Have you ever been annoyed by the rental car you received on your travels? The rental company's website presents you with glossy photos of various premium cars, only to end up with some Hyundai or similar. If you're tired of playing the lottery at the rental car counter, we recommend Silvercar. Here, you can be absolutely sure of the type of rental car you're getting—a silver Audi A4.
Our experience with Silvercar at Chicago Airport
Silvercar (Official website) is currently available at the following locations: Austin – AUS, Chicago – ORD, Dallas – Love, Dallas – DFW, Denver – DEN, Ft. Lauderdale – FLL, Las Vegas – LAS, Los Angeles – LAX, Miami – MIA, New York City – Manhattan, Phoenix – PHX, San Francisco – SFO.
We rented our first Audi A4 at Chicago Airport. Upon arrival at the airport, we received directions via the Silvercar iPhone app on the fastest way to the pick-up point (Hotel Shuttle Pick-up Zone, behind the Hilton Hotel). We then requested the driver via text message (call is also possible). To save on roaming charges, it would be nice if this were also possible via email or internet message.
After just five minutes of waiting, a silver Audi turned into the street, and we were picked up by a friendly employee. On the drive to the depot, he explained the Silvercar philosophy and the extensive features of the Audi. These are identical in all vehicles. Highlights include the 2.0 TFSI (220 hp) Quattro engine, Milano leather seats, MMI Navigation Plus, Audi Connect (free 4G Wi-Fi hotspot and online services), SIRIUS satellite radio, S-Line interior, glass sunroof, and xenon headlights.
After about 10 minutes, we arrived at the Silvercar rental station. Several Audis were already parked in front of the inconspicuous hall, ready to depart. Inside the hall, there are up to 75 silver vehicles, each one being meticulously prepared for their next trips.
Theoretically, you could pick any Audi A4. But we opted for the first one in the row. They're all equipped the same anyway, differing only in mileage. After scanning the QR code on the windshield with the Silvercar iPhone app and accepting a few terms and conditions regarding the rental agreement, I was able to unlock the Audi using the app. The key was in the car, ready to go.
Driving an Audi in the USA is a fantastic feeling. The 220 hp and all-wheel drive gave us a lot of fun when kicking down at stoplights. Only the sometimes terrible road conditions around Chicago slowed us down. The two best features of the rental car were the satellite radio (NO commercials – just music) and the onboard Wi-Fi. The Wi-Fi connection, in particular, was always stable and sufficiently fast. This allowed us to make FaceTime calls from the Audi without any problems. This saved us expensive roaming charges!
Even the best three days of vacation come to an end, and it was time to return the rental car. To return it, we drove back to the Silvercar depot. The address was already saved as a favorite in our navigation system. Since we were flying back to Europe, I quickly switched to the passenger seat and an employee drove us in an Audi to Terminal 5 at Chicago O'Hare Airport. This saved us the trouble of reloading our luggage several times. Great service!
If you would like to test Silvercar yourself, please contact us via the following Website If you enter the “Referral Code” CHEINZ you and I will get 25 USD back after your first rental.
Pingback: What attractions in San Francisco (short trip)?