xy31

Booked Sixt rental car through Expedia. Three week rental in Germany.

On Expedia and in confirmation email it says "Luxury Wagon - Audi S6 Avant or similar." It doesn't show any sixt category code (ie I don't see LWMR or other code anywhere). Pretty excited, because the S (or even better RS) Audi wagons were what I always dreamed of driving one day when I was growing up. However, I know the "or similar" often leads to disappointments.

How likely is it that I will actually get an S6 wagon? And what would be considered the "or similar"? Can't be an A6 Wagon since that is clearly a lower category?

AutoSlash

Cant speak what specific makes/models you’re likely get but if you PM us your Sixt conf# and last name we can tell you the exact vehicle class (LWMR for example). Better yet, just use the link below to track it and then PM us and we’ll let you know the code and probably also find a lower rate for you.

xy31

OK, so I was able to pull up the vehicle class through the sixt reservation website and on there it shows Audi A6 Avant or similar (class LWAR), which is pretty disappointing. On my booking confirmation it says in various places "Audi S6 Avant or similar". Is there any I can still get an S6? Or is the "or similar" their "get out of jail for free" card? Basically they could give me any wagon and claim its similar?

xy31

Next update. Called sixt in Germany. They say we received booking for LWAR from Expedia, so it will be A6 Avant or similar, no chance you will get an S6 with this booking.... ok, I get it, but still... womp womp.

Next, calling Expedia. Never dealt with their customer service, but it sounds like they have received training on how to avoid answering questions that don't give the answer the customer likes.... I mention their confirmation clearly states S6 Avant or similar, is there any way I would actually be able to get an S6 from Sixt? Answer, well they will determine this at the counter and it will definitely be a vehicle for 5 passengers.... Really? "Audi S6 Avant or similar" in Expedia speak means any vehicle that can transport 5 passengers? That is a pretty freaking wide interpretation of "or similar." I am probably going to cancel this reservation since its about the same price I would pay for LWAR on the sixt website.... Expedia doesn't deserve any money for false advertising...

AutoSlash

Yes, that. Unless it says make/model guaranteed they can give you what they want/have available. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose. That's just the way it works for better or worse.

FLYMSY

xy31

Like mentioned above, I guess the "or similar" is very subjective. In expedia's mind apparently it could mean a VW Polo or Golf since that also seats 5 people. By my definition the "or similar" is already not met by substituting an A6 Avant for the S6 Avant (base price of about 40K Euro vs 80K Euro).

Thank you again for enlightening me to the frustrating world of rental car reservations.

blitzen

You won't get a S6 for an LWAR booking as they are rare and is only available at specific locations and not for one way and cost a lot more than LWAR ..... a german forum keeps a list of vehicles rented or seen by members in each category.
I always rent directly with sixt as using expedia is normally not cheaper and just adds another layer of possible problems.
a) use [Sammelthread] Contracts / Rabattcodes für SIXT - SIXT - mietwagen-talk.de - Das Mietwagen Forum to see if you can use any of the rebates (using the "log in" at sixt) for me the Hilton Diamond works normally well
b) check sixt.com/sixt.ca/sixt.co.uk/sixt.as for unlimited miles (beside special cars like coupe/convertible/...) and sixt.de as sometimes the $ differes so sixt.co.uk could be cheaper for a 3 series but sixt.com is cheaper at an S class etc.

LWAR | Mietwagen-Wiki | Lexikon

Sixt:
Audi A6 Avant 3.0 TDI [218PS]
Audi A6 Avant 3.0 TDI quattro [218 PS, 272 PS]
Audi A6 Avant 3.0 TDI quattro Competition [326 PS]
BMW 530i Touring 2.0 ( auch xDrive) (2018 )
BMW 540i Touring
BMW 525d Touring (xDrive)
BMW 530d Touring (xDrive)
BMW 540d Touring xDrive
Mercedes E250 T-Modell (4Matic)
Mercedes E350 T-Modell
Jaguar XF Sportbrake
Jaguar XF Sportbrake S [300 PS]

blitzen

He get's what he booked a car from LWAR as Sixt doesn't care what error Expedia made and their confirmation will state A6 or similar

Schweden

You will 90% get an Audi A6 Avant 3.0 TDI Quattro. Sixt has been buying tons of them as Audi is charging much less than BMW or Mercedes as it hasn't been updated in years.

I personally would rather take an LDAR for the chance of a new BMW 5 series as the Audis are optioned pretty weirdly and the seats suck as a result.

At least you're saving quiet a bit as LWAR is half the price of LWMR and you'll save a ton on gas with the diesel. Also, the S6 wouldn't be that amazingly better if it were equipped with the 240km/h-rated M+S tires that Sixt usually uses.

xy31

Thanks for all the replies. I ended up canceling the reservation through Expedia and re-booked directly with sixt for LDAR. Price was a little cheaper I think. Although still disappointed that I didn't get an S6 Avant for cheap :/

blitzen

Hi,

Please try your reservation on the various sixt websites sixt.co.uk, sixt, com, sixt de (.de had km limitation) as sometimes they vary

And don't forget to log in with a rebate code (log in use i.e. "9815818" as user and "diamond" as password if you are Hilton Diamond member) as this might further reduce the $
[Sammelthread] Contracts / Rabattcodes für SIXT - SIXT - mietwagen-talk.de - Das Mietwagen Forum

Stranger

Surely the issue here is Expedia, not Sixt? Pretty standard issue too, with any rental car company.

For the life of me, I cannot understand why people would use expedia instead of booking directly with the rental car company (or airline for that matter). I don't believe price is really any better. (Sometimes booking on airline web sites, one might get a better price though.)