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You're used to your own car, you know where all the buttons are and all its quirks, and there you are, perhaps with a more modern car with lots of gadgets your car doesn't have.
I rented a car Tuesday in Oakland. Mind you, at home I drive a low-to-no-gadget 1985 Toyota, so I'm put behind the wheel of a brand new Chevy Cruze. I was handed this remote, and no key! So I thought it was hidden inside the remote somewhere, I pushed a button and out came a projectile, which I took to be the key. I looked everywhere as to where to insert it, their never telling me this car had a keyless ignition, my first experience with that. I went to the clerk and told her I wanted a less complex car to drive, and she then instructed me how to start it up. Press on brake, push button and voila!
As for the stereo system, oh lord! All trial and error! I still have a cassette player in my car, not even a DVD player! As for the heating and A/C unit, let's not got there! And all those buttons on the steering wheel, oh lord, I don't even want to know!!! I could just see myself pressing the wrong button and causing an accident!
Then returning the car! Had to gas up on the way back, couldn't figure out how to get the gas cap door open. Looked everywhere for a button inside, none! Perhaps it's on the remote! Nope! Desperate, I asked the clerk to help me! Tricky! You push on one corner of the door and it opens!
I can't imagine the horrors of putting me behind the wheel of an even higher gadget car, like a Cadillac! I'd probably crash it within a mile of the rental center!
And you, you adjust easily to the rental cars you rent on vacation, and don't have to spend a lot of time reading the auto manual?
Location: East of Seattle since 1992, 615' Elevation, Zone 8b - originally from SF Bay Area
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Ha, I know what you mean. We just bought a 2014 Escape, with the MyFord Sync and other high tech features it takes a while to get used to it. The dealer eve had a tech specialist that walked us through syncing our phones with the car. A month later we are still finding out new secrets to the voice commands and various menus on the two screens. It's harder when you have a rental and don't have the time to learn all of the various tricks. They are pretty much all this way now, however. All I can suggest is allowing extra time to find things like lights and wipers, ask for help as you did, and maybe read the manual when you get to the hotel.
We drive newer model GM's and Toyotas, and I drive Fords and Chryslers regularly for work, so no, I don't have a problem in general. They are really all about the same. I get in, adjust the seat and mirrors, and drive. Biggest complaint is the windshield wipers, you push down on some cars and up in others.
I agree. And phones should be returned to rotary dial, wall mounted in the kitchen...
like we had in the house where I grew up.
Dad had a 1960 Olds with a foot pedal thingie that made the radio antennae go up/down.
He had all the kids in the car pool completely goofed when he waved his finger like Ray Walston
would do in "My Favorite Martian".
And you, you adjust easily to the rental cars you rent on vacation, and don't have to spend a lot of time reading the auto manual?
More often than not, the auto manual is already missing from the cars I get. I usually look for a place to pull over as soon as I exit the parking garage and spend a while figuring out things on the car. There have been a few times I could not even get to the point where I could safely get out of the parking garage without first having to get someone from the rental company show me a few things.
However a bigger problem for me is the cars in each class size have been getting smaller and smaller. Even worse is the roof line of the cars have been getting lower and lower. I am 6' tall (which I do not consider being tall) and have a real problem with head space. Once, the roof line on the standard size car I was given was so low I had to open the sun roof and let the top of my head stick out. For a fee I had to upsize to a full size. 5 years ago I use to get upgraded 1 or 2 car classes for free simply because they would have glut of bigger cars and high demand for the smaller cars. Now, unless you have status with the company, free upgrades are a thing of the past.
I own a 2012 Dodge Charger and my parents own a 2011 Chevy Impala that I've driven on occasion. When I rent I rent full size and the last 5 rentals dating back 3 years have all been either the Charger or Impala.
I'm leaving for NY/PA on Tuesday... will post back what car I end up with...
I did in Ireland a few years back ... within 5 minutes, I scraped the sideview mirror off.
[sigh]
Oops!
Though that was the reverse in that you were driving a RHD car I guess.
The first time I drove in the US was out of LAX which was a bit nerve racking at the time.
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. I usually look for a place to pull over as soon as I exit the parking garage and spend a while figuring out things on the car. There have been a few times I could not even get to the point where I could safely get out of the parking garage without first having to get someone from the rental company show me a few things.
