I just got back from a trip to Denver and then a drive to Cheyenne. It was a 2003 Chevy Malibu with the smallest engine (I guess the 2.2l). That car was powerless. I know the gas mileage was good, but driving the car was horrible. I got back late and fired up the G. Thank God. The leather wraps around you and the engine throws you back in it. Anyone else have some bad experiences with rentals? Sound off.

 

I travel Mon-Thur and have a rental every week... Here's the list of rentals that I have had. Everyone one of them was horrible. Keep in mind, I don't get to choose what car I get when I rent (corporate thing).

-Ford Mustang Conv.
-Ford Taurus
-Ford Expedition
-Pontiac Grand Am
-Pontiac Grand Prix
-Lincoln Town Car
-Mercury Grand Marquis
-Kia Sorenta
-Kia Amanti
-Chrysler Pacifica
-Toyota Matrix
-Toyota Highlander
-Nissan Altima

Of these, my favorite is the Toyota Highlander. Although an SUV, and I'm not an SUV fan, this is my favorite vehicle to rent. The V6 model has decent pick up and is actually fun to drive.

NOTHING compares to my G though and because I drive these cars throughout the week, when I get home to my G it feels like I'm driving a brand new car on the weekend. I love it!!!

 

I went down south to close on our house and needed a rental for 10 days. I get to the Hertz counter and had a Crown Vic reserved. The guy said we have either a Vic or a Bonneville or LeSabre. I was like, please, I don't want any GM crap, the last time I was there I rented an Impala which was the biggest POS I've driven in a long time; I think I scared my wife a few times taking some turns at the speed limit, she was like SLOW DOWN...just give me something with low miles please!

So the agent says I have one of those new Ford 500's, do you want to try that? Now I've heard/read all of the negative press on the new 500, it's underpowered, blah blah blah. Yeah, I'll take that! 4500 mi. on the clock and a nice shade of dark red metallic to boot. I get in, hmm nice big side mirrors that must have been lifted from the F150 parts bin. Nice seating position. The column stalks are so big that I grabbed the wipers the first few times to shift into park lol. Not as underpowered as they are saying, you're not going to take on a G for instance but totally acceptable for everyday use. I like the way the blinker returns at the last turn of the wheel like a euorpean car. It was good on gas too, I think I filled it up twice in 10 days.

Now, for the bad. The rear windows don't open all the way which I believe to be a safety hazard. There is a horrible chime that sounds when you don't buckle up within 30 sec. I can put my belt on like a big boy, thank you. Worst of all this particular car made a horrible noise from the front end when turning the wheel. At first I thought it could be a CV joint but it made the noise while standing still. Then maybe I thought the lugs were loose? I hate having to diagnose rental cars. Finally, I stopped caring but it was a little unnerving thinking the front wheel could fall off. In all fairness, it was a rental and who knows what it's been through in it's short life. I didn't tell Hertz b/c I didn't want to be blamed for any potential damage.

Would I buy one? NO way but it wasn't a bad car to spend a week + in. We got home last Wed. but I haven't driven the G yet. I can't wait to take her out tomorrow!

 

Last summer, I had a 2004 Taurus rental for over a week on vacation. It just wasn't cost effective to drive 2 days each way in my G35 on top of everything else, plus I ended up putting 1800 miles on the Taurus anyway.

On the other hand, I sure wished I had my Navi.

First day, I notice how underpowered it was compared to my G35, and didn't handle quite as well.

After that, the only thing that bothered me was no navi.

Note, it brought back memories. Handled better than my 1995 Taurus I had for 7 years before the G35, but still handled enough like a Ford that it felt familiar, and I felt comfortable enough in it.

Before the Taurus, I drove an 88 Nova for 6 1/2 years. When I later drove a Camry, I could tell the similar feel.

As for Chrysler products. I drove a Sebring convertable on vacation last April. (In Hawaii, so driving was NOT an option). Felt the best of the rental Chrysler's I've driven, which have included Intrepids, Neons, and Stratus's.

