Rental car smoking

[TreySC]

I feel like this has been discussed before, but I couldn't find anything on it. I'm going to have solo 12 hour drive Saturday and a few stogies feel like a great to help pass the time. Any tips, tricks, or products that will keep the smell to minimum for when I return the car?

[Nature]

I don't think I would risk it. Those rental car smoking penalties can be steep. Seems like whenever I smoke in my car, with all of the windows down and holding the cigar near the window, I think I'm good. The next time I get in, especially if it has sat in the sun, it still smells like cigars.


I have used Zep Smoke Odor Eliminator (http://www.zepcommercial.com/product/Smoke-Odor-Eliminator) with pretty good results, but it still smells like you are trying to cover something up for awhile afterward.

[Emperor Zurg]

Seems like whenever I smoke in my car, with all of the windows down and holding the cigar near the window, I think I'm good. The next time I get in, especially if it has sat in the sun, it still smells like cigars.

Same here. Nothing seems to be able to combat cigar smoke. I've smoked a cigar or two in the shop truck (vinyl seat and floor mat and metal everything else - no fabric or headliner) with all the windows down. Walking by the truck, sitting in the shop the next day I smell obvious cigar smoke.

[TreySC]

you may be right Nature I just thought I had seen something before about this and there was some success. May have been at the old place. Maybe I'll just bring a few small ones and find a rest stop about half way to stretch my legs a bit.

[FidelCastro]

Unless you have an extra $250 for the penalty it's hard to disguise the aroma. I rent cars all the time and one needs at least a few days to mask the scent.

[droy1958]

you may be right Nature I just thought I had seen something before about this and there was some success. May have been at the old place. Maybe I'll just bring a few small ones and find a rest stop about half way to stretch my legs a bit.

Just hide the vehicle and tell them it was stolen. What could be more simple?.....

[projectsunfire]

I would definitely not take the risk. A few years ago when I still smoked cigs I took a non-smoking co-workers company car for the week he was on vacation. I only smoked a few times in the car during the week and made sure I did not at all for the last few days. Then a got the interior detailed. When he got it back he immediately said WTF you smoked in my car? I would think that cigar smoke would be far worse to cover up.

[Tombstone]

Once you pop a cars cigar cherry its done. You can try to mask it but to the non Botl or Sotl they will know in a second. Not a tactic I would try but I heard Cigar Coop interview a guy who had a suggestion. Get the car then go back to the rental desk and complain of smoke smell right away. When you return it with a new aroma its already documented that it smelled. If they call bs on it your stuck with the bill. Can't you rent a Harley or something?

[TreySC]

I guess you guys are right, not worth it. Maybe I'll stop around Knoxville for lunch you busy Saturday jhedrick83 ?

[Nature]

.... Not a tactic I would try but I heard Cigar Coop interview a guy who had a suggestion. Get the car then go back to the rental desk and complain of smoke smell right away. When you return it with a new aroma its already documented that it smelled....

Yeah, then they go back on the prior renter to try to extract the smoking fee from them. Hertz charges $400!

[jhedrick83]

I guess you guys are right, not worth it. Maybe I'll stop around Knoxville for lunch you busy Saturday jhedrick83 ?

Oh man, I'm not 100% sure but I'd say most likely not available. My son is sick, we are knee deep in boxes to unpack from our move, my wife and I have to go buy new appliances and pick out new carpet and I have to clear a bunch of brush and scrub trees by Monday for a fence installer. When are you coming back through?

[TreySC]

Oh man, I'm not 100% sure but I'd say most likely not available. My son is sick, we are knee deep in boxes to unpack from our move, my wife and I have to go buy new appliances and pick out new carpet and I have to clear a bunch of brush and scrub trees by Monday for a fence installer. When are you coming back through?

I'll be back through Monday, but I'll have a kid with me.

[Emperor Zurg]

My son is sick, we are knee deep in boxes to unpack from our move, my wife and I have to go buy new appliances and pick out new carpet and I have to clear a bunch of brush and scrub trees by Monday for a fence installer.

Sounds like you won't have time for any lunch but I'd bet you'll be ready for a stiff drink or two after supper :p :drunk:

[jhedrick83]

Sounds like you won't have time for any lunch but I'd bet you'll be ready for a stiff drink or two after supper :p :drunk:

Assuming I can find the box I put the liquor in!

[Hardheaded]

Assuming I can find the box I put the liquor in!

Sounds like an excuse to visit a new liquor store while you are out with your wife. Some wine for her and some liquor for you.

[Bruck]

I've heard that some rental car companies are putting nicotine detectors in the vehicle. So, no vaping either! Disclaimer - I don't know for sure that they're doing this now - the chemist with whom I discussed this a year or so ago said this detector was being experimented at the time. I would get some good chaw or snus :)

[Brimy]

I have to agree with most that it's not worth taking the chance. But the best odor eliminator I've used is called Ozium!

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[FidelCastro]

Maybe a convertible is the answer? If they smell cigar smoke in that kind of vehicle then blame the driver in front of you as you were caught in traffic and the smoke wafted into your rental. It could happen!

[Nature]

Maybe a convertible is the answer? If they smell cigar smoke in that kind of vehicle then blame the driver in front of you as you were caught in traffic and the smoke wafted into your rental. It could happen!

Now tats an idea! Trey, you need to go for the convertible!

[mi000ke]

Well if you do decide to take the risk, here's what I did the year I was commuting to Canada each week for work. Would fly in then rent a car and drive two hours to my destination. And I would smoke at least two cigars on the way each week, and never had a problem returning the car. The key is to figure out the most efficient air flow out of the car so that the smoke goes directly out the window and does not circulate inside. This assumes you are smoking only when driving on the highway at sufficient speed to create a negative air flow out the window. I had to experiment a little with each car, but generally you want to crack open just the driver's side window about an inch or so (enough to create a strong outflow and still have room to flip your ash out the window) and direct all of the air intake vents towards that window. And get some air freshener and spray liberally after you are done. Don't smoke in the car for a couple of days before you return it. And if you want to be a bit devious, after you first get the car, walk back to the office (don't let them come out) and tell them the car smells like smoke but that you are ok with it and will they just note it on your paperwork. While I've never done that, I did rent a car that smelled like smoke and I did ask them to note it on the paperwork (which they did) and I then proceeded to smoke in it as well. So I guess it might work. If you want to take the risk...

[FidelCastro]

The problem with doing that is when the attendant will actually walk back to the car with you and give it their own "smell test" and you stand there like Barney Fife shuffling your feet back and forth. That happened to me a couple of times but I persevered and told the attendant that my sense of smell is pretty accurate and unless they were prepared to "upgrade" me to another car ( which would have been a luxury car ) then they needed to notate on the paperwork that I was taking the rental under protest because of the smell and they were only too happy to do that. Sometimes it worked and I would get a nice luxury car upgrade or I'd get the original car with a "pass" and I'd smoke cigars the entire time I had it. Is this ethical? Nah but while I drove off in the car I said a few Hail Marys and I felt better about the whole thing. Things us cigar smokers will do to deal with our hobby!