We Rented a Ford Edge "or Similar." Guess What We Got?

Rainbow, Bishop California. About to drive up to 9200 feet elevation in our "Similar."

I took this as an awesome sign on the day we were spreading my parents ashes. 

On a previous trip this summer, we headed to Michigan to visit some family, and rented a Toyota Camry "OR SIMILAR" and ended up with a RAM 1500 full size truck! Keeping that theme in mind, and still wondering who makes a car named "SIMILAR," our latest trip was to California. We reserved a "Ford Edge or similar" to haul 4 of us around, from Los Angeles out to the eastern Sierra mountains, and over to Sequioa National Park. Guess what we got?

Cool billboard near Edwards Air Force Base.

HINT #1: It wasn't a Ford Edge; therefore, it was the proverbial "or similar." This time it wasn't a Ram pickup either! (There, that should narrow it down a bit!)

Seats 4 people with luggage

HINT #2: It is a very popular vehicle, one of the top 10 sellers in the USA. Since it wasn't a truck, that eliminates the Ford, Chevy, GMC, Dodge and Toyota Tacoma trucks, so that narrows it down to maybe 5 out of the top 10 sellers. How many hints do you need?

Here's all the relatives that met up on this trip. They all did NOT fit in our rental. 

BONUS HINT #2A: It's NOT a Tesla, which is also in the top 10, so now I've got you down to only 4 vehicles! You're welcome!

Panoramic shot. Which one of these cars was ours?

HINT #3: Pick one: Toyota RAV 4, Toyota Camry, Jeep Grand Cherokee, or Honda CR-V. 

If you don't believe me on the top ten selling vehicles, here's my source: CNBC ARTICLE

In the Owens Valley we visited the Manzanar Historic Site, where 10,000 Japanese Americans were held during WWII. 

HINT#4: OK, it was a Toyota RAV 4. 

Toyota RAV 4 at Sequoia National Park. Nice sunlight in the afternoon and GIANT trees! Seriously, Toyota, you can use this photo in an ad!

It held all 4 of our family members, and our suitcases, and kept us on the road around Southern California. It survived Los Angeles freeways, up and down to 9,200 feet in the Sierras, as well as say 7,000 feet in Sequoia National Park. Brian and I both drove on this trip, and we agree that the radar cruise control on ANY car is not worth it, but other than that the Rav4 was OK. Not my favorite car, and it felt pretty average, but with the reliability of Toyota in general, well, I guess that's why people buy them. 

Julie and Katie HIGHLY recommend you visit Yosemite, Kings Canyon, and Sequioa National Parks. Holy crap these trees are HUGE. Plus, the driving up to 7,000 or more feet is AWESOME with a capital "A."

Mostly we learned that when a rental car place offers you model X "OR SIMLAR" we keep ending up with "or similar." Oh, and if you really want to drive some awesome roads, head out to California and check out the Owens Valley and the Sierras, the Kern River valley, and Sequioa National Park. Lots of great scenery, and especially in the park you will be on some awesome 2 lane very slow roads in an awesome landscape. LA traffic, not so exciting! Maybe you should do like my brother and fly into Las Vegas and drive from there! He was going to go thru Death Valley, but the recent storm closed all the roads!

Brian and Julie in Vegas. We did NOT win millions of dollars and buy matching Ferraris. Yet.