Cars at DCA (post 03/13)
Apr 10, 2013, 2:44 pm
#16
Join Date: Mar 2006
Programs: Avis First, Hertz Gold, National EE
Posts: 178
I'm curious how you end up with premium cars. Are you booking premium rate, opting to pay the upgrade fee should you take something off that row, or asking really politely?
I've had gate agents offer me a premium option if I express polite dissatisfaction with the aisle selection (one guy knows my preference for the Genesis), but I'd appreciate any tips you have to share!
Apr 10, 2013, 2:51 pm
#17
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 4,396
Hey Dr,
I'm curious how you end up with premium cars. Are you booking premium rate, opting to pay the upgrade fee should you take something off that row, or asking really politely?
I've had gate agents offer me a premium option if I express polite dissatisfaction with the aisle selection (one guy knows my preference for the Genesis), but I'd appreciate any tips you have to share!
I'm curious how you end up with premium cars. Are you booking premium rate, opting to pay the upgrade fee should you take something off that row, or asking really politely?
I've had gate agents offer me a premium option if I express polite dissatisfaction with the aisle selection (one guy knows my preference for the Genesis), but I'd appreciate any tips you have to share!
It helps to rent from a single rental office, preferably a large corporate one. Get to know the employees, and they'll help you out when they can.
Last edited by drzoidberg; Apr 10, 2013 at 3:59 pm
Apr 12, 2013, 9:44 am
#18
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 4,396
They had 2 x '13 Lincoln MKZs yesterday, they had one today too.
3.7L base trim, LCAR.
EA:
Had a Fusion Hybrid
Premium/Upgrade:
1 x '13 Buick Lacrosse
1 x '13 Buick Enclave
Aforementioned MKZ
2 x Genesis
1 x JX35
Challengers
3.7L base trim, LCAR.
EA:
Had a Fusion Hybrid
Premium/Upgrade:
1 x '13 Buick Lacrosse
1 x '13 Buick Enclave
Aforementioned MKZ
2 x Genesis
1 x JX35
Challengers
Last edited by drzoidberg; Apr 12, 2013 at 3:58 pm
Apr 12, 2013, 7:21 pm
#19
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 826
Well.. I had just about the opposite experience from when Dr. Z comes!
Got on the lot just after 8 armed with my premium reservation. Premium aisle: nothing. Greeter approached and I told him I had a premium reservation and he offered a 300, Maxima, Challenger, or Genesis from the ES... Gee thanks!
We milled about for a bit.. ES had the usual.. An Explorer XLT, a Taurus SEL,
EA had 3 200's, one of which was a convertible. Asked the greeter if I could have anything from the row of Mercedes, BMW and Infiniti grills I saw peeking out from just over the enterprise line adjacent from the ES.. No go..
Poked around a bit more and found an SRX and 2013 MKZ (was it yours Dr. Z) in the Alamo standard aisle. Asked about those and was told the MKZ was reserve, but he relented on the SRX. It is Georgia plates and well worn with 20,000 miles. 2012. It has lots of body damage and the gas wasn't full. This seemed to aggravate the gate agent greatly.
I still got a good upgrade, but maybe my expectations were a bit too high. :-)
Got on the lot just after 8 armed with my premium reservation. Premium aisle: nothing. Greeter approached and I told him I had a premium reservation and he offered a 300, Maxima, Challenger, or Genesis from the ES... Gee thanks!
We milled about for a bit.. ES had the usual.. An Explorer XLT, a Taurus SEL,
EA had 3 200's, one of which was a convertible. Asked the greeter if I could have anything from the row of Mercedes, BMW and Infiniti grills I saw peeking out from just over the enterprise line adjacent from the ES.. No go..
Poked around a bit more and found an SRX and 2013 MKZ (was it yours Dr. Z) in the Alamo standard aisle. Asked about those and was told the MKZ was reserve, but he relented on the SRX. It is Georgia plates and well worn with 20,000 miles. 2012. It has lots of body damage and the gas wasn't full. This seemed to aggravate the gate agent greatly.
I still got a good upgrade, but maybe my expectations were a bit too high. :-)
Apr 12, 2013, 8:46 pm
#20
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 4,396
Well.. I had just about the opposite experience from when Dr. Z comes!
Got on the lot just after 8 armed with my premium reservation. Premium aisle: nothing. Greeter approached and I told him I had a premium reservation and he offered a 300, Maxima, Challenger, or Genesis from the ES... Gee thanks!
We milled about for a bit.. ES had the usual.. An Explorer XLT, a Taurus SEL,
EA had 3 200's, one of which was a convertible. Asked the greeter if I could have anything from the row of Mercedes, BMW and Infiniti grills I saw peeking out from just over the enterprise line adjacent from the ES.. No go..
Poked around a bit more and found an SRX and 2013 MKZ (was it yours Dr. Z) in the Alamo standard aisle. Asked about those and was told the MKZ was reserve, but he relented on the SRX. It is Georgia plates and well worn with 20,000 miles. 2012. It has lots of body damage and the gas wasn't full. This seemed to aggravate the gate agent greatly.
I still got a good upgrade, but maybe my expectations were a bit too high. :-)
Got on the lot just after 8 armed with my premium reservation. Premium aisle: nothing. Greeter approached and I told him I had a premium reservation and he offered a 300, Maxima, Challenger, or Genesis from the ES... Gee thanks!
We milled about for a bit.. ES had the usual.. An Explorer XLT, a Taurus SEL,
EA had 3 200's, one of which was a convertible. Asked the greeter if I could have anything from the row of Mercedes, BMW and Infiniti grills I saw peeking out from just over the enterprise line adjacent from the ES.. No go..
