Hyundai Sonata

Colossus · May 25, 2016

A good percent of the vehicles I rent also have smoke smell in them. Add to that some also smell like Marijuana. They never charge the $300 fee for smoking in a car because they can't prove it. The smells are hard to get out. It might have been cleaned as best they could and then go back out for rental to a customer who did not smoke in it yet was willing to put up with the smell and then it is returned and you see that person being charged. They won't risk it. Because some of my customers are the federal government, I take extra care to not get a car that has any type of Marijuana smell. Especially in states where Marijuana is not legal. Federal Government has no tolerance for Marijuana, even medical in the states where it is legal. If they smell it on you that is grounds for termination, and believe me I've seen and heard of it happening.

MikeNH · May 26, 2016

I rent 35-40 cars a year. Hyundai and Kia are making decent stuff these days and I also like them cause the gas gauge will stay on F for nearly 100 miles so I can typically fill up when it's convenient and not incur a fee at the airport. I like the Kias more- I think they're better looking and that likely has to do with their design guy being poached from Audi (yes, Kia woo'd someone away from Audi).

Smoking is a huge issue and the local Enterprise folks I've worked with the past three years say the same- unless they can find a butt or ashes they can't charge someone.

I think for my needs the Charger is my favorite rental. The V6 is decently powerful, it has a big tank and I can pull 32-33 mpg out of it which means like almost 600 miles of range. Grand Cherokees are nice road trippers too but they take some doing to get an upgrade to from the local folks. National at the airport pretty much does whatever I tell them to though. haha

KARNUT · May 26, 2016

I agree that Kia's are better looking, I picked Hyundai because the GMC dealer where I bought my work trucks sold them and the local Kia dealer in my are sucky big time. The question I have for you is in your vast rental car experience, what the best all round criuser? Since I retired I've been doing some uber and use a Santa Fe it's been great so far for getting in and out of. The V6 performance has been good. Do you think the Jeep is better? I was looking at the Durango, to be honest the V8 and rear drive would make and easy switch for me.

KMGZ400 · May 26, 2016

Maybe since mine is an ECO they skimped on the insulation.. I know it dosent have a spare and only has a 10gal tank and a few other things

MikeNH · May 27, 2016

I agree that Kia's are better looking, I picked Hyundai because the GMC dealer where I bought my work trucks sold them and the local Kia dealer in my are sucky big time. The question I have for you is in your vast rental car experience, what the best all round criuser? Since I retired I've been doing some uber and use a Santa Fe it's been great so far for getting in and out of. The V6 performance has been good. Do you think the Jeep is better? I was looking at the Durango, to be honest the V8 and rear drive would make and easy switch for me.

The Durango and Grand Cherokee are on the same platform but only the Dodge has a 3rd row. The Grand is in my opinion the ultimate road trip rig. It's comfortable, quiet, the upgraded stereo is incredible. The V6 is decent on power and with mid 20s mpg on flat midwest highway with a big fuel tank, it has good range.

But, they seem to be a bit iffy on quality from what I read. Lots of electronics and the chassis was a parting gift from the Mercedes ownership days so it's probably needlessly complex too. But I wouldn't hesitate to lease one as long as it was up by 36k miles. Haha

I drove the Santa Fe once. Can't remember much good or bad about it but I do hear Hyundai and Kia still aren't meeting fuel economy figures on the sticker. Not really a huge deal to me but it may be to others.

KARNUT · May 27, 2016

The Durango and Grand Cherokee are on the same platform but only the Dodge has a 3rd row. The Grand is in my opinion the ultimate road trip rig. It's comfortable, quiet, the upgraded stereo is incredible. The V6 is decent on power and with mid 20s mpg on flat midwest highway with a big fuel tank, it has good range.

But, they seem to be a bit iffy on quality from what I read. Lots of electronics and the chassis was a parting gift from the Mercedes ownership days so it's probably needlessly complex too. But I wouldn't hesitate to lease one as long as it was up by 36k miles. Haha

I drove the Santa Fe once. Can't remember much good or bad about it but I do hear Hyundai and Kia still aren't meeting fuel economy figures on the sticker. Not really a huge deal to me but it may be to others.

