National Car Rentals… o how I <3 thee. Back in 2011, while touring the world, my friend Brand and I hired a car with National to drive form Seattle to San Francisco. Why did we hire with National? Well they were the only ones who didn't want to whack us with a one way rental fee of like $1000. Hell they didn't charge one at all. Instant win. I wasn't expecting much but I had read good reviews in some places but with car hire, its location specific as to if you are going to have a good experience. Well we did, I got a pretty awesome car:

I just loved the Charger. I was even given a choice from the guy working the counter, of which when he offered me a couple of different impalas or the charger. I took the charger. After we got back I looked into National some more, they had a program called Emerald Club. Unlike other programs offered with the other companies (Hertz etc) when you join the frequent flier equivalent with National, you get a little perk called “Emerald Aisle.” At “select” locations you get to just choose whatever car you want. Take your pick of whatever is on the aisle. One downside to the program, only for US License holders. So I had to wait till I got my Washington License to get it. Once obtained I joined and then a couple of months down the track, someone offered me a free upgrade to Executive Status with Emerald club. That was a sure fire win!

Well since I joined I have had some pretty awesome cars. The first was this:

Camaro Coupe 😀 loved it over the Convertible. Next up:

May look pretty soccer momish but it is a GMC Terrain. Fully pimped with climate control, reversing sensors and cameras etc. Another win.. Then came LAX:

From Winter LAX Trip

I have no one to blame but myself for this one. That is what happens when you see a 2 door and think “sure why not”. Stupid move Mal. Will not hire a nissan again if i can avoid it. But the Dallas trip gave me the most awesome car:

From Dallas Mileage Run

This my friends is a Dodge Challenger. It had only 480 miles on it, so it was fresh! When I was walking down the Aisle in Dallas I saw so many cars I wasn’t sure what to grab, then the guy working the aisle says to me “take what you like, whatever has the keys is yours”. I had turned around to speak to him when he said this and then I saw it as I turned back around. The black beast.. sitting… beckoning to me! Keys were on the Dash so I went straight for it! And I don’t regret it. This was one of the cars that I would of bought for myself had I not gotten the truck. I would of been super happy had I done so to, the car was fantastic!

Now my next rental will probably be in LA the day I fly down to Brisbane as I will probably do a bit of touring LAX and stuff. Who knows. But what will it bring, dunno. But either way I know I need to keep up this National status!