The short answer is yes, it is possible, but for a much smaller window of options.

Turo: The Good

Actually renting for fun cars on Turo has some real benefits. Relatively good selection, especially if you're near a major city. For example, Manchester, NH has better options than in Boston, MA. The selection is about the same, but the prices are significantly lower in Manchester.

The Reality of Turo Rentals

Turo operators have no incentive to provide the cars as fully functional. They don't even have to tell you ahead of time if the check engine light is on. Perhaps in the Turo terms and services they are listed as a requirement, but who knows. By the time you get your schedule fitted, you'll just drive it anyways. The renters know this, and have factored in some bad ratings as the cost of doing business. The author rented a Porsche Cayenne Turbo, which started with a check engine light on. Document it, send it to the owner, and move on. I snapped some pictures of the condition and the check engine light, posted it on the turo app, and drove it away to my next meeting. It then became obvious it had a valve cover gasket leak, it was literally smoking. Once the oil burned off it was fine. They owners will not tell you this before you commit. Based on visual inspection it had been like that for months. Honestly its fine, and kind of a relief. I feel much more comfortable driving something slightly less than perfect.

Booking Challenges

It's like AirBnb - they are supposed to update the availability but sometimes they do not. On Turo the author has setup reservations all the way through payment, then they are immediately cancelled by the vehicle owner. The reason was the vehicle had a flat tire that morning. Whether that actually happened or not is impossible to tell. Another example is a 2017 Macan that the author rented on Turo in Raleigh. It was supposed to be just a weekend of fun for a few hundred dollars. Got everything setup, paid for it, and then there was a message from the vehicle owner saying a turbo actuator was on. They gave me a heads up and said the 'sport mode will lag'. The whole idea here was 'sport mode', so that was almost a giant waste of time and the reservation was cancelled. On the other hand, it is possible to get a good turo experience, and it is objectively cheaper for certain models, with better selection than the car rental companies.

Important Tips

The only thing you really need to do is: before you get in the vehicle, take pictures. Take pictures of everything, take a video of it for a backup. You don't need all the extra insurance and add-ons that Turo tries to scam you with. What you do need is proof of the condition before you commit to driving it. Decide ahead of time right now that you will drop the vehicle and just go rent a cheap-o from hertz if it has any symptoms.

High-End Rentals

This is not so much a concern at the high-end. These cars are expensive to maintain, and their value is usually portrayed as status and luxury, not for performance. With that said, the interior and exterior are usually in 20-foot flawless condition. They are just not as fun though. Sure, the first hour or so is great, but then you'll need a break. You want the subtle joy of living with the vehicle for about 2.5 months, not the burden of soaking it all up as fast as possible before your rental expires.

Conclusion

Turo is a net-positive experience for most people, the author included. It fills a niche, but it's not fun enough. You can read more about open wheel race rentals, or direct from the factory porsche rentals for some other options. Go back to the guide below for more details on how to use auction sites for even more fun!

Back to Step 1: Define What is Fun

Where Are You In The Process?

You Are Here:

Step 1: Define What is Fun for You

What is your combination of cost, availability, and repair requirements?
Can you handle flood damage? Missing panels? Non-starting vehicles?
Decide on acceptable panel gaps, paint imperfections, and fit misalignments
Consider fees, delivery, bid amount, parts, taxes, and registration
Set your max bid early and don't monitor the auction
Post sale negotiation, and actually pay for the vehicle.
Can be as soon as next day after auction
Title Transfer, Registration and Inspection.
Complete any legal requirements to get your car on the road
10 Days to make the first keep or sell decision.
Re-market, sell for parts, or scrap.

Find where you are in the car buying journey and click any step above to learn more. Each step includes specific examples and lessons learned from real purchases. See all articles for more information.

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