Hertz Fun!

Thought I'd never write that particular phrase. While perusing a certain travel magazine, an ad reminded me that for some time I had meant to look into programs that allow people to rent fun or sporty cars. As opposed to boring yet sensible cars.

I'm not a car guy. I usually see cars pretty much strictly as a means to an end - getting from point A to B. As long as a car is reasonably comfortable and doesn't break down too often I'm pretty happy. Every once in a while though, the testosterone kicks in and the eyes glaze over, and I find myself lusting over a bit of automotive iron. Oh, there's remorse and guilt later but in the moment something almost atavistic takes over and I gesture at pretty machine and grunt. Ooga, ooga, me want.

Anyway, on occasion I've thought about the concept of renting something with no redeeming social value during a trip to place that has a lot of sun and fun. It doesn't make sense to rent a convertible for a trip to Seattle for instance, but Miami or Orlando? Hey why not?

Hertz has a program called the Fun Collection where one can rent from a variety of different cars like a Mustang convertible, a Jeep Wrangler, a Corvette, and a Nissan 350Z. In the Good Lord, Why? category there's the Hummer H3. I think you can buy a small Central American town for the amount of money it would take to keep one of these gassed up for a week, or at least you could before the dollar went into free fall. Strangely enough, at least for me, is the fact the Ford Edge is also included in the Fun Collection. Not being the car guy I guess I'm missing something - it looks like a crossover SUV. Are these regarded as fun and sporty now? I have a crossover SUV, the Murano, so am I cool now?

Anyway, fun isn't cheap, as everyone knows. Checking prices for a weekly rental in Miami for instance one can get a Ford Focus which is probably pretty much as unfun as it is possible for a car to be for around $340 a week. A Mustang convertible will run $540 and a Corvette $900. If you have to ask how much a Hummer costs you can't afford it. Seriously.

Still if you're looking for something fun, a convertible in someplace like San Diego or LA would be pretty cool. I think I'll go and see if my skill at whining and wheedling the wife are up to an upgrade to a Mustang on the next trip to Orlando.