So, I've got a LAME rental car--Free but still LAME.

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Gil

Gil

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old-guy64
I took my son's '08 Mazda6 in for service today. The airbag light has been on for a bit and I had the day off so I sent him off to work in my Camry and went to the Mazda guys to have it looked after.

My son also works in a rural school district, and on the way to work one day he hit a mutant raccoon that was about 4 feet in length, and the damage from that also needed to be looked after.

Well the raccoon damage included shredding out the inner fender liner on the right side, exposing the wiper washer bottle and they fixed that with no problem. Had the parts on hand. And the repair was way less than I thought it would be.

The Catch
Since the airbag light is on, and there is some question whether or not the airbags will deploy properly in the event of a collision. And since the part in question is the explosive device that deploys the airbag, they want the car where the part can go on DIRECTLY from the delivery truck.

So, the dealer, which has an Enterprise counter inside, has rented me a car, (at the dealer's expense) till my son's car is repaired.
I am driving a nearly new Kia Spectra. :yuck::nervous::crazy:
For those of you who don't know--I'm a 6 footer, well over 300lb, with a 52-54 inch chest.
The Kia is sort of a car-suit. It isn't quite as tight as I thought it would be.
It is the basic EX variant, and while it has air and a CD player, it doesn't have cruise control.

I jokingly asked for a Mustang Convertible, when the rental counter guy said I was eligible for an "Intermediate" car. He said he would be getting a 'Stang in tonight or tomorrow and I could have it, (no extra charge) but it's not a convertible. So, maybe sometime tomorrow I'll be rocking a base Mustang for a week or ten days.
 
A Kia Spectra? They must be idiots. I have seen pics of you and cant even comprehend how they thought that little car would be a good rental for you. :sick:
 
Yes, I drove it home, took it off, hung it up, and hopefully will have something a bit larger on the 'morrow, or later today.
 
Well, you could've been stuck with a Miata, so I guess it's not all completely bad for you...

Unfortunately, I may end up having to drive something like that from Michigan to New York this September. That could be a questionable fit for a 6'4" guy...
 
Philly
Well, you could've been stuck with a Miata, so I guess it's not all completely bad for you...

Unfortunately, I may end up having to drive something like that from Michigan to New York this September. That could be a questionable fit for a 6'4" guy...
Click to expand...

Stuck with? I'd have begged for one.
 
Sorry Gil, but without a pic and a sign reading "Weep with jealously, GTP, XOXOX Gil" on the hood, I'm simply not going to believe it. ;)


M
 
I get the feeling this is what you look like...

mrincredqf0.png
 
Joey D
I get the feeling this is what you look like...

mrincredqf0.png
Click to expand...
:lol:

I would be thankful actually. My dad once was given a rental when his Cavalier went through marriage counseling with its transmission, and they gave him a Cadillac Seville as a temp car while they worked on it. Kinda made him mad when he had to give it back.
 
Be happy you got a Kia which is infinitely more exciting than any Chrysler rental mule. I've had a PT Cruiser, a Neon, a Stratus, and a V6 Charger (the 2.7L variant) and they were all rubbish. The best rental car I've ever had was a V6 Mustang--yes you read correctly.
 
I had a rental Sebring Convertible once. It wasn't that bad, it just wasn't that good either. Its a shame when you start feeling chassis flex on the glass-flat south Florida roads...

Best rental you can get?

lincoln_town_car.jpg


Quiet, comfortable, plenty of space. Only problem is that is gobbles-up fuel like its no one's business, that, and hoonage was nearly impossible to accomplish with the lack of BHP.
 
YSS, stop using your lead foot and the mileage isn't so bad in that Town Car, which I agree with that its a fantastic rental. Comfy as can be.
 
Stop/go traffic in Miami doesn't do well for that V8, regardless of keeping my foot out of it. On the highway I was doing pretty good, in the city, not so much.
 
So, the dealer, which has an Enterprise counter inside, has rented me a car, (at the dealer's expense) till my son's car is repaired.
I am driving a nearly new Kia Spectra.
For those of you who don't know--I'm a 6 footer, well over 300lb, with a 52-54 inch chest.
Click to expand...

and THIS is why america has the world's only surviving Land Yaghts outside of the Middle East. most people can't FIT in anything else, over here. if I'da had that thing, it'd probably echoed every time I talk...and I mean the KIA!

I pity my old man, though. five foot flat and mabey a hundred pounds soaking wet, and he's fond of those giant 73 body F series :P

there's no such thing as a courtesy vehicle out here outside of a dealership. and even when I've been IN the dealership, they don't give over :P Consider yourself lucky...I mostly see guys stuck with Neons or Contours around here.
 
JCE
Still, at least we agree on it being a great rental.
Click to expand...

I loved that ol' Panther. It was in an awkward shade of teal/green/aqua that was offset nicely by the chrome outside and the tan/brown interior. I just wanted to lay a patch out there on Washington Ave...
 
I'm actually surprised they didn't give you a Mazda or other Ford product, I typically get another MINI when I take my car in and if they are all out then I get a BMW of some sort.
 
Update:
Well, I was able to return the Kia the same day.
Unfortunately the Mustang fell thru.

Joey, you must be clairvoyant.
The enterprise guy knows that we've bought 3 Mazda's from that dealer (in the same week, 2 on the same day), and I'm now the proud tender of a silvery-blue Mazda CX-7. It came in before the 'Stang. I took it, not wanting to press my luck.

It actually has room for 4 grown people. It's still not as roomy as the '6. But at least it has cruise control.

I believe that it's a 2.3L Turbo, with a 6-speed manumatic.
The turbo is "transparent". It comes on power low in the power band gets up to "cruising" speed fairly quickly and with the 6-speed it cruises at 80 somewhere around 2500RPM. It also does all this with little to no fanfare.
On the downside, when I picked it up it was almost empty and I had to drop $40 to fill it up. Not with the recommended grade of "premium" but with regular, as I saw the sticker way too late.
It is a thirstly little beast. 21.5 MPG compared to nearly 30 in my Camry, and 28 in the Mazda6's.
It makes up for being thirsty by being quick, and handling very well for a SUV type vehicle.
 
YSSMAN
I had a rental Sebring Convertible once. It wasn't that bad, it just wasn't that good either. Its a shame when you start feeling chassis flex on the glass-flat south Florida roads...

Best rental you can get?

lincoln_town_car.jpg


Quiet, comfortable, plenty of space. Only problem is that is gobbles-up fuel like its no one's business, that, and hoonage was nearly impossible to accomplish with the lack of BHP.
Click to expand...
I'll agree that the front seat is comfortable. I've never ridden in a long wheelbase Town Car, but I did live with a Grand Marquis for 5 years and have checked them out at the Detroit show.

If only they could put as much room in the back as the G6/Aura/Malibu I'd be happy back there. I could hardly sit behind myself in the Grand Marquis. I was appalled. I was also appalled that the G6 family has just as much leg room back there as a freakin S-class!
 

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