Consolidated "Renting at SFO; What Kind of Cars to Expect?" Thread
Jul 3, 2018, 10:53 pm
#136
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: San Francisco/Sydney
Programs: UA 1K/MM, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Something, IHG Gold, Hertz PC, Avis PC
Posts: 8,156
Welcome to July 4th week... Normally by Monday afternoon the entire SFO lot is mostly bare, but this will clearly be a low business travel week.
Jul 4, 2018, 2:23 am
#137
Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: SFO
Posts: 70
Picked up Monday night 7/2 around 1030 pm. PC had mostly sedans plus a few others. Notables - 5x Infiniti Q50, 3x Infiniti Q70, 1x Infiniti QX30, 1x Nissan Maxima SV, 1x Jaguar XF, 1x Camaro, and the rest of 300s and Camrys. Not bad for a Monday night.
Jul 5, 2018, 9:39 am
#138
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: NYC
Programs: AA 2MM, Bonvoy LTT, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 14,636
Jul 6, 2018, 12:37 am
#139
Join Date: Feb 2015
Programs: Top Tier Flyertalk Member
Posts: 678
When I returned Wednesday to add an authorized driver, the lot was so full they filled up a bunch of excess cars between the 5* aisles.
I been traveling between SF and San Jose a lot these few days, so SFO is naturally on my way.
Am I allowed to pull in to switch up cars? How much of an hassle would it be?
Jul 9, 2018, 1:48 pm
#140
Moderator: National Car
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: SE MI
Programs: Delta PM, National EE, Hertz PC, Hilton DM
Posts: 2,168
In my experience switching cars at SFO entails lots of waiting in line (even as a PC) and time wasted. But if you're looking for a way to kill some time, I've done it a couple times without issue.
On Sunday around 6PM the selection was quite nice:
8-10 Challenger RTs
3-4 Toyota Avalon
8-10 Chrysler 300 (in C and S trim)
Mercedes C300 convertible
Mercedes SLC300 convertible
2 Jaguar XE
On Sunday around 6PM the selection was quite nice:
8-10 Challenger RTs
3-4 Toyota Avalon
8-10 Chrysler 300 (in C and S trim)
Mercedes C300 convertible
Mercedes SLC300 convertible
2 Jaguar XE
Jul 11, 2018, 6:24 am
#141
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: MRY - CNX - TXL
Programs: UA 1K / *G / Marriott PE / Expedia Gold+ / Hertz PC
Posts: 7,058
8:15 on 7/10 the PC had an SL that one lady nearly ran to get into. I took a Q50, there was Buick I wanted to drive but I couldn't find the keys so I just left it. 2 mid-size SUVs as well. Just doing a one-way SFO-MRY rental.
Jul 13, 2018, 1:00 am
#142
Join Date: Jun 2015
Posts: 10
My 6 day rental was < $160 all-in. An extra day before or after was only $4 more.
When I returned Wednesday to add an authorized driver, the lot was so full they filled up a bunch of excess cars between the 5* aisles.
I been traveling between SF and San Jose a lot these few days, so SFO is naturally on my way.
Am I allowed to pull in to switch up cars? How much of an hassle would it be?
When I returned Wednesday to add an authorized driver, the lot was so full they filled up a bunch of excess cars between the 5* aisles.
I been traveling between SF and San Jose a lot these few days, so SFO is naturally on my way.
Am I allowed to pull in to switch up cars? How much of an hassle would it be?
Jul 14, 2018, 12:20 am
#143
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: San Francisco/Sydney
Programs: UA 1K/MM, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Something, IHG Gold, Hertz PC, Avis PC
Posts: 8,156
Interesting mix tonight (Friday) at a bit after 9pm
2x Merc SLC300
More Challengers, Chargers and Camaros than I could be bothered counting
1 or 2 Chrysler 300
A Jag XE (which I took)
And a reasonable scattering of FCAR's
2x Merc SLC300
More Challengers, Chargers and Camaros than I could be bothered counting
1 or 2 Chrysler 300
A Jag XE (which I took)
And a reasonable scattering of FCAR's
Last edited by docbert; Jul 14, 2018 at 11:12 am Reason: Typo
Jul 14, 2018, 9:54 am
#144
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: NYC
Programs: AA 2MM, Bonvoy LTT, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 14,636
Aug 29, 2018, 3:54 pm
#145
Join Date: Aug 2018
Programs: Hertz presidents circle, Hilton honors , Marriott, SPG Gold
Posts: 11
Picked up around 10am on Aug 25.
