Cheap car rental seems to be the way forward as more and more of us start feeling what the clever people in Wall Street are calling, ‘the credit crunch’. Times are tough and although most of us feel the need to scale down on needless expenditures, when holiday times roll around we still get that itchy feeling that seems to scream, “It’s time to hit the road buddy!”
The good news is that whether you are looking for car rental in Cape Town to explore the sights or heading on a road trip with some friends, there are cars hire options that won’t end up costing you bits of vital anatomy. All you have to do is set aside those niggling illusions of grandeur and settle for a car that will get you where you want to be without costing the earth. Okay, chances are you won’t have the girls on Camps Bay beach waving their Jimmy Choos in your face, but that’s overrated anyway.
Let’s discuss some of the car rental options that will best suit a strained budget over this festive season.
1. Opel Corsa 1.2 LThis sturdy little guy has a decidedly youthful appearance and simple handling capability, which explains why it is the cheap car rental of choice for so many twenty-something’s. It also boasts very conservative fuel consumption and various little extra’s that should make your trip a more comfortable one (including folding rear seats, air-conditioning, cup holders and remotely adjustable side mirrors). To rent the Opel Corsa for a week will set you back around R1400, which is not too bad all things considered.
2. VW City GolfYou can hardly throw a rock in any direction in the Mother City without hitting a loved-up Golf, and for good reason. As the entry-level Volkswagen vehicle, this little car has a lot going for it. The legendary Volkswagen design has culminated in a cheap, practical ride that can be easily repaired at nominal cost should anything ever go wrong (which it hardly ever does).
Since the dashboard has been redesigned, the VW Golf has gained a lot of points in the looks department and there is a lot to be said for a vehicle that gives you approximately 14 kilometres to the litre even if you have a trigger-happy driving foot. Renting a VW Golf for a week costs around R1600.
3. Nissan Tiida 1.6LEasy to drive and practical to the core, the Nissan Tiida is known worldwide as a ‘best performance for value’ vehicle. As a car rental, you couldn’t ask for a more sensible ride. Power steering, drivetrain enhancements and sleek exterior design combine to create a vehicle that is as much a pleasure to look at as it is to drive. Sit back in air-conditioned luxury as you view all that Cape Town has to offer from the comfort of your Nissan Tiida. If you plan to rent the Nissan Tiida 1.6L for a week, you should budget for around R2500.
These are just a few of the affordable car hire options available on the market today. If you are interested in inexpensive car rental in South Africa there are many ways to go about it. Flick through the Yellow Pages and see what pops up or go the more technologically savvy route and see what Google recommends. Just make sure to do your homework properly. Reputable car rental agencies have a certain look and feel to their websites and ad campaigns. If something looks and feels dodgy, it probably is. Rather play it safe and ensure that your cheap car rental experience is a pleasant one.
Some people don't own an automobile. Even in America it's a fact. There are also people who have a car but travel to different cities where they'll need a car. That's when rental cars become important. When people think of renting a car they think of Enterprise. That's because Enterprise car rentals are not overly pricey, they're generally in good shape, and Enterprise will even pick up the renter from home, from the office, or from the airport.
Enterprise has many locations all over the nation. Compact cars, full size cars, sedans and coups are all there for the taking. In some locations there are even convertible sports cars available. Why not take advantage of the sun and weather especially when it can be expensed? They even have cheap rates. $300 for the week is a real bargain for a car. Throw this into the spreadsheet.
Take the bus or train to work each day. Use the low weekend rates to rent an auto for running around town. For about $60 a week all the car needs are fulfilled. That's under $3500 a year which is far less than most car owners spend on the car purchase, insurance, maintenance, storage, cleaning, registration and other expenses associated with a car.
Enterprise also offers fleet management services to small businesses. Many businesses use cars for employee travel. A fleet of autos can be a nightmare to track. A manager must find the cars, buy them, maintain them and insure them. When a car becomes too worn for use it must be replaced. Businesses want to spend time on their core functions rather than on cars. Enterprise to the rescue.
Enterprise even sells cars that have ended their life in rental fleets. One top feature of Enterprise used cars is they are well maintained. That's not in sync with the stereotype of a hard used rental car. Enterprise imposes penalties to motivate customers to treat the cars well. Also, they are maintained according to manufacturer specifications. Dealers generally have used cars that were privately owned and not well maintained.
