FUELING ANGER

My airport car-rental nightmare

Dear John: Last year, as part of a vacation of a lifetime, we rented a car from Avis in Skagway, Alaska.

The Corolla was shoed in lowprofile tires that are notorious for going flat on anything but billiard-smooth roads, and Avis knew I had the car for 10 days and was dropping it off in Fairbanks.

The worst driving was the first day along the AlCan Highway, which had 10 to 20 miles of unpaved sections where large gravel was used for roadbed.

So by the time we got to Homer, Alaska, I had blown a tire due to gravel. At that point, Avis informed me that the cost of flying a matching tire to me was on my dime.

I blasted them and said it was impossible to not drive on gravel roads in the Yukon and that they were in the wrong for renting me a car with low-profile tires.

[Their responses were] sheepish, [and] all I ended up paying was about $7 to have the new tire mounted after I picked it up at the airport.

Ya gotta fight ’ em for every dime! M.M.

Dear M.M.: Now I know why I’ve never been to Alaska. Keep on sledding.

Dear John: I just finished reading [about rental-car gas charges] from a reader identified as J.B.

Well, I looked up the fuel tank capacity of the Dodge Grand Caravan [the model J.B. rented]. It is 20 gallons, not 170 as J.B. had stated.

Most every make and model holds an extra 2 gallons to get you to the nearest gas station. In J.B.’s case, the Grand Caravan held an extra 3.5 gallons with the fuel gauge sitting on empty.

John I read your column every Sunday. Keep up the good work that you do.

You, along with Pete Townshend of the Who, and Don Shula of Miami Dolphin fame, are my three favorite people I have never met. P.R. Dear P.R.: Wait a minute! Townshend and Shula — and me? Stop drinking right now.

And thanks for the information about rental cars, too.

Dear John: Years ago, I had the same problem with Avis.

I prepaid for 25 gallons, and once when I had to fill up, it only took 22.5. When I got back to the agency, I explained [this] to the attendant. The manager came, and didn’t believe me.

I had to go to the owner’s manual and look for fluid levels. There in black and white, the gas capacity was 23 gallons. He gave me a free rental for the next time. D.V.

Dear D.V.: I’m renting a car later today, and I will certainly check the fuel levels in the manual. And so should everyone else.

Dear John: I just read your article where a renter had fueling problems with a rental car. I rent a lot, and the scenario described is not legitimate.

I checked the contract to be sure. If they did get the Fuel Service Option, the number of gallons charged is set by the Department of Transportation. The government fuel tank amount is automatically put in the system for rental companies when the vehicle is put into inventory by its VIN.

I don’t know what ax the renter has to grind, but his story is incorrect. J.S.

Dear J.S. Thanks for the information. That’s one person on the side of the car rental companies.