2016 Malibu Hybrid

[kevm14]

Then you probably wouldn't be too happy with the Versa (two rungs below the Altima).

[Bob]

Thanks to my high status at National, I don't have to rent bad cars anymore. Most of the cars I rent are not base models, and if they are base models it's something like a Lacrosse or Maxima that is already well equipped in base trim. I also haven't rented anything small aside from the Fiat 500X (by choice over some poorly equipped larger cars) all year. I actually enjoy renting cars a lot because of this.

[bill25]

That is my point. I wouldn't even consider a Nissan after that. It was a cheap piece of garbage with zero acceleration and cheap fabric/rug on the doors above the handle. The CVT sucked. The whole car was a joke.

I would like to think the base Malibu is better than that, but I wouldn't want someone making their decision to not go with GM after renting the base Malibu of the late 90's early 2000's... That wasn't helping them. Granted a lot of rentals are work related, but think about renting a car on vacation. If that car sucks, it is going to taint your opinion of the company.

[bill25]

I actually enjoy renting cars a lot because of this.

That kind of goes to my point of it having the potential of being a good marketing strategy if the car company sells the right cars packages to the rentals vice the cheapest thing possible.

[kevm14]

I think this discussion is interesting. There has been some conjecture that the OEMs may tend to upgrade the orders to the next trim level than the agency ordered for the reason you cite. Or, maybe not upgrade all of them, but some of them. Everybody wins from that. In that sense, the rental car can be a positive experience for the client and reflect well on both the rental agency and OEM.

Renting a base model and having a bad opinion can be looked at least two ways: 1) people understand that base trim is the base trim for a reason or 2) perhaps an indicator that the fundamentals of the car are kind of crappy, assuming key mechanical stuff isn't lacking in the base model compared to higher trims.

For me, I think trim level/engines/options are everything. I have little expectation that the base model should have fundamental goodness, though it is obviously a good thing when that happens. And usually that is because I am interested in cars that have a very wide range of prices, where the significant extra cost buys a whole lot (interior to engine to suspension to sheer options and features). So in those cases, I really don't care if the base model was unable to satisfy me as a car enthusiast.