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

[Johnny_P]

Don't forget to do the normal rental car things like tug-of-war with a diesel Ram 2500, ford a 48" deep river, and run into a brick wall.

The placard on the rear tailgate of the JLU states it can ford 30” of water at 5mph.

Oh I was talking about a rental Hyundai back there, not a JLU.

[Apex]

The placard on the rear tailgate of the JLU states it can ford 30” of water at 5mph.

Oh I was talking about a rental Hyundai back there, not a JLU.

I know, I just thought it was that Jeep put that info out there.

[troyguitar]

Guess I'm the only person that treats a rental car with any sort of dignity. Next time I'm in Houston I'll be sure to send it off every curb I can find, find a washboard road to do 80 MPH on, run over a few shopping carts, and get the damage waiver so I can roll it on a sand dune like a normal person.

Meanwhile, I'm sure the general public takes great care of their own vehicles.



Thankfully Travis actually decided to post up something relevant for once instead of his normal " " response and contributed to the thread. That's the sort of discussion I was hoping to have, so thanks for the input. My concern would be around the mechanicals and how they're maintained. Body panels are easy to assess as is interior condition, but engine/trans/etc stuff is a lot harder to check on a 20 minute test drive.

[Tar]

Would you buy a prior rental car? Like a more mundane model not a sporty car.

Anyone know if they even do basics like oil changes?

Yep for the right price which should be way lower then a single owner example with a clean fax. People sometimes warm the engine up in the winter by mashing the gas pedal in neutral for a few min.

My FIL bought a POS ex-rental Sebring which lasted him 11 years and was almost half the cost of new after one year of service. That sounds like a good way to go for NFG commuting.

[CaleDeRoo]

I fucking love this thing already FML. It's a Bighorn so value package trim with UConn 8.4, heated seats/wheel etc. That thing got a hemi? Yep. This truck is so fucking nice and it's not even middle of the road.

[Johnny_P]

I fucking love this thing already FML. It's a Bighorn so value package trim with UConn 8.4, heated seats/wheel etc. That thing got a hemi? Yep. This truck is so fucking nice and it's not even middle of the road.

Yeah thats the way to get them. Street spec. The Rebel was meh but you could tell it would be a good truck in a more reasonable spec. Ours was a V6 and even that didn't suck power wise.

[CaleDeRoo]

I fucking love this thing already FML. It's a Bighorn so value package trim with UConn 8.4, heated seats/wheel etc. That thing got a hemi? Yep. This truck is so fucking nice and it's not even middle of the road.

Yeah thats the way to get them. Street spec. The Rebel was meh but you could tell it would be a good truck in a more reasonable spec. Ours was a V6 and even that didn't suck power wise.

This one even rides 95% as well as the Escalade in comfort mode.

[fledonfoot]

Would you buy a prior rental car? Like a more mundane model not a sporty car.

Anyone know if they even do basics like oil changes?

My 2010 corolla was an ex TRAC car back in the day.

There’s a difference in a $18k econobox rental they give out at $20 a day and a $50k premium SUV they’re renting at $80 a day. The people behind the wheel are definitely different.

[stripethree]

@stripethree you still have the challenger video with the smoking brakes

Yes (Insta). There were also donuts. I believe Señor Melon has the engine cover.

Upon return, that car needed tires, brakes, and probably a head gasket.

[4zilch]

@stripethree you still have the challenger video with the smoking brakes

Yes (Insta). There were also donuts. I believe Señor Melon has the engine cover.

Upon return, that car needed tires, brakes, and probably a head gasket.

[max225]

https://www.cargurus.com/Cars/l-Used-Fo ... =261413139

FUCKUS RS is now below 30k... Damn they actually depreciated quite a bit in the last 6 months...

[Apex]

https://www.cargurus.com/Cars/l-Used-Fo ... =261413139

FUCKUS RS is now below 30k... Damn they actually depreciated quite a bit in the last 6 months...

[Gberg2119]

https://www.cargurus.com/Cars/l-Used-Fo ... =261413139

FUCKUS RS is now below 30k... Damn they actually depreciated quite a bit in the last 6 months...

And it's not a zombie hunter car. Do they have any issues aside from the head gasket switcheroo?

Sent from my Pixel 3 XL using Tapatalk

[max225]

https://www.cargurus.com/Cars/l-Used-Fo ... =261413139

FUCKUS RS is now below 30k... Damn they actually depreciated quite a bit in the last 6 months...

And it's not a zombie hunter car. Do they have any issues aside from the head gasket switcheroo?