Poked around a bit more and found an SRX and 2013 MKZ (was it yours Dr. Z) in the Alamo standard aisle. Asked about those and was told the MKZ was reserve, but he relented on the SRX. It is Georgia plates and well worn with 20,000 miles. 2012. It has lots of body damage and the gas wasn't full. This seemed to aggravate the gate agent greatly.
I still got a good upgrade, but maybe my expectations were a bit too high. :-)
The MKZ on Alamo wasn't mine.
You can always take your SRX back tomorrow morning (preferably around 9 am) and do a return exchange. There might be something better then.
Last edited by drzoidberg; Apr 12, 2013 at 8:51 pm
Apr 12, 2013, 8:52 pm
#21
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 826
The SRX is decent.. And it has factory nav so that is a bonus! It is probably the oldest car I've ever seen in the fleet! Registered in march 2012!
I actually asked the attendant if they had and 2014 Grand Cherokees and he said no.
Any idea why the gate agent seemed so surly about me reporting damage? He even tried to tell me that the large door dings were actually spots from the wash!
I actually asked the attendant if they had and 2014 Grand Cherokees and he said no.
Any idea why the gate agent seemed so surly about me reporting damage? He even tried to tell me that the large door dings were actually spots from the wash!
Apr 13, 2013, 1:44 pm
#22
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 826
I ended up bringing the SRX back this morning. The more I drove it the more the braking performance bothered me. The brakes suffered from MAJOR fade, and I had a close call on the road as a result. When I got back to DCA around 9am it was still fairly slim pickings. The attendant saw that I was on a one way to Dulles and would not let me take the Infiniti SUV or other SRX they had (which was fine.. I wasn't interested in either.
Ended up getting a 300C V8 with 7000 miles. Very nicely equipped car and VERY powerful!
I am enjoying it more than the SRX.. The navigation works way way better too!
Ended up getting a 300C V8 with 7000 miles. Very nicely equipped car and VERY powerful!
I am enjoying it more than the SRX.. The navigation works way way better too!
Apr 13, 2013, 1:45 pm
#23
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 4,396
I ended up bringing the SRX back this morning. The more I drove it the more the braking performance bothered me. The brakes suffered from MAJOR fade, and I had a close call on the road as a result. When I got back to DCA around 9am it was still fairly slim pickings. The attendant saw that I was on a one way to Dulles and would not let me take the Infiniti SUV or other SRX they had (which was fine.. I wasn't interested in either.
Ended up getting a 300C V8 with 7000 miles. Very nicely equipped car and VERY powerful!
I am enjoying it more than the SRX.. The navigation works way way better too!
Ended up getting a 300C V8 with 7000 miles. Very nicely equipped car and VERY powerful!
I am enjoying it more than the SRX.. The navigation works way way better too!
Apr 15, 2013, 11:45 am
#24
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: DCA, IAD, BWI
Programs: National Parks Annual Pass
Posts: 316
Friday, 3pm
Friday, 3 pm, I walked by on my way to Hertz, but I took a peek at the Premium section:
Nissan Maxima
Chrysler 300
Volvo XC60
Crown Victoria* (which I took... just kidding)
*Arlington County Police Department, "Interceptor" trim
Nissan Maxima
Chrysler 300
Volvo XC60
Crown Victoria* (which I took... just kidding)
*Arlington County Police Department, "Interceptor" trim
Apr 19, 2013, 11:41 am
#25
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 4,396
Friday 10am
Standouts on ES were:
2 x '13 VW Touaregs (I grabbed one)
2 x '13 Camaro Coupes
1 x Dodge Challenger
Premium/Reserve:
1 x '14 Jeep GC Limited
1 x '12 Caddy SRX
1 x '13 Chrysler 300
1 x '13 Ford Taurus Limited
1 x Mercedes C250
2 x '13 Hyundai Genesis-es
1 x '13 Lincoln MKS with panoramic roof
Standouts on ES were:
2 x '13 VW Touaregs (I grabbed one)
2 x '13 Camaro Coupes
1 x Dodge Challenger
Premium/Reserve:
1 x '14 Jeep GC Limited
1 x '12 Caddy SRX
1 x '13 Chrysler 300
1 x '13 Ford Taurus Limited
1 x Mercedes C250
2 x '13 Hyundai Genesis-es
1 x '13 Lincoln MKS with panoramic roof
Apr 19, 2013, 4:21 pm
#27
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 4,396
Apr 21, 2013, 7:56 am
#29
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 4,396
Sunday morning
ES:
- Bunch of '13 GMC Acadias
- 1 x Mazda CX-9 (which I took)
- other boring cars
Premium/VIP:
- 1 x '13 Infiniti G37X (was tempted to take this since it looked super new)
- 1 x '13 Hyundai Genesis
- 1 x '13 Mustang convertible (with 20 miles)
there were a bunch of other cars but I was in a hurry and didn't have time to look carefully.
Lot was very full.
ES:
- Bunch of '13 GMC Acadias
- 1 x Mazda CX-9 (which I took)
- other boring cars
Premium/VIP:
- 1 x '13 Infiniti G37X (was tempted to take this since it looked super new)
- 1 x '13 Hyundai Genesis
- 1 x '13 Mustang convertible (with 20 miles)
there were a bunch of other cars but I was in a hurry and didn't have time to look carefully.
Lot was very full.
Last edited by drzoidberg; Apr 21, 2013 at 11:12 am