Around our house, we love that television spot for Enterprise Rent-A-Car, the one where the older mother is super impressed with the car and the pickup service, and says, “Sounds expensive.” Then, when she finds out the pickup is free, and the rental reasonable, she indignantly asks her son, “Then why didn’t you get me a bigger car?”
We now use “sounds expensive” every chance we get.
“I think it’s your turn to stack the dishwasher.”
“Sounds expensive.”
And whenever someone graciously passes you a tissue, or a glass of orange juice, you get to say, “Why didn’t you get me a bigger one?”
But my main reason for bringing up this commercial is that it reminds us that rental firms have “bigger cars” and sportier cars, and convertibles, and hybrids, and even Ferraris!
The “regular” rental car is quite famous for under-whelming. When taken on long trips, their drivers have been known to stick plastic cutlery in their forearms, for lack of stimulation.
But for a small premium (about 50 bucks a day) you could get yourself into a convertible. All the main rental firms seem to stock ragtop versions of Ford Mustang, Chrysler Sebring, and Toyota Solara
For something snazzier, you’ll need to visit rental firms specializing in sports, luxury and exotic machinery. Every big city has one, or several.
I spoke to Marcello Trubiani of Affinity Luxury Car Rentals. The first thing I asked: “How about a Ferrari?”
Turns out they have one, a 360 Modena Spyder, available for $799 (plus taxes) for 24 hours, or $2,995 for a three-day weekend, or $5,999 for a full week.
Trubiani says anybody can drive it away, as long as you’re 25 or older, with a good license, and able to put down a suitable deposit (starting at $10,000).
Other exotics in the Affinity stable include BMW M3, Camaro SS, Corvette C6, Dodge Viper, Lamborghini Gallardo, Porsche GT3, etc.
But Trubiani notes that the current hot rides are the more “reasonably priced” convertibles, such as BMW 3 Series and Mini Cooper.
A big part of the store’s business is providing high-end rentals for drivers who have their own high-end cars in the body shop.
But many others grab these cars to treat themselves and for special family occasions. Trubiani said one father recently rented the Ferrari to present to his son, as a graduation present.
When he saw that red stallion, I’m pretty sure the young lad did not say to his father, “Why didn’t you get me a bigger car?”
Michael Goetz has been writing about cars and editing automotive publications for over 20 years. He lives in Toronto with his family and a neglected 1967 Jaguar E-type.
