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+--- Thread: Rental Car Ruckus 2: Electric Boogaloo (/showthread.php?tid=5304)
Re: Rental Car Ruckus 2: Electric Boogaloo - .RJ - 01-25-2015
Mike Wrote:Or what the reasoning behind it was?
A) it was cheap
2) they'll all be leased
iii) they'll all be driven by dumbass soccer moms and rich college kids
quatro) profits
Re: Rental Car Ruckus 2: Electric Boogaloo - Evan - 03-17-2015
So, went on a nice vacation in south florida / keys recently.
Got a 'full size' rental from alamo, which is what the entire rest of the auto industry calls midsize. My options were Altima, GM something and new Hyundai Sonota. Altima is probably the best driver, but having to look at it every day may have spoiled my vacation. Im sure as shit not driving a GM anything for a week, so since the Hyundai was brand new 'redesigned' I figured it was the best bet.
![[Image: q0mhZuXIUfu8RjxH0s8tWhvybIVwAA_jO3r10cxf_sw]](https://www.amazon.com/clouddrive/share/q0mhZuXIUfu8RjxH0s8tWhvybIVwAA_jO3r10cxf_sw)
![[Image: Tq7pw55uWgwAHPjAbyXmqJZHIb2LZFhaJ_SM7htu...ewBox=1822]](https://content-na.drive.amazonaws.com/cdproxy/templink/Tq7pw55uWgwAHPjAbyXmqJZHIb2LZFhaJ_SM7htuzvULAYspN?viewBox=1822)
Ive probably already wasted more time typing than this vehicle is worth especially considering I highly doubt anyone here would ever consider buying one.
It is, quite simply, the best Toyota Camry imitation South Korea could muster. They didnt do a bad job either, but its still a toyota camry. Aspiring to be a bland tasteless and utterly transparent transportation appliance is not the things automotive excellence is made of.
Exterior: better looking than a camry. not horribly ugly. best part of the car.
in the persuit of mpg, the roofline is outrageously sloped. i hit my head on the roof several times. the trunk lid overhang (and trunk opening) is so small its comical. just put the hinges above the glass and make it a hatchbak already.
Interior: materials were 'soft touch' which the auto magazines talk about so much because for some reason we are supposed to prefer vinyl laminated foam just because its not shiny. The character strip or whatever its called that goes right under the soft touch foam is the most interesting part of it. its a finely scalloped titanium color hard plastic. the texture was unique and good looking.
the rest of the dashboard is horrific silver painted plastic from 2002. Honestly I thought the interior of my cx-5 is its weakest attribute, but it is a rolls royce in comparison in quality and appearance.
The seats were exactly the same as the last camry i rented about 10 years ago. Also exactly the same as the last buick i rode in 20 years ago. Way too soft, overcusioned with absolutely no support whatsoever. Gave some swamp-ass in south florida and hurt my back in anything over an hour of driving.
engine and transmission: completely mediocre. (which was better than i expected) shifts were just barely fast enough to not be called slow. just enough horse power to say it has enough. though honestly on both counts i drove this car slow and relaxed. in nova it would probably be a very different evaluation.
mpg was just under 35mpg in about the most ideal circumstances. long stretches of easy 55mph cruise control. until we hit south beach traffic on the way back and it dipped a bit. its rated at 38mpg highway which seems optimistic.
suspension: rides like a buick. absolutely no road feel. you knew that already, its a camry-like-thing.
thats about it. it isnt an awful car (like the wrangler we rented last time) but you still shouldnt buy one.
