The Wall Street Journal has an article about a subject that has concerned me for some time: the decreasing quality of rental cars. For so long rental companies gorged themselves at the table of program cars. Cars were cheap and sold at a prearranged price after about 9 months. Heck for awhile manufacturers were even pumping out "fleet only" cars.
Now the party is over. Manufacturers are pulling back on selling to fleets and that leaves rental firms with the unappetizing thought of having to buy risk cars that they will have to sell themselves.
This makes thin margins even thinner and leaves rental companies on the prowl for profits. Likely targets? Running the cars longer: Vanguard (National and Alamo) admits that their cars have an additional 2,000 miles on the clock. Increased attention to the fuel gauge: the needle had better be at F or higher, even the slightest dip will get you a penalty. Reduced loyalty programs: raising the amount of points required to earn free rentals.
Rental cars companies says that the cars aren't any worse for the wear and that they are not in the business of giving away gasoline. No matter, what I have seen over the past few years is a definite decline in the quality of cars that I have rented. They have more miles and they are dirtier on the inside.
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