Dumb Question about car rentals

[erikthewise]

I have relatively little experience with rentals, but there something I don't understand. Maybe some of you who understand how the business works can enlighten me.

As would zillions of other people, I would LOVE to be able to rent a Honda Accord (what I drive at home) or Toyota Camry, the two best-selling mid-size cars in America. But I've never seen a rental company admit to having these cars in their fleet. What gives? I'd gladly pay an extra $20 a week to get either of these instead of the standard offering, maybe more. And I'm sure that Honda and Toyota would be glad to sell them to the rental companies.

Is it just that Honda and Toyota don't HAVE to give the rental companies incredible markdowns to move these cars? It's not a matter of foreign vs. domestic. Accords are made right here in Ohio and are more "American" than many GM models.

 

[minster22]

To my knowledge {my husband used to sell Hondas} none of the rental agencies rent Hondas but we have rented Camrys several times while traveling. Cannot remember which company we used but when I was researching our upcoming trip in Nov I'm sure I came across one in MCO that had the Toyotas. Since I also drive a Honda Accord I do not like driving most US cars. I went with Budget this time , great rate and I'm hoping to get {don't think I'm totally nuts here!!} a Hyundai Sonata. Good Luck!

 

[travelcoupons]

I've seen Toyota Camrys at National.

 

[Werner Weiss]

My favorite car rental company, Hertz, is owned by Ford Motor Company -- so it's not suprising that about 80% of the Hertz cars I rent are Ford, Mercury, or Lincoln models. (I'm more surprised that most of the rest are from Chrysler Corporation.) Twice I've been lucky to be upgraded to a Toyota Avalon -- the best cars I've ever driven.

Avis is owned by Cendant Corporation (TraveLodge, RCI, Caldwell Banker, Howard Johnson, and many other brands).

National Car Rental and Alamo are owned by ANC Rental Corporation.

I imagine these large corporations negotiate very favorable fleet prices, and that Honda isn't willing to drop their prices sufficiently.

 

[Pluto4President]

I got a camry last month at National. You can't reserve a "specific" car though.

 

[DebbieB]

I picked a Camry off the EA last December. It only had 200 miles on it and was loaded! Loved that car!

 

[erikthewise]

Thanks for the responses. I'll keep my eyes peeled for a Camry when I do National EA at MCO in December!
Dare I hope for an Avalon?! (aka "Lexus without the Logo")

 

[Jcricket Fan]

Add me to the group....I also got a Camry in Orlando off EA and one in Phoenix...really nice cars!
Colleen