I'm In Vegas; Rental Car Story

[SoCalDubber]

So I have a Hertz Gold membership and they frequently treat me quite well... I rented a midsized sedan because it was ~ $20/day including tax. Because of the Gold membership, there is a board with names and a spot number so you're able to skip the desks, go straight to your car, and leave. I find myself walking down a row of some pretty fun-looking cars. Challenger. Challenger. Mustang GT. Challenger. Corvette. The next few cars were a couple more Mustangs, an Eclipse Spyder in this awful orange, and another Corvette. I hold my breath, but sure enough, I was in the Eclipse Whatever, Vegas, convertible, could be fun. I drive it back to my hotel and have never felt more self-conscious in my life. The car is not terribly ugly but it's horribly slow and the color is just way too ridiculous for such a lame car.

Keep in mind, I drive a Fiat every day

So basically I called Hertz, told them I needed to exchange the car but didn't want to get "downgraded" to what I had paid for and they said to come back. Get back to the rental car center, go to the desk, tell him that I'm not in to dudes so the Eclipse just won't work, and ask what he can do. He said "well, you paid for a midsized" and ask that he puts me in something comparable to the Eclipse. I ask him what the Mustang's go for, and he mentions that he has 7 Challengers on the lot, but they're reservation only. I'm actually more interested in the Mustang and he mentions one of them that is in the 4 cars that are right in their show case.

I ended up leaving with this... a 2013 Mustang GT, pretty nicely loaded. 444 horsepower



But here's the craziest thing...



I'm head-over-heals in love with this car and am certainly breaking it in right

[SoCalDubber]

I'll post more pictures after I get some of my "experiences"

[teklord69]

I'll post more pictures after I get some of my "experiences"

Nice rental! Now since its not yours trash that thing like no tomorrow (burnouts, drifts ,etc)

[SoCalDubber]

Nice rental! Now since its not yours trash that thing like no tomorrow (burnouts, drifts ,etc)

I'm not legally able to respond to this post

PS: I'm paying less than $40/day (which means its less than $20/day extra on top of my original plan)... How do I NOT do this?

[evosky]

lucky SOB ...

[That1njguy]

Waiting for pics of rental

[SoCalDubber]

Waiting for pics of rental

Didn't I post one?

[the flying grape!]

I am assuming it is an auto.

[S0RRY]

You sound really insecure. Afraid of being construed as gay for driving an eclipse convertible? Are you overcompensating or what? Lol, you drive a Fiat 500, I'd think you'd just accept the stereotype and move on.

[SoCalDubber]

I am assuming it is an auto.

Yeah, and to be perfectly honest, I'm happy it is... The car pulls HARD. With an aggressive shift, I'm not 100% confident I'd be able to stop it from shaking its ass uncontrollably.

I'm curious to see what the price-as-tested would be, this car is just about perfect!

The built in Track Apps are a lot of fun

[SoCalDubber]

You sound really insecure. Afraid of being construed as gay for driving an eclipse convertible? Are you overcompensating or what? Lol, you drive a Fiat 500, I'd think you'd just accept the stereotype and move on.

A Saab driver with no sense of humor? Weird...

[200HP4dr]

I guess I'm the only person on the planet who likes the Mitsu. Not that I'd buy one, but still. Of course, if given the option for a Mustang, I would do that.

Also, could you clarify for us as to whether or not you have a Gold membership? And I'm not sure if you mentioned it, but what benefits does it have?



Chris

[S0RRY]

You sound really insecure. Afraid of being construed as gay for driving an eclipse convertible? Are you overcompensating or what? Lol, you drive a Fiat 500, I'd think you'd just accept the stereotype and move on.

yeah, I get the "joke", but the fact that you actually went back and exchanged the rental for something you felt more tuff in is what makes you sound insecure

[the flying grape!]

Yeah, and to be perfectly honest, I'm happy it is... The car pulls HARD. With an aggressive shift, I'm not 100% confident I'd be able to stop it from shaking its ass uncontrollably.

I'm curious to see what the price-as-tested would be, this car is just about perfect!

The built in Track Apps are a lot of fun

Yeah, you don't want to end up like the Lambo driver.

This just makes me want to rent one for a weekend. Although I'm not sure they'd have the 5.0 in my not-Vegas city of Raleigh.

[SoCalDubber]

yeah, I get the "joke", but the fact that you actually went back and exchanged the rental for something you felt more tuff in is what makes you sound insecure

I would've been happy in a Mini... and those are man-magnets Honestly, given the surprise upgrade to a convertible, this would have been the absolute last car in the class that I would have picked so I figured anything else in the price range would have been an upgrade.

[Anony00GT]

Yes. That new 5.0 is a sweeeeet motor, and the Mustang has become a very nice overall car as well. And the automatics aren't bad at all.

[SoCalDubber]

Yes. That new 5.0 is a sweeeeet motor, and the Mustang has become a very nice overall car as well. And the automatics aren't bad at all.

If I had the money to burn, I'd buy one and put a few miles a year on it... Definitely a collector, especially if you can order a rare color/option package.

[6cylVWguy]

Glad you like it, but let's not get too excited here. Your car doesn't have 444hp as you don't have the boss. You have to make due with only 420 hp.

