Hi guys,
do you have any experience in renting a "midsize" car at Hertz?
I am flying to Seattle on wednesday and will use the car to drive up to Vancouver where I am for business, however we (the girlfriend and I) will also have a week of leisure to drive around and explore the area. I am looking forward to this because my parents lived in Vancouver and it brings back precious memories of former visits. I also think that it is an awesome city.
So back to the original question: I got a good deal via the German automobile club for a midsize car at Hertz so I "bought" the rental through them. Now I kept browsing the Hertz website what kind of car a "midsize" is in the US. I kept finding different cars among these a Toyota Corolla (German site) and a Mazda 6 (US site). Obviously given European models the Corolla is a different size than the Mazda 6. I would say the Corolla is the same class as a Golf/Focus and the 6 is the same size as a Passat/Mondeo. Or am I wrong here?
Anyway does anyone have experience in what you can get as a midsize at Hertz? I guess I will do as always then just ask at the counter and pick one of the available cars. A Mazda 6 would be nice though.
The Corolla is a compact, like the Golf or Jetta.
The Mazda 6 is a midsize, like the Passat, yes.
Bear in mind that you may end up in a larger car with your midsize reservation, very common in US rental companies.
You could also call the specific Hertz outlet you'll be renting from (Seattle airport?) and ask them what makes and models of cars they have available right there.
Midsize will get you something like a Mazda6 or Pontiac G6 (maybe a Chevy Malibu) or Dodge/Chrysler Stratus/Sebring. The Pontiac or the Stratus/Sebring are probably more likely since I think they are the more popular fleet vehicles.
Enterprise says the Corrolla is a midsize car and the Mazda6 is a full size. I have personal experience with this one.
Quote from: HEMI666 on May 10, 2009, 09:06:07 AM
Enterprise says the Corrolla is a midsize car and the Mazda6 is a full size. I have personal experience with this one.
I remembered that being the case too, that many car rental companies list size classes one size off from everyone else. But they seem to have changed their terminology to make a bit more sense.
http://www.enterprise.com/car_rental/showVehicles.do
Quote from: HEMI666 on May 10, 2009, 09:06:07 AM
Enterprise says the Corrolla is a midsize car and the Mazda6 is a full size. I have personal experience with this one.
I was just on the Hertz site and they list the Focus ("or similar") as compact and the Mazda6 ("or similar") as midsize. They list the Pontiac G6 as "standard". I'm not sure what that means, but I presume that would also qualify as midsize. Chevy Impala is listed as a full size with the Grand Marquis listed as "premium".
For midsize you will probably get a Mazda 6 or Pontiac G6. Maybe a Ford Fusion or Saturn Aura.
When we went through Enterprise last year, a Magnum was a full size and was charged just the same as a full size sedan. So by my deductions through Enterprise, a Malibu, Fusion, Altima, or something similar would probably be a midsize.
My rental experience has been that Cobalts are considered "midsize" and Malibus are "full size".
Quote from: Laconian on May 10, 2009, 06:30:59 PM
My rental experience has been that Cobalts are considered "midsize" and Malibus are "full size".
Which is odd, since IIRC, the EPA classifies the Cobalt as a subcompact.
Quote from: 2o6 on May 10, 2009, 06:38:06 PM
Which is odd, since IIRC, the EPA classifies the Cobalt as a subcompact.
Nobody ever said rental companies had to align their classifications with the government's.
An Aveo is considered a subcompact in rental parlance.
Quote from: 2o6 on May 10, 2009, 06:38:06 PM
Which is odd, since IIRC, the EPA classifies the Cobalt as a subcompact.
The Cobalt sedan is a compact per the EPA. The coupe might be a subcompact.
In short, it's a cluster-fuck and there's no sure way to know what you'll end-up with, especially since you'll more likely than not get upgraded to a large anyway.
Quote from: MX793 on May 10, 2009, 09:15:45 AM
I was just on the Hertz site and they list the Focus ("or similar") as compact and the Mazda6 ("or similar") as midsize. They list the Pontiac G6 as "standard". I'm not sure what that means, but I presume that would also qualify as midsize. Chevy Impala is listed as a full size with the Grand Marquis listed as "premium".
Grand Marquis as premium? Well la-dee-da.
My dad and I reserved a midsize in San Francisco and ended up getting a Magnum SXT.
Quote from: CJ on May 10, 2009, 09:22:01 PM
My dad and I reserved a midsize in San Francisco and ended up getting a Magnum SXT.
That's a rather big midsize car. Our Magnum SE was a fullsizer.
Quote from: the Teuton on May 10, 2009, 09:32:05 PM
That's a rather big midsize car. Our Magnum SE was a fullsizer.
In Richmond we rented a midsize and it was shown on the web site as being a Cobalt. We ended up having a Charger SXT.
Quote from: Raza on May 10, 2009, 09:20:38 PM
Grand Marquis as premium? Well la-dee-da.
:lol:
Here in America, we buy cars by the pound.
Quote from: 280Z Turbo on May 10, 2009, 09:36:38 PM
:lol:
Here in America, we buy cars by the pound.
I wish that were true. A Lotus Elise would be so cheap.
Quote from: 2o6 on May 10, 2009, 09:39:43 PM
I wish that were true. A Lotus Elise would be so cheap.
