Dollar: "minivan" vs "intermediate van"

[jenjersnap]

Dollar now has separate listings for minivan and intermediate van but they are same price and show the exact same short and smaller Dodge Caravan in the pic of the description/example. Is there actually a difference between the two categories, does anyone know?

I would hope that by reserving an intermediate van, I could for sure get a Grand Caravan, Town and Country ... anything really but that short wheel-based Caravan which doesn't have enough luggage space for us!

We had a terrible experience with Dollar a couple trips ago. I reserved a minivan and was told - yes, told, we didn't get to try it - on arrival that we wouldn't fit in the van we reserved (the little Dodge) and that we'd need to pay an upcharge of $15/day to get a Grand Caravan. At that time, you couldn't reserve an intermediate van, only the minivan category, so I felt like we were taken for a ride. Dollar is, though, by far the cheapest rental for an upcoming trip and I'd like to give them another chance ... hoping this bait and switch thing was one particular agent and not a company tactic.

Any insight is appreciated, thanks.

 

[heidia]

I would also love to know about this, I noticed the same thing! We also could really use the extra space!

 

[jenjersnap]

Calling them wasn't helpful. the person I talked to stuck to the "They only have Dodge Caravans for both van categories". Probably so that you don't have reason to complain when you reserve an intermediate van and still get the stubby one?

Oh well, heidia, it looks like we might have to try it to know the answer. Make back up ressies somewhere else just in case.

 

[rtjcbrown]

The answer I got was that an upgrade to the extended van is only available at the time of pick up, and only on-site!

The old bait and switch!!

It wa $15/day when I did it last year, so figure that in your cost.

 

[BellePrincessBelle]

AFAIK Dodge only makes 1 length Caravan now for 2008 MY. It's the Grand Caravan only now.
ETA: I just checked the Dodge website and they are only making the Grand Caravan now.

 

[jenjersnap]

AFAIK Dodge only makes 1 length Caravan now for 2008 MY. It's the Grand Caravan only now.
ETA: I just checked the Dodge website and they are only making the Grand Caravan now.

That's great to know, thank you! I hope Dollar is keeping their fleet updated.

 

[Disneyfriend]

Jennifer, I posted a similar question several weeks ago, because we too reserved a Dollar minivan last time (Sept./Oct. 2006) and were virtually forced to pay the upcharge for a Grand Caravan. We couldn't argue at the time, being a family of 5 with lots of luggage. So I went ahead and paid it, but it really didn't start off our vacation on the best note.

I really did feel "baited and switched" at the time, since there was only one minivan option when I made the original on-line reservation. I was also ticked because I've rented Dollar minivans in several locations around the country (Hawaii and Phoenix both come to mind) and always automatically gotten the Grand Caravan when I reserved a minivan.

I sure hope this is true that they're not making the short Caravans anymore. I just hope they're long gone from the Dollar Orlando lot by the time we arrive this fall!

Disneyfriend

 

[BellePrincessBelle]

FWIW I book a standard van with Dollar in Oct. They tried to get me to upgrade to a Grand Caravan but I refused. There was no need. I've fit 6 in A Mazda MPV when I needed with luggage. It turns out they only had full size Town & Country's and just wanted to try to get me to pay the difference. I still got the T&C @ the Caravan price.

 

[jenjersnap]

We called the agent's bluff on this in 10/06 and she let us walk ... about 30 feet, LOL before calling us back and telling us she wouldn't give us the bigger minivan but she would "do us a favor" and give us a Magnum instead. It worked out fine - I liked the Magnum cos it had a cargo cover for stuff in back and it had tons of luggage space though the kids were tight across the 2nd row - but I was so mad that, while DH installed car seats, I counted every minivan in the lot. 30-plus larger minivans vs. only two smaller ones.

It was stressful so I just want to reserve and pay for a van that'll work ... with that said, I think I've talked myself into sticking with Alamo though it'll be $10 per day more. Thanks for helping me talk it through!

FWIW I book a standard van with Dollar in Oct. They tried to get me to upgrade to a Grand Caravan but I refused. There was no need. I've fit 6 in A Mazda MPV when I needed with luggage. It turns out they only had full size Town & Country's and just wanted to try to get me to pay the difference. I still got the T&C @ the Caravan price.