Rental Car Trunk Space

[David]

Greetings all! It's been a while, but I'd like to consult this particular hive mind.

Three of us will be in France in May for a couple of weeks. We'll be renting a car and I want to make sure that the trunk will have sufficient space for our luggage. I'm using Auto Europe, so they have those icons on each rental category telling you how many bags each car can hold. We will have what I'd call three medium bags with wheels - 25" bags which become around 27" when you include the wheels. I know enough to know that an SUV is probably the way to go, but I'd like to keep the size of the car down. And it's difficult to gauge because none of the cars say that they'll fit 3 medium sized bags. I'm tempted to choose a Citroen DS7 or comparable which says it will fit 2 medium bags and 2 small bags (I assume "small" means typical 22" carry-on bags). The larger and more expensive choice would be a Volvo XC-60 or comparable, which Auto Europe says will hold 1 large bag, 2 medium bags and one small bag.

So my question is: do you think I'm tempting fate if I reserve a car in the DS7 category? Thanks very much and best wishes to all!

 

[NoSpin]

I've rented cars for years, particularly when I traveled for work. You notice when you select a car and it reads "BMW 5 Series or similar", well their definition of "similar" in no way meets my definition of similar. You can always reserve one category of car and then if it doesn't fit, upgrade to a larger size. The only catch is hopefully they have a larger size available.

Here's another alternative since you are there for a couple weeks, lease a brand new car. Not only will you get the exact car you reserve, but it will be cheaper than a rental when you add in all the extras, especially insurance. The cars include GPS, full insurance with no deductible, unlimited mileage, no charge for extra drivers, and road assistance.

I always lease in Europe, and since you will be in France, there will be no pick up or drop off charges for countries outside of France. I just received an email from one of the two companies today, here is are links for Peugeot and Renault-

Auto France - Short & Long Term Rentals For Your European Destination

Auto France offers the best car leases in France & long term car rental in Europe. Brand new car, tax free, all inclusive. Official Peugeot Open Europe USA

www.autofrance.net

Renault Eurodrive European Leasing Program | TTEurodrive | Auto-TT

Save money and explore Europe freely! Lease a brand-new car for 15 days to several months with Auto TT and TTEurodrive. Unlimited mileage, comprehensive insurance included. Book your flexible car lease today!

www.auto-tt.com

 

[David]

Many thanks, NoSpin. Much appreciated. I agree - when you reserve a car, you really have no idea what you're going to get. In my experience, if they don't have the class you reserved, they usually put you in something larger. That happened to me at Eurocar in Milan a couple of years ago when I reserved a full size sedan and ended up with a Peugeot 5008 which was kind of huge.

I checked out both of the lease sites you linked to - again, thanks. Actually, their prices are comparable to Auto Europe's no deductible rates. Regardless, that's something to consider.

If I do, however, go with a rental, do you (or anyone else) have opinions about Enterprise and Alamo in Europe? When I've rented through Auto Europe, it's always ended up being Europcar. It seems that, at least in Lyon, where I'll be renting, Europcar through Auto Europe doesn't offer a no deductible option.

 

[NoSpin]

Actually, I shouldn't say the lease option is cheaper. When I first started leasing around 2013, the lease option was cheaper. Since then I only lease and never even look at rental rates. So things probably have changed in the rental market.

That being said, even if rentals were cheaper I would still stick with leasing for two reason. You get the exact model you ordered, and the car is brand new. Those two features alone top a rental for me.

As far as Alamo or Enterprise or Hertz, I would do a search of this forum. It seems to me there were threads on rental companies and some received very poor reviews, but I don't remember which.

One rental company to look for is Sixt. I rented from them in Normandy last June for a week and then in England for a week, and I got the one of the exact cars I ordered. In this case it didn't make sense to lease with crossing the channel and LHD and RHD cars. I have since rented from them in Florida in January and I actually got the BMW 5 Series I ordered!

One thing I notice with Sixt, and I'm guessing it is probably true of other rental companies, they do surge pricing. I rented my Florida car well in advance. The prepaid price was $326. The week before I picked up the rental I checked the price and it was over $600 if I wanted the same car. I mentioned that to the counter agent and he said as they book up, the price goes up. He told me how lucky I was.

 

[Penn251]

Here's another alternative since you are there for a couple weeks, lease a brand new car. Not only will you get the exact car you reserve, but it will be cheaper than a rental when you add in all the extras, especially insurance. The cars include GPS, full insurance with no deductible, unlimited mileage, no charge for extra drivers, and road assistance.

