Impression of Budget Rent A Car...You Tell Me...

[OLT2004]

Months before our trip I reserved a Dodge Grand Caravan with Budget.

(A great shout out to mousesavers.com for their codes)

Anywhoo - I joined their FastBreak Club...And we all go to get our Minivan.
My Fault, I guess, but we get in line @ the counter.
I mumble to my DW that I thought we should be able to bypass the counter.
But, I am not seeing any signs....
The line is moving very slowly...
I mention to the kids about "FastBreak" club....
All at once, we all spot a Very Small Sign that FastBreak members should go directly to the garage....A VERY SMALL SIGN...
Wa Hoo....
Off we go!!!!
I should mention that on our last few trips we used National Emerald Aslie service, but OMG - They wanted almost double for a Minivan...

So Anywhoo - We arrive @ the booth inside the garage and I present my paperwork.
No Minivans are Available!!
They offer me a Ford Flex SEL...Which Does Have 3 Row Seating.
We are a party of 5 Adults W/Luggage...We need 3 Rows & Luggage Room.

We take it....

Question...Where we upgraded? Or Downgraded?
The Ford Flex is not listed on Budget.com that I could find....

We were satisfied...It meet our needs...
But, Did We Get What I Paid For?????

 

[ain0004]

I would say you got an upgrade. I had seen them in the past and was considered an SUV. Thus usually higher than a minivan. I am glad you like it. However I would not have like this at all. We will have 7 people and I want capt seats in the middle. Plus no luggage room.

 

[sam_gordon]

Months before our trip I reserved a Dodge Grand Caravan with Budget.

(A great shout out to mousesavers.com for their codes)

Anywhoo - I joined their FastBreak Club...And we all go to get our Minivan.
My Fault, I guess, but we get in line @ the counter.
I mumble to my DW that I thought we should be able to bypass the counter.
But, I am not seeing any signs....
The line is moving very slowly...
I mention to the kids about "FastBreak" club....
All at once, we all spot a Very Small Sign that FastBreak members should go directly to the garage....A VERY SMALL SIGN...
Wa Hoo....
Off we go!!!!
I should mention that on our last few trips we used National Emerald Aslie service, but OMG - They wanted almost double for a Minivan...

So Anywhoo - We arrive @ the booth inside the garage and I present my paperwork.
No Minivans are Available!!
They offer me a Ford Flex SEL...Which Does Have 3 Row Seating.
We are a party of 5 Adults W/Luggage...We need 3 Rows & Luggage Room.

We take it....

Question...Where we upgraded? Or Downgraded?
The Ford Flex is not listed on Budget.com that I could find....

We were satisfied...It meet our needs...
But, Did We Get What I Paid For?????

We got a Flex the last time we were in Orlando. *I* might consider it a slight downgrade from a minivan, but as long as you were happy, I wouldn't concern myself with whether I "got what I paid for"?

 

[OLT2004]

Yes, we were happy with it.
It had the blind spot mirrors, a back up cam and many other bells and whistles.

Two VERY STRANGE FEATURES....Unique To Ford???
#1 The radio would not play unless the front seat passengers were buckled.
Example - Everyone hops in - You start the car. You turn on the lights,
wipers, radio, etc...Adjust the Heat/AC - You put the car in drive
and the seat belt warning chimes go off....
The radio would be playing...After a few seconds the radio would go off
and a message appears on the radio that play has been discontinued until
seat belts are fastened!!!!
NO RADIO FOR YOU UNLESS YOU ARE BUCKLED!!!
#2 The back up camera "you are getting close to something" chime or tone.
Have you seen Top Gun or Independence Day?
It is the exact same tone.
"I've got tone, Eagle One - Fox 3, Fire"
We all cracked up laughing....

So, Anywhoo...Should I call Budget and whine and perhaps get some kind of future credit???

So far on the upgrade or downgrade question the vote is 1 to 1...

 

[sam_gordon]

So, Anywhoo...Should I call Budget and whine and perhaps get some kind of future credit???

You've got nothing to lose (unless they somehow mark your file ), but I'm guessing the Flex (because of the 7 passenger seating) is qualified as either a minivan or a full size SUV (so it would be an upgrade).

 

[Havana]

Sorry the van was not available. I would consider a Flex an upgrade.

 

[Havana]

Duplicate post. Sorry about that

 

[pixeegrl]

Just happened on your post and I wanted to mention that we got a Ford Flex through Alamo and with Alamo it is considered a Premium Crossover. We happened to love it and I thought there was pretty of room for our family of 5 and luggage. It also had lots of bells and whistles and even our teenage son who is quite leggy thought there was plenty of room in the 3rd row seat. I would probably say it was comparable to a minivan. I preferred it over the standard SUV's we have gotten before, that's for sure! Just curious what you wound up doing...did you receive a response from Budget?