It's Summer. Time to get away from it all and remember why you work so hard. If your plans take you far from home, odds are, there's a rental car in your future. Depending on the locale, maybe you'd want something a bit more fun than the run-of-the-mill econobox. With a couple of minutes of research, here are some options I'd consider.
Mustang Convertible - Here in Southern California, I'm convinced that 90% of all V6 Mustangs I see near the beach are rentals. And who could blame 'em? It's a good vacation car -- comfortable, open air, decent trunk space and attractively styled.
Jeep Wrangler - This was a recommendation from Mr. Riswick, and I heartily agree. I can see this as being a great rental in tropical destinations -- driving through jungle canopies with the top down, maybe a surfboard on top or SCUBA gear in the back. All I'll need at this point is a pair of flip-flops, aviator sunglasses and a full tank.
Chevy Corvette ZHZ - Other agencies rent Corvettes, but only Hertz rents the ZHZ. Like the Shelby Mustang Hertz from years past, the Corvette ZHZ has a certain cool, special edition cache about it. Performance isn't significantly improved over the base 'Vette, but I doubt most renters would be wringing it out too hard, anyways.
Some of the bigger rental agencies also offer the new Camaro, but also offer the Mustang -- I'd go with the Mustang in either coupe or convertible, instead. Enterprise Rent-A-Car doesn't specifically list which cars are available, but they do list some former rentals for sale -- like a Mini Cooper S and BMW 3-Series. There was also a time when I saw a Lotus Elise in an Enterprise in my neighborhood.
For those with deeper pockets, there are a handful of exotic car rentals in major metropolitan areas. A quick search turned up an Audi R8 for $950 a day, with 50 mile per day and $1.00 for every mile thereafter. Yikes.
By yellowbal
on July 16, 2010
09:18 AM
I always try to see if it's possible to do a burnout. Prius and Civic Hybrid = not possible. Nissan Sentra, easy.
Kia Rio or Hyundai Accent = uphill on a wet road.
By kingkhalas
on July 16, 2010
02:12 PM
I can spin the tires in my Prius.
By firstwagon
on July 17, 2010
10:10 AM
I found it easy to do a burn out in an Accent. You just have to bring the revs up a little more before you let out the clutch.
I can't get my vulcan V6 Taurus to do it though.
By slickersdrip
on July 19, 2010
09:55 PM
Here in Austin (and especially upon the UT campus) I see a lot of those ugly, look at me Corvettes. With the cheap looking chrome wheels and stripe that essentially points to the fact that it has no hood scoop to designate it isn't anything special, I make a point to vocally criticize the likely balding, making up for something renter of the car. I tend to do this, because the moron who rented one tends to stand around the car like he owns it while visiting his Alma mater.
I love Corvettes--don't get me wrong, but those Hertz versions are terrible looking.