Renting a Car: Off-topic discussion forum: Grassroots Motorsports Magazine

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May 8, 2011 6:37 p.m. Salanis SuperDork

Getting set to visit my mom in San Diego for a few days next month and planning to rent a car while down there. I'm flying into the San Diego intl airport, and was just planning to pick something up at the airport there. Trying to decide who is best to rent from.

Anyone have experience with the major rental companies? Any noticeable difference between them on quality or interesting-ness of cars?

I'm figuring I'll probably grab some sort of 4-door compact car. What does it take to find one with a stick? Or is that even possible?
May 8, 2011 6:53 p.m. mattmacklind SuperDork

See who is in or closest to the airport, if they can pick you up and so on. I used Enterprise for my last trip flying into Burbank,CA and it was painless. Ended up with an Impala. Next trip I want to get a Fiat 500, but not from Enterprise.
May 8, 2011 6:54 p.m. jrw1621 SuperDork

Stick is not possible. None of the major companies rent sticks.
www.priceline.com
First look at the rates offered.
Next go to the section that lets you name your own price.
Offer a price about 40% less than rates.

I have done this with great success multiple times, even in San Diego, often at $15 per day. I have a co-worker that brags about renting cars for $9 per day through priceline (typically weekend.) Pay close attention to the whole 24 hrs rules. If you reserve for an 11:00 am pick up and then a 1:00 pm drop off that two hours will result in a whole additional days worth of rental.
For San Diego all the rental companies require a ride on a shuttle bus but it is easy and convenient.
May 8, 2011 7:01 p.m. Kendall_Jones Reader

I have at great luck with hotwire.com, I use it all the time.

Kendall
May 8, 2011 7:46 p.m. Salanis SuperDork

mattmacklind wrote:

See who is in or closest to the airport, if they can pick you up and so on. I used Enterprise for my last trip flying into Burbank,CA and it was painless. Ended up with an Impala. Next trip I want to get a Fiat 500, but not from Enterprise.

Who rents out Fiat 500's? And why not Enterprise?

I'm going to have to look at those "24 hour" rules. I'd been planning to take the time while in San Diego to run around and introduce myself/apply to breweries in the area. I'll be leaving Monday, and figured that if I left in the afternoon, I could swing by a couple more places before heading out. I'll probably just adjust my plans to hit more places Thursday and Friday.
May 8, 2011 8:18 p.m. jrw1621 SuperDork

If it costs $9-$15 per day (which is very little) the paying for another day but only using it half will not kill you.

I have had unpleasant experiences with Enterprise at their suburban locations. The service is typically better at airports but I still have a distant for them.

Be sure to check out Stone Brewery, the restaurant onsite is really cool.
http://www.stoneworldbistro.com/

Mother Earth Brew Co. was founded by a former coworker of mine just one year ago. He left to follow his passions.
http://www.motherearthbrewco.com/default.asp
http://www.facebook.com/MotherEarthBrewCo
He, Dan Love, looks good in this picture wearing a burgundy shirt.
http://www.facebook.com/MotherEarthBrewCo#!/photo.php?fbid=10150229720684804&s...
May 8, 2011 8:26 p.m. Salanis SuperDork

Stone is the top of my "must visit" list while there. Mother Earth is on the list too, along with Lost Abbey, Black Market Brewing, and Green Flash. Any other thoughts on who to visit down there?

As far as timeline, I also have to drop my sister and her friend off at the airport in the morning. If I'm already there, it would kinda make sense for me to just leave around the same time.
May 8, 2011 9:01 p.m. jrw1621 SuperDork

I have no recommendations, just those two.
A sail boat racing buddy of mine lives in Oceanside. It was he that first took me to Stone Brewery back in 2007. My buddy is some sort of friend with the owner. I am not specific to the relationship but I do know that my buddy has a giant Stone Brewery Gargoyle on the spinnaker sail for the sailboat and got Stone to pay for some or all of it.

Another rental tip. Do not show up without a reservation. It says loud and clear, "I have no idea what rates are and I am open to the idea of you charging me what every you want now that I am at your mercy."
May 8, 2011 9:49 p.m. 4eyes HalfDork

It doesn't matter what you "reserve", they will give you what they have. I've been "upgraded" from a mustang convertible to a freaking taurus. NOT what I wanted to do hwy 1 with. The agent obviously thought it was hilarious, that even with a two month lead time, I expected them to have what I wanted on the lot.
May 8, 2011 10:32 p.m. neon4891 SuperDork

For my honeymoon, Enterprise "upgraded" me from a compact(yaris or versa) to a ChryCo T&C. Fine with me.