<p>[Hertz</a> buys Dollar Thrifty for $2.3 billion, stocks rally - The Buzz - Investment and Stock Market News](<a href=“http://buzz.money.cnn.com/2012/08/27/hertz-dollar-thrifty-stock/]Hertz”>http://buzz.money.cnn.com/2012/08/27/hertz-dollar-thrifty-stock/)</p>
<p>Ah, marriage between my favorite and least favorite rental car companies. Any thoughts on how these operations may integrate? Also, where does Advantage operate? I’ve never come across that operation in my travels.</p>
<p>The very mention of Dollar/Thrifty sends me through the roof, so I hope the Hertz acquisition puts an end to smelly, high-mileage, poorly serviced vehicles, never knowing what make and model car you’re going to end up with (“What? You wanted a Corolla and you’re not thrilled with a gigantic SUV?”), and terrible customer service. Never heard of Advantage.</p>
<p>I thought the marriage had already been consummated but I guess not according to the article. I have been relatively happy with Dollar/Thrifty. The point about them switching out your compact for a gas-guzzler is completely valid: “Mr. So and So, we’ve upgraded you today!”. Thanks but no thanks. Fortunately they’ve had one or two of the car I wanted/reserved OR they let me pretty much pick ANY car I want to make things right. It’s also nice that they don’t really inspect the car when returning for door dings, fender scrapes, etc. because they don’t do any pre-inspection upon pickup. That’s on you if you want and I don’t note anything unless it is pretty obvious since they don’t care upon return. </p>
<p>Dollar/Thrifty prices will (likely) now officially go up!</p>
<p>I noticed that Hertz’s prices went down in the past week. LOL, we might be getting the smelly, high mileage SUVs from them soon! Ahh… I’ve driven my fair share of those. How about a car with ROACHES? One gigantic bugger climbed out of the dashboard right onto the steering wheel as I was driving at 60 mph. Thank goddess I was not on the road to Hana and I’m not afraid of bugs!!!</p>
<p>I rented a car through Dollar two weeks ago. They were fine but the price was very high. The car had 35,000 miles on it…but really, it was fine. BUT I turned it in early and boy did they fleece me with early drop off charges…$15 in early drop off charge, and then some other $6 fee for dropping off early. Sheesh.</p>
<p>I started avoiding the company when it (a) gave me the only car they had on the lot, (b) even though I’d reserved a different type of car, and (c) claimed I’d damaged the car by pulling out the rear passenger hand loop (support) and attempting to fix it with gel toothpaste. I pointed out that (1) I was alone in the car and therefore had no reason even be in the back seat, and (2) I don’t use gel toothpaste. They didn’t see the humor in (2) … a bad sign … and insisted I give them my automobile insurance information. 'Nuff of that. (And umm, NO on your request for my insurance info.)</p>
<p>Hertz, on the other hand, never a problem. (Of course I’ve only been renting from them for thirty years, so my pronouncement may be premature.)</p>
<p>I have the sanitized version of the Adam Sandler’s “My car is a piece of …” (the one with pretty much every other word bleeped out ;)) on a CD - my “anthem” of Dollar Rentals in HI. :)</p>