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+--- Thread: Rental Car Ruckus 2: Electric Boogaloo (/showthread.php?tid=5304)
- Evan - 11-17-2008
.RJ Wrote:I found another problem with this Escape rental. I keep smashing my shin into the headlight switch getting into it. It took a chunk out of my leg yesterday. Who puts the headlight switch down by your knees on the dash anyways?
well if you didnt have the seat so far forward...... :lol: :wink:
- Maengelito - 04-08-2009
for work, you get to rent cars for any sort of traveling you do so for the past two days, I've been rocking a Kia Spectra. It got me from point A to point B and back to point A traveling 30 miles per gallon of gas so I suppose it did its job. The interior felt pretty cheap, if you turned the stereo up even 1/4 of the way, the door panels would rattle and it was just plain boring to drive. I will say that it was a comfortable ride though, didnt give you any huge blind spots and if you mashed the throttle, had just enough power to get out of its own way.
However
Lets just say hypothetically you've cleaned up your yard and now you're ready to get some mulch on the ground. You can't put much mulch in a Miata, you're not going to put mulch in the Mazda3 you bought 6 days ago and you'd just rather not put mulch in an STi. My sources tell me that you can fit 15 bags of mulch in a Kia Spectra.
![[Image: 3425606508_98632948c2.jpg]](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3624/3425606508_98632948c2.jpg)
I bet you could get 20 bags in there with some careful tetris-style placement, but this hypothetical yard isn't very big, so it shouldn't need more than 15.
8)
- ScottyB - 04-09-2009
hypothetically, would said car be riding home the entire way on the bumpstops?
:lol:
- Maengelito - 04-09-2009
I bet 20 would've put it on the bumpstops because it was pretty looooooow at 15. More importantly, I've found that crappy rental cars DO in fact have some utility to them.
- WRXtranceformed - 05-04-2009
Not rental cars so much, but I got the chance to volunteer after Quail Hollow thanks to my well-connected Charlottian gf! We got to drive the official MB player cars from the golf course to the airport where they were to be loaded up and shipped to Ohio for the next MB-sponsored PGA Tour event.
I got to drive two S550s:
![[Image: 2009-Mercedes-Benz-S550-car-pictures.jpg]](http://www.dieselstation.com/pics/2009-Mercedes-Benz-S550-car-pictures.jpg)
and 2 GL550s with these exact AMG rims:
![[Image: 31_2008_Mercedes_Benz_GL550.jpg]](http://www.emercedesbenz.com/Images/Jul07/31_2008_Mercedes_Benz_GL550.jpg)
Impressions:
S550s were both very nice. One had a backup camera and one didn't, which really surprised me that a car of that caliber would even have one as an optional attachment. If I'm spending that much money on a luxury exec car I would demand something that simple. A/C seats were nice but they have those available even on IS250s. The nav/audio interface was really confusing, although I figured it out after about 5 minutes of fooling around. It has this wheel that is similar to the iDrive I guess on BMWs. Even after I figured it out, it forced me to spend a lot of time looking at the screen and less time paying attention to the road which could lead to disaster. I mean there's no way around it; in order to navigate the menus you pretty much have to take your time sifting through them.
There was a suprising lack of control / buttons mounted to the steering wheel as well. I don't claim that the Japs do everything right, but I felt SO much more comfortable jumping back into my Acura where everything was thoughtfully and efficiently placed and I could navigate menus with one touch buttons.
The car also had about a million hideaway pockets to store stuff. Which I don't really get unless rich people tend to be pack rats and need tons of places to store stuff.
The car had tons of understeer but braked exceptionally well thanks to a sick caliper / drilled rotor setup. I stomped on it a couple of times with TC "disabled" from a stop and it gets up and goes, although the power delivery is overly smooth and doesn't feel like a strong pull until you get to about 65+. You can tell this was meant to be a high speed Audobahn cruiser.
