Car rental types - help!!!!!!!

[s7paul]

Like CharlieB, we're doing San Fran to Vegas later this year (August). I've been trying to find something that will comfortably fit 6 people in a 2+2+2 configuration (so everyone gets a window seat) AND has enough room to accommodate 6 suitcases behind the 3rd row of seats. The only vehicles I've found that meet these requirements (other than large vans) are the "Premium SUVs", such as the GMC Yukon XL or Chevy Suburban. The problem is that no one is prepared to rent me one of these for a one way rental. I've tried every website I can find, and I've phoned all 8 car rental offices at San Francisco airport, and the biggest SUV anyone will rent me is the Ford Expedition (the standard version, not the longer "EL" model). The problem is that the luggage capacity on a Yukon is 45.8 cu.ft. whereas the Expedition is only 18.6 cu.ft. The only other option is a Toyota Sienna minivan, which allegedly has a luggage capacity (behind the 3rd row) of 43.6 cu.ft. but, having seen photos of the vehicle, I find that hard to believe (though I'd be happy to be proved wrong). In the meantime, I'm stuck! The flights are booked; all the hotels along the way are booked, but I don't have a car. I must admit that I wasn't expecting it to be so hard to get a suitable vehicle for the trip. Any advice would be appreciated.

[PNW Judy]

Seriously though, we'll probably end up turning up at the airport & seeing what they've got that suits.

If you do this, you may have a few problems. First, if this is a one-way rental with a drop-off in another location, I'm under the strong impression they usually want these set-up ahead of time as they only have a limited portion of their vehicles available for this type of thing. Second, your changes of getting a bigger rig are really going to be catch-as-catch-can as they don't have these bigger rigs as readily available. Third, foreign visitors always get better rates than we US citizens do, and I'm unsure if you're going to get the same good deal if you just walk up to the counter so you might want to check on that first.

Just some things to be aware of.

[s7paul]

Well, if it's of any use to anyone, I've decided to bite the bullet and reserve a car. I gave up on the GMC Yukon XL/Chevy Suburban idea, as no one will rent me one for a one-way hire. The choice then came down to a Full Size SUV (Ford Expedition) or an 8-seater Minivan (Toyota Sienna). By sheer chance, the only 2008 Ford Expedition currently on sale in the UK is only 8 miles from where I work, so I went along to see how big it is. Well, from the outside, it's huge, BUT there's less space inside it than my own Toyota Previa (especially when it comes to luggage carrying capacity). So, as the Sienna is as big as (or slightly bigger than) my Previa, I've booked an 8-seater version through Alamo. Note that if you need luggage carrying capacity you'll need the 8-seater, as the 7-seater only has 2 seats in the middle row. With the 8-seater, but with only 6 passengers, we'll be sat 2,3,1, which is a bit of a compromise but the kids can take turns to sit in the single seat next to the luggage. With 2 of the 3 third row seats folded down, you get a large L-shaped load space. Hiring the Sienna has other advantages too; it will drive more like a car than a top-heavy truck, it'll be easier on fuel, and it's about 2/3 the price of an Expedition.

[Midwest Michael]

It looks like you found the best option for your trip, congrats and good luck!

[Mark Sedenquist]

Thanks for posting back with this information -- I am sure your planning experiences will be helpful here for hundreds of travelers over the summer.

Mark

[ianmsmith]

I am putting the final touches to a family roadtrip next month. 3 1/2 weeks from Houston to SF via all the "usual" places and staying with friends at each end. The biggest problem (other than finding time to plan and book everything) was the bl**dy car. We're really 5 adults (youngest is 16) and we'll probably have 6 bags, so we have a similar problem to the one discussed here.

In the end I had a stroke of luck. I had booked, after much web research and a long time on the phone to various hire companies, the largest SUV available for one way hire.

So, where was the luck? A couple of weeks ago I took a business trip to the US that included a spell in Houston. So when I picked up my car I spent over 2 hours walking the garage and trying out various vehicles. It was very obvious that only one of the class I had booked *might* work, but even that would be a squeeze, but then I found the Sienna and Sedona minivans.

The two are quite different, but each will work. The Sienna is 2-3-2. The Sedona is 2-2-3 (the 3 being a 60/40 bench). The Sienna is the better fit for us and is pretty much the same size as our recently departed Ford Galaxy. The Sedona has the advantage of a window for all, but in a decidely second rate back seat. The big advantage over my old choice is that we will fit in the car!

Now I know that the Sienna comes in different seat arrangements, but in that garage (Hertz, IAH) at that time, there were something like 6 Siennas and maybe 4 Sedonnas and all had the seat arrangements I mentioned. I also checked with Hertz, both at the Gold Counter (it was nearest) and over the phone and they woudl not let me specify a particular make let alone model and they move around quite quickly. I'll have to hope I get one that works well.