No Spin - good advice. I am taking it for an upcoming trip. Just cancelled my rental and reserved a lease. Question for you - Is the pick-up procedure any more cumbersome than the a rental would be in terms of time and paperwork? If so, let me now what to expect. Thanks

 

[phirhon]

We have been leasing cars since 2010 and always been satisfied with the experience. We have a month to go until our next trip to France where we will have a lease for 73 days. We had Earlybird and loyalty bonus discounts. Out of interest, my husband got a quote for a rental with the same conditions and it was considerably more expensive.

As for pickup, it depends on where that happens. We fly into Lyon and ring when we get there. They tell us where to meet the minibus which takes us to the office. In this case it is an airport car parking business. The procedure there is usually quick and someone takes us through the car etc and we always check that the GPS is in English. Return is always quick and they take us back to the airport.
A few leases ago, pick up was at one of the car rental agencies, so that may happen at other locations.
Bon voyage.

 

[NoSpin]

Penn, I think you will be very pleased, but report back after your trip. The time at the counter is no more than at a rental counter. You will have already filled out all the required paperwork and paid in advance. You just have to provide ID and you are good to go.

Their counter is typically at a different area than the rental car companies. Are you leasing from Auto France? The email I recently received from them had special rates, but it may have been for repeat customers. They offered me a full tank of gas. Both leasing companies give you the car with enough gas to get to a station. However, you also should return the car just above emptty.

Where are you picking up your car? Which car are you leasing? Inquiring minds want to know!

 

[Penn251]

Where are you picking up your car? Which car are you leasing? Inquiring minds want to know!

We are actually using AutoEurope as the leasing broker. We are leasing in Italy, picking up at FCO (off site with shuttle from airport). We have a specialized need - 6 passengers for part of the trip (don't ask - we don't usually travel in a pack). Our first choice was a Peugeot 5008 5+2, but alas it wasn't going to be available until 10 days after we need it. The alternative is a Dacia (Renault) Hybrid Jogger, so that was what we leased. We are very pleased with the price. We are leasing for 30 days at a price significantly less than what a 14 day rental of the Peugeot would have been. And we also don't have the anxiety of the "or similar" nightmare given our need to accommodate 6 passengers. Luggage will be an issue, but I think we have that figured out.

 

[David]

I think you've got me sold. I started checking out those links, Paul - much appreciated. I'll let you know what I come up with. BTW, we, too, will be picking up at the Lyon airport and it'll just be for 10 days. I'm guessing that the longer you lease, the better the value compared with renting. But, as I said, the lease prices I saw were comparable to renting and I do like that the "you get what you reserve" factor. Thanks!

 

[Lorac]

We leased a small Mercedes at the Munich airport, off site, some years ago. When you lease, you are buying the vehicle for however long you keep it.
The battery in the Mercedes was dead. The car hadn't been attended to on the lot for some time, but our moment of discovery didn't happen until we pulled into a gas station to fill the tank and found the car unresponsive. This was a Saturday. The nearby mechanic's shop was closing in ten minutes and no work would be done until the following Monday. They rented us a car for the next couple of days!
Maybe that all was just dumb luck but we were less than happy.
One good thing, at least at that time, was a second driver was included for no extra charge.
Carol

 

[David]

Done! I went reserved a Dacia Duster through TT Eurodrive. There are only 3 of us, but I wanted a car that could accommodate our bags - hopefully that's the right call. Before booking, I called their office with a couple of questions. The guy I spoke with was very helpful and clear - so far, a very smooth process. Thanks again for recommending leasing.

 

[Allen]

I thought minimum lease for short term leasing at FCO was 3 weeks, so good to hear you can lease for just 2 weeks. I’ve found lease prices have become a few hundred dollars more than renting for 4-5 weeks the last 2 years, but I find the on site lease experience (pick up and drop off at terminal) much less stressful than rental kiosks at FCO. No line, nice people, and you get the exact (brand new), fully insured with no-deductible car with free extra driver option you contracted for.
Leased a Dacia several years ago but have been a Peugeot 208/308 sedan or 2008 small suv fan since.

 

[David]

Just to clarify, I'm renting in Lyon. I'm not sure if the same holds for FCO, but it might. You could check on the TT Eurodrive site or others.

 

[Allen]

Thanks, David. I’m still learning to read.
Enjoy