Alamo in Orlando (guess too many leisure travellers there who don't know better); reserved compact, offered upgrade to full size for $10 a day, declined, offered again, still declined, received full size for same rate. Obviously they didn't have my car to begin with.

I found that distasteful and now pay extra to rent from a bigger agency (usually Hertz).

I don't know if it's still the same but Oregon used to have laws where gas stations had to be full serve (except for rare exceptions). That made it difficult finding a gas station open early enough to fill up and make the 6-something AM flight to IAH.

Just chiming in...

Almost every time I go to Seattle from Anchorage I arrive late at night but as scheduled for my reservation. I rent a compact because I feel like the highways there are really skinny and it makes me nervous to have a large car. Also, as others mentioned, the gas prices are not cheap.

I have been forced to drive a Jeep Liberty and a Subaru Outback and once they tried to force me to take a minivan but I refused. That turned into a nightmare because I was franctically trying to find a vehicle. I had to tell them "If you want your vehicle to come back wrecked, give me the minivan!" Those aren't really "mini" vans if you ask me.

So, it happens to me almost every time I go to Seattle. Normally I arrive at like 5am but sometimes midnight and I believe the last time was more like 9pm.

Yes, it was a free "upgrade" but I feel that if I reserve and compact and arrive on time it should be there. After these bad experiences, they've got me playing the game of reserving multiple cars which just makes the problem worse.

Enterprising Enterprise
 

I had a similar experience with Enterprise this past December in Orlando. When they told me that all of the cars in the class I reserved were gone, they suggested an upgrade and when I declined, they had me hang around for 45 minutes while they came up with a clunker that had 40,000 miles on the odometer but technically fell into the class I reserved. last time for Enterprise.

You know, I've noticed that the company matters in different locations. For instance, in Austin I've had such WONDERFUL experiences with Enterprise that I will no longer rent from anyone else there. I did try a couple others and had bad experiences so I stick with Enterprise there. Enterprise even gave me a Volvo S60 once for my compact car because the guy said that I was very patient. (He didn't realize that after 11 hours of domestic travel, you don't have much energy left to do anything but stand quietly) :)

In Seattle, there is NO WAY in HECK I will ever rent from Advantage again. In Chicago, I've had good experiences with National. In San Diego, I know that Alamo means a HUGE wait and not the greatest cars!!

So, anyway, I think there are some general pros/cons for all the companies but also for specific locations.

Lately with gas prices thru the roof I dont want that upgrade!! or at least anything larger than a mid-size, I usually put a ton of miles on the car and would prefer the 30 mile per gal car or at least the 25 per mile gal than those at the 14-16 range.

I usually rent compacts the problem with the sub-compacts is at 6'2" most I cant drive as my legs dont allow the free use of the steering wheel or its hard to hit the brake cause the wheel is in the way. Also my agencies I find now do have alot more subs as the leases are less so its a better chance of not getting that free up. My past 15 rentals every time I saw subs on the lot so I dont want that Hydani Accent or Geo Metro so for an extra $1 a day ill book the compact.

And yes Thrifty at FLL once offered me a Mini-Van when my compact wasnt available, I told them forget it drinks too much gas and they offered me the tank of gas free, I still declined and waited 15 mins for a mid-size.

I have to agree to this one... Hertz might be a bit more expensive, but their service in NCE where I typically rent (as in 30 times a year or so) is pretty darn good. In France the keys are all in the hut so you'll have to go inside to pick it up, but the contract is always prepared and if I agree to the proposed car I am out of there within minutes - always!

Their friends in Avis on the other hand... totally useless, even with an Preferred Express card the contract is never printed and the priority desk never manned, often with a queue time of 30 minutes.

With regards to upgrades; I have only had the upgrade-for-free "problem", both with Avis and Hertz. My reserved class C (is that economy in US terms?) is often out-of-stock, and I often end up in a H class mini-van kind of a thing. Very useful. :td: