Sports car hire in New Zealand

[Tizer]

I’m spending a few days out around on New Zealand’s South Island next month and would, if possible, hire a sports car for part of the trip.

We start in Christchurch, and spend the next four days driving around before finishing up in Queenstown.

I’ve had a look on the internet and am having difficulty finding a car hire company that will give me a decent selection of sports cars. One offers a BMW Z4 which is the best bet so far.

Help appreciated.

[Omerta]

Have a look back through this forum - there was a fairly lengthy discussion with names of companies. Something like 4-6 months ago maybe.

[vtgts300kw]

company out of christchurch that hires out Porsches.

[cheddar]

There is a dearth of tasty rentals in the South Island, so much so that one of my friends is starting his own sports car rental business.

Even the likes of 'Affinity Rentals' are tosh. They say:
"We specialise in superior vehicle rentals"-
They have:
A 10 year old auto MR2. 10 year old four pot SLK. 5 year old 320BMW for $150 per day plus 50 cents per km once you're over 100km. They're all utter rubbish.

MX5's are available but they're old too and you can't do a one way.

The Porsche rental company (Porschtige)was so mind numbingly expensive that no-one would use them and they went bust. They were all autos and IIRC they cost about $2000 per day once you factored in mileage allowances etc.

I'm always looking for something a little spicy to rent and the best I come up with is nearly always through Hertz.

My advice?
Get yourself a Falcon XR6 from Hertz, it's a real taste of 'down under' and they're actually rather good (260bhp, 6 speed tippy, rear drive, wafty, comfy, fun to hustle, very Kiwi and cheap to rent.)

Best of all it should only cost about 40 pounds a day all up with unlimited kms (it's about 500 to Q'town fro C/church) and as it sounds like you're doing a one way rental that'll work too.

[Jem Thompson]

cheddar said:

My advice?
Get yourself a Falcon XR6 from Hertz, it's a real taste of 'down under' and they're actually rather good (260bhp, 6 speed tippy, rear drive, wafty, comfy, fun to hustle, very Kiwi and cheap to rent.)

Best of all it should only cost about 40 pounds a day all up with unlimited kms (it's about 500 to Q'town fro C/church) and as it sounds like you're doing a one way rental that'll work too.

That is a good idea. But be careful, because if you book a vehicle from the 'Full Size' class, it is possible you could landed with a Toyota Aurion. Similar power, but front drive, and certainly not special. Make a note to get an XR6 (or Commodore SV6, the Holden equivalent) and you should be fine. Have fun

[cheddar]

Jem Thompson said:

cheddar said:

My advice?
Get yourself a Falcon XR6 from Hertz, it's a real taste of 'down under' and they're actually rather good (260bhp, 6 speed tippy, rear drive, wafty, comfy, fun to hustle, very Kiwi and cheap to rent.)

Best of all it should only cost about 40 pounds a day all up with unlimited kms (it's about 500 to Q'town fro C/church) and as it sounds like you're doing a one way rental that'll work too.

That is a good idea. But be careful, because if you book a vehicle from the 'Full Size' class, it is possible you could landed with a Toyota Aurion. Similar power, but front drive, and certainly not special. Make a note to get an XR6 (or Commodore SV6, the Holden equivalent) and you should be fine. Have fun

Good call Jem.
I rented an Aurion last month, drawn by the promise of 200kws (270bhp) I thought it might be a more refined Falcon. The reality was the automotive equivalent of mild cheese.
Make sure you ask for that Falcon.

[Omerta]

cheddar said:

cheese

[Atom Johnny]

Yep, Sports Car hire in New Zealand is pretty grim. Read 'em and weep....

http://www.classiccarhireworld.com/contentok.php?i...

[RobDickinson]

Would an MX5 be enough? Theres a cheap hire place in chch that has one, no idea on cost can prolly find out the name, drive past it most mornings.

[D1GGY]

I would go with the fore mentioned XR6/SV6 option....

My SV6 goes lovely

[sjg]

RobDickinson said:

Would an MX5 be enough? Theres a cheap hire place in chch that has one, no idea on cost can prolly find out the name, drive past it most mornings.

DriveNZ - gold mk2, down by the airport? I rented that last May, was about $500 for 8 days. http://www.drivenz.co.nz/

The car was in good nick, only a 1.6 but more fun than the usual rental saloons. They don't do one-way rentals though.

[RobDickinson]

No this is a red one on tuam st in town, Wheels rent a car, http://www.newzealandrentalcar.co.nz/ tho its not on their websit its on the lot.

[cheddar]

My friend has just purchaesd a Mini Cooper and an MX5 (both manual) for rental purposes. He plans to add an Alfa 156 V6 and an Alfa GTV (again, both manual) in the near future. The Mini is $99 per per day. If you'd like contact details then let me know.

[CRM]

Just been through this exercise for Chch based firms. Thought would share.

Bentley Turbo R, Porsche 911, E Type, MGA
http://www.christchurchclassiccars.co.nz/
Porsche 911, TR6, MGB, Sprite, Daimler
http://www.classiccarexperience.co.nz/
MRS, SLK, Volvo C70
http://www.eurocarrental.co.nz/rentalcars.html
MX-5
http://www.mx5rentals.co.nz/
MX-5
http://www.fabcars.co.nz/
MX-5
http://www.drivenz.co.nz/
VW Beetle Convertible
http://www.rentaffinity.co.nz/