Posted by kts The worst rental car EVER.

How so? At least it's got a sorta blend in with the dirt colour on it.

Chris...

Posted by turbozutek How so? At least it's got a sorta blend in with the dirt colour on it. Chris...

What car?

Posted by turbozutek How so? At least it's got a sorta blend in with the dirt colour on it. Chris...

LULz!

Good point on the blending in.

Issues with the car:

- No power locks or windows
- Interior was trashed
- My driver's side lock indicator/knob had broken off so they literally just screwed in a screw to act as the lock indicator/knob used to lock/unlock it
- Rotors were warped at 28k miles
- Severe knock/clunk in the steering column and WAY too much play in the steering wheel
- Really bad vibration when braking, going at speed, and turning. This got worse and worse during the rental period
- It smelled like diapers and baby wipes
- Driver's side window seal wouldn't seal all the way so there was a nice bit of air getting in when driving
- Driver's side front wheel suspension clunked/popped when driving over anything that was the slightest bit unlevel.
- Trunk latch worked 66% of the time

Posted by kts LULz! Good point on the blending in. Issues with the car: - No power locks or windows - Interior was trashed - My driver's side lock indicator/knob had broken off so they literally just screwed in a screw to act as the lock indicator/knob used to lock/unlock it - Rotors were warped at 28k miles - Severe knock/clunk in the steering column and WAY too much play in the steering wheel - Really bad vibration when braking, going at speed, and turning. This got worse and worse during the rental period - It smelled like diapers and baby wipes - Driver's side window seal wouldn't seal all the way so there was a nice bit of air getting in when driving - Driver's side front wheel suspension clunked/popped when driving over anything that was the slightest bit unlevel. - Trunk latch worked 66% of the time

Drive it wild like a rental.

Everyone dogs the shit out of those man! They're not supposed to be top notch performance machines..

Posted by FahQ Drive it wild like a rental. Everyone dogs the shit out of those man! They're not supposed to be top notch performance machines..

I suppose the j-turns and donuts and driving all over a quarry and gravel roads didn't help things but this thing has had a serious hard life.

All the other rental cars I have had in the past were actually pretty nice and had no issues.

I also forgot, the car didn't have a license plate either. Apparently the police in the state I was in didn't care if the car had a license plate or not.

I had a buddy that was a mechanic for Hertz. NEVEREVEREVEREVER buy a former rental. He told me about all kinds of problems they would hide b4 they went to auction. One of the funny stories he told me they rented a fleet of Saleen Mustangs(yes they have/had them) for a week supposedly for a video shoot. All six were dropped back off at nite. When he came in the morning & pulled one in for a fill up he noticed it didn't feel right nor sound right. All six had the motors swapped for V6's & the Saleen suspension was removed. They were rented on bogus card & I.D. so they were fucked. They turned around & sold them wholesale as Saleens. HaHaHa for them but sux for the unsuspected buyer.

Get the insurance & Drive It Like You Stole It!


Edit- Talked to my buddy. The cars were sold w/o motors. The engins were confiscated by the police. They were from bone stock ponies sold down in mexico. They also were some special $80,000 500hp super tricked out Stang. Not Saleen, just Ford Racing models.

Posted by kts I also forgot, the car didn't have a license plate either. Apparently the police in the state I was in didn't care if the car had a license plate or not.

Hahah I guess that would be a legit issue for a rental car...

Posted by kts - No power locks or windows - Interior was trashed - My driver's side lock indicator/knob had broken off so they literally just screwed in a screw to act as the lock indicator/knob used to lock/unlock it - and other trademark US Domestic car 'goodies'

Wow that's fucked; the rentals I've had in Canada have all been pretty good! Well, the cars have been shit _{(I'm a spoiled European)} but they have all been in good order and fairly new.

And yeah, buying an ex-rental or an ex-lease car is a dangerous game!!

Chris...

Cell phone pic for now while film develops.

Posted by turbozutek Wow that's fucked; the rentals I've had in Canada have all been pretty good! Well, the cars have been shit (I'm a spoiled European) but they have all been in good order and fairly new.

Every other time I've rented a car it's been pretty decent with power locks/windows and ran great.

I also envy you spoiled Europeans and the cars you get. I tried to rent a Euro-spec Focus when I was in Ireland last year but had to take a Mondeo. Both cars are light years ahead of their US counterparts. If they brought the Euro-spec Focus and Mondeo (especially a Focus RS) I would seriously consider buying a Ford.

Posted by kts If they brought the Euro-spec Focus and Mondeo (especially a Focus RS) I would seriously consider buying a Ford.

Yeah, you guys got fucked over as both those cars have been nearly completely ruined for the US and Can markets.

I cry especially loudly because I'm moving to Canada soon and I'd sure like to bring a car with me. Even adding the costs of import, I'd still save a few grand GBP on a top of the line Mondeo, for instance.

It's a double shame because I can import a US/Can car into the UK no problem; just needs a wee mod to the indicators (turn signals) to turn them orange and it's good to go!

But can I import my UK or Euro car into the US or Canada? Can I fuck, Even though most modern Euro cars are head and shoulders better than the US specs on emissions and safety.

Chris...

Posted by turbozutek But can I import my UK or Euro car into the US or Canada?

Sure, if it's a 1995 or older

I have learned Citroen 2CVs are a whore to get thru emission testing though...

