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-   -   Self-driven Car Rentals - Push Tours and Travels (Goa) (https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/other-cities/148507-self-driven-car-rentals-push-tours-travels-goa.html)

I took a rental car from Push tours and travels in Goa. I used a legal self drive black and yellow board Santro for 5 days. I am giving my feedback below - My overall feedback is "satisfactory".

This review is compiled with inputs from Goan BHPian Richie4u.

Where: Push tours and Travels - Madgaon (will deliver car to most tourist locations)

Website: www.carrentgoa.com

Pricing at a glance: (price per day) (this is as of March 1st 2014 - please add couple of 100s as time progresses)

1. Private (white board) Nano/Santro/Alto/Wagon R - 800 per day
2. Legal Black and Yellow Self Drive board: Santro/Alto/Wagon R - 1000/-
3. Diesel Ritz/Beat/Vista - 1200
4. Swift - 1300/-
5. Dzire - 1500/-
6. Scorpio/Tavera/Xylo/Thar - 1800/-
7. Innova - 2000/-
8. XUV 5OO -2500/-
9. Mercedes C200 - 15,000/-
10. BMW - 20,000/-

I am not sure if the Swift/Dzire/Innova/Merc/BMW are diesel or petrol

Terms:

• One day rental in advance to be deposit in thier bank acount to confirm booking
• On the day of using the car, remaining days of usage charges + 5000/- advance + orignal Pan card to be handed over
• Advance + Pancard / passport surrendered on handing over key back.
• Fuel to be at the same level as when delivered
• upto 8:00 am is considered as one day, irrespective of when the vehicle is taken
• Max 150 kms per day allowed. Extra kms @ 10/- per km for Santro. (150 kms a day is more than sufficient in goa as per my experience)

What I liked:

• Professional setup
• Clean and neat cars
• Was exactly on time for drop off and delivery
• Own everything from Nano to BMW/Mercedes
• very reasonable rates (My hotel tiara hideaway saligao quoted 1200/- for private white board santro)
• They have a website with current tariff mentioned
• 2013 model Santro was given. (New models compared to other operators)
• Car had spare wheel with tools and hazard reflector
• All electrics were working
• All five tyres had air filled into them

What I Disliked:

• They Lied to me. (detailed below)
• SMS with details of driver contact number for pickup was NOT sent. (sent for drop off) I had to follow up multiple times.
• No acknowledgement of advance money deposited. It is comforting to see an SMS / email with the confirmation.
• Rs 200/- one way for dropping off at Madgaon railway station seemed costly. Their office is just 4 kms away from station. Again another 200/- to pick up. (could have been complimentary for a 5 day hiring period :D). 100/- per trip seems resaonable
• Fuel was near empty. It is much easier if the vehicle was handed over as a "tank full to tank full" method. it is easier to refuel to tank full rather than try to match the needle with the marking.

The Lie:
On tuesday, 25th Feb 2014, There was a strike/Dharna by the cabbies against OLA Cabs operating in Goa. A person from Push tours called me on Monday evening and told NOT to use the vehicle for the whole day on Tuesday as there is a Risk of damage. I was idling at the resort. At 5:30 pm on 25th Feb when i called Pushkal (owner), I was told, I could use the vehicle in the morning itself , but with care:Frustrati. I called to ask if i need to pay for Tuesday, as he/his team told NOT to use the car. I was told, i am the first person complaining about this. He denied anyone calling and intimating me NOT to use the car. As a tourist in Goa, i would obviously go out IF i had not received the call. I felt bad at this and adding fuel to the fire, he charged me for that day too. It is to be noted that many other self driven operators too kept their cars off the road.

General advantages of a Self-Drive Rental Car

• Flexibility to use at one's will
• no 8 hrs-80 kms package
• no need to face attitude of drivers
• Car at door step for those who travel by train/bus from base location, but need a vehicle at the tourist location
• Helpful if spouse does NOT allow long drives or prefers train/air
• No need to worry about Air or fluid level/maintenance for the non automobile savvy class.
• Save on Driver Bata/Tips/Lunch for driver etc
• Explore on your own will without any time constraint at yor own pace and in the order you would like to visit
• Makes one drive reponsibly for the fear of damage (I noticed many people "yield" to vehicles. Rarest sight in india)
• Option to drive a diferent model car than what you own. A swift owner can hire a Scorpio, just for experience of driving an SUV.
• Cheaper than a Chauffer driven car package like 8hrs-80km / 4hrs 40km.

