Good automatic left hand car suggestion to drive in Italy?

the_syco

Hey all,
Going to Italy in September, and one of the three people going only has an automatic license. Thus, want a large'ish car (with a decent boot, for the luggage of four people), that is an automatic. Past car was a 1
4 Honda Civic (saloon), current is a 1.4 Toyota Corolla (hatchback). Other driver used to drive a Citroën Saxo. Automatic driver drives an automatic Micra.

Going to land in Milan, and drive two and a half hours to my destination, mainly on motorway. Going 4 ways (one person doesn't have a license) on the cost of the car, and going to be renting it for 4 days. Shall be getting Blue Insurance for it, as I've been told they do low excess. I'll of course be taking photos of the car when I get it, to ensure I don't get charged for any dings when I return it.

Finally, I'm 6 foot 6, so need decent leg & head room (thus the Civic and Corolla). Also need some room left for the legs of the person who'll be sitting behind me :P

Anyone got any suggestions, that would be in an Italian rental?

Also, IIRC, persons not having insurance currently in Ireland shouldn't affect us getting insurance in Italy, correct?

MuppetCheck

Avoid sicily by car...I'm still getting random "administration charges" for fines apparently from this time last year. My banks has even agreed it's bull at this stage and I have yet to receive a fine.

I think you need something with a bit of pole - the Fiat 500 we got for some fun last year from sicily by car was a disaster. I'd suggest a 2 litre touran diesel auto. Should have enough acceleration and it's a tidy size. It might be worth an email to confirm the car. A lot of them list that particular model and with luggage for four a small hatch won't cover it.

the_syco

MuppetCheck wrote: »

Avoid sicily by car...

I'll be at the other end of Italy, thankfully.

The 2 litre touran diesel auto looks a bit on the small side, esp for head room, unless the drivers seat can sink a lot. Can't see much legroom there either. Can do with little leg room for short journeys, but not for long motorway stints.

colm_mcm

The touran will have way more head and leg room than a corolla or civic

MuppetCheck

the_syco wrote: »

I'll be at the other end of Italy, thankfully.

The 2 litre touran diesel auto looks a bit on the small side, esp for head room, unless the drivers seat can sink a lot. Can't see much legroom there either. Can do with little leg room for short journeys, but not for long motorway stints.

Their name is a bit misleading - they do more than sicily. Cheap but not very cheerful. Either way get something with a little bit of power - slip roads are practically non existent over there so merging to bigger roads can be interesting...

Touran would be more spacious than the equivalent Golf.

Pappacharlie

the_syco wrote: »

Hey all,
Going to Italy in September, and one of the three people going only has an automatic license. Thus, want a large'ish car (with a decent boot, for the luggage of four people), that is an automatic. Past car was a 1
4 Honda Civic (saloon), current is a 1.4 Toyota Corolla (hatchback). Other driver used to drive a Citroën Saxo. Automatic driver drives an automatic Micra.

Going to land in Milan, and drive two and a half hours to my destination, mainly on motorway. Going 4 ways (one person doesn't have a license) on the cost of the car, and going to be renting it for 4 days. Shall be getting Blue Insurance for it, as I've been told they do low excess. I'll of course be taking photos of the car when I get it, to ensure I don't get charged for any dings when I return it.

Finally, I'm 6 foot 6, so need decent leg & head room (thus the Civic and Corolla). Also need some room left for the legs of the person who'll be sitting behind me :P

Anyone got any suggestions, that would be in an Italian rental?

Also, IIRC, persons not having insurance currently in Ireland shouldn't affect us getting insurance in Italy, correct?

Is there any such thing as a licence for an automatic transmission? I thought once you have a full driving licence that there is no difference between automatic or manual transmission from a licence point of view.

colm_mcm

If you do your test in automatic, that's all you can drive.

the_syco

Pappacharlie wrote: »

Is there any such thing as a licence for an automatic transmission? I thought once you have a full driving licence that there is no difference between automatic or manual transmission from a licence point of view.

There's a full license, or an automatic. The automatic license only allows you to drive automatic cars.

Seems the person who only has the automatic license may not even drive, but I may still go for an automatic, as I'm unsure how well I'd be at using the gear stick with my right hand.

the_syco

So, after doing some maths, it's looking like we'll be driving from France (flights €150 cheaper).

