List your Free car upgrades here (Outside of Ultimate Choice)
Feb 21, 2014, 2:28 pm
#3106
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: NYC
Programs: AS MVPG, DL KM, Bee Six, Bonvoy Plat, Avis PC, Natl Exec, Greyhound Road Rewards Z"L
Posts: 16,720
Nice, but doesn't the Jetta have a ski passthrough via the rear armrest? I'm pretty sure it does. So your premise for the change may not have been necessary. Although, the agents don't necessarily know that. 
Really weird that it had factory nav. Unusual choice, not sure why they would have gotten that for the fleet. The Chevy touchscreen is actually pretty decent, but I've never had one that actually had the nav in it.
Really weird that it had factory nav. Unusual choice, not sure why they would have gotten that for the fleet. The Chevy touchscreen is actually pretty decent, but I've never had one that actually had the nav in it.
This is the second Chevy I've had that came with factory nav; I had a Camaro back in October that had it. The SRX I had in December also had it.-J.
Feb 21, 2014, 4:21 pm
#3107
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Washington, DC
Posts: 785
I'm not a fan of Jettas to begin with, so I was more than happy to take my favorite crossover off their hands for a day This is the second Chevy I've had that came with factory nav; I had a Camaro back in October that had it. The SRX I had in December also had it.
-J.
This is the second Chevy I've had that came with factory nav; I had a Camaro back in October that had it. The SRX I had in December also had it.-J.
Feb 21, 2014, 4:23 pm
#3108
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: PHX
Programs: AAexp, AC75k, HertzPC, NationalEE, Accor/MariottP, Hilton/HyattG
Posts: 3,614
Feb 21, 2014, 5:33 pm
#3109
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: NYC
Programs: AS MVPG, DL KM, Bee Six, Bonvoy Plat, Avis PC, Natl Exec, Greyhound Road Rewards Z"L
Posts: 16,720
How new are these Passats? I've heard awful things about relatively new ones... the 2.5L is supposedly weak and the interior is spartan. I haven't seen any Passats at Hertz recently to try out myself, although I did have a CC last Fall which I enjoyed very much
-J.
-J.
Feb 21, 2014, 7:56 pm
#3110
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Washington, DC
Posts: 785
Hmm... Will need to check out the Passat when I get a chance then... I loved the last generation Jettas (2006 to 2010 I believe) It was definitely higher priced than the Japanese/American/Korean competitors, but a very nice vehicle for the class IMO
I do have a bias against European cars because of all the horror stories I hear about BMWs, Mercedes, Audis, and VWs, and since the cars in my family usually get driven 40k miles/year, low and cheap maintenance is key, although I have been hearing good things about Audi lately
I do have a bias against European cars because of all the horror stories I hear about BMWs, Mercedes, Audis, and VWs, and since the cars in my family usually get driven 40k miles/year, low and cheap maintenance is key, although I have been hearing good things about Audi lately
Feb 21, 2014, 9:57 pm
#3111
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: SFO/SMF
Programs: Hertz PC
Posts: 173
SMF: booked compact, received Charger with 2000 miles on the odometer. They seemed to be receiving a shipment with 2 trailers in front full of brand new Chargers at the time of pickup
Feb 22, 2014, 9:03 pm
#3112
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA, Earth (PIT)
Programs: Airline/TSA Avoidance Platinum, Hotel Disloyalty Silver, Hertz 1.7*
Posts: 5,277
I do have a bias against European cars because of all the horror stories I hear about BMWs, Mercedes, Audis, and VWs, and since the cars in my family usually get driven 40k miles/year, low and cheap maintenance is key, although I have been hearing good things about Audi lately
I dunno, about a year ago was maybe the last time I had a Jetta, and the thing impressed me just for being comfortable on an endless drive alone. I drove over 900 miles straight through in one day and over 2000 in the trip, and felt more comfortable in that than many other cars in shorter drives, even larger cars. The interior lacks features but it cruises very well.
That said, later in the summer I took a Cruze on the same drive, though I had a passenger, and that one impressed me just fine too. Helped that I had an LTZ. It wasn't quite as comfy as the Jetta though.
I didn't notice any quality problems in my rental, but yeah, of all the cars to choose from I can't really picture buying one. The reliability feels too iffy. (I've owned mostly Honda products.)
But I might be making this drive again in March so I'll be fishing for something comfy to drive it in. I don't know what I'll have to choose from since I haven't done any rentals this year yet.
Feb 23, 2014, 5:58 pm
#3113
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Washington, DC
Posts: 785
Well that's the best part about getting one as a rental. I don't think I'd ever BUY a Jetta but I don't mind driving it as a rental. ^
I dunno, about a year ago was maybe the last time I had a Jetta, and the thing impressed me just for being comfortable on an endless drive alone. I drove over 900 miles straight through in one day and over 2000 in the trip, and felt more comfortable in that than many other cars in shorter drives, even larger cars. The interior lacks features but it cruises very well.
That said, later in the summer I took a Cruze on the same drive, though I had a passenger, and that one impressed me just fine too. Helped that I had an LTZ. It wasn't quite as comfy as the Jetta though.
