My parents need to rent a car in Phoenix, AZ around November 6-7. They
need the car for two weeks, and will be taking it to Las Vegas and
returning it to Phoenix.

So far, the best deal they've been able to find is in the neighborhood
of $500. Is there a cheaper way to rent a car for a longer term like
two weeks? Are there short-term leases available that could be
cheaper?

They'd prefer to deal with a well-known car rental brand rather than a
discount/no-name company, but a company that could make this
considerably cheaper will of course be considered.

Kostia,

Finding a rental car deal can be very frustrating and time consuming. 
Here is some information that I have found that I hope helps:

Alamo
Pick up at Phoenix Sky Harbor Aiport 11/6/02
Return to airport 11/20/02
4-Door automatic (Chevrolet Cavalier or similar)
$260.00
Visit http://res.alamo.com
Use Rate Code: OG when requesting a quote/reservation.  This offer is
valid through 12/15/02. Must book by 11/17/02. Saturday night stay
required.

Budget
Pick up at Phoenix Sky Harbor Aiport 11/6/02
Return to airport 11/20/02
2-Door Economy
$282.18
Visit https://rent.drivebudget.com/
Use BCD# W619109 when requesting a rate or reservation

These were the two least expensive I found.  Each company had
additional rates available for different size cars that were all under
$500.00.

I hope this information helps you and your parents.  If you need any
additional clarification, please let me know.

Regards,

-THV

Search Strategy:
rental car rates

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Request for Answer Clarification by kostia-ga on 28 Oct 2002 09:28 PST

The problem is that the taxes are so high that even the cheapest rates
for rental cars become high rates. That's where the $500 figure comes
from.

Your Budget example, for example, when calculated, becomes:
Base Rate: 	305.98 USD for 14 days 
Percent Discount: 	15.0 % 
Surcharge Summary: 	88.78 USD
Taxes: 	72.44 USD
Estimated Total Rate: 	$467.20

I should have mentioned that my father is 6'5", and the car will have
to hold four adults, so the compact (Cavalier or similar) category is
too small. They're looking for midsize (Grand Am-ish) or larger.

I'm more interested in the possibilities of a short-term lease than a
straight airport rental. I was hoping there would be some sort of
service (designed for traveling business people, for example) where
the rates would be lower, and those high car-rental taxes could be at
least partially avoided.

If you'd like to continue researching this, I would appreciate it.
I'll approve the question payment regardless, as your coupon code did
make for a 15% discount off the $179 weekly rate my mother found.

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Clarification of Answer by tar_heel_v-ga on 28 Oct 2002 11:29 PST

Kostia..
I appreciate your rating of my answer though it may not have solved
your issue.  I will continue to research and see if I can find some
better rates for your family.

-THV

If your parents could switch their plans around and fly into Vegas
first, it's a lot cheaper to rent cars in Vegas than in Phoenix. It's
also cheaper to fly into Vegas than to Phoenix.

As someone who has rented more cars for more time than I care to
remember, let me tell you a little bit about short term leases from
car rental companies.

They are not designed to save much money. They are more designed so
that the business person does not have to rent a different car each
week when they get back from their weekend home. With a short term
lease, you still catch the bus, but your car is in a different section
of the rental lot, more like a parking lot, you jump off the bus and
into your car. Drive off to your hotel. The convenience factor is
really what sells them, not the prices.

Good luck!

kostia,

Please be aware that rental car companies typically have clauses in
the contracts that say if the renter takes the vehicle out of the
state in which it was rented, without informing the rental company
beforehand, they will have to pay a fee ***per mile***. One unwary
couple got hit with a $2,200 bill for driving a Budget Rent-A-Car from
Arizona to Texas and back.

You will want to check up front with the rental agencies to make sure
that this will not be a problem when your parents rent a car.

aceresearcher