Sent from my Pixel 3 XL using Tapatalk

What's a zombie hunter car?

HG issue is pretty fking shitty to be honest as it requires the cracking open of the most complicated part of the car and re-assembly. I am if the techs are all "quality job #1" so it would be quite interesting to see how they hold out.

Other than that some "diff" overheating issues due to "drifting" but i don't destroy my own cars. These are very cool, but mk 7.5 golf Rs are going to be really close in price and have much nicer interiors.

[Gberg2119]

And it's not a zombie hunter car. Do they have any issues aside from the head gasket switcheroo?

Sent from my Pixel 3 XL using Tapatalk

What's a zombie hunter car?

HG issue is pretty fking shitty to be honest as it requires the cracking open of the most complicated part of the car and re-assembly. I am if the techs are all "quality job #1" so it would be quite interesting to see how they hold out.

Other than that some "diff" overheating issues due to "drifting" but i don't destroy my own cars. These are very cool, but mk 7.5 golf Rs are going to be really close in price and have much nicer interiors.

One of the last cheap FoRS's you posted had a giant zombie hunter sticker in the grille.

Superior interior always wins

[max225]

What's a zombie hunter car?

HG issue is pretty fking shitty to be honest as it requires the cracking open of the most complicated part of the car and re-assembly. I am if the techs are all "quality job #1" so it would be quite interesting to see how they hold out.

Other than that some "diff" overheating issues due to "drifting" but i don't destroy my own cars. These are very cool, but mk 7.5 golf Rs are going to be really close in price and have much nicer interiors.

One of the last cheap FoRS's you posted had a giant zombie hunter sticker in the grille.

Superior interior always wins

Oh yea that's right... that and the parking brake extender.

[fledonfoot]

https://www.cargurus.com/Cars/l-Used-Fo ... =261413139

FUCKUS RS is now below 30k... Damn they actually depreciated quite a bit in the last 6 months...

And it's not a zombie hunter car. Do they have any issues aside from the head gasket switcheroo?

Sent from my Pixel 3 XL using Tapatalk

My biggest problem with the RS is that it's a $45k car built on the bones a $16k car. It drives like stink but it's cheap and plastic and crappy to be in, despite the seats.

The ST's not too bad, because you could get them for $20k in ST1 trim.

The Golf R is at least a premium version of a premium hatchback.

[Irish]

And it's not a zombie hunter car. Do they have any issues aside from the head gasket switcheroo?

Sent from my Pixel 3 XL using Tapatalk

My biggest problem with the RS is that it's a $45k car built on the bones a $16k car. It drives like stink but it's cheap and plastic and crappy to be in, despite the seats.

The ST's not too bad, because you could get them for $20k in ST1 trim.

The Golf R is at least a premium version of a premium hatchback.

Mmmmmmm premium hatch back........

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=twyw8UdsWnY

[Apex]

Not sure where this question might go but does anyone here have an experience with importing a car?
We’re getting to the age when mid-90s stuff is legally allowed to be imported but I’m not sure about getting something like that tagged and insured?

[max225]

Not sure where this question might go but does anyone here have an experience with importing a car?
We’re getting to the age when mid-90s stuff is legally allowed to be imported but I’m not sure about getting something like that tagged and insured?

This varies greatly state by state

[CaleDeRoo]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q2uE_W8ucg0

[Apex]

I have a friend of mine who's done it with old Land Rovers - I'll see if I can get him to jump in.

His response was the following:

"Go on Autoscout24 or eBay.co.uk or similar, find a car you like that's 25 years old, or older, then call Jamie Orr @ Orchid Euro and have ~2700 ready. Wait 8 weeks, and... at some point, profit."

What states did your buddy get them registered in?

[4zilch]

Petty easy to register in TN. Basically all the things you normally need to title and register, plus your NHTSA declaration.

Actually getting it here, legally, is a task, but not incredibly difficult. Just a lot of forms and processes.

Edit: this seems pretty comprehensive https://wittymelon.wordpress.com/portfo ... o-the-u-s/

[Apex]

Petty easy to register in TN. Basically all the things you normally need to title and register, plus your NHTSA declaration.

Actually getting it here, legally, is a task, but not incredibly difficult. Just a lot of forms and processes.

Edit: this seems pretty comprehensive https://wittymelon.wordpress.com/portfo ... o-the-u-s/

Thanks for the link!

[max225]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q2uE_W8ucg0

I dunno doesn’t do anything for me. Also not a diesel...