Car hire USA......

oo7tk

Im flyin over to San Francisco at the end of March and am lookin to drive to Vegas in a nice car maybe have it for 2 days and fly back..... Anyone ever used a decent company or recommend one or any advice??? Lookin for a nice car maybe a mustang, Corvette or Supercharged Camaro when in Rome and all that....??? Seems that is pretty much the best of what you can rent anyway.....

Cheers....

Saruman

Most of them rent cars like that.

oo7tk

Saruman wrote: »

Most of them rent cars like that.

Well thats why i asked for help, i have seen 1 mustang but no Corvettes or the likes......

Eoin

I did exactly that a couple of times, I'll dig out the details.

Most firms will allow it, but you might be charged extra for returning the car to a different State, plus there might be a mileage limit etc. You should definitely shop around. I checked out loads of places online, but I think it was a travel agent based here that got me the best deal.

I would be very careful renting a Mustang. Most companies have "Mustang or similar". This is often a Sebring, or worse - a convertible PT Cruiser. There's also not much room for baggage in the convertibles. If you do get a Mustang, it will probably be quite underpowered and a bit disappointing.

One thing to remember - the drive to Vegas can get very dull at that time of year, as you have to go south around the mountain range rather than across Yosemite (the road only opens during the summer months). Yosemite is well worth stopping at though, it's a beautiful place. I'll dig out the trip report I wrote a while back and post the link.

oo7tk

eoin wrote: »

I did exactly that a couple of times, I'll dig out the details.

Most firms will allow it, but you might be charged extra for returning the car to a different State, plus there might be a mileage limit etc. You should definitely shop around. I checked out loads of places online, but I think it was a travel agent based here that got me the best deal.

I would be very careful renting a Mustang. Most companies have "Mustang or similar". This is often a Sebring, or worse - a convertible PT Cruiser. There's also not much room for baggage in the convertibles. If you do get a Mustang, it will probably be quite underpowered and a bit disappointing.

One thing to remember - the drive to Vegas can get very dull at that time of year, as you have to go south around the mountain range rather than across Yosemite (the road only opens during the summer months). Yosemite is well worth stopping at though, it's a beautiful place. I'll dig out the trip report I wrote a while back and post the link.

Yea if you could get me some details that would be great, i have sent around a few emails but got no replys..... Maybe best to ask for a Corvette of the likes so??? I have seen no Corvettes on the internet sites and i have done ALOT!!!! I would not mind too much if i had to drive back just want something nice for the drive....

Cheers...

Saruman

Well Hertz for instance has a fun collection so you can select a specific sporty car including a corvette.

I have never rented a special car there, I always pick economy.

Orando Broom

oo7tk wrote: »

Well thats why i asked for help, i have seen 1 mustang but no Corvettes or the likes......

I've rented a Mustang twice with Hertz (O'Hare returned to Midway both in Chicago and the other time form and two JFK), no problems. I would be doubtful you would get a Corvette, certainly not in March. Maybe the height of the summer and you'd pay through the nose. The best you might do would be a Sebring or Mustang Convertible.

Also beware they can 'reserve' you a Mustang and you end up driving away in a Tan coloured Impala (Miami). It always says 'or similar' in the small print.

Wompa1

oo7tk wrote: »

Im flyin over to San Francisco at the end of March and am lookin to drive to Vegas in a nice car maybe have it for 2 days and fly back..... Anyone ever used a decent company or recommend one or any advice??? Lookin for a nice car maybe a mustang, Corvette or Supercharged Camaro when in Rome and all that....??? Seems that is pretty much the best of what you can rent anyway.....

Cheers....

You may want to look into State Laws by the way...I know of a guy that got a ticket in Florida for parking reversed rear first into the space. There are some nice cheap places like Dream Cars in Vegas...was so tempted to rent the Ferrari...it was like 326 dollars or something..

oo7tk

Saruman wrote: »

Well Hertz for instance has a fun collection so you can select a specific sporty car including a corvette.

