Car Talk 4: The Richard Hertz Rent-A-Car 500

[4zilch]

Drove a 2019 Camaro today. No issues with the windows. @me I dare you

With the mirrors adjusted correctly, visibility isn't as big of a deal as people make it out to be. But it still feels claustrophobic inside.

They're a deathtrap

[4zilch]

The slated H vehicles are far from the bottom of the pickins' these days, I've rented a few and thought similarly. They have come an distance.

a Lobster N

But also wish we'd get the i30 (Elantra) N

[max225]

41 mpg holy Moses ! Wtf kind of engine is in that. I am at 27 in the midget mobile

[CorvetteWaxer]

Rental in Vegas was a brand new 2020 Hyundai Elantra from Alamo. Side note, Alamo was awesome and I'd get another vehicle from them, you get to pick the car out of the lineup and all. It was this or a handful of Sentras so it was an easy pick.







This car didn't suck. It's slow and passing power doesn't exist. 2400 RPM at 80 MPH. Averaged 41 MPG for the 500 miles I had it. Held its own on a back road and was still fun to drive. Good ride quality. Super quiet on the highway for a cheap car. Top notch infotainment, worked better than any system I've tried using.

Solid entry in the compact cheap car segment. Enjoyable, if forgettable, car.

One tip about Alamo though: Be prepared to fight when you get your bill after returning your car.

In Hawaii this last time we did the pick your car thing and they said "Anything in this row over here". They were all small crossovers and there were 3 Hyundai's and the rest were Nissans. Obviously we picked one of the Hyundai's and checked out at the gate. After the week was over we dropped off the car and flew home. 2 days later the bill was $300 more than expected. Had to call and deal with them saying "it must have been an error as the Hyundai was a different class from the Nissan". Basically had to tell them if there was a mistake it was on them, and all the cars in my row that I was told to select from all looked like the same <$25,000 POS crossover.

They reversed the charges after about 5 minutes of me complaining.

Not a bad service and fast in/out, just keep an eye on your bills.

[Johnny_P]

41 mpg holy Moses ! Wtf kind of engine is in that. I am at 27 in the midget mobile

Yeah I was at that MPG. We drove from Vegas to Joshua Tree via the Mojave preserve. So lots of highway and straight driving but some dips which induced hard braking and then hard acceleration afterwards, a few mountain type crossings, etc. Farting around Joshua Tree. Dirt driving to get to our AirBnB. Errands for wedding supplies, etc.

2.0l atkinson cycle motor, like 140 something hp. It could use more power. I wouldn't call it dangerous, it was like 8.5 to 60 I guess. But it could use more. CVT transmission acted more like an automatic, it had me fooled for 2 days.

Honestly thing thing was great on the highway, power aside. Really quiet and comfy.

[Johnny_P]

Rental in Vegas was a brand new 2020 Hyundai Elantra from Alamo. Side note, Alamo was awesome and I'd get another vehicle from them, you get to pick the car out of the lineup and all. It was this or a handful of Sentras so it was an easy pick.







This car didn't suck. It's slow and passing power doesn't exist. 2400 RPM at 80 MPH. Averaged 41 MPG for the 500 miles I had it. Held its own on a back road and was still fun to drive. Good ride quality. Super quiet on the highway for a cheap car. Top notch infotainment, worked better than any system I've tried using.

Solid entry in the compact cheap car segment. Enjoyable, if forgettable, car.

One tip about Alamo though: Be prepared to fight when you get your bill after returning your car.

In Hawaii this last time we did the pick your car thing and they said "Anything in this row over here". They were all small crossovers and there were 3 Hyundai's and the rest were Nissans. Obviously we picked one of the Hyundai's and checked out at the gate. After the week was over we dropped off the car and flew home. 2 days later the bill was $300 more than expected. Had to call and deal with them saying "it must have been an error as the Hyundai was a different class from the Nissan". Basically had to tell them if there was a mistake it was on them, and all the cars in my row that I was told to select from all looked like the same <$25,000 POS crossover.

They reversed the charges after about 5 minutes of me complaining.

Not a bad service and fast in/out, just keep an eye on your bills.

Thanks for the tip. The receipt said I got billed for the same car class letters that I reserved. So I guess we will see. I rented a "hyundai elantra or similar" and felt a sentra was a much lesser vehicle

[CaleDeRoo]

National's emerald club is the same way. Go out and pick a car from the isle. I love this because I can check all the RAMZ to see which ones have poverty screens etc

[Johnny_P]

The slated H vehicles are far from the bottom of the pickins' these days, I've rented a few and thought similarly. They have come an distance.

I mean I don't doubt that the Mazda and Honda drive better. But this was legitimately fun to bomb into turns, quiet, rode great, and had all the connectivity stuff checked. It will check a ton of boxes for a lot of people. And I did enjoy driving it.

[Huckleberry]

Nothing new is “collectible” anyways so enjoy it, until it turns into a pile which is a ways away.

This is how those new things become collectible.

[D Griff]

41 mpg holy Moses ! Wtf kind of engine is in that. I am at 27 in the midget mobile

Yeah I was at that MPG. We drove from Vegas to Joshua Tree via the Mojave preserve. So lots of highway and straight driving but some dips which induced hard braking and then hard acceleration afterwards, a few mountain type crossings, etc. Farting around Joshua Tree. Dirt driving to get to our AirBnB. Errands for wedding supplies, etc.

2.0l atkinson cycle motor, like 140 something hp. It could use more power. I wouldn't call it dangerous, it was like 8.5 to 60 I guess. But it could use more. CVT transmission acted more like an automatic, it had me fooled for 2 days.

Honestly thing thing was great on the highway, power aside. Really quiet and comfy.