Thus I'm wondering, can I drive from France to Italy in a rental car? I've emailed Hertz to ask this.
Also, what is the difference between Hertz and ArgusCarHire? There seems to be a large price jump for Hertz.

the_syco

Back again. Have been advised that the auto-driver ain't going to be driving, and that manual is better (brake being where the clutch is in auto), so going to go for a manual. Thinking of going to go for a Ford Mondeo Estate. The Mondeo's usually have plenty of room?

MuppetCheck

the_syco wrote: »

Back again. Have been advised that the auto-driver ain't going to be driving, and that manual is better (brake being where the clutch is in auto), so going to go for a manual. Thinking of going to go for a Ford Mondeo Estate. The Mondeo's usually have plenty of room?

Would be perfect, big cars and perfect for soaking the miles up.

Bigcheeze

Just remember in most cases the actual make and model you receive is different from what's indicated when booking.

i.e. you're unlikely to get a Mondeo but will get a full size car in the same class.

Big Nasty

Not many rental cos guarantee you a particular car. It would be car X or similar. Similar being another car in the same class.

the_syco

Big Nasty wrote: »

Not many rental cos guarantee you a particular car. It would be car X or similar. Similar being another car in the same class.

Thanks for the feed back everyone. Shall keep this in mind.

If I don't fit, I'll ensure I get one that I fit. No way in hell I'll be chewing on my own knees with my head horizontal :pac:

colm_c

Check with the hire company on entering different countries, you generally get charged extra for insurance etc.

Just hire a decent sized saloon, you should be get good economy and good leg room. Also watch out for the Italian and French drivers, especially in their towns and cities where only locals know who has right of way, and there isn't a car without a ding on it. :eek:

the_syco

colm_mcm wrote: »

The touran will have way more head and leg room than a corolla or civic

Is the "touran" a Volkswagen?

colm_mcm

the_syco wrote: »

Is the "touran" a Volkswagen?

Yes, its basically volkswagens zafira/verso rival.

[img]http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/3a/VW_Touran_Freestyle_(1._Facelift)_–_Frontansicht,_12._Juni_2011,_Düsseldorf.jpg[/img]

the_syco

colm_mcm wrote: »

Yes, its basically volkswagens zafira/verso rival.

Cool. It's closer to the €100 mark, with the Mondeo around the €250 mark. Price aside, which do you you think would be best for a two hour evening trip? And most important of all, do either of them use leather seats as standard? I dislike leather seats, as find them not as comfy for long trips.

Thanks for the answers

colm_mcm

The touran would be easier to manouver than the mondeo and will still be spacious.
Highly unlikely to get leather either way.

adr1984

Peugeot 3008 is on the hertz french website, they also cover their backs by saying 'or similar' so you are going to have to argue the point when asking to rent a car from them that has a similar body type. personally i would rent a lgp vehicle but the hybrid version on this car makes it much cheaper to run than a diesel or petrol car.

h3000

Just bare in mind that with most if not all third party Car Hire Excess insurance policies you (the hirer) will still have to pay the excess charge to the rental company if the car is damaged. You can then try to claim that cost back from the third party car hire excess company. Make sure you have a good read of the T&Cs, some companies look for police reports on claim application.

the_syco

h3000 wrote: »

Just bare in mind that with most if not all third party Car Hire Excess insurance policies you (the hirer) will still have to pay the excess charge to the rental company if the car is damaged. You can then try to claim that cost back from the third party car hire excess company. Make sure you have a good read of the T&Cs, some companies look for police reports on claim application.

Shall keep it in mind. Shall be using BlueInsurance.ie, but can't find out their process of claiming in their T&C.

CiniO

the_syco wrote: »

So, after doing some maths, it's looking like we'll be driving from France (flights €150 cheaper).

Thus I'm wondering, can I drive from France to Italy in a rental car?

Of course.
I can't imagine any rental companies on the continent prohibiting travel abroad. Some might charge a bit extra for it though.

I've emailed Hertz to ask this.
Also, what is the difference between Hertz and ArgusCarHire? There seems to be a large price jump for Hertz.

Hertz is a rental company.
ArgusCarHire is an agent.