GL550 4Matic: Holy balls this is the nicest SUV I've ever driven. What seemed and felt like real, un-plastic-clearcoated wood trim, better steering wheel buttons and navigation ability (although for some reason the ones I drove didn't have the local airport in the POIs like the S550 did. I wonder if you have to pay extra for that?? lol). Both had what I guess were factory installed TV headrests, chrome steprails and wow does the overall car look so mean. Especially from the front and behind. For being a big SUV it stopped very well and had sick acceleration. Even though some quick internet research shows that my Acura would be quicker through the 1/4 I really don't feel like my car would win in a stoplight race against that thing. 391ft lbs @ 2800 RPMs + AWD = rape
I mean that thing moved out. The suspension adjustability was nice too, I could feel a noticeable stiffening and softening effect. The car was oddly more comfortable for me to drive on the "sport" setting. There were a ton of offroad settings too that I didn't really get to play around with but I would love to take that thing through a muddy field just to see what kind of AWD donuts I could do.
Anyway I had a blast driving these cars! I can say with most certainty that I will probably never own a car like the S550 no matter how much success life brings. The price isn't what turns me away, nor the lack of features for the price (although that doesn't help its cause). The thing is just so BIG. My car is just almost too big for me as far as owning a 4 door sedan, it would just be a pain in my ass to drive something that large that wasn't a truck in an urban setting. The GL550 on the other hand, wow that is not a bad grocery-getter. I would not be embarrassed to be seen in one of those!
Re: 2008 Cobalt LT - BLINGMW - 05-08-2009
Feersty Wrote:Here was my rental car, a 2008 Cobalt LT Coupe:
I too had a Cobalt rental Wednesday, drove down to SC and back for work. It was the 4dr, base model I assume, boring tan. And you know, it was a good little car IMHO. I just saw it being bashed in the "greatest cars" thread and thought I'd defend it here.
Pretty much this:
![[Image: CAB80CHC212A0101_Full.jpg]](http://vehiclemedia.adpentdw.com/images/Chevrolet/2008/CAB80CHC212A0101_Full.jpg)
It honestly did everything I expect of a DD well. Interior was nice, seats were comfortable enough that I didn't mind spending 4 hours each way in it, stereo sounded great, controls were decently laid out, and it even had a little trip computer and tire pressure display. Power and handling were good enough. Auto trans sucked of course, though it wasn't too bad for an auto. I got 38 MPG on the way down and 37 back since it was raining hard and I had the AC on. With a 5-spd, I wouldn't mind owning such a car.
4k rev limiter in N limited my nuetral dropping fun though
Re: Rental Car Ruckus 2: Electric Boogaloo - .RJ - 04-21-2010
Someone should get an award for how bad this thing sucks.
![[Image: 2010-dodge-avenger-reviews.jpg]](http://2010dodgeavenger.files.wordpress.com/2009/12/2010-dodge-avenger-reviews.jpg)
It rides like crap AND wallows all over the place on the road. The steering feels like a video game. The stereo controls are garbage. The seats suck. I cant see a goddamn thing out of the mirrors.
In 3 hours I return this damn car and fly out of the big easy... goodnight, frathouse basement.
Re: Rental Car Ruckus 2: Electric Boogaloo - SlimKlim - 04-21-2010
When my car had surprise buttsecks with a civic on 33W I got a 2008 Chevy Malibu rental car edition where they take crap off. It had a 4(?) speed auto with no slapcrap mode, and a teeny weeny little 4 banger in an oversized car. The seats sucked, the interior was lined with chrome, which was not only ugly, it blinded you when the sun hit it. The steering was terrible and it felt like I suggested the direction I wanted it to go. It was so slow I kept flooring it and thinking I had stepped on the brake.
However, that being said, the stereo was x100000 times better than anything i would have expected in a car that awful. It had an Aux input and i rocked out to my ipod the entire time I had it. Everything was crystal clear and it got pretty loud, the bass was sort of crappy but not even as crappy as I would have expected. :dunno:
Re: Rental Car Ruckus 2: Electric Boogaloo - Jake - 04-21-2010
When MM went to VIR in March, we rented one of these...
![[Image: vansmoke.jpg]](http://www.turbovan.net/vansmoke.jpg)
...but ours was twenty years newer, base-model white, and had one more sliding door and one less turbocharger. It was still kind of a pile, though. Was a 2009 Grand Caravan with only 7,xxx on the odometer. I put 542 miles on it according to JMU, so I got a good feel for the "experience" - and all I have to say is
![[Image: 7301dl.jpg]](http://aboulet.files.wordpress.com/2009/03/7301dl.jpg)
C'mon Dodge. You can do better.
