South Island Car Rental

Hello All,
I intend to rent a car for two weeks: pick up Picton, drop-off Christchurch (preferably airport). 13-26 March. LP says
renting a car in Picton is easy and cheap if you shop around. Conventional wisdom usually dictates ii's cheaper to pre-book from overseas than last minute in the host country. I just need dependable transportation that won't kill me petrol-wise. Nothing fancy. But if it's a hassle, I lose time, and I just save peanuts for an inferior car, I'd just as soon play it safe and pre-book. Advice appreciated. Thanks.

Have a look and see what rental companies rent from Picton then pick one. If it suits, prebook. Otherwise just wing it.

Try Omega. They are one of the cheapest and you can choose to have an older car with more mileage if you want. They have places in Picton and Christchurch (Airport and city). I and several friends have used them and they are very efficient.

http://www.vroomvroomvroom.com.au/new-zealand/ is an aggregator - searches all the main car hire places for the best deals.
Omega, Apex are smaller firms with older cars.
I'd always book ahead.
Should add - the best deals I've found are with Motoring club partners (eg Thrifty through NRMA) and Airlines (Avis through Qantas FF is currently offering me the best deal on my one way South Island hire for a new car)

Thanks, guys. Helpful info!

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What is so wrong with using a local company and saving a few pennies?

Thanks for the suggestion to not be penny wise but pound foolish. However, I don't even rent from Hertz in the US. Also, from my experience, New Zealand is populated by very kind, decent and honest people. Not like some countries where a dodgy element preys on tourists and where you have to assume the worst and always be suspiciously on guard. Last time there, I rented a car in the North Island from a small local agency. (Sorry. Forgot the name.) I had pre-booked on-line from the US. But on arrival I mentioned I'd seen a cheaper rate somewhere. Though I was technically locked into the pre-booked rate, the fellow kindly dropped the price for a perfectly fine vehicle. Again,I don't even rent from Hertz in the US. Anyway, when I travel I like to buy local as much as possible. An older car in good mechanical condition that does not guzzle petrol will do. Also, automatic transmission so I don't have to shift with my left hand like I did in South Africa. Thanks for the comments/advice.

I like my manual transmission. A bit lost when I dont have anything to do with my left foot. But there are plenty of automatics around. More than manual, I'd say.
I've just done a google search about car rental from Picton and it bought up a company called Aster. I havent looked but I wonder how a totally local company's prices compare. Never heard of them (I live in Auckland) so cant recommend either way. plus I've only ever rented one car and that was for a day from Christchurch Airport.

rental companys.