Rental car

[Mobuck]

I have a 'get away trip' planned and have booked a rental car. Keep in mind I haven't driven or even ridden in a 'CAR' for several years since none of my family owns a 'car' anymore. Available vehicles at the closest rental place are Chevy Malibu and similar sized Toyota. Plus side is 35-40 MPG, downside is don't run over a possum/armadillo. Son says the negatives will be overshadowed by the lower fuel cost and the better driving quality in crosswinds (there's always crosswinds out there). I've planned the route over some mountain roads that I've traveled before and expect to be fairly well maintained although I'll have to be extra careful passing over those cattle guards. Yeah, it's pretty well 'out there' when you encounter cattle guards in a two lane paved road.

 

[daveag.]

Wife has a Malibu. You are correct on mph. I've done best at 41. Only downside is exciting vehicle. I've had both hips replaced. Other than that, fun little car to drive. Hits 90 on interstate easy.

 

[thinckley]

Where is "out there"? I wouldn't worry about the cattle guards but would pick the Malibu over the Toyota.

 

[GasGuzzler]

Nothing wrong with a Malibu for a rental. Don't think they make them any more. Cars are kind of a thing of the past, especially for GM. I guess I should know buy I haven't seen a GM new car except a Corvette in a couple years.

 

[XUSNORDIE]

Until a little over a year ago I was always in a truck or SUV. However I accepted a transfer to Baltimore which is an 80+ mile commute. Parked the truck for weekend/vacation use only and now use a 2023 Malibu for the commute. Great MPG. Comfortable. It's the sport model and handles very well. That little turbo can get up and go. You can also manually shift if you prefer. Only issue is I'm 6'5 and 270ish pounds, still re-cooping from knee replacement, and have a mangeled back/neck full of metal. Once you are inside its comfy.....getting in and out is like ducking under the limbo bar.

Buddy has a 2024 Malibu and loves it. I read that GM was discontinuing the Malibu this year....but there are 2025 Malibus advertised.

 

[Mobuck]

"out there' is ranch country of northeast NM up around the Capulin volcano. Grouch Attack wants to drive to the top where it's claimed one can see 4 states from the peak.
Thanks for the responses on the Malibu. I sat in one at the rental place and it did seem to be OK once I got in. At the current price of gas, renting a 35-40 mpg car is a 'no brainer' vs driving a 17-18 mpg pickup AND I'm not concerned about running it 70-75 mph on the interstate all day long.

 

[Robb Barnes]

It is a great view from up there and the trail was decent last time I was there. Not sure how long you will be in the area but the NEA Whittington Center south of Raton off the road to Cimarron has a nice little visitor center museum. My favorite area in that part of NM is either the valley containing Angel Fire and Eagles Nest or Valles Cauldera where the filmed parts of the Longmire show.

 

[contender]

I have been to Capulin volcano a couple of times. And yes,, a lot of that area is "out there" and you will enjoy it. As Robb has mentioned,, if you are going to be that close,, by all means,, go to Cimarron & visit that museum that used to be a flour mill. Fun story of the last time I was at the museum. An elderly gentleman was the main one working there. Dressed in western garb, including a Ruger SA on his hip. I took a look & said; "That looks like a Ruger Super Blackhawk there! Is it an Old Model or a New Model?" He replied; "Not sure, can you tell me the difference? as he pulled it out & handed it to me. A NM, and fully loaded. He handed it to me w/o any safety violations & I of course checked it first. Turns out,, he was 82 years young,, and originally from Spartanburg SC,, which is just about an hours drive from me here.

Plus,, The St. James Hotel there too! The history of that area is fun to study. Have lunch in the St. James & see that there are still bullet holes in the ceiling & such. The NRA Whittington Center is about 35 miles from there & worth a visit too.

As for the car thing,, well, Miss Penny has a caddy & we use it for gas mileage or such. But getting in & out,, especially when I'm used to my truck,, well, it's "different."

 

[thinckley]

"out there' is ranch country of northeast NM up around the Capulin volcano. Grouch Attack wants to drive to the top where it's claimed one can see 4 states from the peak.
Thanks for the responses on the Malibu. I sat in one at the rental place and it did seem to be OK once I got in. At the current price of gas, renting a 35-40 mpg car is a 'no brainer' vs driving a 17-18 mpg pickup AND I'm not concerned about running it 70-75 mph on the interstate all day long.

Just drop on down to four corners and she can be in 4 states at once..

 

[Johnnu2]

I'd recommend the Toyota......

J.