Lots of cars in the UC section. All Chrysler 300s (some in S trim), Altima SV’s and Buick LaCrosses. They also had two hemi engined chargers.
almost took a charger but went for a nice 300s with a performance package option.
not a particularly varied choice as they were ultimately all similarly sized, 4 door sedans, but there were at least 25 cars to choose from
Lots of cars in the UC section. All Chrysler 300s (some in S trim), Altima SV’s and Buick LaCrosses. They also had two hemi engined chargers.
almost took a charger but went for a nice 300s with a performance package option.
not a particularly varied choice as they were ultimately all similarly sized, 4 door sedans, but there were at least 25 cars to choose from
Sep 6, 2018, 2:53 pm
#146
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 35
Reserved an S6 (website lists merc gl450 or similar) at SFO. Arrived 10pm Wednesday night, sep 5 and name wasn't on board (PC). Gold booth closed, went inside, told S6 not available. I was then offered a Yukon, Armada, or Expedition. Told them not even close to what I reserved. After unsuccessfully negotiating for a free upgrade to range Rover or Cayenne, was downgraded to S4 and given a QX80 with a $100 voucher. Extremely poor service from Hertz.
Checked PC aisles and they were almost empty, aside from a few generic sedans and a minivan.
Checked PC aisles and they were almost empty, aside from a few generic sedans and a minivan.
Sep 8, 2018, 9:47 pm
#148
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: San Francisco/Sydney
Programs: UA 1K/MM, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Something, IHG Gold, Hertz PC, Avis PC
Posts: 8,156
Saturday morning at just before 2am (damn weather delays in IAD!) PC had :
Dodge Challenger, Subaru something, a few C300's, a Buick LaCrosse, a scattering of full size/Ford Hybrid, and 3 Buick Regals.
I'd rented a Regal a few weeks ago and actually enjoyed driving it, so I grabbed one of the three of them.
While pulling out of the lot I started going through to set the radio presets to my normal XM stations - only to find that the first 10 or so channels were already set to exactly what I wanted them set to... Pulled out my phone, search my email for the license plate, and sure enough, the one hit was the email with the receipt from when I'd returned the exact same vehicle to SJC a day over 2 weeks earlier
Dodge Challenger, Subaru something, a few C300's, a Buick LaCrosse, a scattering of full size/Ford Hybrid, and 3 Buick Regals.
I'd rented a Regal a few weeks ago and actually enjoyed driving it, so I grabbed one of the three of them.
While pulling out of the lot I started going through to set the radio presets to my normal XM stations - only to find that the first 10 or so channels were already set to exactly what I wanted them set to... Pulled out my phone, search my email for the license plate, and sure enough, the one hit was the email with the receipt from when I'd returned the exact same vehicle to SJC a day over 2 weeks earlier
Nov 18, 2018, 12:40 am
#149
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: San Diego, CA
Programs: GE, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 15,507
This past Sunday night there were a ton of minivans in the garage, not to mention a huge queue of people trying to leave. (I'm guessing due to flight delays from the fires.)
Anyway, I ultimately ended up with a Nissan Sentra.
Anyway, I ultimately ended up with a Nissan Sentra.
Nov 23, 2018, 11:45 am
#150
Moderator: Hawaii-based airlines & Hawai'i forums
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Ka ʻĀpala Nui, Nuioka
Programs: NEXUS/Global Entry, Delta, United, Hyatt, IHG, Marriott, and Hertz
Posts: 18,037
Arrived on Thanksgiving Day around Noon; PC was relatively full but almost exclusively with Chevy Impalas and Malibu. Lone exceptions were two Chrysler 300c, a Nissan Maxima SV, and a few full-size crew cab pickups. The person behind me scooped the Ford Taurus Limited I was eyeing; I decided to take one of the two YI 2018 Toyota Avalon XLE; it has 18,000 miles on the odometer, CA plates, and working Sirius/XM. I haven't driven one of these before; otherwise I would have taken the Maxima.
When I returned the car on the Sunday of Thanksgiving Weekend around Noon, the PC section was still full of sedans, the nicest being Chrysler 300s. I suspect the ski season in Tahoe and the Sierras has tied up all the SUVs.
When I returned the car on the Sunday of Thanksgiving Weekend around Noon, the PC section was still full of sedans, the nicest being Chrysler 300s. I suspect the ski season in Tahoe and the Sierras has tied up all the SUVs.
Last edited by FlyinHawaiian; Nov 25, 2018 at 1:53 pm