Electric car hire abroad Amsterdam airport. i3 or e-Golf

Ryath

Going to Duinrell in Netherlands for a long weekend and looking at cost of transfers it would be as cheap to hire a car. Good as time as any to try out an electric car I reckon.

Only options I can find are Sixt with an i3 or e-Golf for the same price works out at €126 for 3 days with damage waiver and insurance. Doesn't look like any of the other big company's do electrics. You'd think there would be Leafs and Ioniqs available but I can't find any bar one Ioniq @ €100 a day! :eek:

Never actually rented a car before so have no experience of it. Driving on right doesn't bother me did 4000k in France last summer in our own car. Driving a left hand drive I'm sure the automatic would be handier than getting used to changing gears with my right hand.

Would like to try out the i3 the looks might grow on me. I'm familiar with the golf switch gear though so a lot less figuring out what all the buttons do! It says electric charging included but it makes no mention of how it works. I assume they just give you a card to use at charge points.Do the i3 and e-Golf usually come with a granny cable? Might be as handy just plug it in at the campsite.

Any one with experience renting an electric from Sixt abroad?

Edit: Can get Model S for a bargain €300 a day! :eek:

An I3 Rex might be more convenient ? Guaranteed, you’ll love it, the backup of the Rex might be really handy rather than having to find chargers. But I think they have far better charging facilities.

Either way the Rex is a lot of fun if you are used to golfs try something different you will not regret it.

slicedpanman

Yawn, boreasauras rex...

slicedpanman

Not driven either myself, just the leaf, so no opinion on which is better. But if you've never driven electric either will impress.

General consensus on here suggests that the i3 is more fun to drive and would be my choice were I in your situation - unless I was willing to give up the 900 quid for the model S

Granny cable supply can vary from country to country so best check with the hire company to be sure

Whatever you choose have fun

80sDiesel

Deleted User wrote: »

An I3 Rex might be more convenient ? Guaranteed, you’ll love it, the backup of the Rex might be really handy rather than having to find chargers. But I think they have far better charging facilities.

Either way the Rex is a lot of fun if you are used to golfs try something different you will not regret it.

He said Electric. Not a Hybrid .:p

Ryath

Definitely won't be doing enough driving need the petroldactyl rex! Airport is only 35k trip each way and I can't see us being able to drag the children away from the roller coasters or waterpark for to long to do something cultural! So probably no more than another 70-80k over the weekend. Could probably nearly get away with out charging at all.

Have only had a quick test drive in the old Leaf and Ioniq. Golf is not that familiar to me have a Leon Fr 184 so that's my benchmark performance wise and a lot of the switch gear is the same as the Golf. Mum used to have a DSG Jetta so gear shifter in the e-Golf wouldn't be that strange to me. Just had a look at a video of i3 gear selector though, looks straight forward.

Reckon I'll go with the i3 want to try it out only one that matches or beats performance of what I'm used to. Others all fall a god bit short.
Battle : Leaf vs Ioniq Electric vs Golf VII e-Golf vs Model 3 75 vs i3 Ext vs Leon III 2.0 TDi

I'll try and get a test drive of an i3 in before I go just so I'm some way familiar with it before I take one straight out of an airport car park on to a motorway driving on the other side. Will be wife's first experience of an EV and I'm really hoping to change one of the cars for one next year. Kona and Niro are looking like the best options at the minute though it's looking like there may be a couple of more options appearing next year.

ted1

Deleted User wrote: »

An I3 Rex might be more convenient ? Guaranteed, you’ll love it, the backup of the Rex might be really handy rather than having to find chargers. But I think they have far better charging facilities.

Either way the Rex is a lot of fun if you are used to golfs try something different you will not regret it.

He wants and EV not something that runs on Dino juice

ted1

Ryath wrote: »

Definitely won't be doing enough driving need the petroldactyl rex! Airport is only 35k trip each way and I can't see us being able to drag the children away from the roller coasters or waterpark for to long to do something cultural! So probably no more than another 70-80k over the weekend. Could probably nearly get away with out charging at all..

If you don’t have your own excess insurance policy you may be just better off getting taxis

PickYourName

Having driven both, my opinion:

The Golf is engineered to make it as close as possible to any other Golf in the range. It's smoother and quieter than all them to drive, but apart from that is pretty much like driving any other Golf (performance models excepted - it's not a particularly fast car, though brisker than most off the line).