This was the "SE" trim, which in Dodge-speak means "base model with stuff removed" like in Joey's Malibu. Ours had the surprisingly underpowered 3.3L V6 that's rated around 170 hp. 4-speed AutoStick, so I could slap it into a lower gear if I wanted. No tachometer in the gauge cluster. Hurrrwha?
The DGC was ├╝ber-slow and frequently downshifted into 2nd for small hills. I could AutoStick it, but the upshift from 2nd to 3rd when in AutoStick resulted in a big ol' slip from the trans. With 7,000 miles on the van. Yeah.
Stereo system was good, it had an aux input so we could rock out. The Stow & Go seats were cool in theory but because they have to fit into a shallow well, the seats themselves are really thin and full of fail. Driver's seat was comfy enough. Lots of cupholders and space for "things" and "activities."
We managed ~17 mpg out of the van which was not surprising considering the need for 2nd gear on any hill. In going over the mountain on 250 in the rain, I discovered that both the high and low beams were sourced from the cheapest bidder... they were terrible.
Overall, it was a marginal van. I have no need for a minivan (and would never buy one) but I can easily see why Honda and Toyota are above Dodge/Chrysler in the list of mommy-mobiles. Time to step up the game, Dodge.
Re: Rental Car Ruckus 2: Electric Boogaloo - SlimKlim - 04-21-2010
Jake Wrote:I have no need for a minivan (and would never buy one)
Good incentive to wrap it before you tap it.
I should put together a campaign to try and sell for those family planning PSAs. Just a picture of a minivan, with some quippy tagline.
Re: Rental Car Ruckus 2: Electric Boogaloo - WRXtranceformed - 04-21-2010
All of the soccer moms around here drive Chrysler T&Cs or big ass Tahoes / Suburbans...which is even scarier than a Dodge minivan!!
Re: Rental Car Ruckus 2: Electric Boogaloo - Evan - 04-22-2010
I got a nissan sentra rental a little while ago. Worst compact car Ive ever driven.
Brakes were touchy full on / full off, ergonomics was complete shit, steering wandered all over and had no real center. I despised having to drive it. Every time I see one on the road I feel sorry for the driver.
Got a Kia Somethingorother (optima?) in Montana. It was adequate and average. No big complaints other than it wouldnt let me do neutral drops
Re: Rental Car Ruckus 2: Electric Boogaloo - Mike - 04-22-2010
Evan Wrote:I got a nissan sentra rental a little while ago. Worst compact car Ive ever driven.
Brakes were touchy full on / full off, ergonomics was complete shit. I despised having to drive it. Every time I see one on the road I feel sorry for the driver.
+1. especially those guys with the "spec-v" who think they've got the hot shit.
Re: Rental Car Ruckus 2: Electric Boogaloo - Jake - 04-22-2010
Evan Wrote:No big complaints other than it wouldnt let me do neutral drops
The Grand Caravan wouldn't even let me REV in neutral. At all. Or park.
Re: Rental Car Ruckus 2: Electric Boogaloo - Jeff - 04-24-2010
Ok Jake, let me suggest this. Pay the same amount they paid for a Toyota or a Honda...oh wait...YOU CAN'T. You were driving a van they purchased on a fleet deal for probably...I dunno...22K? "But wait Jeff! Toyota says I can get a base model van for $24!!!!" Ok, with a 4 banger, no stow-n-go...a real piece of shit. I fucking hate it when people judge a whole line of auto's and say "Step your game up" from a below base model rental. I'm not even saying you have to drive the top-o-the-line either. An SXT can get you all 3 power doors, 3.8L, aluminum wheels, and TWO TV's for around $30. I'm just saying, don't talk shit about a whole model based on the shit economy package.
Re: Rental Car Ruckus 2: Electric Boogaloo - Goodspeed - 04-24-2010
![[Image: you_mad.jpg]](http://videogum.com/img/thumbnails/photos/you_mad.jpg)
And Toyota is Jeff's NEMESSSIIISSSSSSS. Always with the Toyota.
Not much to report, other than that I regularly drive Ford Rangers and a Chevy Colorado at work. Both suck.
