Rental car choices
 

We're planning a 2-week trip to the Pacific Northwest this September and will be renting a car at Seatac. There will be just the 2 of us plus 2 large suitcases. We LOVE driving and like to rent a fairly large car when we are in the US. Problem is, I'm not up-to-date with current US car models, so can't decide what to reserve. Choices in my price range are:-

Pontiac G6 2 dr or similar
Chevy Impala 4 dr or similar
Chevy Monte Carlo 2 dr or similar

I realise you can never guarantee getting the specific model of rental car, but any opinions on these classes of car would be very welcome. Thanks!.

Enjoyed the new Impala that we rented a month ago and it got decent mileage.

Impala will work for sure - it is plenty roomy. If I were you, I'd take something in the Impala's car class and expect it to be sufficient.

You don;t want any of those. Rent a nice Accord if you can - or once in a while at Hertz I get an Infiniti when I rent a midsize.

I have been unlucky enough to get that Impala a couple of times from Avis (business rental requirement) and the engine is so wimpy it barely picks up speed going uphill unless you stand up on the gas - even with just 2 women - no luggage - in it.

I'm just back from my trip. I ended up with a Dodge Charger, which the agent at National informed me was a large sport car. I try not to laugh when I write that, it was "sporty" in the same way as a 1970's Bulgarian shot-putter. No question, the most awful rental car I've ever rented (and I must have driven at least 500 over the past 20 years). Dreadful road-holding (spinning tyres in the rain anyone?), bouncy suspension, retro dash-board (LED indicators!), poor rear visibility and generally crap build quality. I thought US car manufacturers had given up building these sort of dinosaurs at the end of the 80's but it seems not. Well, you live and learn.

Well I;'ve never understood the concept of a "sports sedan" - this is like jumbo shrimp or military intelligence.

A sports car is either a 2 seater - or a coupe with a back seat suitable only for packages or tiny children. It should be low to the road and have a wide stance for good cornering - and needs either standard or modified shift (with auto an option in really bad traffic) so you have better control. Never mind the size of the engine in comparison to the size of the car.

Gordon, larger cars generally cost more money to rent, unless they are sports cars. The Impala and Monte Carlo are similar sizes. You can also try the manufacturer website for sizes and descriptions. If you want to read reviews of each, try Edmunds.com

Gordon,

That's what happens when your only source of information is a used car salesman or his counterpart.

I hope other aspects of your visit to the USA were more pleasing to you.

HTTY