General Demerits of a Self-Drive Rental Car

• Might miss some comforts like Remote locking, Woofer etc.
• My car did not have a power output for mobile phone charging(my iphone using GPS ran out of battery)
• Chances are you might get a basic model for the economy range of cars
• Limited to 150 kms per day (psychological factor, even though its suficient)
• Pain in the neck to navigate if one does NOT have a GPS.

Other Good to know points on Self Drive Cars in Goa:

• Goa is well planned and sufficient sign boards are there. Feel free to use a rental car.
• Smart phone + Google maps GPS can take you anywhere in Goa to all tourist locations. I used iphone 5S + Gmaps and it was more than sufficient.
• 3G or edge is available everywhere so you always can make a call/check GPS.
• People are helpful & almost everyone speak Hindi and English. Ask them "how to go" and they are more than happy to help.
• Parking is ample and abundant at most places except Dona Paula and Calangute beaches.
• Traffic sense is much better than say mumbai and chennai but be careful of the always impatient bikers

If you need more info - please PM me and i will provide any information

House No.E-20, St Joaquim Road, Beside Raj Medical Store, Near Madras Auto Showroom, Borda, Margao, Goa, 403602, St Joaquim Rd, Moti Dongor Slums, Margao, GA 403601

09822150384

I have rented a self drive car (Innova class) from Push travels in Goa mid-Nov'15 by Myles. The incompetencies and non-professionalism of Myles are described in their own review thread: http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/street...ml#post3849182 However since my interaction was with this partner, I think I'll post a quick word about them here.

I don't know who was at fault but they denied knowledge of any prior booking intimation from Myles (later they said it came just sometime ago) when I called them at designated pick-up time. They finally sent a private Innova (whiteboard, so we were taught the owner's name to tell as a friend if questioned by cops) 2 hours late, and the car quality was pathetic. It already had 1.63L Km on ODO, every door shakes, defect lights (T-BELT) on dash was on, with every crank it shakes violently. They also charged us 500/- for dropping it to Cavelossim (however kms/fuel will start from travels office, that's understandable). There's no way anyone should pay 3000/- daily (this rate was for Myles) for that junk, but rejecting it would have compromised our agenda (already 2 hrs late) so we accepted it. With no confidence on the brakes or overall health of the car we tried to change the same next day, and they advised to visit their office which we did after lunch. They brought in another private Innova which we rejected because it was not possible to use seat-belts in the 2nd row (they looked at us like we're aliens) because of poorly planned seatcovers. After a LOT of negotiations, they agreed to part with a XUV5OO by cancelling some booking it had already later in the day. Even with 42K on ODO, the machine was in a sorry state and my guess is it's never been serviced. The remote locking buttons in the key fob was intentionally damaged, as well the 12v power outlet. However the car didn't give any trouble for next a few days and they picked it up in due time after asking for more money for fuel and imaginary scratches which I refused to pay.

Terms:

Already covered above; however even if Myles promises unlimited mileage they still enforce 150 kms per day rule.

Like:

Not too many things, but they were always nice and polite, and at least came to pick the car on time. The first car was exchanged to an upgrade (Innova -> XUV) at no extra charge (but had to negotiate hard).

Dislike:

Sent an absolute piece of junk (2006? car's been re-registered) with 1.63L KM, and full of defects. Had to return next day by visiting their office and pursued them hard to give a replacement (because of non-availability of a good quality Innova, they were forced to give a XUV). Lost a few hours in the detour.

They deliver the car running on fumes, so first thing you search on a holiday is nearest bunk. I filled the Innova with more than a day's fuel, and in the exchange process lost that. They verbally said I can return the XUV with 1 point less fuel to adjust it, but during the pickup demanded 150/- as fuel charge which I had to firmly deny (whoever promised so wasn't present in office).

They try to point to existing scratches (which I was aware of, thanks to another thread here) so I took photos of all sides of the car in phone, and when I said that they didn't pursue. However even though they stress on the outside scratches, there are too many defects inside which they ignore.

Overall:

If you can ensure the car's health (for which you better visit their office and pick up), they may be worth trying.