I got a pretty good quote for 1 week in may about 30 less than Econo and Enonomy. How has your experience been with American. Any thought would be helpful.

Ive been renting from them for the past four or five years and never had a problem.

We were there last week. I had an interesting experience when they picked the car up. They immediately pulled the rear seat up (a Jeep), and said "The Jack is missing". I told them that the car was exactly as I received it. They said "did they tell you that the jack was missing when you picked it up?". I said "the car is exactly the way that it was given to me and that's the way that you're getting it back".
Then they hesitated and said, "well, actually the jack has been missing from this car for some time".
I recall in the contract that there was a $150 charge for missing jacks, along with specific charges spelled out for other tools, which I thought was strange when I signed it.
I was very firm with them when they picked up the car. My feeling is that they may be doing this with others and be asking for the money. I can't say for sure, but I've been renting cars all my life and never had this experience.
Good luck.

Are the cars run down or in good condition?

Tom,

That sounds very foul.Like someone "along the way" is going to pay for it? Glad you didn't have a flat and need the jack.

Steve