I also have an ingot silver GT, a '12 though. It DEFINITELY hustles far more than I am used to for a DD. But it's awesome that in 95% of situations, I can power around multiple cars with ease. And the 5.0 loves to rev. You may not have realized it yet, but the coyote isn't much into low end torque---compared with say a BRZ () it's got some pull at lower rpms, but compared with say a SBC, the car comes on strong only >3500 rpms. I've definitely been caught out of the powerband of my car several times by being in the wrong gear. So I either wait until the tach needle sweeps past 3500 rpms or downshift. Had some fun with what was probably a stock mkVI GTI the other weekend and being in the wrong gear was not a problem. But with an auto, you should never really be in the wrong gear!

Enjoy! These cars are a lot more fun than most people around here give them credit. You just can't be afraid to throw the car into a turn.

[Son]

Oh, Gateway will get hope from this thread now.

Anyway, I like the Mustang, but the '11/'12 model was cleaner. The bumper, wheels, the hood, the grille are all busier now.

[SoCalDubber]

On my way to Hoover Dan now... 2 thoughts.

- sync is a pain in the ass but has lots of content
- just changed the steering feel option to sport and boy oh boy!

Oh, and I'm getting about 28 mpg cruising on the highway.

[Minty_Fresh]

check the OBD2 port if they have a recorder in there.

[TorontoGT]

To turn off traction control AND stability control do this:

While stopped, press the traction control button once. The fish-tailing Mustang light will illuminate on the dash . You've only turned off traction control now and stability control is still on.

To turn off stability control, first turn off traction control, then put your foot on the brake and hold the traction control button for 8-10 seconds, until the "AdvanceTRAC Off" is shown on the display.

You'll thank me later.

[masa8888]

It's pretty incredible how big of a jump the new GT made with the 5.0. We went for a walk around the neighborhood last night and I was checking out a neighbor's '03 Cobra, thinking how it "only" has 390 HP compared to '12 GT's 420 HP.

[patrickvr6]

Can you get a picture of the Mustang shaped puddle light that comes from under the rear view mirror? All I have seen online so far are lame Photoshops.

[c2tmdsn]

I'll be in Vegas 2 weeks from now, I should rent one

[AnAgentOrange]

I'll be in Vegas 2 weeks from now, I should rent one

GTFO, lol

[JimmyD]

On my way to Hoover Dan now... 2 thoughts.

- sync is a pain in the ass but has lots of content
- just changed the steering feel option to sport and boy oh boy!

Oh, and I'm getting about 28 mpg cruising on the highway.

Hoover Dam you say? You will be driving right through Boulder City. It's a cool little town with a quaint downtown area. Stop there to check out a great bar, The Dillinger, or stop in at Boulder Dam Brewing Company.

The Dillinger Bar 1224 Arizona Street, Boulder City, NV
Boulder Dam Brewing Co. 453 Nevada Way, Boulder City, NV

[dieselraver]

yeah, I get the "joke", but the fact that you actually went back and exchanged the rental for something you felt more tuff in is what makes you sound insecure

i was in Santa Monica for work and got put in a Pontiac G5 or whatever that thing is.

Horrible smell, terrible rear view, terrible driving dynamics. I picked it up Friday night at 7:30 pm, Saturday morning 7:00am I pulled in and drove out with the a brand new Bright Sky Blue Toyota Camry. it had 0.8 miles on the ODO.

[ThreadBomber]

On my way to Hoover Dan now... 2 thoughts.

- sync is a pain in the ass but has lots of content
- just changed the steering feel option to sport and boy oh boy!

Oh, and I'm getting about 28 mpg cruising on the highway.

Don't text while driving otherwise Vortex Media group might get sued!!

[dieselraver]

Can you get a picture of the Mustang shaped puddle light that comes from under the rear view mirror? All I have seen online so far are lame Photoshops.

that's the most ridiculous thing i've ever seen. what a waste of time

[patrickvr6]

that's the most ridiculous thing i've ever seen. what a waste of time

Is it more or less ridiculous than the Evoque?

[ValveCoverGasket]

Is it more or less ridiculous than the Evoque?

the same amount.

[terrabit2001]

Man that car sucks because of its terrible interior, chinese glass transmission and live axle.
You should have seen if you could get the BRZ instead.

[NightTrain EX]

Man that car sucks because of its terrible interior, chinese glass transmission and live axle.
You should have seen if you could get the BRZ instead.

It's the Auto.

[todras]

Nice! I just got married in Vegas May 6 and got a Hertz rental too. Say that there was a place to rent right in Paris so I wouldn't have to taxi to the airport. Paid a little more but it would have been the same with the cab back and forth with about $10-20 each trip. Guy said he could do a Mustang V6 'vert for me. I said sounds fine to me. Show up the day of rental and said he had a Yellow Camaro SS vert (426hp!). I said well how much? Said $20 more a day. I said well I just got married kinda strapped can you cut me a break? He said ok it will be same price as the Mustang.

Got it for $286 for 2 days and unlimited miles. I think this car has a 100 mile limit since it's in the Adreneline line. This thing was fun to do burnouts in but felt so big. Gas mileage wasn't too bad on our trip to Zion National Park.