Car Shortage In Manhattan?
Close your eyes and try to imagine your perfect Independence Day getaway. Perhaps you wake up at the crack of dawn, pack your friends into a shiny, new rental car and head off to [the Hamptons] to spend a spectacular 4th of July relaxing on the beach. Or maybe you decide to rent a minivan and drive your family out to your cousins place on the New Jersey Shore for a holiday barbecue and fireworks display. Well, we hate to be the ones to tell you, but unless you booked a rental car weeks ago, youre pretty much out of luck, thanks to a [rental car shortage](http://www.nysun.com/article/57086) currently plaguing Manhattan.
Industry insiders say the demand for rental cars is expected to reach an all-time high this summer, leaving throngs of car-less New Yorkers reliant on rentals for weekend getaways in a bit of a jam. Auto rental consultant Neil Abrams told the New York Sun that rental companies are reluctant to increase their fleet sizes because of high real estate costs and car prices. As a result, customers should expect already sky-high rental rates to continue to rise. Car fleets are not growing relative to demand, Abrams said. There aren't enough cars in Manhattan to accommodate all of the rental customers for summer weekends. Take that, Bloomberg! At least theres one person in the city who believes Manhattan needs more cars.
According to the Sun, renting a sedan in Manhattan will currently set you back up to $255 a day during the weekend, with rates jumping to almost $320 if youre a renter under 25. Thankfully, as always, there are some deals to be found. The paper reports that BSTB Rental, in Williamsburg, will rent you one of two worn-out Ford Escorts for $50, while [CC Rental], behind the Port Authority Bus Terminal, will give you a Ford Taurus for $79 a day. Loyal customers warn the cars may smell like vomit, but hey, a deals a deal.