Quote:BLINGMW Wrote:Feersty Wrote:Here was my rental car, a 2008 Cobalt LT Coupe:
I too had a Cobalt rental Wednesday, drove down to SC and back for work. It was the 4dr, base model I assume, boring tan. And you know, it was a good little car IMHO.
I did too drive a Cobalt sedan rental around when one of the trucks was in for service, and was actually pretty happy with it. The whole driving position centered around a massively cab-forward design and a really high seating position, which actually made it pretty fun to drive around town with the small diameter chunky steering wheel. You could grate cheese on the interior plastics and the radio controls were truly impaired, however...a turd, but a decent one.
Re: Rental Car Ruckus 2: Electric Boogaloo - Mike - 04-25-2010
hey jeff, that viper i drove last year also had a horrendous interior and ridiculously cheap knobs and such... i guess it was a base model? also, nobody in their right mind would pay $30k for a chrysler minivan. that's laughable.
Re: Rental Car Ruckus 2: Electric Boogaloo - Jeff - 04-25-2010
Mike Wrote:hey jeff, that viper i drove last year also had a horrendous interior and ridiculously cheap knobs and such... i guess it was a base model? also, nobody in their right mind would pay $30k for a chrysler minivan. that's laughable.
![[Image: 1189960203870cp7.jpg]](http://img263.imageshack.us/img263/5292/1189960203870cp7.jpg)
Quit being a fag Mike. :evileye:
Re: Rental Car Ruckus 2: Electric Boogaloo - Mike - 04-25-2010
![[Image: black_kettle.jpg]](http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_e3gDaHO8VLQ/R2FuolZzkBI/AAAAAAAADCs/7ZDMX3srYyo/s320/black_kettle.jpg)
Re: Rental Car Ruckus 2: Electric Boogaloo - WRXtranceformed - 04-18-2011
So we took a weekend trip down to Charleston to get away from it all and decided to rent a car for the trip for three reasons:
1. Chelsea works for Enterprise so she gets laughably cheap rates
2. It was supposed to hail on the drive down and I didn't want my car to be a victim like thousands of other cars in this area about a week ago
3. I have a busted foglight and didn't want rain to get all up in it until I replace it tonight
The choices were narrowed down to their premium segment, which was
1. New V6 Mustang (I begged her to find a V8 but they don't rent them)
2. New 300C
3. New Genesis
4. Volkswagon CC
I let her pick, and we ended up with this:
![[Image: Volkswagen-CC-2.jpg]](http://www.jamwallpapers.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/Volkswagen-CC-2.jpg)
It was a pretty base model obviously, but had Sat / HD radio and a couple of nice features.
My overall thoughts:
Appearance: Really like, front the front anyway. There is much to be desired in the rear (that's what she said) and the standard 16" (I think) wheels are pretty Civic-ish. With a nice set of wheels I think the car would look fantastic. The interior is rental car-esque but still reasonably laid out for a German car. The HUD is pretty confusing to navigate through like most German vehicles and the seats were designed to be "sporty" but ended up squeezing my thighs the whole trip...and I am not a big guy.
Performance: Holy understeer. The car was downright scary on off-ramps, I almost plowed into a curve coming out of an aggressive turn. I think a big part of the smushyness of the handling probably came from the crap tires they put on it. I would really like to drive one with a decent set of tires and the adjustable sport suspension option, I think it would probably be a night and day difference. The car would literally float driving down the highway at ~80mph, I had to make constant adjustments to keep it straight especially when it was windy.
I was really impressed with the 2.0T engine though. For only 200hp it was great from a low dig and pulled surprisingly quickly from 80-100mph. Where it kind of fell flat was in the midrange of 50-70 and 35-50. You could definitely feel the turbo kick in when you hammered it. But it was very smooth which probably got help from the DSG transmission (do not like). Overall we averaged about 29mpg which is good, but that's also what my TL-S musters on the highway with more weight and +86hp.
At first my normal German car hate kicked in when my girlfriend pulled up in it, and then during the trip when the radio went in and out intermittently (it kept picking up / dropping HD signal, which is annoying) but I really started to like the car by the end of the trip. Would I buy one? No, but I think it was a well executed car and would probably be a really nice DD with all of the trimmed out options.