Comments on: As gas prices push past $4 a gallon, car rental companies see green http://www.consumertraveler.com/today/as-gas-prices-push-past-4-a-gallon-car-rental-companies-see-green/ The last honest travel site Thu, 18 Mar 2010 22:49:52 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Anthony Sogg http://www.consumertraveler.com/today/as-gas-prices-push-past-4-a-gallon-car-rental-companies-see-green/comment-page-1/#comment-2881 Anthony Sogg Tue, 03 Jun 2008 18:35:54 +0000 http://www.tripso.com/?p=4771#comment-2881 I have reserved small cars in the past knowing that I would likely be upgraded at no charge. When on vacation with my family I prefer something roomier but prefer the smaller price. Last year I did this in Calgary and was upgraded to a Ford Escape which was great for our drive threw Banff and Jasper National Parks. My worst case experience was having to pay 6 euros for an one week upgrade to a Mazda 6 wagon in Dresden, Germany three years ago. Of course, if you want an economy car, something bigger may not seem like an upgrade. I have reserved small cars in the past knowing that I would likely be upgraded at no charge. When on vacation with my family I prefer something roomier but prefer the smaller price. Last year I did this in Calgary and was upgraded to a Ford Escape which was great for our drive threw Banff and Jasper National Parks. My worst case experience was having to pay 6 euros for an one week upgrade to a Mazda 6 wagon in Dresden, Germany three years ago. Of course, if you want an economy car, something bigger may not seem like an upgrade.

]]> By: J. Smith http://www.consumertraveler.com/today/as-gas-prices-push-past-4-a-gallon-car-rental-companies-see-green/comment-page-1/#comment-2863 J. Smith Tue, 03 Jun 2008 15:24:52 +0000 http://www.tripso.com/?p=4771#comment-2863 I'd reserved a compact car for a 4-day trip. AVIS told me they were out of compacts and was going to "triple-upgrade" me to a Ford Expedition. I asked for something smaller. Their next offer was for a "sport wagon", which brought up visions of a small Subaru or the like. After the long walk to the lot, and passing by lots of AVIS compact and economy cars, we found our Chevy Uplander, another monstrous vehicle seating 8 or 9. We took the car and grumbled the entire weekend about being "taken". It seems the rental companies have a lot of these over-sized gas-guzzlers, and are doing anything they can to put mileage on them to offset depreciation. J. Smith I’d reserved a compact car for a 4-day trip. AVIS told me they were out of compacts and was going to “triple-upgrade” me to a Ford Expedition. I asked for something smaller. Their next offer was for a “sport wagon”, which brought up visions of a small Subaru or the like.

After the long walk to the lot, and passing by lots of AVIS compact and economy cars, we found our Chevy Uplander, another monstrous vehicle seating 8 or 9. We took the car and grumbled the entire weekend about being “taken”.

It seems the rental companies have a lot of these over-sized gas-guzzlers, and are doing anything they can to put mileage on them to offset depreciation.

J. Smith

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