Renting a Jeep in O'ahu?

[My_name_is_Rob]

Hey guys, just wondering if anybody has rented a jeep on Oahu, and has any suggestions or comments on what company to use.

A group of us are going to be spending a couple weeks there in January, and I am thinking a jeep would be the ideal island touring vehicle. A google search turned up a wide assortment of rental companies that have them, but any personal experience would be awesome. :burnout:

[89coupe]

Enterprise usually has the best prices.

Book in advance and get a big discount.

[taemo]

+1 with enterprise but me I just go with the cheapest one on expedia.

other than that I wouldn't recommend driving a jeep in Oahu, most if not all the roads that you'll be driving is paved unless you are looking for an open top vehicle?

[revelations]

Dont bother with jeep, just get a convertible anything. Make sure you have a hat.

[shadowz]

Just go back from Oahu, rented a Jeep, it was an extra $25 per day over my initial booking for a full size for 7 days $150. Totally not worth it

[My_name_is_Rob]

Well, I was mainly going for a jeep over a regular vert, because I like the removable doors and roof option. And from what I could tell it was about the same price as a convertible, but a little bit more accommodating for 4 people.

I'll check out enterprise and Expedia, and see what I can find. $25 a day extra seems a little ridiculous over a midsize rental though. Appreciate the advice, cheers fella's. :thumbsup:

[msommers]

Check Priceline. And Oahu you definitely don't need a jeep. Actually a considerable amount of Hawaii you don't need 4x4.

[tch7]

Discount Hawaii Car Rental had the cheapest advertised rates I could find and it gets lots of recommendations. They are just an agency that hooks you up with Enterprise, Avis, and the other typical names. I booked early with them to be safe, but later cancelled since I ultimately got better deals through Priceline closer to my departure.

The only way I'd recommend the Jeep is if it were cheaper than the midsize...

[Jonrox]

I'm thinking a lot of people have a romanticized view of traveling in Hawaii that they get from movies and TV, so think they should have a jeep to tour around in to get to all the supposed "hard to reach spots". But it's not some rustic, third-world jungle country - they've got great roads.

Seeing someone driving around in a jeep is probably one of the ways locals spot the tourists.

[revelations]

Driving round the backside of Ohau in a covertible made me feel a bit like Magnum P.I. .... but with a convertible Camaro and not porn stache .... prob drove by the house too. :poosie:

[CapnCrunch]

Originally posted by Jonrox
I'm thinking a lot of people have a romanticized view of traveling in Hawaii that they get from movies and TV, so think they should have a jeep to tour around in to get to all the supposed "hard to reach spots". But it's not some rustic, third-world jungle country - they've got great roads.

Seeing someone driving around in a jeep is probably one of the ways locals spot the tourists.

Totally. You're better off driving a lowered car instead of a Jeep lol. Plus they're super easy to break into and there's nowhere to hide your luggage/valuables if you go to the beach. Vehicle break-ins are an epidemic there, and driving a Jeep (or Mustang convertible) screams "gullible tourist that left his wallet in the car".

[taemo]

yup, especially convertibles, it's the easiest way to spot a tourist in oahu.
lots of traffic in honolulu/waikiki too so i would rather get something easy on the gas and has AC.

[Mitsu3000gt]

Don't bother with a Jeep or Convertible, you will want A/C. If you need to get to some trailheads on less developed roads, just get a small SUV instead.

Tourist car theft there is pretty high, so best to get something less conspicuous anyway IMO.

Jeeps are also loud, uncomfortable, and unsafe. The novelty wears off almost immediately. Just not a pleasant place to be most of the time IMO.

Midsize or Standard cars have been the cheapest for me on every island, around $15/day except for Maui where most things cost more because it's Maui.

[clem24]

Haha I am with Mitsu... It's so hot and humid there that I usually couldn't wait to jump into my car and crank the A/C to draw out the humidity. And yeah if you spend a lot of time in Honolulu, especially Waikiki, you'll want as small a car as possible. Our last rental place in Waikiki, it was a total pain to park our minivan (didn't have a choice, needed 7 seats) in the 5th floor of a tiny, tiny, tiny parkade.

