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13 March 2007

Rental car choices? [More:]
I am renting a car. I have 3 choices, which car company would you use, or avoid like the plague?

Alamo, is the cheapest, but I have to wonder why they are so much cheaper than the other two. You get what you pay for worries me in that situation.

National, medium priced. My old boss used to swear by them every time he'd go somewhere.

Enterprise, most expensive, but most trustworthy. I have rented through them before with no problems.

Does anyone have any experience with these companies? Is it worth a few dollars to go with Alamo or National over Enterprise? Any advice, please and thank you.
I liked Enterprise because of their "we'll pick you up" policy. Do they still do that?
posted by mischief 13 March | 13:44
yes they do. After doing yet another round of let's find out what's wrong with this company online, enterprise is looking like my company of choice.
posted by getoffmylawn 13 March | 13:47
I've used Alamo in the past and have had no problems with them. And after a horrific experience with Hertz this past weekend, plan to go back to Alamo.

I get the impression that Alamo is cheap if you plan ahead. The few times I've needed something last minute, they've been just as expensive as other places.
posted by occhiblu 13 March | 13:52
Also, Alamo and National are the same company, different niche markets.
posted by occhiblu 13 March | 13:52
I've rented from Enterprise, no issues.
My roommate and I don't have cars, so when we had a big wedding gig (we're DJs) we decided to rent a car for the weekend since, well, why not? Enterprise was all out (it was spur of the moment to decide on the car), but they actually referred us to a Budget neither knew existed not far away. Which I thought was pretty awesome of them, and not at all expected.

We were happy with Budget as well. They only had two cars left- a van and a Mustang. So, to our dismay, we had to suffer through driving around in a brand new cherry-red mustang all weekend. Torture, I tell you.
posted by kellydamnit 13 March | 15:01
Occiblu, I had made a reservation with Alamo, did a little more research and found that National and Alamo had merged. Then I saw a bunch of consumer reports that said Alamo was terrible. So, your post makes me feel much, much better. I also made a reservation with Enterprise just in case, now if I could just figure out which one to cancel.

Alamo was about 120, National was about 130, Enterprise about 150 for 4 days.

I guess I am trying to decide how much $30 bucks is worth to me in confidence that my reservation will be there, my car will be ready and available, and run problem free. Some bunny tell me what to do here. I'm too indecisive.

posted by getoffmylawn 13 March | 15:15
I've been using Alamo for years. Consistently for 1.5 years out of Logan/Boston. I'd venture at least 15 rentals. Not one problem. Not even when I noticed a ding in the car after one night in my hotel parking lot.

I don't care for Enterprise. They always kept me waiting. I won't ever rent from them again.

Another company I try to avoid? Dollar. The location at Logan fraudulently bills customers higher amounts. On their invoices they'll say 11% blah blah fee, but if you do the calculation you'll actually realize they are charging you 19 or 20 percent. I called them on it and the manager of the facility was violent and hostile with me. He threw things at me and called the police. He even refused to let the shuttle driver take me to the terminal.

Alamo and Avis are my favorites. Alamo beats Avis on price almost all the time, but Avis beats just about anybody on service.
posted by FlamingBore 13 March | 15:35
You must read this.
posted by Rhomboid 13 March | 16:18
Consumerist had a great piece on how to get a bargain from enterprise. Just make sure you refill the gas tank. I'm getting hosed for forgetting last time I rented.
posted by theora55 13 March | 16:55
Thanks Rhomboid, I read this site before I rented with Enterprise the last time, yet I had absolutely NO PROBLEMS with them at all, except my car wasn't ready so they gave me an upgrade at no additional charge.

I have never used Alamo, but they are the least expensive. FB and Occiblu made me feel pretty OK about renting from Alamo, so I think I will.
posted by getoffmylawn 13 March | 16:55
I have a business account with National and have had good luck with them. I liek that I can go to any section, pick a car and just drive off the lot. Last week, I got a really nice convertible from Avis for cheap (through Priceline) - excellent customer service. Everytime I get a car from Enterprise, it is dirty - usually surface clean, but if you drop something on the floor or pop the trunk, you get a dirty surprise. When I rent, I end up living out of them, so that is just gross. I once got into a fight with Alamo re: whether a Mustang was a 4 door standard or not. To this day I can't figure out how I would have gotten my grandma into the back seat.
posted by blackkar 13 March | 17:24
blackkar: OMG! My Enterprise car was pretty dirty. It was, as you said, surface clean, but that was about it. There was some huge pink stain that looked like cotton candy or nail polish was spilled all over. I took copious amounts of photos of the car and the interior in front of the rental agent before I drove it off the lot.
posted by getoffmylawn 13 March | 17:36
I'm renting with Thrifty for the first time this weekend. With a name like Thrifty, it's got to be mediocre.
posted by eamondaly 13 March | 19:22
Bunnies OMG! || Half Seen and Not Quite Overheard

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