Rental Car Options . . . In Europe? - Page 2

Pinecone · 02-03-2007, 06:46 AM

I have had a Mondeo a couple of times in Scotland as a rental. Nice car, actually big for Europe. Basically the same car as the S Type Jaguar (IIRC, but the little Jag). Both times there more than 2 peope, so the larger car was nice. But NOT fun driving in the cities with the larger car.

As has been said, gas is expensive. Public transportation is great on the continent. I take trains.

armaq · 02-03-2007, 12:22 PM

I actually like the Euro Mondeo a lot. I think it shares platform with the Jag X type.

Don't know if the new Mondeo (as seen in Casino Royale) will be out by May, but that's a good looking car.

lupinsea · 02-03-2007, 08:54 PM

We did the train thing on our honeymoon and it was ok but it felt like we lost some opportunities to do some exploration in between cities.

When we're in Scotland we'll probably do more of the train thing and only get a car for the day or two surrounding our friends wedding rather than be at the mercy of any bus or public transportation system.

And I have the sense that when in the cities we'll leave the car parked and do transit there.

Pinecone · 02-04-2007, 06:21 PM

I am the other way around. Train on the continent, but drive around Scotland. But then again you have to drive to visit the distilleries.

ZBB · 02-05-2007, 02:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pinecone

I am the other way around. Train on the continent, but drive around Scotland. But then again you have to drive to visit the distilleries.

I agree... I had a car for a week in Scotland in '99 -- great way to get to the distilleries. I also highly recommend at least 1 night (2 would be better) on the Isle of Skye. Having a car is almost essential -- train/bus would be way to inneficient.

For the Continent, I'd also recommend taking the train, especially if you're planning on spending most of your time in the bigger cities. Parking can be a huge pain -- when we did ED, we couldn't find any parking in Aachen, Germany and ended up getting to the hotel so late that they had given away our reserved room

There are a few places where a car is good -- like the Rhein gorge or Mosel river valley that you'd want to be able to drive and stop along the way for an hour here or 10 minutes there, etc. But if you're planning on being in the city, just use public transport and trains in between -- much less headache.

As for cars, most rental cars in Europe are now Diesel -- so it helps a bit with the gas price. We had a POS Fiat something or other 18 months ago in Italy -- and got over 40 MPG during the week we had the car. Had it been petrol instead, we would have spent much more on gas...

lupinsea · 02-05-2007, 04:37 PM

We're probably going to be out of the major cities and instead would prefer the smaller, more out-of-the-way stops. And the few times we'll be in major cities I figure we can suck it up for the flexibility the car will give us any other time.

Granted, on our Honeymoon we were hitting semi-major towns or cities where train service was good but it was surprising how much time was burnt up going to/from hotels to the train station, waiting for the train, transfering trains, waiting for the connecting train, and then reversing everything at the destination. It wasn't horrible but we could have made the trip in about the same amount of time driving but with a car would have had the opportunity to stop along the way at whatever caught our interest.

And from what I remember of past trips to Germany there's a bunch of neat things to catch ones interest outside of big cities.

When my cousin and I traveled to Spain we split our time between car and train. For the bigger cities we did train travel to and from with local transit and subway systems in major cities. But then halfway through we picked up a car for 4 days to tour through the southern hill towns. It seemed a good way to go.

02-03-2007, 06:46 AM	#11
Pinecone Carmudgeon Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Maryland Posts: 2,717	I have had a Mondeo a couple of times in Scotland as a rental. Nice car, actually big for Europe. Basically the same car as the S Type Jaguar (IIRC, but the little Jag). Both times there more than 2 peope, so the larger car was nice. But NOT fun driving in the cities with the larger car. As has been said, gas is expensive. Public transportation is great on the continent. I take trains. __________________ Terry Carraway 2002 Topaz E46 M3 2000 Dakar M Roadster 1995 Alpine E36 M3 LTW 1990 Red/White Spec Racer

02-04-2007, 06:21 PM	#14
Pinecone Carmudgeon Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Maryland Posts: 2,717	I am the other way around. Train on the continent, but drive around Scotland. But then again you have to drive to visit the distilleries. __________________ Terry Carraway 2002 Topaz E46 M3 2000 Dakar M Roadster 1995 Alpine E36 M3 LTW 1990 Red/White Spec Racer

02-03-2007, 12:22 PM	#12
armaq Jaded Join Date: Mar 2006 Carmudgeonly Ride: 1984 Schwinn Madison Location: NYC Posts: 532	I actually like the Euro Mondeo a lot. I think it shares platform with the Jag X type. Don't know if the new Mondeo (as seen in Casino Royale) will be out by May, but that's a good looking car.

02-03-2007, 08:54 PM	#13
lupinsea Jeeped Join Date: Sep 2005 Carmudgeonly Ride: Modified Jeep Tj and '07 Miata Location: Seattle Posts: 10,214	We did the train thing on our honeymoon and it was ok but it felt like we lost some opportunities to do some exploration in between cities. When we're in Scotland we'll probably do more of the train thing and only get a car for the day or two surrounding our friends wedding rather than be at the mercy of any bus or public transportation system. And I have the sense that when in the cities we'll leave the car parked and do transit there.

02-05-2007, 04:37 PM	#16
lupinsea Jeeped Join Date: Sep 2005 Carmudgeonly Ride: Modified Jeep Tj and '07 Miata Location: Seattle Posts: 10,214	We're probably going to be out of the major cities and instead would prefer the smaller, more out-of-the-way stops. And the few times we'll be in major cities I figure we can suck it up for the flexibility the car will give us any other time. Granted, on our Honeymoon we were hitting semi-major towns or cities where train service was good but it was surprising how much time was burnt up going to/from hotels to the train station, waiting for the train, transfering trains, waiting for the connecting train, and then reversing everything at the destination. It wasn't horrible but we could have made the trip in about the same amount of time driving but with a car would have had the opportunity to stop along the way at whatever caught our interest. And from what I remember of past trips to Germany there's a bunch of neat things to catch ones interest outside of big cities. When my cousin and I traveled to Spain we split our time between car and train. For the bigger cities we did train travel to and from with local transit and subway systems in major cities. But then halfway through we picked up a car for 4 days to tour through the southern hill towns. It seemed a good way to go.