Avis Review

Avis strikes me as a totally average, ho-hum, who cares kind of car rental company. Their check-in service is about average, their rates worse than average, their check-in a bit better than average. Their strong point is catering to the corporate account traveler, but for every business perk they offer, there's a "gotcha" for the leisure travel crowd. Their fleet is utterly average and uninteresting, and without strong price incentives, I just don't see a compelling reason to book a rental car with them. They just don't try hard enough.

Avis certainly doesn't try very hard on price. Their rates are generally not horrendous, but they're priced a LOT closer to the highest going rates than they are the lowest deals. Lord knows, they never come close to the prices offered by Enterprise and Thrifty. Even if you go to the Avis web site, you see pitiful little half-hearted attempts at being competitive. $20 on a weekend rental...HAH! Not when the Enterprise web site has 50% off weekend rentals all the time!! If you ask me, Enterprise is the company trying harder. Not Avis.

Avis doesn't try to offer a better choice in cars either. They're timid about offering true high-end luxury cars, or in offering truly FUN to drive cars. Hertz beats them in that market easily, and even Enterprise's basic Luxury line is usually better (and better priced) than the best Avis can do.

The best Avis can do in terms of car choice is what they call their "Cool Cars Fleet". Honestly though....it's not that cool. They have cars like the Chrysler 300, Hummer H3, or Lincoln MKX. Not shabby cars --- not by a long stretch --- but not particularly "cool" either. Not when the Hertz Prestige Line includes things like a Jaguar XK8, a Volvo XC90, or an Infiniti M45 --- any one of which I'd pick in a heartbeat over the Avis "Cool Car".

Avis doesn't have particularly fun cars either. Avis also tries "not quite as hard" with their "Joy Rides", which includes things like a Mustang or a Dodge Magnum. Hertz has a Mustang too --- a freakin' Shelby Mustang! Now that's a COOL car! I've gotten Magnums and Mustangs from other rental car companies anyway .... and without paying a premium price. I just don't see how Avis's fleet constitutes "trying harder".

In the airport and at return time, I find Avis's service to be average. They're not significantly faster than other companies, and they're not as friendly nor as proactively service oriented as the guys at Enterprise are.

Without better prices. Without better cars. Without better service.....I ask you, WHERE is Avis "trying harder"?? I don't see it.