Alright, that’s a little misleading. You can still pick up a regular V6 Mustang from Hertz. And I’d imagine you always will be able to. But they aren’t offering the Hertz Shelby Mustang GT-H anymore than Coke still sells Coke 2. Between their popularity, the upkeep, the abuse, and the limited production runs, it makes sense that Hertz couldn’t keep it in the stable forever. But the Corvette as their fun sports car replacement? While I’m a huge (HUGE) Corvette fan, it does seem strangely defeatist for Hertz – a Ford vassal – to be renting off Corvettes when Ford has trillions of Mustangs that would fill the role. Even if the Mustang GT can’t hold a candle to the Corvette from a performance standpoint, so what? It’s part of the Ford family. Meanwhile, I’m not complaining. I’ve got my 436 hp toy booked for Tuesday.
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Hey, with my AAA discount and my 2 class car upgrade coupon, I’m sure I can rent one of these for $150/day!!!
“vassel”
I think it should be either vessel or vassal.
Anyone know anywhere in or around Toronto that rents stuff like this besides thousand-dollar-a-day agencies like GTA Exotics?
After playing around on Hertz site for a few minutes I can’t seem to find a clear price list for how much it would cost to rent one of these for a day, or for any other car for that matter…
Psarhjinian: Last time I checked, there is nowhere in Toronto to rent sports cars/supercars at a reasonable price. Toronto is a ridiculous place to try to drive a high-performance car between paying $1.50/L for premium, the extortionist insurance rates, the non-stop gridlock from 7am to 7pm, the incredible overpricing of sports cars (I think the Corvette starts at $70k) and the ability of the police to impound your car for doing 50km/h over the limit. Although I love the city, I’m glad I left, it is one of the worst places in the world to have a high-performance car
The Hertz Vette is $199/day, at least at the Philadelphia International Airport.
Anybody in/around Boston that wants to drive a Vette can try mine for free. As long as they can drive stick and have something interesting to let me drive in return.
Ford sold Hertz in 2005, so it isn’t much of a vassal anymore.
http://media.ford.com/newsroom/release_display.cfm?release=22241
Toronto is a ridiculous place to try to drive a high-performance car between paying $1.50/L for premium, the extortionist insurance rates, the non-stop gridlock from 7am to 7pm, the incredible overpricing of sports cars (I think the Corvette starts at $70k)
I’ll see your Toronto and raise you the Netherlands…
Go-juice: 1,54 EUR/L (not premium but compared to US/Canada premium it’s probably the same quality at least)
Base Corvette: Starts at 90k EUR
Ability to impound car (and driving license with it, untill further notice): at 30+km/h over the limit inside villages/city and at 50+km/h over the speed limit on the highway.
Mind you though…it is only about the money too. You get your car back after paying a hefty fine and even if you’re license is taken away permanently (which will almost never happen), you can just go take driving lessons again to get a new one. Sometimes you can be prohibited to drive regardless but it’s almost never longer than 1 year, and only in case of a long history of driving tickets (usually several DUIs).
Something else that’s kind of lame; in Germany (where cars are significantly cheaper by the way) people CAN get permanent driving bans as a result of traffic offenses without the ability to get a new license again, at least not in Germany. However, Germans with this ban can come to the Netherlands, get a driving license here and then with their Dutch license they are legally allowed to drive in Germany as well…
Last time I checked, there is nowhere in Toronto to rent sports cars/supercars at a reasonable price.
Damn…
I actually don’t live, or work, in the city any longer, but it’s the nearest major metropolis. You’d figure there would be something more reasonable, but the cheapest I’ve found is a Mini-friggin-Cooper for $100+/day.
A Mini.
I was in SF for work not too long ago and you can rent 600cc sportbikes I think at $175/day *gag*.
$175 a day for a vehicle that costs $9500 MSRP.
I’m not sure who would actually rent one. Tourists have luggage. Local people probably can already afford one….and they won’t let you rent one unless you have prior extensive riding a sportbike already and can prove it (IIRC)…um???
I’m pretty certain that once the 2010 Mustang rolls out, that Hertz will roll out some 2010 GT-Hs…
The yellow/black color scheme does not fit the ‘vette well at all.
Hertz dumped 35 lightly flogged GT-H’s (coupes and converts) at the Kruse Auction in Auburn, IN a few weeks back. While I didn’t watch them go over the block (and the results are not up on kruse.com yet), they seemed to be bringing close to $30, which seemed pretty steep to me for hood clips and some badges.
I saw a new Hertz commercial that had both GM and Fords in it. Maybe they want to lower their repair costs?
Justin – I hope you are renting out of town. I found out the hard way that to rent this car you need to have an out of state license, or arrive via an airline. I guess they figure local renters will just punish the car. Makes sense, nobody else would EVER do such a thing.
Reminds of how truck drives would have 10-15 different licenses from different states back in the 70s and 80s.
JJ
Something else that’s kind of lame; in Germany (where cars are significantly cheaper by the way) people CAN get permanent driving bans as a result of traffic offenses without the ability to get a new license again, at least not in Germany. However, Germans with this ban can come to the Netherlands, get a driving license here and then with their Dutch license they are legally allowed to drive in Germany as well…
arapaima:
“The yellow/black color scheme does not fit the ‘vette well at all.”
Ditto. I must be in the minority, but the Vette does nothing for me at all. Those headlights look super cheap (and cross-eyed), the proportions are strange, and it doesn’t have near the presence of something like the Viper. From that angle it looks kinda like the G8 Sport Truck. Yawn.
I think Hertz is now owned by the Carlyle Group. As a customer for many years, I am amazed at the new policies implemented to increase profitability. My customary one-day rental in such out of the way places as LA or Orange County is no longer allowed. As much as I dislike most of their vehicles, I took my business to Budget…
Having driven both Hertz cars I have to say the Corvette was a lot more fun. The Shelby sounded better though. The GT-H had a terrible stumble @ 60mp/h and was pretty new. Good luck to those who bought them at auction not thinking about that fact that they were “maintained” by Hertz.
Yeah, the Viper isn’t mis-proportioned at all. The hood is very compact and offers a great view of the road ahead. Or the service drive.
The base Vette is a helluva a good time.
Everyone with some slight semblance of testosterone still flowing owes himself a ride.
Stang feels like a sedan in comparison.
Regarding imagining Faragon in L.A. …
I allways thought of Farago as the “Larry David” of Car Journalism (forgetting that Larry D. is a Prius lover.).
Honestly I was surprised when I looked at the “about us” page, and Robert was that young looking!
Uh, guys? Justin? There’s several free audio-editing programs out there for both Mac & PC. You know how to google. There’s no need for the ending garbadge on this one.
How ironic – I received a Clubman press fleet vehicle this week also. It’s a sweet little car, and has some of the best manual shift linkage I’ve ever seen in a front wheel drive car. The ergonomics are pretty kooky, though.
I’ve been renting from Hertz for quite some time and it’s been a while since I’ve had a Ford. I think the last time was a Grand Marquis in NOLA right after Katrina.
I’ve had several 4Runners, Muranos, Outbacks, and a Trailblazer. I usually rent a 4WD because of their areas and weather I travel in. Sadly, except for the Outback I would prefer Ford give me an Explorer.