Rental Car Conundrum

[susandennis]

My friends, Scott and Julie, from New Zealand told me several months ago that they will be visiting Seattle for a few days in July.  I tried to STRONGLY suggest they NOT be here on July 4 - it's probably the worst time - stuff not open, too hot, traffic problems - but my suggestion was ignored so now I have those issues but a car problem that I keep noodling around in my head finding no solution.

Julie wants to shop and loves malls and there is stuff all around town we want to do. I need a car with room for 3. Mine is a is good for 2 peops only.They arrive the afternoon of Saturday, July 4.  They leave the afternoon of Tuesday, July 8. So I need passenger wheels for  3 days.

Zipcar has cards in the garage just across the street from my garage. I could, conceivably join Zipcar and reserve a car for those 3 days. That would be a lovely solution as it would mean I could just leave my own car in it's own spot in my garage. But, if I can't get one of those cars, the next closest ones are not nearly as handy. And the whole thing, joining and renting for 3 days, would run me about $400.

A regular rental car would cost about half of that in car rental but the only car rental places open on July 4 are at the airport and even if I wanted to haul out to the airport on July 4, it would cost as much to leave my car parked there for the duration.

GRRRRR.  This is really bugging me.  I thought by writing it out, a solution would find me.  Didn't work.

Comments

[timbear.livejournal.com]

Remember the adverts, Enterprise will pick you up! I've never used them, but I remember the commercials - I have a Hertz deal :-)

And pick it up on 3 July ...

[susandennis]

Yeah, see that's the problem. If Enterprise picks me up, then, while I have the car, where do I park it at night? My car will be in my parking spot.

And, sure, I could rent on the 3rd but that would just cost more and give me another day of the where to put it problem.

It's not easy. :)

[timbear.livejournal.com]

That's the issue with living in a rural location, we assume you can just park the car on the mountain outside the door! Just a thought, but is it worth having a word with the building management to see if anyone with an empty parking spot is spending winter in, say, southern California?

[susandennis]

I actually did think about that. We really don't have a way to do that and the manager would never be able to noodle it out. The old manager would have but the new guy isn't there yet. Plus, there are 5 different garage doors and each needs its own clicker so unless you find a spot in your section, it gets really complicated really fast. It's a bit easier when there are units for sale but it's been a while and, the housing situation in Seattle says if one goes on sale, it won't stay that way for long.

BUT... I found a solution!!!! Relay Rides - people rent their own cars out. I can rent and swap out parking. (see latest entries). Whew!

[ciddyguy.livejournal.com]

What about Central Link out to the airport to pick up the car, true that won't solve where to stash the rental car. Have you looked into seeing if you can use a guest spot for those few days in your own garage?

Just a thought.

[susandennis]

I would dearly like to avoid going to and from the airport the first week in July and we have NO guest parking in our garage so going out to the airport and back would not solve the Where To Put My Car dilemma.

[ciddyguy.livejournal.com]

Like I said, it was a thought. :-)

[galebird.livejournal.com]

What was that car service you used when you car had troubles not too long ago?

[susandennis]

You have a GREAT memory and it was Car2Go which would be absolutely perfect... except... their cars are exactly like mine. 2 peops max.

[galebird.livejournal.com]

Well shoot. Looks like a lawn chair in the not quite big enough for said lawnchair trunk it's going to have to be :/

[pink-halen.livejournal.com]

Do you have any friends who live out in the burbs? A place where you could stash your car for a few days.

You could do a Granny Clampet number and strap one of them to the roof racks.

It would look suspicious if you opened the trunk to let one of them out at the shopping center.

It all comes down to money, doesn't it.

[susandennis]

hahaha!!

[rsc.livejournal.com]

I'm thinking of being snarky and suggesting that your friends rent their own damn car. But this assumes that wherever they're staying has parking, and maybe neither you nor the rest of Seattle wants people who are used to driving on the other side of the road to be trying to find their way around for three days.

[susandennis]

Yeah, I actually thought of variations of this - they rent, I pay, they rent and they pay, etc. But, yeah, the wrong side driving is a problem. Plus, a couple of visits ago, I kicked them out of my house and made them stay in a hotel. And they really only come here to see me so I feel some responsibility for making their visit good and good for that needs a car.

So... But, I think maybe this renting someone else's car will work.