This could be yet another “why I like Italy best” post. It could also be a “why I like the French buyback lease over renting cars on my European trips” post.
Or, it could even be a “why I hate renting cars from the evil rental car companies” diatribe.
Take your pick.
You see, I’m in Palm Springs, California. I do not live in Palm Springs. Thus, I’ve had to rent a “car”.
I put the “car” in quotes because I did not get a “car”. What I did get was one of those trucks that have been re-manufactured into a “car” to drive through a government loophole that allows big trucks disguised as cars to get crappy gas mileage without penalty.
“Hello,” the rental agent said cheerily. “Ah, I have an upgrade for you! It’s an SUV!”
We’re different. We wanted a compact car.
“I do not want an SUV. I thought we had a deal. I contract for a small car. I give you money. You give me a small car.”
“But sir, It’s an upgrade, don’t you understand? On occasion we are generous enough to our customers to give them large, heavy cars when they contracted for small cars. It’s our gift to you.”
“I want another car. A small one. One that turns when you turn the wheel. Without falling over, preferably.”
“We don’t have one. We’re giving you an upgrade.”
“Why is heavier an upgrade? What if your wife gained 200 pounds overnight? Would that odd fact have you taping a length of hair to your doorjamb when you leave for work in the morning in order to tell if horny suitors had invaded your love nest to frolic in the sumptuous lushness of your wife’s “upgraded” bosom?
“Sir, you’re being ridiculous. My wife could not possibly double her weight overnight.”
But honestly, why do people in the US feel that value in cars is entirely dependent upon weight? We’ve been buying our cars by the pound since before I took economics at the University level in the 70s. I have the proof in my notes somewhere. Doesn’t clever engineering count for anything anymore? Strong and light components?
Seriously, we don’t buy bicycles like that. I mean, what if Lance Armstrong is stopped by a shady looking character trying to sell him a spiffy 140 pound bicycle for $39.95 to replace his 8 pound racing bike? Would he laugh a haughty laugh? Or would he listen to the salesman?
“See, Lance, in the Giro you huff and puff up the hill, sure, but on the downside, that means that you’re in the back, just where you want to be. Then, you just barrel down the hill, a bit serpentine.”
“Serpentine?”
“Yes, you want to bash into all the other bikes, rendering them into little balls of titanium, proving that big American steel is best.”
“Then what?”
“Then you win. You have the only bike left. Sure, you can’t pedal it more than 6 miles per hour, but you don’t have to. All your competition is dust.”
“That doesn’t seem right.”
“Cost you $39.95 to replace that little spindly thing you got between your legs right now.”
I believe, at this point, Lance rides into the sunset. Quickly.
Ok, I got a little off the track there. Let’s get back on pronto.
Why Leasing a Car for Your Vacation is Way Better Than Renting
When you utilize the benefits of a buyback lease, you get exactly the car you contract for. If you want a truck you get a truck. If you want a two seat sports car, you get one.
And you are fully insured. No added fees. That means you don’t have to pay $700 for a door nick that occurred three months ago because the rental company is running out of cash and needs to screw someone so their investors can make big money.
In fact, there is no “three months ago”. You get a brand new car. Nobody’s been smoking in it. Nobody’s been frolicking with another man’s wife’s bosom in the back seat.
When you’re done with your car, you return it. No need to fill it up. No need to pay a refilling fee of $65 or some such ridiculous amount because the rental company needs to screw somebody…
Enough with the screwing.
But get this. Our rental car came with two keys. When Martha asked how to detach them from one another so they’d be useful as two separate keys, she was told that she was forbidden to do so.
So we drove away mad with our keys locked together like convicts in a road gang.
Two miles down the road, and the tank was down 1/4.
I agree with the religious wrong for once. There’s just two much screwing going on in the world.
Check out Auto Europe’s Lease of Peugeot, and get the model you ask for (if you reserve early in the year) Peugeot Open Europe Leasing
Find out more about Leasing a Car on Your Vacation.