I didn't notice any quality problems in my rental, but yeah, of all the cars to choose from I can't really picture buying one. The reliability feels too iffy. (I've owned mostly Honda products.)
But I might be making this drive again in March so I'll be fishing for something comfy to drive it in. I don't know what I'll have to choose from since I haven't done any rentals this year yet.
I dunno, about a year ago was maybe the last time I had a Jetta, and the thing impressed me just for being comfortable on an endless drive alone. I drove over 900 miles straight through in one day and over 2000 in the trip, and felt more comfortable in that than many other cars in shorter drives, even larger cars. The interior lacks features but it cruises very well.
That said, later in the summer I took a Cruze on the same drive, though I had a passenger, and that one impressed me just fine too. Helped that I had an LTZ. It wasn't quite as comfy as the Jetta though.
I didn't notice any quality problems in my rental, but yeah, of all the cars to choose from I can't really picture buying one. The reliability feels too iffy. (I've owned mostly Honda products.)
But I might be making this drive again in March so I'll be fishing for something comfy to drive it in. I don't know what I'll have to choose from since I haven't done any rentals this year yet.
That being said, I've upgraded with GC to 2 Camry SE's and they are one of my favorite cars to drive in the class... upgraded to 2 Altima's as well, and they were ok to drive and comfortable for my 1100 mile trip, but feels very cheap... 2012 Corolla made me want to shoot myself, 2012 Focus nearly killed me, and got a free upgrade to a Prius and used only 1 gallon of gas total in one day
Feb 23, 2014, 6:28 pm
#3114
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: PHX/NYC/LA
Programs: AA Plt, Marriott Gold, National EE, Hertz PC, El Mambero De Mucci, PWP Aide to Generalissimo Godot
Posts: 4,894
I hear ya - I'm a Honda fanboy myself ^ but Acura has been lacking lately... RLX and ILX are failures IMO, there's a lot riding on the new TLX.. My 2013 ILX Hybrid w/ 29k miles was towed 4 times (albeit once was my fault) and needed a new hybrid battery at ~17k
That being said, I've upgraded with GC to 2 Camry SE's and they are one of my favorite cars to drive in the class... upgraded to 2 Altima's as well, and they were ok to drive and comfortable for my 1100 mile trip, but feels very cheap... 2012 Corolla made me want to shoot myself, 2012 Focus nearly killed me, and got a free upgrade to a Prius and used only 1 gallon of gas total in one day
That being said, I've upgraded with GC to 2 Camry SE's and they are one of my favorite cars to drive in the class... upgraded to 2 Altima's as well, and they were ok to drive and comfortable for my 1100 mile trip, but feels very cheap... 2012 Corolla made me want to shoot myself, 2012 Focus nearly killed me, and got a free upgrade to a Prius and used only 1 gallon of gas total in one day
Feb 23, 2014, 11:24 pm
#3115
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Washington, DC
Posts: 785
Honda hasn't built anything worth a damn since the NSX, Integra and S2000. They are just as bad as Toyota when it comes to building appliances on wheels. At least Toyota still builds sports cars. Acura is nothing but front wheel drive cars. Their SUV's are the only thing keeping it afloat.
Feb 25, 2014, 4:58 am
#3116
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Utrecht, the Netherlands
Programs: Marriott LTP, Hilton Gold, ITA Elite+, Cathay S, Singapore S, Hertz PC, Avis PC
Posts: 3,152
Hertz LAX
1day rental
Booked: Full Size
Received: Mercedes SLK 250C^^
1day rental
Booked: Full Size
Received: Mercedes SLK 250C
^^
Feb 25, 2014, 7:54 pm
#3118
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: YEG
Posts: 3,717
YEG
Booked F
No options
Received YL Journey
Awesome; heated everything in the -35* weather!
Booked F
No options
Received YL Journey
Awesome; heated everything in the -35* weather!
Feb 27, 2014, 2:57 am
#3119
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Gloucestershire
Programs: BA Gold (ex-GGL, maybe future Silver), Hilton Diamond
Posts: 6,201
- Airport or location - Cardiff, Wales downtown (Bessemer Rd)
- Rental Car Class - Booked D (Octavia or similar)
- Additional Options - No
- Upgraded? - No. Received Z (Compact wagon), September 2012 Focus 1.6 diesel with 30k miles.
Rate adjusted to C. Only other alternative was a Citroen DS3 (C) which I declined because it was a 1.6 petrol, non-turbo (buzzy as hell for the 200-mile airport run).
- Rental Car Class - Booked D (Octavia or similar)
- Additional Options - No
- Upgraded? - No. Received Z (Compact wagon), September 2012 Focus 1.6 diesel with 30k miles.
Rate adjusted to C. Only other alternative was a Citroen DS3 (C) which I declined because it was a 1.6 petrol, non-turbo (buzzy as hell for the 200-mile airport run).
Feb 27, 2014, 7:29 am
#3120
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: E14
Programs: BA GGL, Marriott, IHG, Sirius, Dusit, Thai, Virgin, Hyatt, BAA, AS, AA(both)
Posts: 1,240