car rentals victoria airport

car rentals victoria airport
Michael Klatt misses, when the daily rental cars were shiny and new.

In June, he rented a Ford Taurus in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, was loose, that the steering and multi-colored seats. "" I was literally touching it to see if it is wet, "he says. The car driven 20,000 miles on it, also had brakes, the Wonky a little - he had to press hard on the pedal, so that they work.

"" Before you're not a car with 20,000 to 25,000 Miles "," New Hill, NC, resident and long-time customer says Hertz. "" You can say: They ride rough, they have a go Shimmy the road, the seats have stains on them. It's like rent-a-wreck. "

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Paula Rivera, a spokeswoman for Hertz, so the company's fleet age - - usually 8-12 months and 16,000 to 20,000 miles - has not changed and that the cars are in line with the manufacturers guidelines.

But even if the customers and car-rental companies debate whether the quality of the car is sliding, the landlords are in fact implementing stingier policies as they look to reduce costs. Vanguard Car Rental, National Car Rental and Alamo Rent A Car, says that about 2,000 more miles on its vehicles on average fleetwide now compared to a year ago. Hertz will be less generous with its loyalty program and after-hour drop-offs. And some customers say rental-car companies are more nitpicky, where they refuel, with some tenants will fill him with fuel fees if they are more than a few miles from the airport.

Car rental companies have pinched because auto makers, desperate to ensure their own finances under control is to limit the practice of selling less profitable "program" cars fleets. Program cars are vehicles that rental companies buy at a reduced cost, then on the resale prices in advance by many auction, usually after about nine months. The car manufacturer used avenue to rid of excess capacity. So rents are now filling their fleets with a greater proportion of "risk" cars - cars they ultimately have to sell themselves, possibly at a loss.

The companies say that consumers do not notice a difference in their rental car - even if they run longer. Vanguard, the Enterprise Rent-A-Car Co. recently bought, says the additional 2000 miles on their cars is nothing dramatic. Even the cars are provided by the manufacturer-certified mechanics and generally disposed of before they reach 20,000 miles. Industry observers agree. "The cars are pretty good," says Chris Brown, managing editor of Auto Rental News magazine.

Higher gasoline prices can also be an incentive for some companies a little more stringent about refueling. Before Jason Smith back his car in Chicago O'Hare International Airport in August, he filled at a gas station 15 miles away. It never came to him, he can provide for less than a full tank. But the needle had nudged just "F." The attendant at the National Car Rental site him for an eighth of a tank, Mr. Smith says, it works on almost $ 17. "I showed them the receipt, but they were like" We're sorry, you have to take that company, "he says.

National stands by that decision. "" We are not giving away gasoline, "says Charles Rolls, a spokesman for Vanguard.

It is clear that landlords must be cautious gas. Because gas prices are high and the profit margins on rentals are slim - - the typical margin on a $ 50 rental is around $ 5, which is not much more than the price of one gallons gas - companies need stingy, industry experts say. "" This is an area where profits can literally leak from the tank, "says Neil Abrams, president of Abrams Consulting Group Inc., a car rental consulting.

Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group Inc., says its policy is that tenants must fill within 10 miles of the return location and be prepared to show the receipt. If they do not, they can be for service stations, usually one per liter as well as a service fee. Enterprise, Hertz and Avis Budget Group Inc. say that they are not in the mandate renters refuel. Vanguard says so well, but Steve Clark, who rented a car from Alamo in Orlando in April, says he told the rental agent that he had the soldiers within three mile radius of the return site. Role, the Vanguard spokesman, says that is not the policy of either the company or the individual rental location. "" It was obviously a misunderstanding, "he says.

Consumers, prior to payment for the gas with the landlord usually have to pay about a quarter more than the typical price at the pump. But those who can foresee that the option will be $ 5 to $ 7 per gallon, if the company says the tank is not full enough.

The problem with to refuel so near the return site, consumers say, is that some gas stations close to their rental car drop-off areas as a pretext for undermining customer. "" That means more, "says Geoff Sundström, a spokesman for AAA, the Automobile Association. Mr. Smith, the National renter, says that is why he filled up 15 miles away from O'Hare. In Orlando, the Suncoast Energy gas station near Orlando International Airport was charging $ 4.39 for regular unleaded as of Tuesday, well above the average for the city, to 2.80 euros, according to AAA. The station also does not see a large sign indicates the prices that customers can lead to pump to realize, before the price. Bob Barnes, the station manager, explains that the price on the pump, as it costs more, one stop from the airport (because of high taxes) - and the price is actually an agreement was rushed Car Rental returners. "" If you are in a real hurry and you just go back to the car, was it cost $ 7 per gallon to do ', "he says.