You can't at least choose a car category in the US? Here you don't know which exact model you'll have, but you know that it will be among a list of similar models of different brands, or a higher end model if none of them are available.

Also... what car rental company would ever buy orange cars? That seems completely stupid, I have never had a rental car that wasn't black or grey.

I don't know how car rental works in the US, but reading this article it sure looks quite broken compared to the places I have rented cars (France, Japan, Taiwan).

Car rental companies buy many cars from surplus dealer inventories, often towards the end of a model year. That's where they can get new reliable cars in bulk, and they don't care about color or particular models. So when you get an orange Aztek at the rental counter, that's because nobody bought it on the lot and Hertz scooped it up cheap.

I've been given an orange Dodge Nitro before. Most of the cars I've been given have been white, so much so I call the color "rental car white" and is the only color I exclude when looking for cars to purchase.

But yes, we can choose the category. And you will get it unless they are out of cars for that category. An orange Dodge Nitro was considered an "upgrade" from what I reserved. One time though I had reserved a Camry and they were out so they upgraded me to a Prius instead. It was nice driving the car back to the airport after a week of driving and not having to fill up the gas tank all week.

Sure you can choose your category. There's just no relying on it coming true when you arrive at the counter.

them-> "Here are the keys to your Dodge Durango"

you-> "no, actually I reserved a 4-door sedan"

them-> "I know sir but we don't have any left"

you-> "huh? I reserved one. what does a reservation mean?"

them-> "it's subject to availability sir"

In other words, (like many restaurants, like many airlines, hotels, etc), you can "reserve" anything you like, it doesn't mean it has been set aside for you.

welcome to the nuthouse

You didn't reserve a car, you reserved a rate along with a minimum standard of car, for some ordering of cars as determined by the company.

What's wrong with a PT cruiser?

Same thought. That car has so much cargo space that I was once able to move apartments without renting a van thanks to the oversized, unobstructed trunk on the PT. Also drove down highway 1, have nothing but good things to say about it.

Clearly this is totally subjective, but I just absolutely hate them. I hate the way they look, I hate sitting in them, and I feel so lame when I'm driving one. I would drive almost any other car before I would drive a PT Cruiser.

If you like them more power to you! I won't throw eggs at it or anything, promise. :) I would just never choose one for myself.

To reserve a car you like only to be given the car you despise is... disappointing.

Clearly, you're blind.

It looks very retro and very American. However, the main reason for my question is that I rarely drive cars these days. I use mostly public transport and sometimes car sharing … when I rent a car in the US, usually a mid-size or standard car, I am always impressed by the size and the efficient A/C … ;)

Because blindness is the only explanation for differing tastes and degrees of vanity?