Help me rent a car in San Fran

[ballmode]

So the wife and I are going to San Francisco in September. I hear the weather is going to be perfect and not as many tourists. Besides the Bay Area, we will also hit up Sonoma/Wine country and also head down to Monterrey and keep driving down the PCH.

So... I am going to be renting through Budget Rental car (I get a good discount), and there are 4 cars I was thinking about renting help me decide!

Focus
Mustang
Mini Cooper
Z4

basically the price difference from the focus to the Z4 would basically cover a good bed and breakfast stay, but being FWD and probably on economy tires I don't know if I would feel confident driving the coast/windy roads.

I'm leaning on the Mini for parking in SF, nimbleness and gas consumption
Mustang for the GT
Z4 probably does the best of everything just gotta pay to play...

what are your thoughts AT Garage?

 

[xSkyDrAx]

All should be more fun than the fusion but the coastal roads are not perilous. You can drive down them with pretty much anything.

 

[The Stigenator]

mini cooper

 

[Imported]

Z4 or Mini. I'd personally go for the Z4 cause its a convertible.

 

[OCGuy]

Would be best to avoid renting the car for as long as possible. Quite pricey and inconvenient to park it.

 

[hotlavaaaa]

Mustang obviously.

http://youtu.be/CSAN7ZX02eA

 

[jlarsson]

I'd choose any other than the V6 Mustang. Having rented one last month, it is plagued by a horrendous automatic transmission that will do nothing but frustrate the hell out of you.

Edit: bit confused now that I've re-read your post ... is the Mustang the V6 as indicated in your poll, or GT as mentioned in the OP?

 

[ballmode]

It's the V6, I've about ruled it out unless it was the vert.

Coming down to the mini/z4

 

[kornphlake]

Get the sedan, you're not going to be driving any epic roads in rush hour traffic, PCH is neat, but only because of the ocean views, the corners tend to be long and broad, even 10-15mph over the speed limit it's not going to be much more fun in a sport coupe than in an econobox sedan. You might as well save some dough and spend it on something that will be memorable.

 

[SSSnail]

If you're going to wine country, get the Z4. Yes, it's pricey to rent, but once you're in wine country, drop the top, it will be a priceless experience. To think of it, September might just be the perfect time to drop the top to drive around here to just about anywhere.

 

[yhelothar]

Get the sedan, you're not going to be driving any epic roads in rush hour traffic, PCH is neat, but only because of the ocean views, the corners tend to be long and broad, even 10-15mph over the speed limit it's not going to be much more fun in a sport coupe than in an econobox sedan. You might as well save some dough and spend it on something that will be memorable.

You don't need to go fast to enjoy a sports car. A sports car is much moreso about the feedback it gives, the way it makes you feel the road, and the confidence it gives you in the corners.

A good sports suspension with a stiff chassis will give you a better sense of speed than a numb soft one.

 

[jaedaliu]

basically the price difference from the focus to the Z4 would basically cover a good bed and breakfast stay, but being FWD and probably on economy tires I don't know if I would feel confident driving the coast/windy roads.

How fast will you be going around blind corners on these public roads?

SF weather is almost always crap, but Napa will be nice. It doesn't matter which car you rent, it will be the fastest car in the world. It seems like you can afford any of them, you just want to justify the z4.

I'm pretty sure the answer is to talk to your wife about what you're allowed to waste on the rental car. And if her answer doesn't really matter, get your favorite.

 

[ballmode]

Is it possible to change cars at checkout? In case I back down or want to upgrade?

 

[GoodRevrnd]

Get the Z4 and just don't rent a car while you're IN San Fran. MUNI can get you pretty much everywhere you need to go.

 

[Imported]

Get the Z4 and just don't rent a car while you're IN San Fran. MUNI can get you pretty much everywhere you need to go.

This is probably the best idea. Just get the Z4 when you go to Napa and Monterey. In SF all you need is your feet and MUNI/BART to get anywhere.

 

[RichieZ]

better make sure the z4 can hold your stuff, i had the previous z4 and I imagine the newer one has an even smaller trunk being a hard top and all - even my boxster barely holds anything and it has two trunks.

 

[jaedaliu]

Is it possible to change cars at checkout? In case I back down or want to upgrade?

Yeah, you can upgrade. depends on the rental agent how much they want to charge you to upgrade. You can always negotiate the upgrade cost.

Downgrading.... never heard of it.

edit: the cars you have listed may not be there at the time of pickup, so if you get a corolla now, there's no guarantee that the z4 will be there when you arrive. The rental company shares cares between locations, so who knows what you'll find?

 

[Leyawiin]

This is probably the best idea. Just get the Z4 when you go to Napa and Monterey. In SF all you need is your feet and MUNI/BART to get anywhere.

Bingo. No reason to get a car until you leave the City. The Z4 would let you blend in better as a "local" on the Monterey Peninsula and Napa. Hate driving an obvious rental.

 

[zoiks]

You do need a fast sports car. Given that Hwy 1/pch is one lane going in any given direction along most of the coast, you might need the oomph to overtake any rv/slowpokes that might be in front of you (when you get to the dashed lines).
I go fishing there quite often and I know how painful it is to get caught behind morons who drive painfully slow to take in the scenery and don't have the courtesy to use the turnouts to let other people pass.

 

[ballmode]

Hmmm I might cancel this and just rent for the three days I plan to be out of the city then

 

[OVerLoRDI]

The Mini will be a lot easier to park. That is worth quite a bit, depending on where you are going and whether or not you are willing to pay for garage parking.

Other wise, get the BMW hard top. If you are lucky and the weather is glorious, the convertible will be incredible.