The 11 Slickest Airport Rental Cars in America

We can all agree: rental cars are almost universally lame. Compact, full-sized, whatever, rarely are you driving off the lot high-fiving about your four-door Kia Rio.

But for those willing to drop a little coin (as in, $180 to $1,200 a day), the airport rental car counter is like a veritable Narnia of souped-up muscle and tricked-out luxury. You just have to know what to ask for. 

And to help you know, we tracked down the 11 coolest cars available, their average daily rates, and the airports at which you can rent them.

Flickr/Michael Roselli

Hertz Penske GT

Top speed: 185mph
Who has it:Hertz (LAX, LAS, SFO, IAD, SAN)
How much it'll cost you: $180 per day
Sure, this special Hertz version of the 2014 Ford Mustang sports a bold black-and-yellow racing stripe, but that's just the beginning; it's also been tricked out with around $4,500 worth of Ford Racing Performance upgrades. The only, unfortunate catch: they don't rent manual transmissions, so you'll have to "settle" for an automatic. Sorry dude.

Flickr/Abdullah AlBargan

Chevrolet Corvette Stingray

Top speed: 195mph
Who has it: Hertz, Enterprise (LAS, LAX, SAN)
How much it'll set you back: $250 per day
If you want a new take on an iconic American muscle car, but they're fresh outta Mustangs, this has to be your next choice. The seventh generation 'vette has a Small Block V8 that generates upwards of 450hp, and was one of TopSpeed's most hotly anticipated cars of 2014.

Flickr/Jaguar MENA

Jaguar XJL

Top speed: 155mph
Who has it: Hertz (LAX, SAN, SFO, MIA, ORD, DFW) Enterprise (SAN, LAX)
How much it'll set you back: $355 per day
If having a spacious backseat for your lady friend's twin Shih Tzus is more important to you than, say, driving a Matchbox car, the XJL's longer wheelbase is the move. Sure, the extra legroom also means extra weight, but that doesn't make the 470hp V8 under the hood any less impressive once you put your foot down... about the dogs riding in the car, of course.

Flickr/mihimaru

Tesla Model S

Top speed: 130mph
Who has it:Hertz (LAX, SFO)
How much it'll cost you: $400 per day
With a giant 17-inch touchscreen display built into the center console, five-point racing harnesses in every seat, and recessed door handles that automatically slide out as you approach the car, the Tesla S is every inch a techie/gearhead's dream. This puppy's 100% electric, so while you might miss the rumbling of a traditional engine at first, it's nothing that near-instantaneous acceleration can't fix.

FLICKR/DAVID VILLARREAL FERNANDEZ

Nissan GT-R

Top speed: 193mph
Who has it: Hertz (MIA)
How much it'll set you back: $600 per day
It's the only Japanese car on this list, but with 545hp and a 0-60mph time of less than three seconds, the GT-R is a clear frontrunner for the "too much car for your trip to the Miami Boat Show" award. Watch Paul Walker flex this thing's ample muscles in the opening race of Fast & Furious 6, then stop and realize that's somehow the least ridiculous scene in the movie.

Flickr/W_Minshull

Audi R8

Top speed: 185mph
Who has it:Enterprise (LAX, SAN, LAS)
How much it'll cost you: $900 per day
You might recognize the R8 from Iron Man, or from its ceremonial position on the Dubai police force, but this supercar's not just for show. Built around the same chassis as the Lamborghini Gallardo, and equipped with Audi's signature quattro AWD system, the R8's aggressive stance on exceeding the speed limit (and, weirdly, immigration policy) is more than justified once you get behind the wheel.

Flickr/djandyw.com

Bentley Continental GT

Top speed: 197mph
Who has it:Enterprise (LAX, SAN)
How much it'll cost you: $1,200 per day
A favorite among rappers and rich Brits, the Bentley Continental GT blends the luxury and comfort of a Rolls Royce with the power, performance, and drop-top sportiness of a Porsche. Except, of course, without the inherent douchiness of driving a Porsche.

Flickr/Winning Automotive Photography

Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG

Top speed: 197mph
Who has it:Hertz (DFW)
How much it'll cost you: $1200 per day
Who says you need to be Marty McFly to drive a sports car with sweet gull-wing doors? Sure, they're impossible to open in a packed parking lot, but with nearly 600hp at your disposal, you aren't stopping at Whole Foods anyway.

Flickr/Alexandre Prévot

Maserati GranTurismo

Top speed: 185mph
Who has it:Enterprise (ATL)
How much it'll cost you: $1,200 per day
One of the main reasons anyone drives a Maserati is the visceral, soul-shattering growl its 4.2L V8 emits when you put your foot down on a straightaway. The other is to make people not notice that you're balding, 'cause you know, they're admiring the legendary Italian styling instead.

Flickr/Cars of Berkshire

Ferrari California

Top speed: 196mph
Who has it:Hertz (MIA), Enterprise (LAX, SAN)
How much it'll cost you: $1200 per day
The California is Ferrari's first front-engine V8, and while some stringent purists might denounce its looks as somehow unbecoming of the company's storied legacy, the simple fact remains: it's a Ferrari. A nearly 500hp, convertible Ferrari. End of conversation.

Flickr/Alexandre Prévot

Lamborghini Gallardo Bicolore

Top speed: 201mph
Who has it:Hertz (MIA)
How much it'll cost you: $1,200 per day
Bicolore means "two colors" in Italian, and the dual-tone paint job here is pretty much the only thing "special" about this special edition, RWD Gallardo. Apart from that, it's pretty normal: just your average, run-of-the-mill, best-selling model of Lamborghini ever made, with 550 horses and a 3.9-sec 0-60 speed. You know, totally boring stuff.

Gianni Jaccoma is an editorial assistant for Thrillist Travel, and the coolest rental car he's ever been in was a Honda Fit. Follow him to the Lambo dealership on Twitter @gjaccoma