I called a few days ago to reserve another Tucson and the girl who answered the phone told me, "We don't have those." I asked her what she meant. She said, "We don't have those. We don't have those in our fleet."
Their fleet. I love corporate euphemisms. How secure I'll feel knowing that for two weeks I'll be a part of that mighty flotilla under the protective command of Budget Rent A Car.
I informed my shipmate that I rented a Tucson from them several weeks ago. My Canyonero. After putting me on hold to confer with the captain, she learned of her mistake and told me she'd have one ready.
When I stopped by to pick it up, it wasn't there. They didn't even have a vehicle available in the same class. They offered me a free upgrade and some shiny, family goliath instead. It was exactly what I needed if I wanted to get stuck turning around on a narrow, dirt road and hike to my death. A call to their airport location uncovered a Santa Fe. Close enough. They said they'd have it sent over. Since I'd practically be living in the thing for 2 weeks, I decided I could wait a few hours for something I'd be comfortable in.
It's just a tad bigger than the Tucson and not as femme, but otherwise, it's basically the same car. It doesn't have the nifty shelf in back, but a stackable unit from my closet and some creative tie-downs solved that problem.
The only thing I don't like is the chrome panel around the gearshift. I will never understand why carmakers put reflective materials where they'll produce a tiny mirror image of the sun right in the driver's view. You know, I really don't need bling on my dashboard.