 

[XUSNORDIE]

"out there' is ranch country of northeast NM up around the Capulin volcano. Grouch Attack wants to drive to the top where it's claimed one can see 4 states from the peak.
Thanks for the responses on the Malibu. I sat in one at the rental place and it did seem to be OK once I got in. At the current price of gas, renting a 35-40 mpg car is a 'no brainer' vs driving a 17-18 mpg pickup AND I'm not concerned about running it 70-75 mph on the interstate all day long.

The other weird thing about the Malibu (or any car to me) is sitting so low. It feels like my butt is dragging on the ground...

 

[GasGuzzler]

Nothing wrong with a Malibu for a rental. Don't think they make them any more. Cars are kind of a thing of the past, especially for GM. I guess I should know buy I haven't seen a GM new car except a Corvette in a couple years.

Quoted myself because guess what? Wednesday we got a new 2025 Malibu in for stock. Looks like another year for the platform. I don't think we've had a Malibu or Impala (new) on the lot in over a year.

 

[XUSNORDIE]

Quoted myself because guess what? Wednesday we got a new 2025 Malibu in for stock. Looks like another year for the platform. I don't think we've had a Malibu or Impala (new) on the lot in over a year.

I think it's been a few years since the Impala was made. I liked that car. I'm happy with my Malibu.....just difficult as a old tall guy with a bad back getting in and out.

 

[blume357]

I'd bite the bullet if I could and purchase the extra insurance from the rental company... yes, I know it's a scam but depending on how many days and where you are going it could save you a lot of aggravation.
Back in September of 2019 we took a 2week tour of S. Dakota.... it was great...and yes of course my insurance covered any damage to the rental car and American Express covered any deductible... I found out later. We were staying at the lodge in Spearfish Canyon and a hail storm came in..... put a few digs in the car that you could see if you scrunched down and the light was just right..... two weeks later I got a bill from Herts for just tad over $15K for replacing most of the exterior parts of the car as well as the lost income from not being able to rent it while it was being worked on.....

by the way side; along with the bad lands of S.D. Spearfish Canyon has to be one of the top wonders of the world.... amazing drive through it... just watch out for those 'Falling Rocks'..... I'm not making that part up and I don't mean hail stones....

 

[Mobuck]

"It is a great view from up there and the trail was decent last time I was there. Not sure how long you will be in the area but the NEA Whittington Center south of Raton off the road to Cimarron has a nice little visitor center museum. My favorite area in that part of NM is either the valley containing Angel Fire and Eagles Nest or Valles Cauldera where the filmed parts of the Longmire show."
I've been to several of those places and plan to hit the rest on this trip.

 

[Mobuck]

Cimarron is on the travel path as is Angel Fire. I was there 4 years ago on the return from an elk hunt further west.

 

[jimbo1096]

We just traded a Malibu for a Jeep Cherokee
The Malibu gave us nine years of good service with only a few minor problems that I could fix myself. I didn't drive the Malibu much, my granddaughter did. But whenever I did, it felt like my butt was on the ground and I was about ready to get run over by people at any time. Basically, it was her college car. I don't have any experience with foreign brands.
One thing I didn't like was the engine auto-stop so make sure you know how to turn it off if it bothers you

 

[Killer Bee]

 

[KIR]

I have rented a car a few times, mostly to take trips from Reno to L.A. as my own car was not in the best of shapes at the time. I would usually rent the smallest car they had on the web site, but they always upgraded me one step higher. Since it was just me, it still was very comfortable. Once after I got to L.A., my ex-gf noticed that the seat belts in the back seat were not properly installed. I immediately took it to the local agency and they gave me a Toyota Solara. Smooth, roomy and responsive. It was a great car especially when I drove back via Sacramento. Going up the Sierras was a breeze. Nice looking car as well. I have owned a Chevy S-10 for many years now and had good use of the tonneau covered truck bed, but if I ever would own a car again, a Solara would make a good one. I understand Toyota has usually made good vehicles, based on similarities to Chevy's for marketing purposes and until recently had not heard of any major recalls. The only detraction I have had was the local dealership/manager who once screwed me over. Not much, but they missed out when after my first Toyota, I did not buy another, nor had anymore servicing done by them. The rental agency I would go to was Enterprise, a good company.

 

[XUSNORDIE]

We just traded a Malibu for a Jeep Cherokee
The Malibu gave us nine years of good service with only a few minor problems that I could fix myself. I didn't drive the Malibu much, my granddaughter did. But whenever I did, it felt like my butt was on the ground and I was about ready to get run over by people at any time. Basically, it was her college car. I don't have any experience with foreign brands.
One thing I didn't like was the engine auto-stop so make sure you know how to turn it off if it bothers you

You never get over the feeling of your butt on the ground in a Malibu......as for the auto stop, it's the very next thing I push (to turn off) after pushing the ignition button on both my Malibu and Silverado.