Cheap Rental cars - suggestions?

ford71V8 · 16-10-2019, 06:47 PM

I had forgotten how expensive it is renting a car.

I need to get to Melbourne next week from Adelaide with the wife and son and a bit of baggage. Due to the flight we need to make and the window I have to get there, rental car is the only option.

A Corolla for nearly $400 is not exciting me.

Any suggestions?
Where do you go for your rental?

Citroënbender · 16-10-2019, 07:10 PM

You want cheap or exciting? A scheme like CarNextDoor might be cheaper than mainstream rentals.

Yellow_Festiva · 16-10-2019, 07:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Citroënbender

You want cheap or exciting? A scheme like CarNextDoor might be cheaper than mainstream rentals.

You would never use Car Next Door for that sort of trip! Would cost well and truly over $400 - probably closer to a grand?

Plus, it would need to be returned?

vztrt · 16-10-2019, 08:00 PM

Bit hard to work anything out with the op. How long do you need the car? The price sounds like 3 to 4 days but unsure. Budget seems to be doing corolla for 110 a day with no excess reduction insurance.

Are you flying in to tulla or Avalon?

Do you really need the car for the whole time? Could using an Uber be better? Google maps can give you a rough price if you put in the address from the airport.

ford71V8 · 16-10-2019, 08:42 PM

Some extra info

Pickup Adelaide (city or airport) and drop off Tullamarine.
So 1 day (kinda less)
Will leave Adel early, stay over night close to Tull and catch our flight to NZ early morning.

The Long story involves having my highly anticipated road/air trip following Metallica around on their big tour "modified" due to the band cancelling everything. I'd made plans to do shows here and NZ but I've now cancelled certain parts of the trip and this is a one way trip to catch a flight I'd really like to be boarding here in Adel...

ford71V8 · 16-10-2019, 08:49 PM

No luck with Budget - possibly due to short notice.
This is 8 days away

Tassie f100 · 16-10-2019, 09:00 PM

Train or bus

Franco Cozzo · 16-10-2019, 09:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tassie f100

Train or bus

Whats 15M long and smells like ****?

The bus.

Train to Southern Cross Station - Skybus to Melbourne Airport.

Train AND bus!

ford71V8 · 16-10-2019, 09:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tassie f100

Train or bus

Has been considered
With the 3 of us, to Melb plus cost to get to Tullamarine is already close to the rental price...and now we are there at night with a flight for the morning. (edit - I just realised I have accomodation sorted near Tull for the night)

Frustrating

I've been cancelling things, collecting refunds, losing money - its been fun since the announcement

ford71V8 · 16-10-2019, 09:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Franco Cozzo

Whats 15M long and smells like ****?

The bus.
!

I was not upset to see those options didn't work well for us.
I don't do Public transport very well

Franco Cozzo · 16-10-2019, 09:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ford71V8

I was not upset to see those options didn't work well for us.
I don't do Public transport very well

Me either bro if you went public transport then make sure you have your used syringe and trackie pants to fit in with the crowd

ford71V8 · 16-10-2019, 09:32 PM

Hahaha

smoo · 16-10-2019, 10:05 PM

The expensive part is what I assume to be a one way rental.
They need to relocate it back to SA, so they say.
If you’re doing it online, actually ring up the main rental companies and ask if they need a one way or return rental from Adelaide to Tullamarine. It might not show up on their website when you tick the boxes.
Also ring up the camper van mobs and see if they need one taken to Melbourne.

A corolla through Avis for 24 hours, dropped off at the same location with excess reduction is around $140.

ford71V8 · 16-10-2019, 10:27 PM

Correct smoo its the one way fee thats made it expensive.

My wife has been hunting for one of those relocation type deals.
Good god , she had us heading to Alice for a cheap van rate into Melb - STOP!