Re: Rental Car Ruckus 2: Electric Boogaloo - WRXtranceformed - 04-01-2015
Since I am on a first name basis with the manager of our closest Enteprise, he hooked me up with a free upgrade to a land yacht for the trip down to ATL:
![[Image: 20150331_131200_zps2dmq4sm5.jpg~original]](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v402/WRXTranceformed/Mobile%20Uploads/20150331_131200_zps2dmq4sm5.jpg~original)
New Yukon XL, not a bad way to make a 3.5 hour trip. Thoughts and impressions:
- Dang this thing is BIG. Like I feel like bigger than most trucks on the road. Obviously a lot comes along with that in terms of urban maneuverability, parking etc. But I just can't imagine owning anything that large unless I had twenty kids. My wife isn't a clown car so God willing that will never happen, but for a normal sized family I feel like a normal SUV is totally sufficient
- Maybe this is all new cars, or maybe GM cars but it has a lot of electronic nanny warnings. Some I like and understand (blind spot monitors like I have on my car) but I was beginning to get annoyed at a lot of them. Especially the one that constantly warns you when you go above the speed limit. Dude I know I am going above the speed limit! I turned off lane departure because I knew that would be annoying. Seats that vibrate when your wheels are close to the curb or you're close to something behind you is also kind of unnecessary. What brought me around a little though was the collision warning system which vibrates the entire seat and lights up the windshield with bright red lights if someone is braking fast in front of you. An inevitable Atlanta sharp braking and turn maneuver in front of me set the system off. Would I have caught it before I rear ended them? Yeah probably but it definitely didn't hurt to keep me on my toes
- I would like to guess that this is a GM thing (because I have noticed it in every GM SUV I have driven but not in others like Acura, Jeep, etc.,) but the suspension is a serious weak point for me. The car feels VERY bouncy and floaty; it would make me really nervous to have to do any kind of emergency swerving in that thing. I noticed the same thing when pulling a Uhaul trailer with my buddy's old Tahoe. He upgraded the springs and did some kind of leveling kit when he upgraded his rims and it was like a totally different vehicle. That upgrade would be mandatory for me if I bought one.
- Engine is fine, plenty of power for that vehicle like really any modern V8. My big gripe with GM vehicles though, having owned one and driven a number, is that they have really wonky ECU tuning. Very laggy power delivery, sputtery downshifts...this truck had it too. The Trifecta tune mostly fixed it in my CTS, I would have to look into that as well.
- This particular vehicle must have been completely loaded other than a rear entertainment system and the creature comforts are really nice. The voice feature of the nav system was annoying, it kept reminding me how to do stuff instead of allowing me to speak my destination if I waited for more than 5 seconds. I KNOW WHAT I AM SUPPOSED TO DO LET ME SPEAK WOMAN! I have to say though I was surprised that I did not find the seats very comfortable. My CTS seats were pretty comfy (despite the crappy leather that wore fast and peeled off the back of the seat) so I was assuming these would be too. Based on that alone I would probably rule this vehicle out if I needed a big SUV and drove long distances.
Overall not a bad vehicle but it definitely reaffirmed a lot of my feelings about GM vehicles and I can guarantee I would look the other direction when I saw how much this thing costs. Vehicles like this are fantastic to pick up a few years experienced like Jake did because of their depreciation curve...taking the size out of the equation there are just much better brand options on the market.
Re: Rental Car Ruckus 2: Electric Boogaloo - Jake - 04-01-2015
Good writeup, Lee. The XL's are usually (about) the length of a full-length Silverado as they share a frame. The shorties are much easier to maneuver (my non-XL is 19" shorter than the same-year XL). I'd probably be equally annoyed at the nannies. I wonder if you can order the truck without that package (likely so).
I feel like the floaty feeling is moreso a comparison of body-on-frame vs unibody than anything else. No idea about the current GMT's but the GMT800s (what I have) got magnetic shocks on the Denali trim (or some Tahoes/Burbs if you got "Autoride") which really change how they handle vs a "lesser" model. I'd be curious to compare one with and without in the new model.
Same deal for the seats - the Denali seats on my truck are a bit different/more supportive compared to what non-Denalis got.
I really don't know if I like the looks of these or not. Even with the older trucks, it seems entirely dependent on trim level as to how much I like the styling and how well they drive. GM does charge $Fuckton for one brand-new and I know the profit margins are huge as underneath, they're all just Silverados with fancy things bolted to 'em. Definitely worth buying one after someone else has taken the initial depreciation hit.
