dollar car hire size question **updated**

[Netty]

anyone else booked a car with dollar and think they have pulled a fast one?
we booked and paid for an intermediate 4 door with our travel agent(never again-thats another story!)
when we arrived at mco we were given a Dodge Caliber equivelant to the size of a Ford Focus. we should of questioned at the time, but we didnt. we loaded the luggage in to it and drove off to the villa.
we have been in touch with the travel agent who agrees that what we had sounds like a compact car.
just wondering if anyone else has had a smaller car instead of what you booked. dollar are more than likely to give an upgraded car than a smaller one, so i have no idea why we had a small car!

 

[Claire L]

How very odd at getting a smaller car, what did you paperwork say for car size and what did their's say?

Claire

 

[Netty]

claire they both said I4

 

[Claire L]

How very odd

I am not sure why they would 'downgrade' you without warning or compensation.

Claire

 

[UKDEB]

The Caliber is a new model (and much nicer than the Stratus, IMHO). I suspect Dollar is phasing it in as part of its Intermediate line-up. The Caliber certainly meets Dollar's definition of an Intermediate:

Dodge Stratus or similar

Air Conditioning
Tilt Wheel / Cruise Control
Reclining Front Seats
AM/FM/CD Stereo Radio
Power Steering / Brakes / Window

SPECIFIC VEHICLE MAKE/MODEL/CLASS AND/OR AVAILABILITY MAY VARY BY LOCATION

 

[Claire L]

Now that makes more sense Deb if it is a new model.

Claire

 

[Netty]

The Caliber is a new model (and much nicer than the Stratus, IMHO). I suspect Dollar is phasing it in as part of its Intermediate line-up. The Caliber certainly meets Dollar's definition of an Intermediate:

Dodge Stratus or similar

Air Conditioning
Tilt Wheel / Cruise Control
Reclining Front Seats
AM/FM/CD Stereo Radio
Power Steering / Brakes / Window

SPECIFIC VEHICLE MAKE/MODEL/CLASS AND/OR AVAILABILITY MAY VARY BY LOCATION

The dodge caliber is much smaller than the stratus.

 

[bazzanoid]

The Compact class is a Neon or similar - the Caliber is definitely Neon-sized...

 

[UKDEB]

The dodge caliber is much smaller than the stratus.

It is a bit smaller, certainly, but it still meets the specifications for an Intermediate. I would have said it's bigger than a Neon.

 

[Netty]

It is a bit smaller, certainly, but it still meets the specifications for an Intermediate. I would have said it's bigger than a Neon.

It has replaced the neon in the compact range.

"The Dodge brand took an abrupt turn in the compact market when it replaced its sleek, curvy Neon compact earlier this year with the edgy Caliber"

 

[UKDEB]

Dodge, yes, but what does Dollar say? I'm not saying you're wrong, just suggesting that this model still fits Dollar's criteria for an Intermediate, so maybe that's why you got it. It's big enough, and has sufficient kit, to qualify for what you signed up for so maybe, as a newer model, someone thought they were doing you a favour. I'd certainly be happier with the new Caliber than with the Stratus. Similarly, if I received a Magnum rather than a Concorde, I'd be well happy.

When the PT Cruisers were first introduced, Dollar was offering them as an upgrade to the Luxury class, but now they're an Intermediate Special. I don't think they've 'pulled a fast one', it depends on what your 'measure' is. You're suggesting it's all about size, but that isn't the only criterion. Provided it meets the minimum sizing for a category, there are other considerations. The Pacifica is in the 'Premium' category, but is bigger than some in the 'Luxury' category. Maybe the Caliber will slot into the 'Compact' category in time, but, for the moment, it's a new model and, as long as it has sufficient passenger and luggage capacity to be classed as an Intermediate, Dollar will want to get the best possible return.

In the past we've been issued with Chrysler 300s and Lincoln Towncars. Both are, without question, in the Luxury class. The external and internal dimensions differ, but both are within the stated criteria for Luxury class. They don't have to have identical capacities to do that; they just need to conform to a minimum standard for that class. One costs considerably more to buy than the other, but we've been equally happy with both.

What I'm trying to say, in a very long-winded way ( ), is that a combination of factors comes into play and I wouldn't immediately assume you've been diddled. As long as it does what it says on the box:



Air Conditioning
Tilt Wheel / Cruise Control
Reclining Front Seats
AM/FM/CD Stereo Radio
Power Steering / Brakes / Window

then Dollar is entitled to book it out as an Intermediate. I think the Caliber's a lovely car and I'd have been congratualting myself!

 

[Netty]

Deb, where have you got the information from that says its a intermediate? we only had 3 adults in our car and struggled along with the luggage after landing at mco, my sister in law had 4 adults in there caliber-sardines!no way would you have got another passenger in to it.
we have been to florida many times and have always had an intermediate. this is by far the smallest car we have ever had....
by the way I am waiting for a response from dollar.
i am not happy with the size of the car and by no way was it equivelant or similar to the stratus, i should know i sat in it for 3 weeks.

 

[UKDEB]

I'm not saying it's definitely classed as an Intermediate by Dollar, just that, on the face of it, it does qualify (based on the information provided on the Dodge website). That is, it seats 5 adults, achieves 23 mpg, has Air Conditioning, Tilt Wheel/Cruise Control, Reclining Front Seats, AM/FM/CD, Stereo Radio, Power Steering/Brakes/Window and sufficient luggage space for one large and two small suitcases.

The company for which I work uses National in the UK. A Ford Focus/Vauxhall Astra is classed as Intermediate. A KA or Corsa is a Compact.

Like you say, though - you have experienced it first-hand, whereas I am only putting 2 and 2 together based on information gleaned from the internet. I wasn't ever intending to question your assessment, just to attempt to answer your question as posed. I sincerely hope you get a satisfactory outcome.

 

[JohnnySharp2]

Some of the car's available in the classes can be very different.
We had a Premium Class Chrysler Pacifica this year, but as Deb says this car is bigger as essentially it's a 4x4 type of car than a saloon would be in a bigger class.

In addition the 2 vehicles Dollar use for F4 (Full size), are the Dodge Magnum and Ford Taurus, yet there is a big difference in the size of the vehicles with the Magnum (essentially a pretty big & nice looking estate type), being a fair bit bigger than the standard Taurus saloon.

I have driven a Stratus in the past and would say it is bigger than the Caliber, which I have seen very recently - however, I can understand why they would be considered in the same class.

 

[Netty]

Thanks Deb for your replies, as yet I havent had a reply from dollar, i'll post the outcome if i ever get one from them!

 

[Netty]

I have finally had a reply from Dollar regarding what catagory the DODGE CALIBER came in, heres their response to my email. I will be emailing Dollar to find out why we were allocated a compact car and not the intermediate that we paid for.


Ms. Lewis,

Please forgive the delay in our response. Your email had been stored as spam and was just delivered to the Customer Service Department for Dollar Rent A Car. The Dodge Caliber is our Compact vehicle. Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns.

Sincerely,

Elizabeth McCall
Customer Service Department