Renting a fun car on trip to CA

[herm0016]

we are planing a trip to CA and will be driving from San Jose to Paso Robles. drive down will be on 1, way back will probably be the regular interstate. trip is the beginning of September. Wife wants a 'vert.

looking on turo:
im leaning twards a 2016 mx-5 miata
but there are also a few 11ish bmw z4s, a slk 250 amg sport ( not the amg engine), camaros, mustangs, 4 series, 3 series.

what say you?

also, any good/bad using Turo? other places to rent a fun car?

 

[Dr. Detroit]

You can rent a V8 Camaro or Mustang from Hertz or Enterprise. Turo gets spendy with the add on fees.

Do yourself a favor and stop by Silva Brewing.

 

[JulesMaximus]

No recommendations on rentals but if you’re planning on doing some wine tasting in Paso Robles I would recommend you hit Daou Vineyards. Also, Hearst Castle is only a 30 minute drive from Paso and well worth a visit.

 

[JulesMaximus]

I’ve had great luck getting deals on some pretty nice cars when I fly into Orlando to visit family. I reserve a luxury car and then ask about upgrades and can usually get a pretty good deal on something more upscale like a Maserati or a Range Rover. I even got a brand new BMW 740i once and it typically only ends up costing me an extra couple hundred dollars over the entire time I have the car.

You have to be at a location where they have these cars in their fleet though and they have to be sitting. Orlando seems to be ripe for this sort of negotiation.

 

[RearAdmiral]

I've used Turo a couple times and it works out well for the most part. Call your primary car insurance company and verify whether or not they will cover you in an accident so that you know if you can decline Turo's insurance. Otherwise you are just up to the reliability of random people unless you go to a Turo lot.

 

[zinfamous]

Alfa 4C or a V8 Vantage.

 

[herm0016]

4c would be sweet, but 250 a day is pretty steep. gonna have it 3 days. we are capping at around 100 per day.

 

[dasherHampton]

Since I'll probably never own a Vette I would take the opportunity to rent one for a drive like that.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Since I'll probably never own a Vette I would take the opportunity to rent one for a drive like that.

Keep in mind that the stretch of road you are going to be traveling is a popular sport for a summer cruise so you won’t have the road all to yourself, there will be traffic. Plus, cops also patrol it so you aren’t likely to really explore the limits of a car like that anyway.

The Central California Coast is more appreciated for its natural beauty than anything else.

 

[fralexandr]

Fyi, Nd miata's passenger seat has less leg room than drivers seat (space for upgraded subwoofer), which might make road tripping problematic for tall people. Some people on miata forums say ~5'7 might be the road trip limit for passengers depending on leg length.
I've driven the ND miata from la to san jose, and the lack of telescoping steering wheel might also be an issue if one can't find a comfortable place to prop the arms.

Of those choices I'd pick the z4, because I like how they drive in gran turismo and I'd probably never own one because of maintenance & part costs. Also, for some reason I want an mkv supra ;]...

Of those choices, I'd guess the mustang would probably be one of the more comfortable road trip cars.

 

[Dr. Detroit]

https://www.hertz.com/rentacar/vehi...countryCode=US&category=Adrenaline Collection

https://www.hertz.com/rentacar/vehi...meView.jsp&countryCode=US&category=Dream Cars

https://www.hertz.com/rentacar/vehi...p&countryCode=US&category=Prestige Collection

https://www.enterprise.com/en/exotic-car-rental.html?icid=footer.vehicles-_-exotics-_-ENUS.NULL

 

[Midwayman]

Since I'll probably never own a Vette I would take the opportunity to rent one for a drive like that.

Used corvettes are surprisingly cheap.I had one a could cars ago. I was shocked at the price and insurance was cheaper than something like a mustang or camaro.

 

[EXCellR8]

That's because there's millions of them. Not a bad pick for a rental though, along with the Camaro or Mustang.