Fun fact, you can get a brand new Escalade over the $100k mark. Ridiculous.
Re: Rental Car Ruckus 2: Electric Boogaloo - HAULN-SS - 04-01-2015
I just want to know what other options you're talking about that you might pick up instead of this? I wasn't aware that you could still go outside GM for a full size truck frame SUV anymore.
Re: Rental Car Ruckus 2: Electric Boogaloo - Jake - 04-01-2015
HAULN-SS Wrote:I just want to know what other options you're talking about that you might pick up instead of this? I wasn't aware that you could still go outside GM for a full size truck frame SUV anymore.
Expedition/Navigator.
Re: Rental Car Ruckus 2: Electric Boogaloo - HAULN-SS - 04-01-2015
oh sorry, with a v8.
Re: Rental Car Ruckus 2: Electric Boogaloo - Jake - 04-01-2015
HAULN-SS Wrote:oh sorry, with a v8.
...I think the GM offerings are it, then. The Durango is now a bigger Grand Cherokee, which is not BOF.
I guess it's the Yukburbalade or a pickup truck, now.
Re: Rental Car Ruckus 2: Electric Boogaloo - Evan - 04-01-2015
We rented one in jackson hole ,wy a couple years back. Giant (literally) POS. Everything about them screams that there has been absolutely no development or progress made on them in well over a decade.
Re: Rental Car Ruckus 2: Electric Boogaloo - WRXtranceformed - 04-01-2015
HAULN-SS Wrote:I just want to know what other options you're talking about that you might pick up instead of this? I wasn't aware that you could still go outside GM for a full size truck frame SUV anymore.I don't care what frame the thing has. what I'm saying is for that kind of car note id rather buy a gently used X5 M Sport with the third row seating if I really needed it....and dump it when the CPO warranty is up.
I will say the Bose system is pretty solid as it was in my CTS. I have been spoiled with the B&W in the jag but the Bose has a lot louder and clearer bass
Re: Rental Car Ruckus 2: Electric Boogaloo - D_Eclipse9916 - 04-02-2015
WRXtranceformed Wrote:I don't care what frame the thing has. what I'm saying is for that kind of car note id rather buy a gently used X5 M Sport with the third row seating if I really needed it....and dump it when the CPO warranty is up.
For your usage, I agree the X5 makes a lot more sense for you. For those who tow, or RELY on a vehicle to not be in the shop; they are more than willing to deal with a softer suspension and wider panel gaps. I know enough BMW/Audi/etc SUV owners to know to get a GM/Ford (eh) if you want to depend on getting there and having it tomorrow.
I know plenty of people who choose to go back to cheaper cars simply for the luxury of not having to constantly bring the car to the dealer for every issue that comes up with the luxury brands.
Also, how do those interiors hold up to shit thrown in them, moved around etc for a family? Not well, watching my friend TRASH his Q7 with the same truck stuff I brought in my denali, the Denali holds up infinitely better. (maybe you can't see the gaps created because they are already there!)
Lastly, 3rd row in X5??? with kids?? HAHAHHHAHHAHHAHAHAHAHAHHA. Minivans/Suburbans are simply kings of bring the family and your dogs too. They are definitely built like shit, with big profit margins, and are soulless. You can't beat them for practicality.
Hoping to have just one kid and if I stop racing, I will be in an X5/Cayenne etc; but for some people's purposes, you need that practicality.
Re: Rental Car Ruckus 2: Electric Boogaloo - Jake - 04-02-2015
WRXtranceformed Wrote:X5 M Sport with the third row seating
Lulz. The third row in an X5 is a joke. Maybe the brand new X5's got a bit longer and have more room back there, but the outgoing models are not all that large inside.
Re: Rental Car Ruckus 2: Electric Boogaloo - WRXtranceformed - 04-02-2015
*Shrug* my friend has 3 kids and swears by his wife's X5 with 3rd row and his Tundra. I feel like Muricans are misguided a little into thinking they need to haul around half their house everywhere they go with their kids. But yeah you're right, unless you had like 4+ children I just can't see the need for an absurdly large SUV like that. If I was towing stuff I would probably do it the right way and get a super cab / crewmax pickup and throw my offspring in the back of that thing like my buddy does.
