Just in time for the summer driving season Hertz and Avis have announced that they will be adding Toyota Prius hybrid cars to their rental car fleets.
Hertz is going to add 3,400 Priuses to its fleets worldwide by 2008. The hybrids are available as one of the company's "Green Collection" offerings, which will be available at 50 major airport locations and at their location in Manhattan. The 100 cars slotted for the Manhattan location can be rented by the hour.
The cars will start showing up in Hertz lots later this month and will go for about $50 per weekend day.
Unfortunately I looked into renting a Prius for my vacation next month and the costs outweighed the fuel-saving benefits. If the costs were closer to other vehicles in its size I would have rented it over any of the other choices.
Full Story: CNN
Related Stories:
Would You Buy a Solar Powered Toyota Prius? If You Do, You Could Travel 20 Miles Solely on the Battery!
Toyota is Delaying the Use of Lithium Batteries in the Next 2009 Prius...The 125 mpg Prius May Still be a Ways Off
Comments (5)
This doesn't seem like a great idea.
I know it's a Toyota and all, but I would think the Prius seems kind of fragile for use as a rental.
Posted by Noya | June 14, 2007 7:13 PM
Posted on June 14, 2007 19:13
It's a good way for people to try it out. Might cost a little more but I'm sure a lot of people are curious about it. Also a lot of people have money to burn and like to think they are doing a little for the environrment.
Posted by Biil Owens | June 14, 2007 7:19 PM
Posted on June 14, 2007 19:19
The Prius isn't fragile. They're being used as cabs in certain cities in North America. I spoke to a cab driver about any reliability issues to which he responded - it's the best vehicle he's ever owned and hasn't had any faults at all. I'm not suggesting his word should cover all Prius' used as cabs, but there seems to be a growing trend in my city to use them as a large percentage of cabs here are Prius'.
Posted by Thiazolium | June 14, 2007 7:38 PM
Posted on June 14, 2007 19:38
"Also a lot of people have money to burn and like to think they are doing a little for the environment."
Emphasis on the word think. As Jeremy Clarkson pointed out when reviewing the Prius, a typical diesel gets significantly better mpg than a Prius.
Posted by Remy LeBeau | June 15, 2007 8:26 AM
Posted on June 15, 2007 08:26
Remy LeBeau,
First of all Im so happy to see someone make a quote of Jeremy Clarkson in this forum...
but about the news.. it will be a great chance for the general people (if someone is willing to rent a prius) to figure out how NOT great is this car to drive... maybe they find it very economical (compared to their SUV, hell yes!)... The engine is sooooooo weak. handle horribly... and please dont even think about traveling with it.. you will be using the gas engine the whole time, and just taking the heavy baterys for a ride..
oh.. and dont forget it runs in low grip tires... ok?!
Posted by Rafael Fernandes | June 15, 2007 3:58 PM
Posted on June 15, 2007 15:58