And as stated before, NOTHING can touch http://discounthawaiicarrental.com/

And don't forgot you're forbidden by your rental agreement from going off-road...

[My_name_is_Rob]

Lots of different information here, but It looks like the general idea is to skip the jeep.

We will have a condo, so no valuables will be left in the vehicle. But that is valuable information, thank you.
Also, probably wont be spending tons of time in Honolulu, maybe a day. But a smaller vehicle is always nice for mobility.
And the heat and humidity will be a welcome relief. if we don't end up renting something with a removable roof, the preferred method of cooling while crusiing, is with the windows down. Not to mention AC robs valuable horsepower. =P

Ideally I would expect to never have to leave the road, even in a jeep, but I'm not sure a base model four door sedan will be a very 'fun' ride. Could rent a cadillac i suppose, but then it's not really a small car either. Although not a whole lot of time will be spent in the vehicle anyways.

But i appreciate the ideas guys. :thumbsup:

[benyl]

Don't waste money on a nice rental in Oahu. There is so much traffic that you will be barely moving no matter where you go on the Island.

Just priceline a full size car. I never paid more than $12 / day.

You are at sea level, the A/C robbing power is inconsequential to the power you lose when you come up to Calgary.

[Mitsu3000gt]

Haha opening car windows in Hawaii doesn't do much to cool you down! Not that I'm complaining, I love the heat, but trust me you'll be using that A/C :D.

[benyl]

yup, humid as fuck. It is in the middle of the pacific after all. As soon as you are 5 miles from the ocean, it gets super hot. You sweat just breathing.

All this talk of Hawaii has me wanting to book a flight.

[taemo]

booked Oahu and Kaui for June/July:thumbsup:
will be hot for sure on those months but Hawaii doesn't get as hot as hell than the Philippines but AC is always nice.

if you are mainly staying up on the Windward/North Shore side of the island, I could see driving a convertible or jeep, the wettest side of the island and lots of breeze from the sea plus not a lot of traffic.

but if you are in Honolulu/Waikiki then don't bother.
although it was a fun experience driving top down in Kalakaua Ave at night

OP, I'm guessing you are staying in Kaneohe or Kailua?

[clem24]

Originally posted by My_name_is_Rob
Ideally I would expect to never have to leave the road, even in a jeep, but I'm not sure a base model four door sedan will be a very 'fun' ride. Could rent a cadillac i suppose, but then it's not really a small car either. Although not a whole lot of time will be spent in the vehicle anyways.

Unless you're going offroad, I don't see what's so 'fun' about a Jeep? They're loud, they handle like shit, they're slow... Could go on and on. First time I went I rented a Mazda6 and THAT is a fun car. Second time had a Santa Fe (brought the kids) and that was MEH. Third time had the Caravan. Was decent but then I wished I had something different when I drove Tantalus Drive.

http://goo.gl/maps/Vi1yn

[deee_wreck]

been to hawaii several time, and i booked using COSTCOTRAVEL

I'd skip on the jeep, just get something that has a sunroof.

Last time i had a chevy cruz with sunroof, its descent on gas, small and easy to park, and can zip around if you need to.

:thumbsup:

[bjstare]

On Oahu, not worth it to get a Jeep. It can open up more territory/tons of beaches on the big island if you have a 4x4, but if you aren't going there, just get a car.

Also, I guess it's just preference, but last time I was in Hawaii I did a short trip over to Maui (2 nights) and rented a mustang vert - loved it. I'm used to driving jap cars and big trucks, so it was a nice change and a new experience. And really, you're going to Hawaii, an extra $25/day is peanuts; it's not exactly the cheapest place to go. What's another couple hundred bucks (assuming 8 night vacay) to get a car you enjoy?

Just my 2c