Regarding interior, I take better care of my cars than most and the interior on my CTS was falling to shit pretty quick. The lack of care from that company is pretty apparent even in their newer vehicles. In fact the interior is what sold me out of getting a C6 when I was in the market.
Re: Rental Car Ruckus 2: Electric Boogaloo - WRXtranceformed - 05-16-2015
Been in several more rentals in the last month...got a new Suburban that was basically the exact same as the Yukon XL except I liked it better. Same dumb stuff like speed limit chime but the seats were way more comfortable and the suspension was a lot more livable. Had an Altima that had surprising range (I think like 550mi on one tank) and a Chevy Equinox that was a giant pile but made it to Raleigh and back on 3/4 of a tank.
I bought the manager at my local Enterprise a bottle of whisky to say thanks for being awesome and the free upgrades have continued. I had my choice today of a turd V6 Camaro orrr....the most MM beloved hot hatch GTI. I decided to take the GTI to see what all the fuss was about with you guys, and I will have it for the next 4-5 days so I should get some good seat time on the highway and around town. Impressions so far:
- Snappy little car it really is. Not like fast or anything, but it seems to pick up steam in second gear. I try not to judge rentals cars too harshly because there is a 99% chance that this thing has seen absolutely no premium fuel. I filled it up with 93 so we'll see if that helps things.
- The throttle response is surprisingly sluggish and the steering is numb...which also really surprised me. The car turns in beautifully and feels really nimble once it gets moving but I guess I was expecting more steering feel & responsiveness.
- The TCM programming seems kind of frenetic to be honest, or maybe the gearing is just really short? Around town the car really seems to struggle to pick a gear and stay in it.
- I think i hear the fake engine noise and my wife was thought it was real :lol: That feature is pretty dumb to be honest.
- It does feel very roomy inside and much larger than it appears so that is really nice. It's actually easier for me to get in and out of than my Jag which I am also a big fan of. Doesn't seem to be a lot of back seat space though and I definitely couldn't live with a car this small. That is obviously just a personal thing but that kind of car wouldn't fit my lifestyle. I am assuming you can put the back seats down to fit more things inside, if you don't we barely fit two beach chairs and a cooler we bought for our upcoming beach trip in the trunk.
- The steering wheel feels really quality as does much of the rest of the car, it reminded me of a mini Audi even in base trim. The plaid seats though? Come on man. Also, no AUX input and only an Apple plug? I don't usually connect my phone to rental bluetooth but I guess I don't have a choice for this trip. This car was obviously built for hipsters and I am the anti-hipster.
Not unhappy with the rental so far though and looking forward to stretching its legs a bit on the highway.
Re: Rental Car Ruckus 2: Electric Boogaloo - JPolen01 - 05-16-2015
I really don't get the plaid seats at all. They are so ugly.
Re: Rental Car Ruckus 2: Electric Boogaloo - Mike - 05-16-2015
It's tradition. And not ugly.
Re: Rental Car Ruckus 2: Electric Boogaloo - Ken - 05-16-2015
JPolen01 Wrote:I really don't get the plaid seats at all. They are so ugly.I don't quite get them either but I got a lot of compliments on them
Re: Rental Car Ruckus 2: Electric Boogaloo - davej - 05-16-2015
As much as it pains me to say it, Mike is right, twice.
Re: Rental Car Ruckus 2: Electric Boogaloo - WRXtranceformed - 05-16-2015
More dirty hipsters on this forum than expected!
Re: Rental Car Ruckus 2: Electric Boogaloo - Mike - 05-17-2015
Ken Wrote:JPolen01 Wrote:I really don't get the plaid seats at all. They are so ugly.I don't quite get them either but I got a lot of compliments on them
Ditto. Only other interior I've ever received compliments on was the pornstar Black/Red in the S2000.