Will sleep on it but might have to bite the bullet on this one, but perhaps a few calls asking the question might get a result, Cheers.

stock1991 · 16-10-2019, 11:00 PM

I see these around on the road but don't have any experience with them

https://www.wickedcampers.com.au/bookings/

danzvtil · 16-10-2019, 11:14 PM

Transfercar will give you one way deals specific to your dates, sometimes as low as $1/day, at the moment adl-Mel is mainly campers and not cars.

ford71V8 · 16-10-2019, 11:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stock1991

I see these around on the road but don't have any experience with them

https://www.wickedcampers.com.au/bookings/

Got excited with that suggestion, hadnt thought of them.
But, same curse....

Daily rate:
1.00 days @$60.00$60.00

Optional Extra Fees:
Total$30.00 (Liability fee I would deduct)

Mandatory Extra Fees:
One Way Fee + Toll Roads Levy$235.00
Booking Fee (5%)16.25

Total:
AUD $341.25
Inc GST: $31.02

Appreciate the suggestion

Would have to be more fun than the Corolla option

ford71V8 · 16-10-2019, 11:23 PM

deleted

stock1991 · 16-10-2019, 11:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ford71V8

deleted

yeah I don't know lol, I'd probably get the plain white

ford71V8 · 16-10-2019, 11:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by danzvtil

Transfercar will give you one way deals specific to your dates, sometimes as low as $1/day, at the moment adl-Mel is mainly campers and not cars.

This looks great....quick look says the dates Im after there might not be availabilities but will look a bit closer in the morning.
Cheers for this one. I'll be bookmarking this site for another time.

ford71V8 · 16-10-2019, 11:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stock1991

yeah I don't know lol, I'd probably get the plain white

Was there any other option

roKWiz · 17-10-2019, 01:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ford71V8

Was there any other option

Firefly express I use. Wouldn't use the dogbus.

https://www.fireflyexpress.com.au/fireflynew/index.asp

**FoxtrotGolfXray 5.0** · 17-10-2019, 03:46 PM

Not 100% confident that this has picked up the one way trip, but it seems to have.

Indicates you could do it for as little as $31.

https://www.airportrentals.com/searc...%7Cen%7C210910

Hope that helps.

ford71V8 · 17-10-2019, 06:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by psychobimbo

Not 100% confident that this has picked up the one way trip, but it seems to have.

Indicates you could do it for as little as $31.

https://www.airportrentals.com/searc...%7Cen%7C210910

Hope that helps.

Thanks.
Have punched in some dates with no results.
I'm trying more dates to look for an availability to confirm one way pricing, but so far the site kepes defaulting back to a Return option and thiats when the cheap rates come up.

Will be bookmarking this for future use also though... thank you.

**FoxtrotGolfXray 5.0** · 18-10-2019, 08:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ford71V8

Thanks.
Have punched in some dates with no results.
I'm trying more dates to look for an availability to confirm one way pricing, but so far the site kepes defaulting back to a Return option and thiats when the cheap rates come up.

Will be bookmarking this for future use also though... thank you.

Yeah, I noticed that it kept defaulting to the place of return being the same as the pickup location, however when I changed that on the search results screen, it didn't change the pricing structure. Hence my comment that I wasn't 100% confident that it had picked up the one way trip.

If you have a look at the page I linked, you'll see that the return location is different.

Not sure why that link above comes up and shows that nothing is available. I ran the query again just now and it shows that (for the same dates of 24 and 25 Oct (which I estimated from your earlier post to be your dates)) that you can still do a one way hire from $34, ala https://www.airportrentals.com/searc...%7Cen%7C405929.

ford71V8 · 18-10-2019, 11:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by psychobimbo

Yeah, I noticed that it kept defaulting to the place of return being the same as the pickup location, however when I changed that on the search results screen, it didn't change the pricing structure. Hence my comment that I wasn't 100% confident that it had picked up the one way trip.

If you have a look at the page I linked, you'll see that the return location is different.

Not sure why that link above comes up and shows that nothing is available. I ran the query again just now and it shows that (for the same dates of 24 and 25 Oct (which I estimated from your earlier post to be your dates)) that you can still do a one way hire from $34, ala https://www.airportrentals.com/searc...%7Cen%7C405929.

I appreciate your efforts here psychobimbo.
Those dates are correct.