No, the Lotus is just a poor value to the average American. Low lb/$ ratio.
Quote from: 2o6 on May 10, 2009, 09:39:43 PM
I wish that were true. A Lotus Elise would be so cheap.
I believe Swifts weigh the same. That would be yours. Or a Smart.
Quote from: TBR on May 10, 2009, 09:15:18 PM
In short, it's a cluster-fuck and there's no sure way to know what you'll end-up with, especially since you'll more likely than not get upgraded to a large anyway.
I guess so. Last year when I rented a car in Lihue (midsize) I got a Taurus, and the midsizer in Kona was an Impala, so I will stay surprised what I will get.
It seems to be different in Europe, every time I rented a small car in Greece I got a Peugeot 107, bigger cars over here usually cost you an arm and a leg...
Thanks to all for replying
There has been a certain amount of recategorisation by Hertz.
The old model Mazda 6 was deemed to be the "sample" car for Group C, a Mid-size. The new one, I believe is officially classed a full size, Group F.
The Corolla - amazingly - was reclassed to mid-size a while back, but as it is also a "Green" car, it has a separate booking category.
Other Group C cars include the Chevy HHR, the PT Cruiser (if they have any), the old model Chevy Malibu (branded "Classic"), the Mercury Milan, the rarely encountered Dodge Avenger and Chrysler Sebring (Hertz have v few Chrysler products these days). You may find that the latest Focus and Civic come in the group (they both used to be Group B). The Ford Fusion is also classed as a "Green" car, with a separate booking class (Group E), but usually also counts as a C. There are a few oddities that end up in this group, too, like the Jetta 2.5, the Volvo S40 and the Beetle, but these are rare finds in the Hertz fleet.
Group D - which used to be for sporty 2 door cars, ie the Mustang Coupe, now includes the G6, the Malibu, the Sonata, the Altima, as well as the Mustang Coupe.
Group F includes the Impala, Taurus/Sable, Accord, Grand Prix (they still have them!), Saturn Aura, Camry.
I've driven quite a few of these over the years.......... there are some test reports in the "Road Test" section of www.themotor.net ......... if it were me, I'd try to get a Milan/Fusion if all I wanted was a comfy roomy car that drives well. It's not much fun, though! But then, none of these cars are!
Good Luck!
Hertz gave us a Camry the other week for our 'midsize' rental.
Quote from: Colin on May 10, 2009, 11:46:44 PM
I've driven quite a few of these over the years.......... there are some test reports in the "Road Test" section of www.themotor.net ......... if it were me, I'd try to get a Milan/Fusion if all I wanted was a comfy roomy car that drives well. It's not much fun, though! But then, none of these cars are!
Good Luck!
Ok, then I try to get one of those. Don't worry I drive an A-Class back home I'm used to cars that are not too much fun :lol:
I didn't bother to read the thread besides the topic, but in my experience the rental companies give you whatever they have, for the most part. We went to Miami and got a corvette convertable for example, for the price of something else because it was all they had left. It also works the other way as well. Just saying, don't be surprised when you get a fucking Aveo is all. :lol:
A reservation at these places merely reserves a car, not necessarily what you want.
Quote from: Minpin on May 12, 2009, 03:21:19 AM
I didn't bother to read the thread besides the topic, but in my experience the rental companies give you whatever they have, for the most part. We went to Miami and got a corvette convertable for example, for the price of something else because it was all they had left. It also works the other way as well. Just saying, don't be surprised when you get a fucking Aveo is all. :lol:
A reservation at these places merely reserves a car, not necessarily what you want.
They have to give you something equal to or better than your reservation, no? You can get a free upgrade, but I don't think they also offer a free downgrade.
Correct..... only in exceptional circumstances will they downgrade you (that'll be Hertz at LHR then, when they run out of cars, which is almost a permanent occurrence!).
I got a brand new Infiniti FX35 for the price of a Group B car last time I was at LAX....... though my best deal has to be a Merc S350 for the price of a Group C Ford Focus in Zurich. The fact that all the staff there know me may have just helped them a bit with that, but it was a very welcome and appreciated upgrade. I wrote to Hertz Customer Service to thank them, too............ which probably helped my reputation with the counter rep next time I saw him (he's good and looks after me anyway!).
So what did I get?
... a brand new (600 miles) 2009 Subaru Impreza.
It is a nice car (for a rental anyway). Drives nicely, has decent power and isn't a large FWD land-yacht. I am pleased, it is decently equipped too with sunroof and stuff like that.
Nice car...
I will write a more thorough review as I have driven it a bit more... (just from the airport to the hotel so far)
Quote from: ifcar on May 12, 2009, 04:16:12 AM
They have to give you something equal to or better than your reservation, no? You can get a free upgrade, but I don't think they also offer a free downgrade.
You sweet, trusting, teddy bear. :wub:
Quote from: Colin on May 12, 2009, 12:36:57 PM
Correct..... only in exceptional circumstances will they downgrade you (that'll be Hertz at LHR then, when they run out of cars, which is almost a permanent occurrence!).
You can add Hertz John Wayne (Orange County) to that list.
Let's just say 1 family + Dodge Colt + Interstate 5 = hell