Do fleets (rentals) get different tranny/engine combos on '09 Vibes?

[belfert]

I rented a '09 Vibe from Avis to be sure I liked the car before buying one. It had the 4 speed auto tranny shifter. The car was like a rocket and I really liked it. I was wondering if it could have the 2.4L engine with a 4 speed tranny? I looked under the hood and couldn't see anything about engine size, but I did note what the engine looked like.When I went to the dealer again I opened up a car with the 2.4L and saw the same engine as my rental. I looked under the hood of a 1.8L and the engine cover was twice as large so I knew what I had driven must have been a 2.4L.The dealer let me drive a 1.8L again with no salesman and it wasn't a rocket like the rental,but adequate. I didn't want to lose the fuel economy by going to the 2.4L. I did up buying the 1.8L version.I'm still trying to figure out how a rental fleet car had a 2.4L engine and a four speed automatic shifter.

[ou.grizzly]

2.4L AWD has a 4 speed auto, otherwise the rest of the 2.4L come with a 5 speed automatic or 5 speed manual. The 1.8L comes with a 5 speed manual or a 4 speed automatic. Rentals do not come with different options.

[scherry2]

we used to see special options on fleet orders in our plant all the time. that was up untill a few years ago when GM quit fleet orders.

[belfert]

I didn't realize the AWD still had the 4 speed auto. I thought all 2.4l automatics were five speed. I have no idea if the car was AWD or not.

[Whelan]

It would have said AWD on the back. Most likely it wasnt because most AWD cars in rental fleets are SUVs.

[ou.grizzly]

Quote, originally posted by Whelan »It would have said AWD on the back. Most likely it wasnt because most AWD cars in rental fleets are SUVs. That is false.

[Whelan]

I have yet to see an AWD Vibe/Trix in a rental fleet

[zionzr2]

I do not work at Avis but another Rental Company.I'll take a closer look next time a vibe returns.We have a couple in the fleet at the brach i work at. I believe they are the stock 1.8l though.I did notice they have a nifty little feature that I wish mine had though. A little trashbag holder on the passenger side under the dash.We do have a couple of Jeep Compass that have the AWD option and a Suzuki SFX? AWD.But most of the Larger SUVs in our fleet are not AWD. While at the Brach i was in Wisconsin most SUVs did have AWD. It depends on the Rental group in your particular market as to what is pruchased for the local fleet.

[ou.grizzly]

Quote, originally posted by Whelan »I have yet to see an AWD Vibe/Trix in a rental fleetI have seen plenty and rented plenty... Same goes for Subaru! Just because you have not seen any does not mean most are SUV's

[ColonelPanic]

Quote, originally posted by Whelan »It would have said AWD on the back.Perhaps the most easy to spot visual cue would be the roof rack bars. 2wd'ers don't have those.

[shemp]

Quote, originally posted by Whelan » Most likely it wasnt because most AWD cars in rental fleets are SUVs." Quote, originally posted by ou.grizzly »That is false. Is it? Can you prove that most AWD rentals are not SUVs? You seem pretty sure of yourself, and I'm curious about the source of your information.

[ou.grizzly]

Quote, originally posted by shemp »Is it? Can you prove that most AWD rentals are not SUVs? You seem pretty sure of yourself, and I'm curious about the source of your information.Previous Employment like ZionZR2 in Metro Detroit. Dealers who do not have their own rental vehicles will use an outside source such as Avis, Hertz, Enterprise, and etc. If the vehicle is in for warranty work, the rental vehicle has to be to same BRAND for the rental to be covered under warranty. For example, a rental agency that serves Fox Toyota in Rochester Hills can only use Toyota vehicles and Saturn of Lakeside can only use GM products if a car is on warranty work. And even if the vehicle is not in for warranty, the dealer WANTS their customer to drive the same brand as is being own/sold at that specific dealer.Now that being said, a few of the local Subaru Dealerships do not have their own loaners and they require Subaru products. The rental agencies have so many different brands of vehicles for this exact reason. Subaru's are AWD.Also, what Whelan has experiences/seen is regional more than likely.SUV's can be AWD or 4x4, there is a difference between the system! And Crossovers that are AWD are not SUV's!I have case studies to get back to and have to be up at 0430 to leave for DMC. If you do not want to take my word for it, you are more than welcome to visit local rental agencies near dealers and ask about this. People really need to learn to let things go

[shemp]

hmmm. There were a lot of words in there, but I didn't see much proof of your terse claim. It seems to me it's mostly regional info based on your previous employment. I know little about the car rental industry, but you've peeked my curiosity..... a quick breeze thru Hertz's 2007 annual report showed that "off-airport" car rentals accounted for 21% of their car rental transactions. Seems like a pretty small piece of the pie to me compared to all those SUV's I see in rental fleets. In fact I see a lot of SUVs on the roads in general... I bet they break down sometimes too. Hmmm. I wonder what they get for rentals. Anywho.... interesting stuff. Don't let my silly questions keep you from your case studies though. BTW, what do you mean about people learning to let things go?

[ou.grizzly]

Quote, originally posted by shemp »hmmm. There were a lot of words in there, but I didn't see much proof of your terse claim. It seems to me it's mostly regional info based on your previous employment. I know little about the car rental industry, but you've peeked my curiosity..... a quick breeze thru Hertz's 2007 annual report showed that "off-airport" car rentals accounted for 21% of their car rental transactions. Seems like a pretty small piece of the pie to me compared to all those SUV's I see in rental fleets. In fact I see a lot of SUVs on the roads in general... I bet they break down sometimes too. Hmmm. I wonder what they get for rentals. Of that 21%, a lot of those a long-term rentals and the "off-airport" car's come from the airports. Long term rentals for vacations, collision, thefts, and etc. Product may be based on region. The more SUV's that are in a fleet and if they are not rented out, it cost's the company money if they go un-rented. SUV's are few and limited compared to cars. Actually go into a local Hertz, Avis, and Enterprise. Compile a list of their inventory for that day, what type of vehicles being classified by Crossover, SUV, Truck, Van, or etc. Then find out out if they have an AWD System or a 4x4 System.Ford SUVs for example:Escape as a 4WD, Explorer comes in an 4WD or AWD Model, Expedition only in 4WD.Rest are Crossovers which are NOT SUV's and I am not even going to organize a list if they are labeled as 4WD or AWD as they are not SUVs, they are Crossovers. You can check out the information yourself if you do not believe me on the Ford Website. As for other manufacturers, do the research, post some links, do some foot work, and then we will talk. This thread has went south and off-topic. Seems one may have a personal issue at hand here due to that thread that was locked several weeks back due to posts that contains information that was against forum rules. No drama is needed and that seems to be the goal, not my flavor. Drive safe and happy holidays...

[shemp]

Yea, sorry about the tangent on your thread, belfert.Sorry if you took my questions personally, OU.... No personal issue here. I just saw your "that is false" response and I thought to myself "hmmm, that didn't sound very friendly..." I figured 'either he really knows his rental-car industry statistics, or he's taking a shot a someone.You shouldn't respond to someone's qualified statement with such a harsh absolute, especially if you can't backup your own statement. That other thread has nothing to do with this conversation.

[belfert]

The car I rented did have roof bars so I suppose it was AWD. I never really looked at the rear to see what it said on the back.

[shemp]

I believe the Roof bars are an option on some non AWD 2009 Vibes.

[ou.grizzly]

Quote, originally posted by belfert »The car I rented did have roof bars so I suppose it was AWD. I never really looked at the rear to see what it said on the back.I am thinking the rental was an AWD. If it had a 2.4L and 4 speed auto, that is your answer.