I have checked since and this seems to be standard policy with all the rental companies (including Alamo according to the lady that I spoke to) so I wish you the best of luck in gettign the car you want. At leats by choosing this class you have maximised your chances.

[Mark Sedenquist]

but then I found the Sienna and Sedona minivans.

The two are quite different, but each will work. The Sienna is 2-3-2. The Sedona is 2-2-3 (the 3 being a 60/40 bench). The Sienna is the better fit for us and is pretty much the same size as our recently departed Ford Galaxy. The Sedona has the advantage of a window for all, but in a decidely second rate back seat. The big advantage over my old choice is that we will fit in the car!

This is very helpful information -- thanks for posting it!

Mark

[s7paul]

Although I had decided to go for the Sienna, I was still a bit sceptical that it would be big enough. I need not have worried, as it was perfect for the job. Note that I had limited everyone to one medium size suitcase, which proved to be perfectly adequate for 2 weeks away.

The Sienna has a large well in the luggage space into which the rear seats fold when not in use. We found that we could stand 4 cases in a row across the car, with the bottom third of each case in the well. This enabled us to lay the remaining two cases across the top of the other four without obstructing rearward vision. This meant that we could sit 2-2-2, with only hand luggage in the passenger compartment.

The car had dual zone air-con, trip computer, plenty of storage bins, MP3 socket, and all the other gadgets you could need. It was very smooth and quiet, and also had a very good range considering the load the the 3.5 liter V6 engine was pulling. And finally, being a Toyota, I was confident that I could take it up steep hills, on bumpy off-road tracks (don't tell Alamo), through the hottest place on earth, etc. without fear of needing a tow-truck. We did 1967 miles in our 2 week trip from San Francisco to Vegas via the Grand Canyon, and the car didn't miss a beat. If only Toyota sold them in the UK, I'd seriously consider buying one to replace our ageing Previa.

The only slight car-related annoyances were actually due to the rental company, not the car.

Firstly, I thought I'd better check the fluid levels myself before leaving Bishop for the trip through Death Valley (just for peace of mind). I was surprised to see the engine oil barely registering on the dipstick, and it took a quart to get it back up to the correct level. I guess the lesson here is that if you're going through Death Valley, don't assume that your rental car fluid levels are correct; check them yourself - it's your life at risk if you suffer a breakdown.

Secondly, though Alamo knew where I was going (and therefore how many miles I was likely to do), I was given a car that, unbeknown to me, was due a service within the next 1500 miles or so. Consequently I was driving around for the last few days with the "Maintenance Required" warning light on. Luckily, I know enough about cars to know that this does not mean that the engine is about to explode, and just continued driving it.

[Midwest Michael]

I've had this light come on during a rental too. All it is on a Toyota is a oddly worded Oil Change reminder light, and its programmed to come on every 5000 miles no matter what conditions you've driven in.

Certainly, its a bit alarming when you see it come on and you aren't expecting it.

[Smudgeboy]

Hi all

What a find this forum is! I'm planning a three-month sojourn around various parts of the US, but it all starts with the mother of all tours of California - something I've wanted to do for over 20 years, but finally have the time and money to actually do it.

Travelling solo (but meeting friends, both Brit and American at various points along the way), 'Leg One' starts in San Francisco on Sept 25th and, after a week or so 'doing' SF, I intend to hire a car and do a large, clockwise circuit, taking in Sonara/Napa, Lake Tahoe, then south through the Sierra Nevada mountain passes, Yosemite, Sierra Nat Forest, Kings Canyon Nat Park, Sequoia Nat Forest, then back north past Mt Whitney and the eastern flank of the Sierra Nevadas to Mono Lake and back down south again through Death Valley and finally to Vegas.

('Leg Two' takes me from Vegas out through Mojave, Joshua Tree, Salton Sea, Palm Springs, San Diego, LA and then up the Pac Coast Highway back to SF, but that's for another post!)

My big outstanding question is around long-term car rental. Because 'Leg One' includes mountains, forests and desert (is Death Valley classified as a desert?), I was looking at a mid-size SUV (I'll exchange it for a convertible at Vegas!!). Then I reckon the SF to Vegas leg will take me at least a month.

So are there companies that specialise in longer-term rentals?

If the price is right I'd consider the same car for both legs - perhaps a two-month booking - although as I intend to stop for a few days in each of Vegas and San Diego, if changing cars saves me cash I'd do that (I know I'll need a car in LA).

Any advice on cost-savings on long-term car rental would be most gratefully received.

Dave