By Elliott Brack
Editor and Publisher, GwinnettForum
JULY 21, 2023 | When on vacation, most of the time renting an automobile is relatively easy and routine. Our recent trip to New York didn’t fit into that category, for a couple of reasons.
Arriving in Buffalo late in the day, when we got to the rental counter, there were people backed out the door at one car rental counter (handling one brand), while the other rental desks had several people in line, if they were manned.
Later we learned what happened at Buffalo rentals: the companies were about out of cars, for what some said was overbookings. Taxi drivers told us that this had been going on for three days.
Axs we got in line, we were about 30 people from the front. Every now and then a customer, though not all, got a car. It took us an hour and a half to reach the counter, where we were told they had no cars immediately and would call our name when one was available. About that time one lady’s name was called for a car. She said she had been waiting over an hour after they said she would get one eventually.
We bailed out, taking a taxi to an airport motel. We had not planned to stay overnight in Buffalo, but that’s what happened. We canceled our other reservation.
The next morning, I shuttled to the airport at 6 a.m. (when the counter opened). Three people were in line, and by 6:30 I was told I had a car. “Go to Aisle Q, slot number three.”
There I found the car, and that’s where the second reason this was not routine. Instead of the standard cars you might expect to rent, this was an Italian car, an Alfa Romeo small SUV. And it was solid bright red.
When getting into the car, I found that difficult. The entry was hard for me (six feet tall), because of low ceilings and high seats. I finally scrunched in. Then I started looking at the features: they were unfamiliar, compared to the American car cockpit. I finally found the starter button (on the steering wheel). But before it would move, you had to click another button, similar to starting my Jeep. I must have sat there five minutes trying to get familiar with the car, and get the rear view mirrors right. Eventually I pulled forward out of the parking space.
When at the hotel, I parked thinking nothing about it. But when loading the car to leave later on, suddenly I had a real problem: backing out of the parking space. The gear shift was in Park, of course, and I could shift to drive or neutral, but though I could see a “R” button, the gear shift would not go into Reverse.
Lucky for this car, it had an owner’s manual. We flipped through that, and even read directions, yet somehow the gear would not go into park. Then suddenly, though I didn’t know why, it was in Rear, and we backed out. It must have taken at least three minutes.
That problem with shifting into Reverse lasted the entire trip. Only on two occasions, did I move my hand and feet properly and the car shifted into reverse. It was frustrating. Meanwhile, I was always looking for a parking space where I would not have to shift into Reverse.
The Alfa Romeo drove well, had a lot of power, and was comfortable (except for getting in.) It was a distinctive trip. We will long remember this red car rental experience.
- Have a comment? Send to: elliott@brack.net
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