 

I, too, travel a good amount for work. The worst car I've ever had as a rental has got to be a Kia Rio. Next would be a tie between a Dodge Neon and the Pontiac Sunfire. Preferred rental is the Nissan Altima. My last trip I got stuck driving a crew cab Dodge Dakota pickup truck.

Returning home to my baby and punching the gas always puts a big huge smile on my face.

 

I owne a 2003 Toyota Matrix Xrs 6 Speed With 200Hp and Redline upto 8200 RPM and i love it. Maybe is Because you have the Base Model that has 130 Hp and it Suck Good Luck with your next Rental.

here is a photo nothing like this one

 

NICE! Not RICE! I like it.

 

To keep this G related, I saw a real attractive lady pass me by one day over my trip in a '05 G Sedan with an enterprise sticker on the back. I was jealous.

 

I've only seen G's as rentals in California (LA Enterprise). The upgrade for me would have been $75. If I had taken it, the company would have had a fit. They also had FX's for rental.

 

G35XLOVER....
The rental Matrix I had was definitely base for sure. It wasn't the XR or the XRS. Just didn't have any juice to it. 0-60 seemed like forever and it didn't jump when I put the gas to the floor. Your's looks nice though and definitely "looks" faster than the rental I had.

 

The hands-down worst rental I've ever driven was in San Diego last October. The airport Avis was nearly out of cars, and I told the clerk who tried to give me a Vibe I wanted something with a trunk (I had two laptops with me). So he searched... and searched... and finally came up with something called an Oldsmobile Classic.

I had visions of a big ol' barge of a car with lots of room. Instead I got a rebadged base-model Chevy Malibu painted the worst shade of cranberry metallic I've ever seen. (I found out later that the Classic is sold only to fleets. $15K rebates couldn't move those things off retail lots.) And the thing was a complete piece, utter trash. Underpowered, noisy and squeaky, and the whole car sort of vibrated in tune to the little four-cylinder engine, which felt like it was bolted directly to the unibody without those expensive rubber thingies called engine mounts. Plus, it was a smoker's car, and it stunk with a reeking funk.

A few months later, in Seattle, I rented a loaded Pacifica AWD complete with black leather and cluster-mounted onboard navigation. Nice family hauler. I liked it a lot.

 

I have also rented a Buick LaCrosse CSX (the best package). Hertz was out of everything so they gave me this. I used to look at them as a common Buick but was really impressed. The LaCrosse CSX was powerful, pretty good handling, and a very smooth ride. I finally checked the specs and the CSX pushes 240hp and 225lb-ft of torque with its 3.6 liter VVT DOHC V6.

None-the-less I was very impressed by Buick's creation. Wouldn't trade my G for it, but a potential prospect when I get older.

 

I think my worst was a pontiac vibe. Ick.

 

I dont do a lot of corp travel, but I was recently in Charlotte NC for a 4 day training. I got a Honda Civic from Enterprise.

Was a new car, but was way underpowered, specially since I have own a G.

On the last day, when I was dropping off the car, the salesman came out to receive it and we started a conversation.

"so how was the car"
"not bad" (was trying to be nice)
"you drive something bigger ?"
"in fact something with a lot more power"
"oh what do you drive"
"a G35"
"wow ..." his eyes popped out ....and we had a small good conversation about the G.

Once landed at the airport, couldn't wait to drive my G back home. Just step on it ...power.

 

Great thread ... it is amazing what junk passes for a rental car. It's no wonder nobody buys these cars, we're all getting test drives from Avis, Hertz, and Budget and then saying "no thanks!"

On a semi-related note: I'm borrowing a Lincoln LS V8 from a friend while my G's repaired from a rear-ender. Now the LS has suprised me, and is a very well behaved car, with plenty of power to boot. If the domestics could build more cars this well, they'd be doing a lot better in the game. The Chrysler 300C is a good start