Orlando car hire.

It seems the available choice when booking through Virgin is very limited.
I'm looking for next Feb and would like a Jeep Grand Cherokee.
I have tried the last three years booking one with Alamo via Virgin and although I have never got one there have been similar. I usually end up paying for an upgrade but don't want to do that next year as I'm watching the pennies.
Does anyone know a company that where I can get a Jeep Grand Cherokee?
Dick D

[Neil]

Most firms have them as part of their fleet, but because of the category they are in none of them will guarantee you one. It is only when you get to the more prestige and luxury cars that some companies like Hertz will 100% guarantee you an exact car make/model.

It's my understanding from our trip to Florida earlier this year that Alamo have renamed some of their categories. In the past we have booked and hired a 'Standard SUV' as a Jeep Grand Cherokee or similar but this year the Standard SUV category was a Hyandai Santa Fe or similar. In reality you get to choose a vehicle from a bunch of simmilarly sized ones and we have never actually chosen (or had the option of) the car make/model mentioned at the time of booking but have always been happy with the vehicle and service from Alamo across the USA.

I hired with Hertz for 2 weeks over Easter and booked a '7 seat SUV, ford explorer or similar' and was allocated a Tahoe on arrival.

+1 with what Neil said
I had a Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo booking with Dollar (via Autoeurope as cheaper) for LAS pickup and, of course, this turns out to be an 'or similar'. As with all Dollar pickups they try to sell you an upgrade so with this one the story was "All Jeep Cherokee have been factory recalled because of an airbag problem but I can offer you 50% (later 70% and finally 90%) off an upgrade to a Ford Escapade". I repeatedly said no thanks and just said I would compare the specs of whatever they substituted and if it was lower spec than the Jeep (or similar) then I would write to head office for a refund. Was then asked if i wanted a GPS for only a few $'s more, I said no thanks. Out to the lot and I got given a Chevy Traverse which had a Hertz GPS fitted anyway (same as last Dollar rental - seems they are fitted with Hertz satnavs on a regular basis now?).

Anyway, the Traverse was very comfortable and spacious as well as fine driving around town but was totally useless on the very 'mild' tracks around Mt Charleston and Lake Mead (feels like Ford Mustang convertible has better ground clearance than this SUV as I've been easier down the same 'tracks' in one of those before). Traverse is AWD rather than 4WD and actually got stuck unable to go up a fairly small but dusty incline with wheels spinning in useless fashion ... I would walk away from this model for any (even mild) off road / SUV use but be very happy with it if town or freeway cruising.

So the upshot remains pretty much like Neil says, if you really want a Jeep Cherokee, and only that, then only the likes of Hertz will have a "Guaranteed" choice - but that is normally even more expensive than their own "or similar" option. The "or similar" options they will give you in general are still going to be fine (though they may try to charge you a discounted upgrade for an allegedly nicer one if you're unlucky) but NOT fine if you really want a specefic SUV, for example, that you really know works off road!

It's my understanding from our trip to Florida earlier this year that Alamo have renamed some of their categories. In the past we have booked and hired a 'Standard SUV' as a Jeep Grand Cherokee or similar but this year the Standard SUV category was a Hyandai Santa Fe or similar. In reality you get to choose a vehicle from a bunch of simmilarly sized ones and we have never actually chosen (or had the option of) the car make/model mentioned at the time of booking but have always been happy with the vehicle and service from Alamo across the USA.

My experience has been much the same. Last year I had a Ford Edge which was similar.
This year I got a bit carried away on the upgrades and took an Infinity QX80, 5.6 litre luxury SUV.
I particularly wanted the Jeep because the new Grand Cherokee has an 8 speed gearbox and is super smooth to drive and we have 340 miles to go the day after the flight.

Thanks to everyone who replied. I might end up going for a saloon. See if I can get a Chrysler 300 with the same running gear.

Dick D

Good luck Dicky - This year I have a 'Ford Mustang' or similar... To be honest, if I get there and they offer a Sebring I would be mortified..!

Does anyone know if getting a Mustang in Florida is a given, or is it as always luck of the draw?

Good luck Dicky - This year I have a 'Ford Mustang' or similar... To be honest, if I get there and they offer a Sebring I would be mortified..!

Does anyone know if getting a Mustang in Florida is a given, or is it as always luck of the draw?

I can't feedback on Florida but we had booked "Mustang or Similar" with Alamo via the Virgin Atlantic website (bargain at under £50 for a one way hire) - we had a choice of V6 Mustangs or Camaro's at LAX last week - not a Sebring in sight fortunately! I think - but stand to be corrected - that the type of car available is linked to the manufacturer fleets that hire car company's have contracts with.

Don't forget however to fully check for dings before driving off the rental site & make sure fully recorded - I took loads of photos of existing damage before we set off (in a former life I managed the finance side of a corporate car hire contract and damage & fuel were always the contested areas!)

ScoobySu

Good luck Dicky - This year I have a 'Ford Mustang' or similar... To be honest, if I get there and they offer a Sebring I would be mortified..!

Does anyone know if getting a Mustang in Florida is a given, or is it as always luck of the draw?

At MCO in Feb there was a Mustang and a Camaro as you entered the Alamo lot.

Dick D

Departed from usual car hire firm and decided to try Virgin/Alamo which I did and completed the 'skip the desk' paperwork. However, I saw nowhere to enter additional driver details on any of the forms. I have rung both Virgin and Alamo customer service (that's a joke) all they could say was go to the desk which seems to negate the benefits of fast track.

Anyone got any ideas or experienced similar problems?