Update on Alamo Standard (mid-size) car choices

[BigTigger]

We picked up our Alamo rental about 9 pm on July 7th from side A. The kiosk saved me a long line with just one clerk working the line. I went over the garage with the luggage and was directed to pick a car in the second aisle. My reservation said standard, but the row signs all said mid-size. The biggest car choice in the aisle sizewise was a Pontiac G6. Most cars were what I would formerly call compacts. A few Ford Focuses, tons of Toyota Corollas, and a few Kia Fortes were the major choices. I picked a Kia Forte EX as the trunk was good sized 14.7 cubic ft. per Edmunds and the interior was a good fit for 6'6" me and my two shorter passengers. Having spent the last six days in that rental, I don't disagree with it being labeled standard as it was as big and functional on the inside/trunk as the G6's I've rented previously. The Forte had bluetooth which was an easy pairing with my Blackberry Bold and worked really well. The Sirius/XM free trial had ended, so no satellite radio was available. The car handled really well on trips to Tampa and Cocoa Beach on 70 mph freeways. It was easy to park and had some good power for passing despite the EX model only having 156hp and a four speed automatic transmission. It averaged 26.4 mpg in just over 1100 miles of driving and ranged from a low of 24.7 mpg in an all local traffic tank to 31.9 mpg on an all highway tank. The only item that took some time to get right was the air conditioning. The Max setting was not the best choice on 95 degree days, rather the regular setting with fan on 3 and recirculate on was much more efficient. The seats were very adjustable for height and front/back and the only miss was no telescoping steering wheel (only tilts) on the EX trim.

I wanted to write this update so people could feel comfortable that they could fit four adults and luggage in this car easily. A fifth person would be OK for short distances, but I'd recommend three in the back only if they were small adults or a mix of kids and adults. The rear seat had al lthe safety fittings for car seats and could hold two easily and three if you are good at working in small spaces to clip things into place.

 

[emmabelle]

thanks for the update!

 

[MickeyCrazed]

Wow... thanks for posting such a detailed report. Not that I will ever have the opportunity to make good use of it. DH won't allow me to drive what he deems to be a foreign made vehicle, even when we are on vacation.

Gotta love him though... He puts up with my WDW obsession.