Transportation/Pick-up: The Thrifty shuttle bus pulled up just as I exited LAX, and I was immediately on my way to the Century City car lot. I headed to the Blue Chip counter to pick up a Mercedes CLK in Thrifty’s Beyond Luxury collection — a terrific test, since I was considering leasing one at home. In no time, I was out of the garage with the top down and off to Santa Monica and the Le Merigot Hotel. (28/30)

Vehicle: I had been drooling over Thrifty’s new Beyond Luxury collection, which has been introduced in Las Vegas and several Florida and California locations. I was joining an employee for a full day of meetings, covering a great deal of ground between Santa Monica and downtown LA. The car was easy to maneuver in and out of traffic — much to the chagrin of my passenger — and had sufficient power to pass and accelerate on the freeways. I also found it easy to park, a handy feature in the city. It was a hot day, so we put the top up. In typical Mercedes fashion, the AC sounded like a jet engine until it cooled the compartment. The back seat was sizable, though we dedicated it to our stockpile of presentation materials. (28/30)

Services/Amenities: These days you seldom need to rely on services and roadside assistance with a rental car. The service and selection at all rental companies has improved greatly, and airports with car rental centers have further diluted the value of premium car rental companies. The only thing the “Big Two” rental companies can give you is super-fast turnaround. Hertz is still number one, but for a better car at a lower price Thrifty has lots of options. As an entrepreneur spending my own money, that means a lot. (37/40)

The Experience: I am a Thrifty Blue Chip customer and, although there can be problems, the cars are considerably more affordable than those of Hertz and Avis. Using Thrifty allows me the privilege to move up several car classes. “Beyond Luxury” cars allow me to have fun and work in a classy car while saving a few bucks.

Total Score: (93/100)