent powering out of tight turns. After about midway thru the 318 turns in 11 miles, the brakes started to over heat and shutter, not wanting to risk failure or excessive fading and going off a cliff, I backed off and tried to use the brakes less giving time to cool.
All in all, I was impressed with the Q60 3.0t, how it handled a hard beating and it made my first TOTD experience an enjoyable one.
#78
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Atlanta
Programs: DL PM, Hertz PC, HH Dia
Posts: 246
Not the car I wanted for a weekend of mountain driving, so I refused the rental, went over to National, and got a Challenger 392 Scat Pack for the weekend. Still not the best handling car, but at least it's 110hp more powerful than a Challenger R/T (and has upgraded brakes).
If you're renting a V4 category car in ATL, expect a Challenger R/T - they do not normally have any Camaro SS or Mustang GT in stock, and if they do, they might give them away to the wrong person!
#79
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: GEG/DEN/ATL
Programs: UA 1K, TK E+, AS MVPG, SPG&Marriott Plat, HHD, Hertz PC
Posts: 404
Data point from this morning. Lot was almost empty. Couple of Impalas and Camrys, as well as the lone Sorento. Compared with last week where I grabbed a Charger R/T from the PC section.
#80
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: ATL
Programs: DL PM 2 Mil Miler, HZ PC, Marriott LT TI, AMB, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 552
This past Friday night they had 10-12 pick-ups (Ford 150s and Dodge 1500s) and 1 Impala. I picked a 150 with 4000 miles. There for a minute I thought I was in Dallas.
#81
In Memoriam, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Durham, NC (RDU/GSO/CLT)
Programs: AA EXP/MM, DL GM, UA Platinum, HH DIA, Hyatt Explorist, IHG Platinum, Marriott Titanium, Hertz PC
Posts: 33,857
Picked up last night at 8. Selection was above average for ATL. Mix of sedans (I saw Camrys and 300s) and a lot of small/mid sized SUV including at least half a dozen Kia Sportages. Oddly there was also a Kia Rio (!) in PC. I took a Malibu with 22,000 miles and XM.
Also I was sent an email saying I was chosen for a free upgrade to Hertz Valet so I was able to get a terminal drive back which was a nice treat.
Also I was sent an email saying I was chosen for a free upgrade to Hertz Valet so I was able to get a terminal drive back which was a nice treat.
#82
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: GEG/DEN/ATL
Programs: UA 1K, TK E+, AS MVPG, SPG&Marriott Plat, HHD, Hertz PC
Posts: 404
ATL was sold out on the week of the 20th. Talked the mgr into a 15usd per day upg into a Corvette.
In their defense they were automatically handing out comp vouchers at the PC lot and driving whatever was returned directly to PC.
In their defense they were automatically handing out comp vouchers at the PC lot and driving whatever was returned directly to PC.
#84
In Memoriam, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Durham, NC (RDU/GSO/CLT)
Programs: AA EXP/MM, DL GM, UA Platinum, HH DIA, Hyatt Explorist, IHG Platinum, Marriott Titanium, Hertz PC
Posts: 33,857
#85
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: GEG/DEN/ATL
Programs: UA 1K, TK E+, AS MVPG, SPG&Marriott Plat, HHD, Hertz PC
Posts: 404
it is unfortunate how much they slipped. When the UC first started they had nice and unique cars galore. Jag XF, Escalade, Q50, Q60 etc.
#86
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: GEG/DEN/ATL
Programs: UA 1K, TK E+, AS MVPG, SPG&Marriott Plat, HHD, Hertz PC
Posts: 404
Monday noon. Same as last week. Pick your color Tahoe/Yukon, with random other SUVs and a lone impala. Picked up a 2019 Camaro 4-pot, and a new Challenger R/T Hemi was being parked on the lot.
In other news Sirius was working driving off the lot. And cut out several hours later saying no longer authorized. Anyone had this happen before?
In other news Sirius was working driving off the lot. And cut out several hours later saying no longer authorized. Anyone had this happen before?
#88
In Memoriam, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Durham, NC (RDU/GSO/CLT)
Programs: AA EXP/MM, DL GM, UA Platinum, HH DIA, Hyatt Explorist, IHG Platinum, Marriott Titanium, Hertz PC
Posts: 33,857
#89
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: JAX/St Augustine, FL
Programs: Delta Plat, Southwest RR, HHonors Diamond, Hertz PC, National EE
Posts: 522