Alamo -- Do you pick out your car from lot or do they assign?

[LoveToDisney]

We usually use National and since Alamo's prices are so good, I thought we would give them a try. I rented a full-size (which is really mid-size at National).
Do you go to the lot and pick out your car like you do with National or do they assign one to you? Is the lot near the National lot?
Has everyone been happy with Alamo? I'm a non-smoker and it's really important that the car has not be smoked in or have a huge fragrance because of allergies.
Thanks!

 

[Rootskate]

We went out into the garage and picked out the car we wanted. They are parked in different catagories, such as compact, midsize, etc. (The keys are in the ignition.) No mention was ever made of non-smoking cars or anything though. I wonder if they have special ones that you have to request?

 

[LoveToDisney]

For National, the non-smoking cars have a cigarette and slash through it on a decal on the window. Also, there is no cigarette lighter in the car. Just wondered if Alamo does the same?

 

[decaff38]

We just rented a fullsize from Alamo last week. Great deal and great service. When we arrived we were directed to go to the fullsize aisle and choose a car. There were only 2 - an Impala and a PT cruiser. We choose the Impala(kids wanted the PT) Huge trunk. Held 5 large suitcases and carryons. We were 3 adults and 2 teenagers. Fit fine. I wondered what might happen if there were no fullsized cars in the row. Everything went great. Hopped in and we were off. Coming back we just pulled up into line, they scanned the sticker and gave us a receipt. Did not see a lighter in the car. No smells. Will use them again in a heartbeat!!

 

[deltachi8]

National and Alamo use the same cars.

 

[LoveToDisney]

National and Alamo use the same cars.

Really. It's the same lot? What surprised me was the description of the full size car for Alamo was the description for the midsize car for National (Grand Prix). Alamo's midsize was similiar to an Alero which is considerably smaller for tall people than the Grand Prix.
But now I'm really confused because an Impala is a National full size car which is what decaff38 had to choose from.