I have never rented a special car there, I always pick economy.

Yea they dont seem to have an email to contact them and im in work so may try ring them in the morning..... Cheers

Eoin

What I'd probably do is rent out a sensible enough car for the drive across to Vega. Then when you get there, rent a fun car for a couple of days so you don't have to worry about fitting in luggage etc.

Saruman

Use cheapcalls.ie (used to be telestunt) and you can call them for the price of a local call. No signup, just call the US access number and then call the number you want. We use it all the time to call the US.

Eoin

Here you go:

Report: San Francisco -> Yosemite National Park -> Death Valley -> Las Vegas

Orando Broom

Wompa1 wrote: »

You may want to look into State Laws by the way...I know of a guy that got a ticket in Florida for parking reversed rear first into the space. There are some nice cheap places like Dream Cars in Vegas...was so tempted to rent the Ferrari...it was like 326 dollars or something..

I'll take a guess at this and say was it was because he crossed the street? In the US you have to park with the flow of traffic, not like Ireland where you can throw it in anywhere.

I blew through a 4-way stop in Connecticut one time. The sign was obscured by a low hanging branch and I never thought about the big giant white stripe across my side of the road! Luckily it was in a rural area and there was FA traffic around. Phew!

R.O.R

If you are renting with one of the big companies, make sure to join their loyalty program in advance, and book through that.

Hertz No1 Club Gold and Avis Preferred are the 2 I use.

All your credit card / licence details are listed on your profile and at the proper locations in the states they have the cars ready and parked in a bay with your name on. All you have to do is show your licence at the gate on the way out. Saves lots of time and hassle, and more importantly - makes you feel special :-)

Free to join - or at least was when I joined.

gofaster_s13

eoin wrote: »

What I'd probably do is rent out a sensible enough car for the drive across to Vega. Then when you get there, rent a fun car for a couple of days so you don't have to worry about fitting in luggage etc.

Just be aware that the cops in and around Vegas show no mercy and give no tolerance on speed limits and if your stopped for speeding(which is enforced both by car and helicopter) and your driving on a foreign licence they will want on the spot payment. The cops around there seem to use speed traps on the roads in and out of Vegas as a form of toll.

If its your first time in Vegas splashing out on an expensive car will be wasted as you will spend most of your time walking along the strip and into all the different casinos.

Wompa1

gofaster_s13 wrote: »

Just be aware that the cops in and around Vegas show no mercy and give no tolerance on speed limits and if your stopped for speeding(which is enforced both by car and helicopter) and your driving on a foreign licence they will want on the spot payment. The cops around there seem to use speed traps on the roads in and out of Vegas as a form of toll.

If its your first time in Vegas splashing out on an expensive car will be wasted as you will spend most of your time walking along the strip and into all the different casinos.

That's true, There is a race course near by that allows you to do laps with a luxury car. I think I'd do that if I was to go again and maybe rent a Mustang to head out to the Grand Canyon (already been but I thought it was amazing, would definetely go again)

SouperComputer

Keep in mind many of the "sporty" models such as mustangs and chargers that rental companies have come with an aneimic V6 (in the case of the charger, specially ordered for rental car companies), rather than a less aneimc V8.

easygoing39

I am a Ford fan,got it off my da,who only buys Ford's and it rubbed onto me.During my childhood up to today I cheer and support drivers in Ford racecars etc,have owned RS Turbo's,Cossie's etc,you get the picture!!Anyways,I used to have 2 holidays a year in America and would hire Ford T-Birds or Taurus's.But one year on a trip from LA to Bonneville Salt Flats I hired a Mustang.Turned out to be a gutlass heap,with a live axle off a horsecart!!Lovely to look at,but rubbish to drive.Ate fuel like it was going out off fashion and was limited to 112mph.And this coming from a self proclaimed Ford fan.Don't waste your money,rent a Focus.