I ran a few variations of where to drop off (there were 3 versions of Mel airport and I got no results with Melb Airport but did get results with Melb International)....and I was also tripping myself up by putting in pickup/drop off times that were less than 24hours, so amended that and Bingo, the results as you saw them.
I have locked in a Corolla for $42 which seems too good to be true (and you know how that can end) but I've scoured the pages and cannot see any mention of an extra large one way fee, but can see on the left hand side a "One Way Rental Confirmed".
I've hit the GO button and have received my confirmation emails telling me all is good to go!

Thank you to everybody for putting your suggestions forward.

Psychobimbo, you saved me a couple of hundred dollars - thanks a bunch for persisting with the site....I had figured yesterday they had no available cars from Adelaide and today I've locked in a car. Feels good to get that sorted and not be ripped off in the process, Thanks again

**FoxtrotGolfXray 5.0** · 18-10-2019, 11:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ford71V8

I appreciate your efforts here psychobimbo.
Those dates are correct.

I ran a few variations of where to drop off (there were 3 versions of Mel airport and I got no results with Melb Airport but did get results with Melb International)....and I was also tripping myself up by putting in pickup/drop off times that were less than 24hours, so amended that and Bingo, the results as you saw them.
I have locked in a Corolla for $42 which seems too good to be true (and you know how that can end) but I've scoured the pages and cannot see any mention of an extra large one way fee, but can see on the left hand side a "One Way Rental Confirmed".
I've hit the GO button and have received my confirmation emails telling me all is good to go!

Thank you to everybody for putting your suggestions forward.

Psychobimbo, you saved me a couple of hundred dollars - thanks a bunch for persisting with the site....I had figured yesterday they had no available cars from Adelaide and today I've locked in a car. Feels good to get that sorted and not be ripped off in the process, Thanks again

Happy to be of assistance. Let's just hope that it all turns out as good as it looks and there's no unwelcome surprises!

Let us know how it goes. I'm interested to see if it all works out ok.

Have a safe trip.

PS I think the reason you got no results for the 'Melb Airport' option is because that airport is in Florida, USA

Unless it is James Bond's Lotus Esprit, it would be pretty difficult to drive form Adelaide to the USA. Plus it would take you more than just 1 day I think

ford71V8 · 18-10-2019, 01:28 PM

Haha, I did see that option too.
Not even the trusty Corolla will get us there!

I'll be sure to let you know how it pans out - thanks mate

ford71V8 · 15-11-2019, 11:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FoxtrotGolfXray 5.0

Happy to be of assistance. Let's just hope that it all turns out as good as it looks and there's no unwelcome surprises!

Let us know how it goes. I'm interested to see if it all works out ok.

Have a safe trip.

FoxtrotGolfXray 5.0

Well, we are back home, was a great holiday, everyone needs to see NZ because you can't put that scenery into words.

airportrentals came through!
No hidden costs, no nasty surprise on the day of pickup.
Everything went super smooth like you hope it will.

This will absolutely be the go-to for any time I am needing to one-way travel again.....Thank you again, for pointing me in their direction

(I see psychobimbo has had a name change!)

**FoxtrotGolfXray 5.0** · 15-11-2019, 09:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ford71V8

FoxtrotGolfXray 5.0

Well, we are back home, was a great holiday, everyone needs to see NZ because you can't put that scenery into words.

airportrentals came through!
No hidden costs, no nasty surprise on the day of pickup.
Everything went super smooth like you hope it will.

This will absolutely be the go-to for any time I am needing to one-way travel again.....Thank you again, for pointing me in their direction

(I see psychobimbo has had a name change!)

Mate, that is great news. Like you, I was a little sceptical given that it appeared to be too good to be true.

Sounds like the trip was a good one, which is an added bonus.

I have noticed that you can get some bargains on that site. When we went to the Gold Coast earlier this year, they had a Pajero Sport for around the same price as a Hyundai Elantra or similar. Unfortunately, I ummed and aahed too long and missed out on the special by one day.

Glad it all worked out.