 

[jlee]

Since I'll probably never own a Vette I would take the opportunity to rent one for a drive like that.

You should...they're lovely.

 

[herm0016]

Keep in mind that the stretch of road you are going to be traveling is a popular sport for a summer cruise so you won’t have the road all to yourself, there will be traffic. Plus, cops also patrol it so you aren’t likely to really explore the limits of a car like that anyway.

The Central California Coast is more appreciated for its natural beauty than anything else.

Yea, we don't want any trouble. just something a little more enjoyable than the usual suspects.

good advise on the miata, we are both about 5 10.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Yea, we don't want any trouble. just something a little more enjoyable than the usual suspects.

good advise on the miata, we are both about 5 10.

I would go with something more comfortable personally. A luxury car would be the best choice because that's a fairly long drive. My wife and I are heading up to Napa in June and we're going through Paso Robles, stopping in there for a couple nights to see friends, and then we're driving up to Napa from there. Spending 3 whole days in Napa and then driving back to San Diego on a Saturday. We are taking her CLS 450 on this trip.

 

[repoman0]

Loved the manual NC Miata I rented for a Bay Area / Sonoma trip a couple years ago. I got it through a guy on Turo, very smooth experience and good price (400 for the week IIRC). I’m 5’10 and GF is 5’8, no issues with leg room or comfort. The convertible aspect was more awesome than I thought it’d be ... it had me considering selling the E46 M3 coupe for one. I live on the east coast though where they’re rare and would rather not stand out that much.

 

[ultimatebob]

I think that I'd go for the Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat myself, although I see a Ford Mustang convertible in there for $62 a day.

I have a 2018 Mustang GT, so my goal would be a get something even faster than that

One of those Tesla Model 3's could be an interesting experience as well. It gives you an idea what your "next car" experience is going to be line.

 

[HarryLui]

PCH is mostly 35 mph or under packed with tourist that's paying more attention to the view than the road. Acceleration really doesn't matter. Personally, I'd left the wife pick out a car.

 

[HarryLui]

I think that I'd go for the Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat myself

I can't think of a worst car to be in, driving at 35 mph behind a line of cars with NO PASSING signs all over. Your blood will boil.

 

[herm0016]

I think that I'd go for the Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat myself, although I see a Ford Mustang convertible in there for $62 a day.

I have a 2018 Mustang GT, so my goal would be a get something even faster than that

One of those Tesla Model 3's could be an interesting experience as well. It gives you an idea what your "next car" experience is going to be line.

We already have a Volt at home, so we have a good idea and our next 2nd car will be electric. , and i'm not really interested in messing about trying to find charging and such, or waiting in line for one.

 

[_Rick_]

SL 500 would be my suggestion for a California cruiser.
It's pretty unparalleld in the luxo-vert space, as it tends to the touring spectrum much more than to the sports car spectrum.
Yet it's still a dedicated two seater, as opposed to a Maser Gran Cabrio or an S-Class convertible, or anything fancy like that.

If you can't swing it, the SLK, or new Z4 would be my pick.

 

[IronWing]

Rent your fantasy car for the trip on 1. Rent a snowplow for your trip back up I-5. You'll want it to push all the left lane bastards off into the median strip. Driving I-5 puts me in that state where while I can't condone road rage violence, I understand road rage violence.

 

[herm0016]

Rent your fantasy car for the trip on 1. Rent a snowplow for your trip back up I-5. You'll want it to push all the left lane bastards off into the median strip. Driving I-5 puts me in that state where while I can't condone road rage violence, I understand road rage violence.

I'll let my wife drive that stretch and take a melatonin haha

 

[Midwayman]

Rent your fantasy car for the trip on 1. Rent a snowplow for your trip back up I-5. You'll want it to push all the left lane bastards off into the median strip. Driving I-5 puts me in that state where while I can't condone road rage violence, I understand road rage violence.

This or bust