Renting a Mazda5 in Orlando

eilros25

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Toyota Camry
Does anyone know if any of the rental car companies have the Mz5 in their fleet? I'll be renting from the Orlando Sanford Airport (SFB) in February and wouldn't mind having a week long test drive.
 
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Enterprise rent-a-car rents Mazda5's. Call ahead and they can guarantee the car. I rented one for a week before I purchased mine.
 
Rental5

You may try and call Hertz. I noticed several MZ5s in their Los Angeles fleet back in April. Don't know about Enterprise other than when I worked for them several years ago the policy was to rent a call of care rather than a specific model. Perhaps that has changed.
 
I can tell you 100% - Enterprise has them. If you know your local branch manager well, they'll find you one but if you're going through an airport the chances of getting one are slim.
 
Trying to track down someone at Hertz and Enterprise has been a lot of fun. It's almost impossible to talk to anyone that knows anything. I just keep getting transferred. Oh well...
 
If you're trying to call an airport location just to talk to someone then yes, you're right; it will be impossible. Do you have any idea how busy they are? Call a home city branch and take a taxi to it. Your chances of getting a 5 out there increase 5 fold.
 
- Enterprise
- Hertz

As for Hertz, beware, this week I was in Chicago (O'Hare) and they had 25,312 Rondos available. I say this because they usually get you a "similar" one if they don't have what you are looking for at the time of pick-up. I would follow offset_98's advice, The Hertz Local Editions are more savvy and not as busy.

Oh, and I was not driving but we got a Mazda6 :D
 
I talked to an Enterprise employee earlier today and they have the Mazda5 in their fleet. They won't guarantee that I'd get one but I made a reservation anyway. A five day rental will run me $140 + tax ($183.54 total).

FYI, Enterprise considers the Mazda5 a Full Size.
 
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Not bad for $184 a week. Shame they cannot confirm availability :(, but good luck! (I hope they don't get you a Taurus or similar).

Full-size, huh? At least is more realistic and not categorized as Minivan. Minivan rentals are more expensive than full-size...
 
I talked to an Enterprise employee earlier today and they have the Mazda5 in their fleet. They won't guarantee that I'd get one but I made a reservation anyway. A five day rental will run me $140 + tax ($183.54 total).

FYI, Enterprise considers the Mazda5 a Full Size.

Yeah, it's considered a fullsize b/c it seats 6. But it could also be considered a fullsize because they know you're willing to pay for it. I'll ask my local office what they consider it. They have so many different catagories there b/c it's right by the airforce base and so many people rent from them that they have 5's, Priuses, Rondos, New Beetles...all sorts of weird s*** I never thought they even rented...for a while they had a Lotus Elise they rented but they've since sold them off. I guess they had like 6 of them.

My guess is they can't garauntee it b/c they do so many insurance renatals that if a body shop or adjuster calls and tells them Mr. Smith's car won't be ready for another week and that said Mr. Smith has the 5...well, then he's keeping it another week. That happend to my wife I don't know how many times. We had a rental that we knew had to go back but the day before the bodyshop would call and say, not quite ready yet, keep it another week...that went on for 2 1/2 months.
 
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Not bad for $184 a week. Shame they cannot confirm availability :(, but good luck! (I hope they don't get you a Taurus or similar).

I'll probably call the morning of our departure and see if they can hold one for me. I used to work at Avis during college so I know that special requests are a long shot but it's worth a try.

I also have a reservation with National in case Enterprise doesn't have a 5 available when I arrive. I'm an Emerald Club member and usually rent with National but would love to drive a 5 for a few days.
 
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Yeah, it's considered a fullsize b/c it seats 6. But it could also be considered a fullsize because they know you're willing to pay for it.

Because it seats 6?... And What other full-size car sits 6? ;). I think its because it was the closest match, nothing else (and the price is right)

Enterprise-Car-Banner.jpg


http://www.nationalcar.com/fleet.do
 
Well, they either put the Mazda5 into the full-size category or the minivan category. You have to be careful about leaving stuff in back of the car, though. Everyone can see into the back. BTW, the last time I rented from Enterprise, their service was excellent! Way better than Alamo. It took me less than 1 minute to drop off the car (paid with the same booking credit card). I actually said "That's it?" and they responded with an enthusiastic "That's it!". In fact, they were waiting for me to finish making sure I didn't leave anything in the car! BTW, this was at LAX.
 
No dice. Enterprise didn't have any left on the lot when I rented but there were two available when I returned. Maybe next time.
 
No dice. Enterprise didn't have any left on the lot when I rented but there were two available when I returned. Maybe next time.

That's too bad. I was successful one time by calling the site directly, and working a pickup out with the local airport site manager. She advised me to pickup late Friday or early Saturday (they get tons of returns at those times).

Better luck next time.
 
Damn, sorry to hear that. Yes, they don't really care for keeping a car "for you", even if you manage to agree with somebody, chances are he/she will not be in the work shift you arrive.

What did you get if I could ask?

The Mazda5 I rented in Hertz was a mere coincidence, I was ready to drive away with a Taurus or an Impala with its baby car seat (which YOU have to install of course so they are not responsible for any wrong install).

Funny thing, "real" minivan rentals are so ridiculously priced, of course they know people will pay for that "premium"
 
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