I don't have thing bad to say about the Santa Fe or Hyundais at all. I own 3 had 4, I bought it just after retirement and planed on putting 5-7 k miles a year. After picking up a new hobby ( driving for Uber) I drive that in three weeks. Now Im looking at rear drive V8 mid sized SUVs just for the fun factor. Mid sized SUVs are the easiest to get in and out of for my older riders. I may start looking at some of the rear drive imports as an option. Thanks for your response.

Colossus · May 27, 2016

Tried the Traverse yet?

Colossus · May 27, 2016

The Durango and Grand Cherokee are on the same platform but only the Dodge has a 3rd row. The Grand is in my opinion the ultimate road trip rig. It's comfortable, quiet, the upgraded stereo is incredible. The V6 is decent on power and with mid 20s mpg on flat midwest highway with a big fuel tank, it has good range.

But, they seem to be a bit iffy on quality from what I read. Lots of electronics and the chassis was a parting gift from the Mercedes ownership days so it's probably needlessly complex too. But I wouldn't hesitate to lease one as long as it was up by 36k miles. Haha

That 4.7L engine is also a "gift" from Mercedes. Chrysler didn't design that.

MikeNH · May 27, 2016

The 4.7 V8 is loooooong gone.

KARNUT · May 27, 2016

Tried the Traverse yet?

I did, nothing wrong with it, they wouldn't dicount it as much as the Hyundai at the same dealer.

Chris · May 27, 2016

I just test drove a pretty basic Optima. I think i may buy one in a few months. For a base model, it has decent equipment and can fit the bill for a daily

SnakeEyeSS · May 28, 2016

Old German cars were wonderful to work on in my experience, may just be BMWs. Made by the engineer's and mechanic's first, and you can tell. I'm not sure if I'd be inclined to even want to work on a newer German car with the electronics because of the cultural differences and views on reliability between the two countries. I have heard it's really shameful for Japanesee companies to make a car that is unreliable, but Germans expect things will break, and customers buy new cars fairly often so they make them accordingly. Heard it on some auto podcast, if it's right????

SnakeEyeSS · May 28, 2016

I just test drove a pretty basic Optima. I think i may buy one in a few months. For a base model, it has decent equipment and can fit the bill for a daily

Yeah, I'd shy away from base Accords if you don't mind the Kia resale drop. The stereos suck, and are a unbelievable ordeal to upgrade. If I had been looking at lower level trims I would have gotten another 6 for sure. There is a rumor that Android Auto is getting close to release on the Mazda Connect system(part of the reason I looked at my Accord), as some people have modded/hacked in a buggy version.

But, you might check out the Mazda6 also if you haven't. They cost a bit more though, as dealers are so spaced out in most places they have no competition(Mazda fans are loyal to the brand philosophy, Mazda doesn't want high volume, just to stand out with loyal customers) so they are used to people willing to pay a little more)

Chris · May 28, 2016

Yeah, I'd shy away from base Accords if you don't mind the Kia resale drop. The stereos suck, and are a unbelievable ordeal to upgrade. If I had been looking at lower level trims I would have gotten another 6 for sure. There is a rumor that Android Auto is getting close to release on the Mazda Connect system(part of the reason I looked at my Accord), as some people have modded/hacked in a buggy version.

But, you might check out the Mazda6 also if you haven't. They cost a bit more though, as dealers are so spaced out in most places they have no competition(Mazda fans are loyal to the brand philosophy, Mazda doesn't want high volume, just to stand out with loyal customers) so they are used to people willing to pay a little more)

I already drive an Optima on a semi-regulsr basis and do the maintenance on it for my mom. It wont be something for fun. It will be an economical and practical daily to pile miles on

KARNUT · May 28, 2016

I've had 4 Mazdas starting with the Rx3 when I was 17. The last one was an 3 fun car, the only camplaint was my knees would hit on the sides. When we looked at Hondas the road noise was high in those, I hear they are better now. Shes been driving a Geneses for 5 years now a recorded.