A neighbor asked me if I could arrange for him and his son, who are both big Bumblebee fans, to see and sit in a Chevrolet Camaro SS. He must have thought I was a car dealer, so I sent him to a rental site. The next day, he came back excited because there was a Camaro SS in Los Angeles.
This is a helpful discovery most travelers miss about car rentals. When traveling, most of us look for compact cars, family sedans, or SUVs and ignore the options for coupes, sports cars, or Teslas. However, maintaining a self-drive trip in the right destination, and season is possible with a rental sports car.
Premium rental categories include sports coupes, regular sports cars, and Tesla models. It is important to recognize the difference between a regular sports car and a coupe. A sports car is built for performance alone;
for example, the Camaro SS has a top speed of 288 km/h, while the Ferrari 458 goes up to 325 km/h, and the BMW i8 reaches only 250 km/h. A coupe, on the other hand, combines a conventional car's comfort and usability with the performance-focused character. Ford Mustangs and BMW M4 models are examples.
Tesla models are unique in that their appeal is centered around advanced technology and innovative electric performance rather than traditional combustion engines. Therefore, they are a good option for drivers who want a modern experience.
The most common cars seen are located within large international rental markets like Los Angeles, Dubai, Frankfurt, Paris, and Munich. Additionally, since Europe has more intriguing and appealing vehicles on the road than any other place, having a simple rental car while driving in Europe can be an underwhelming experience.
Premium vehicles are often a concern with rentals due to the repair costs. Even minor damages to the vehicles can be pricey, and while rental coverage is not always affordable, it could be worth it. For example, one rental car aggregator listed a supplemental rental coverage plan for a Ford Mustang at approximately $10 USD a day, which provides rental car coverage for damages or theft due to accidents or theft. It is worth mentioning that coverage, policies, and pricing vary for each vehicle so knowing what each car covers is imperative.
The daily rates for these cars tend to be higher than economy vehicles, however, the difference is not always as big as one might expect. For instance, one travel comparison website priced a Toyota Corolla for approximately 30 USD a day, while a Mercedes-Benz SL was priced at approximately 200 USD a day. That is a large difference in price, however, it is justified by a different travel experience.
Lastly, premium vehicle rentals may be more attainable when demand is low. For example, it is possible to rent an Audi A5 from approximately 50 USD a day. Overall, it is possible to rent premium vehicles for under $70 USD a day as long as demand is low.
The company has also announced the addition of Ferrari 458 Spider as well as Audi R8 rentals in Los Angeles. For these cars, the rentals company offers electronic toll access and they cover the tolls. They also provide Chinese support for the duration of the rental. For those drivers who have spent years looking at these vehicles, perhaps, a holiday road trip will be the time to finally take the wheel.
