[Sweden]

At our vacation in California last year i had promised my wife that i would fulfill a old dream of hers, she would drive a red converible on Pacific Highway 1. I had booked a Mustang at Avis in advance but when we arrived at the SF-airport the man at the Avis-counter explained that it had been some mixup and we would have to wait an hour before that car came in. The guy was very nice and full of apologies and offered us any other car from their fleet for no additional cost. I told him that i appreciated this generous offer but i had promised my wife a convertible.
When our rental finally arrived, what to you think was standing next to it?
A Challenger R/T!!!!! I could have driven that one for a week! I had no idea that Avis had Challengers in their fleet. Damn, I wanted to kick myself.

Well, a promise is a promise. My wife Lotta took this picture of me in the garage as a memory of the time i almost drove a Challenger R/T.

 

[Dodgeguy]

That is a familiar story,book a car and when you get there they don't have it.We actually ended up with a Mustang convertible on a trip back to PA, we had booked an Intrepid or a 300.

 

[bad8nti]

Oh, we'll, Bjorn. At least you got major points from the wife for the convertible!

 

[TikiMan]

I'm shocked a rental place would even offer an RT. I would think they would only offer a V6.

 

[challengerfan56]

Bjorn, great move and that is the way to keep a promise! As the saying goes a "Happy Wife, a Happy Life", LOL!

 

[Badasslawyer]

Haha did exactly same thing back in 2013 but with Hertz. But my wife had to accept the R/T!
2 weeks in the R/T and 300 miles in California..
Thats the sole reason why I now bought myself a SRT8!

 

[MommaBetty]

Well, that is a dilemma! Glad you kept your promise, but I would have had a hard time with that one! Next year if you come to the States, you can surely get that Challenger to drive around!

 

[mschipa]

That picture is exactly what I have in my garage. Right down to the same colors. The Mustang is my daughter's car.

 

[KeysB5Blue]

Back in 2010 I was renting a car in Orlando. Got to the garage to get in the rental and saw Avis had 2 R/Ts on display as you walk in. Sighed, as I was renting from Budget, and when I got to Budget's aisle, there was an R/T sitting there. Since the rental was 1 day, I upgraded at my own cost....in 2013, I saw one sitting at Hertz (I think) at JFK, but it was spoken for.....I've seen them at a few other places as well.

You did the right thing Bjorn....but like Betty said - next time, your choice....

 

[MOPARMOM]

Bjorn......it all comes down to one thing......you got wifey points!!!!

 

[MommaBetty]

This just popped into my slow brain! Have you all seen the rental car commercial, I believe it is National, the guy rents a silver Challenger and you see it driving away at the end?

 

[vin57]

As everyone has said you did the right thing, also one way to appreciate your own car is drive another for awhile. Beside nothing can replace the smile that I'm sure your wife had driving around with the top down.

 

[Sweden]

As everyone has said you did the right thing, also one way to appreciate your own car is drive another for awhile. Beside nothing can replace the smile that I'm sure your wife had driving around with the top down.

Thanks all for supporting my difficult choice. And yes, My wife was smiling constantly and that was worth a lot!!!

 

[HemiMetal]

Bjorn, two weeks confined in a car can get even the happiest married couple on each other's nerves, so I think your decision was a solid one. After all, you and Lotta were still smiling and talking to each other when I met you at Cruising Grand!

 

[Sweden]

Bjorn, two weeks confined in a car can get even the happiest married couple on each other's nerves, so I think your decision was a solid one. After all, you and Lotta were still smiling and talking to each other when I met you at Cruising Grand!

Thanks John, driving the convertible was a great joy for Lotta. And it will be my turn to choose rental next time! Guess what that is going to be?

 

[dodge man2]

Several years ago we flew into Denver and had a car reserved months in advance with Budget car rental. They had overbooked big time. I thought we were screwed since all the other car rentals were sold out also. We ended up getting the last car, it was a Suziki Swift. Let me tell you, it wasn't so swift. We opened up the rear hatch and there was enough room behind the rear seat to slide in a small package. Lucky for us there was only two of us and we could put the rear seats down.

It had something like a 1.3 liter engine that was a 4 cylinder. Driving through the mountains it did OK as long as you kept your foot to the floor.

 

[Badasslawyer]

Sounds great NOT

 

[BigRed]

I had a similar story that inspired my decision to buy my Challenger. I was side swiped while driving the wifes company car, a ford focus a couple years ago. We dropped it off for the repairs and i went to pick up a rental. I was jus going to get her a similar economical sedan when i saw the black challenger sxt in the lot. I asked and it was only $10 more than our insurance allowance per day so i snagged it up and got to drive it for a little over a week. I fell in love that week and a year later when the time was right i knew exactly what i was going to get when i went to trade in the ol minivan! I havent been happier about a purchase in my life.

 

[BosseT]

Renting the RIGHT car!
I am from Sweden and when me an my family went to visit friends in California, we had to have a car. Not just any car, but a decent car. I wanted a Challenger, wifey wanted a Camaro. Bumble Bee, bla bla bla... If none of these were availible, a Mustang would also do...
The local Herz dealed just happened to have a 2013 R/T on the lot, and after a short test drive, I just had to have it!
We spent two weeks with the R/T. San Francisco, Yosemite, HWY 1, LA and I enjoyed every minute!
The only objection came from my 8 year old son "Yes dad, the car is nice but there should be one more door..."
$3000 for two weeks! I could not care less, I would do it again! Besides, the fuel was cheap...
Now I am the proud owner of a low milage 2012 SRT which I imported to Sweden last year and I just can't wait for the snow to melt...
That was renting the right car!

 

[Sweden]

Well, look at that, another swedish member. Welcome to the forum, Bosse! I better start a Swedish chapter soon.

I am planning to import a R/T to Sweden next year, any advice you got for me on the import-procedure?