I rented an Elantra a couple of years ago and drove from Phoenix to Las Vegas and back and yielded high 30s, pretty considering I flat footed it most of the way back, driving 110 mph through the desert.

[3rdgenfan]

Hyundai looks to have extended their cheap lease thing, found a dealer in Towson that had one but it's still like pulling teeth trying to get an actual ballpark figure one would need to pay.

[CorvetteWaxer]

National's emerald club is the same way. Go out and pick a car from the isle. I love this because I can check all the RAMZ to see which ones have poverty screens etc

Yeah, I like national as well. I get the emerald club by having the Amex Platinum and it's a decent perk.

[CorvetteWaxer]

One tip about Alamo though: Be prepared to fight when you get your bill after returning your car.

In Hawaii this last time we did the pick your car thing and they said "Anything in this row over here". They were all small crossovers and there were 3 Hyundai's and the rest were Nissans. Obviously we picked one of the Hyundai's and checked out at the gate. After the week was over we dropped off the car and flew home. 2 days later the bill was $300 more than expected. Had to call and deal with them saying "it must have been an error as the Hyundai was a different class from the Nissan". Basically had to tell them if there was a mistake it was on them, and all the cars in my row that I was told to select from all looked like the same <$25,000 POS crossover.

They reversed the charges after about 5 minutes of me complaining.

Not a bad service and fast in/out, just keep an eye on your bills.

Thanks for the tip. The receipt said I got billed for the same car class letters that I reserved. So I guess we will see. I rented a "hyundai elantra or similar" and felt a sentra was a much lesser vehicle

I never take the Nissan.

Got stuck with a Versa once and decided never again!

[Johnny_P]

Also, there's this:





https://www.roadandtrack.com/new-cars/c ... -the-year/

VelobsterN won Performance Car of the Year from R&T. Beat out the new Corvette, M2 comp, Supra, 911 CS.... Maybe clickbait article but nonetheless.

[Johnny_P]

National's emerald club is the same way. Go out and pick a car from the isle. I love this because I can check all the RAMZ to see which ones have poverty screens etc

That's what we use for work. Sometimes you get a car other times it's a row of

Total coin toss.

[D Griff]

Also, there's this:





https://www.roadandtrack.com/new-cars/c ... -the-year/

VelobsterN won Performance Car of the Year from R&T. Beat out the new Corvette, M2 comp, Supra, 911 CS.... Maybe clickbait article but nonetheless.

Too bad no one is buying those

[max225]

Nothing new is “collectible” anyways so enjoy it, until it turns into a pile which is a ways away.

This is how those new things become collectible.

So buy a 30k car... wait 50 years to sell it for 100k, which is inflation adjusted the same as what you paid for it... yet you kept it covered in the garage in a bubble for the next guy. FK that... Drive the wheels off of it I say.

[max225]

Also, there's this:





https://www.roadandtrack.com/new-cars/c ... -the-year/

VelobsterN won Performance Car of the Year from R&T. Beat out the new Corvette, M2 comp, Supra, 911 CS.... Maybe clickbait article but nonetheless.

Too bad no one is buying those

Says who ? treat em like gold.

[troyguitar]

Also, there's this:





https://www.roadandtrack.com/new-cars/c ... -the-year/

VelobsterN won Performance Car of the Year from R&T. Beat out the new Corvette, M2 comp, Supra, 911 CS.... Maybe clickbait article but nonetheless.

Too bad no one is buying those

I thought about it but just can't imagine it's anywhere near as good as my car - and for the same price.

[D Griff]

Too bad no one is buying those

Says who ? treat em like gold.

I saw some at Tail of the Dragon in May... haven't spotted one in the wild since.

[D Griff]

Too bad no one is buying those

I thought about it but just can't imagine it's anywhere near as good as my car - and for the same price.

I'd probably choose the 86.. but it's a tough comparo, really depends what you want.

N is faster and more practical, 86 looks better and drives better.

[max225]

Says who ? treat em like gold.

I saw some at Tail of the Dragon in May... haven't spotted one in the wild since.

I mean they are in a very niche place in the market.
Hyundai is a shitty brand commanding an expensive premium for performance. So this is someone who about brand, about RWD, and about having 3 doors. This is a rare customer... especially when a used golf R is the same price and Pooper JCW is 10k less. A BRZ is around the same price... and tons of other performance can be had for 30k ... I am really who this customer is... other than someone trying to "prove the internet wrong" or "die hard H fan"
Its a crowded market, but given lack of discunts, people are buying them.

[CorvetteWaxer]

Too bad no one is buying those

I thought about it but just can't imagine it's anywhere near as good as my car - and for the same price.

@ 275 horsepower it has you beat there, but it is wrong wheel drive.

All the magazines and youtube guys rave about it, but i don't know. I think they are downplaying the torque steer.

[CaleDeRoo]

National's emerald club is the same way. Go out and pick a car from the isle. I love this because I can check all the RAMZ to see which ones have poverty screens etc

Yeah, I like national as well. I get the emerald club by having the Amex Platinum and it's a decent perk.

Which tier do you get with that card?


Even my 63 year old mom knows to demand something "not a Nissan" at the counter

[troyguitar]

I thought about it but just can't imagine it's anywhere near as good as my car - and for the same price.

@ 275 horsepower it has you beat there, but it is wrong wheel drive.

All the magazines and youtube guys rave about it, but i don't know. I think they are downplaying the torque steer.

I'm sure it's good for what it is, seems like a lightly modded GTI out of the box. I just can't buy FWD when RWD exists. Admittedly soon there will be no more small yet practical and affordable RWD cars, so then stuff like this will make sense.