Posted by bandi I have learned Citroen 2CVs are a whore to get thru emission testing though...

Yeah, I noticed that wee silver lining on the import cloud; I can bring any car in that's 15 years old or older.

Great!

Chris...

_{PS: 2Cv's are hard to get through ANY test, to be fair.}

Posted by turbozutek Yeah, you guys got fucked over as both those cars have been nearly completely ruined for the US and Can markets. I cry especially loudly because I'm moving to Canada soon and I'd sure like to bring a car with me. Even adding the costs of import, I'd still save a few grand GBP on a top of the line Mondeo, for instance. It's a double shame because I can import a US/Can car into the UK no problem; just needs a wee mod to the indicators (turn signals) to turn them orange and it's good to go! But can I import my UK or Euro car into the US or Canada? Can I fuck, Even though most modern Euro cars are head and shoulders better than the US specs on emissions and safety. Chris...

I'd say they have been completely ruined. The base model Mondeo rental car I had last year was damn nice and full featured for a base model. The diesel engine rocked and got great milage. The US version rental I had once was a few steps below with fit and finish and features. And no diesel. I wish the US embraced diesel a bit more...

At least you're moving to Canada which has much easier import laws then the US does. Only a few companies (Motorex) comes to mind had the $ and energy to deal with all the US red tape BS and import some cars and let them be crash tested. Sadly the company had some really shady dealings and closed up shop and due to their shadiness made it a lot harder for cars to be imported to the US now.

Surprised you need to change the turn signals, every car I've ever owned has had orange/amber turn signals.

I'd kill for a Focus RS. They are merging the US and Euro Focus into 1 model but of course it looks like shite and they are killing the RS (for now at least. And if it does come back they will never make it in the US. )

Posted by kts The base model Mondeo rental car I had last year was damn nice and full featured for a base model. The diesel engine rocked and got great mileage. The US version rental I had once was a few steps below with fit and finish and features. And no diesel. I wish the US embraced diesel a bit more...

Yeah, the worst thing I found about the US Fusion (Mondeo) was the internal plastics; holy fuck they were low rent, hard and nasty; more like a child's toy than a car... Also they swapped the Euro digital dashboard for something which looks like my Granny's bedside clock. Also the auto trans is rubbish.

Diesel is hands down fucking great. Mega torque low down with good MPG and fairly simple and reliable mechanicals? Sign me up. Handy in Canada too, as they all have electric cylinder pre-heat systems built in; none of this 'block heater all night and pray it starts if it's cold out' rubbish!

My two favourite things ever, Diesel and Manual Trans are NOT well catered for in Canada, unfortunately

Posted by kts Surprised you need to change the turn signals, every car I've ever owned has had orange/amber turn signals.

You guys tend to just flash your brake lights at the rear as a turn signal; that's a big no-no here (and confusing as fuck for me when I'm driving in your country), but yeah, I see more and more North American cars with orange indicators all round now - if they are like that from factory then no need to change anything when bringing 'em in here. Even our speedos are the same (MPH).

Chris...

last rental car I had was back in 04. It was an 03 Mazda Protege SE... Holy shit was this thing piss pounded. The interior was coated in cigarette smoke, spilled coffee and dog hair. The car smelled like cheap cigarettes, Stewarts coffee and wet border collie. The brakes were shot, rotors warped, transmission questionable. It was in February and they rented me a car (in the Adirondacks of NY mind you) with bald tires.
When i reserved the car the week before, i told them I wanted a Chevy Cavalier. I had a 52 mile commute and wanted something familiar (I had smoked a deer in my 98 Cavalier and it was being repaired at a body shop). They (Enterprise) assured me that they would have a blue 2004 Cavalier coupe waiting for me Monday afternoon. So I drop my car off at the shop, the enterprise rep picks me up and drives me to the outlet (50 miles away) and they tell me that I will have to take a 2003 Dodge Durango. Um, a fucking Durango???? 12mpg Durango????? How about no. Then they show me this beat to fuck 03 Protege and tell that it's either this slobby piece of shit or the fucking Durango.
Had to take the fucking Protege. Four days later, I was returning it to the place and the transmission began to fail, culminating in a gigantic fail at their doorstep when even 1st shit out.
rental cars, government fleet cars and cop cars are pisspounded.

used cop cars are funny ( and illegal when refitted with the cop parts that were taken off before auction or resale ). My buddy had an old crown vic that was white with the black doors roof hood and trunk. He bought a used set of roof bar lights, also a cb with trunk mount magnetic antenna, it had the black steelies on it, as well as the spot light still on it. He got Suburbia Police decal for the front doors and we would drive around in it, put the lights on and smoke the tires off. man it made for some funny looks from older people and cheers from children lol. I felt like i was in supertroopers when we'd ride around with our aviators on lol.

I had a Dodge Caliber for a rental when I was at the X Games last year.

That flaming shitbox was bad enough to make me miss the Dodge Neon.

Posted by bandi I had a Dodge Caliber for a rental when I was at the X Games last year. That flaming shitbox was bad enough to make me miss the Dodge Neon.

Ever notice how all Dodge's cars are named really macho, testosterone-y things: Caliber, Avenger, Challenger, Nitro, Viper? Since women make most of the car-buying decisions in the US, it's no wonder Dodge is in such bad shape.

Life is good.