minow@decvax.UUCP (Martin Minow) (05/22/84)
Here are a few hints for car rentals: 1. There ain't no such thing as a free lunch. 2. Refuse the optional insurance add-on's (collision and personal injury). Check your own car and home-owner's policy -- you might already be covered. Also, you pay a lot for a little insurance: $3,000 on a per-year basis at Alamo. Better check the rental company's policy on accidents -- in some, you are responsible for the first $200, in others for the first $1,000, at Alamo, for the entire car! (So, if one company quotes $18.95 per day, and another $19.95 per day, the cheapest might not be.) 3. Don't upgrade. If you ordered a sub-compact and they say you can get a mid-size car for only 80% of the normal upgrade, what they're really saying is that they don't have any sub-compacts in stock and, if you refuse, you'll get one anyway. 4. If it don't work, take it back. This includes a car full of cigar buts as well as the more serious front-end vibration (happened to me two weeks ago). If you rent from a reasonable company, you may well be upgraded (without charge) by way of apology. 5. If it looks too good to be true, it probably ain't. Martin Minow decvax!minow
werner@ut-ngp.UUCP (05/23/84)
Zap-------------- many people seem to cherish the idea of getting 'the next bigger car' when the small size turns out not to be available. Well, I recommend that we consumers should 'think again' and reject that 'trade-up' at 'no extra cost'. Whom are they kidding, anyway. Friends of mine are touring Texas in a Pontiac Cougar now, in stead of a Toyota, and using twice the gas, and touring Texas means GAS. So, if we give them hell any time the try this bit, maybe they enlarge the % of Toyotas, etc. I don't buy that 'NO EXTRA COST' bit without suggesting the pay for the EXTRA GAS !!!!
ron@brl-vgr.ARPA (Ron Natalie <ron>) (05/24/84)
By the way, I've seen the REFUSE THE INSURANCE advice lots of times but it sure saves a lot of grief for $3.00. If you bring the car back and they notice a dent or broken tail light that they claim was OK when you took it out, you point out you have the insurance and that is the end of the conversation (it's really happened to us). -Ron