The i3 is engineered to be a next generation of car: I've never driven anything that felt quite so much of a step forward than anything else. It makes any other petrol or diesel seem primitive by comparison (contrast with the Golf, which felt just like a quieter and smoother version of something that already existed). Even if you’re not captivated by the more-than-brisk performance, it feels like driving the future, and the future is good!

Both are very easy to drive, in terms of controls: you'll have no problems with either. The i3 takes slightly more getting used to due to the breaking affect when you take your foot off the accelerator, but you very quickly get used to this, and end up driving on one pedal for 99% of the time. It has the benefit of a slightly higher ride height and better visibility out, which helps in driving one the "wrong" side.

I stress: this is all my personal opinion: I have no knowledge about what the engineering goals for either one is, it's just based on my observations (I happen to be an engineer, but that's not really relevant).

No doubt in my mind: go for the i3, unless you need more than 4 seats, in which case you're stuck with the Golf.

billy few mates

The only problem with driving an i3 is that you’ll end up wanting one...

The only problem with that is the coach doors at the back which might be a pain if you do a lot of driving the kids around as you’ll have to keep getting out to let them in or out, plus they’ve really only got two seats in the back, which could also be a problem depending on the number of kids you have...

DrPhilG

Ooh, interesting.

I'm going to Amsterdam for 5 days this year. Was thinking of doing a little driving around, trips to the Hague, Brussels, Haarlem etc.

Was just going to do it by train but I'd be tempted to take the eGolf for a few days at that price.

Ryath

ted1 wrote: »

If you don’t have your own excess insurance policy you may be just better off getting taxis

Damage waiver wasn't appearing properly when I selected it yesterday €11.50 a day to reduce excess to €350 and €19 to reduce it to 0. Standard excess is €1000 so pushing up cost to €183.45 for the 3 days. Taxi would be cheaper but it's still €60 each way, train/bus with four travelling isn't significantly cheaper and will take twice as long. Convenience of having the car over the weekend would probably make it worth the extra money.

billy few mates wrote: »

The only problem with driving an i3 is that you’ll end up wanting one...

The only problem with that is the coach doors at the back which might be a pain if you do a lot of driving the kids around as you’ll have to keep getting out to let them in or out, plus they’ve really only got two seats in the back, which could also be a problem depending on the number of kids you have...

No problems with 4 seats this trip but we do need a 5 seater at home. Range isn't what we need either so as mush as I might like it it's not really an option.

DrPhilG wrote: »

Ooh, interesting.

I'm going to Amsterdam for 5 days this year. Was thinking of doing a little driving around, trips to the Hague, Brussels, Haarlem etc.

Was just going to do it by train but I'd be tempted to take the eGolf for a few days at that price.

Usually would just use trains ourselves but the price doesn't seem bad. And when we're only there for 3 nights the time it will save is probably worth. If I was by myself I'd be just using public transport and renting bicycles.

Shefwedfan

Personally, I would just use the public transport system. It is excellent in Netherlands and if you buy a pass it will cover trams/trains etc...

I lived and worked over in NL for about 6 months, used the trains/trams etc. They really are brilliant.

I would post on the EV facebook page(https://www.facebook.com/groups/IEVOA/?ref=bookmarks) as Jan-Bart regularly travels to Netherlands in his Zoe. Will give you good information.

In terms of the car, I would go with the i3 because
1. I have eGolf
2. Petrol engine could be handy
3. Pick which one you would buy and then go with the other one ......experience something different, you get to hand it back after 3 days :-)

DrPhilG

Shefwedfan wrote: »

Personally, I would just use the public transport system. It is excellent in Netherlands and if you buy a pass it will cover trams/trains etc...

I lived and worked over in NL for about 6 months, used the trains/trams etc. They really are brilliant.

I would post on the EV facebook page(https://www.facebook.com/groups/IEVOA/?ref=bookmarks) as Jan-Bart regularly travels to Netherlands in his Zoe. Will give you good information.

In terms of the car, I would go with the i3 because
1. I have eGolf
2. Petrol engine could be handy
3. Pick which one you would buy and then go with the other one ......experience something different, you get to hand it back after 3 days :-)

I'm know the public transport is great, but I'd be tempted to hire a car simply because they're cheap and it would be fun to test drive something new.

I've had a spin in the i3 but never the Golf.

Not much point in me asking Jan Bart anything, he and Paddy Carroll have blocked me on Facebook so we wouldn't have much of a conversation!

billy few mates

billy few mates wrote: »

The only problem with driving an i3 is that you’ll end up wanting one...

The only problem with that is the coach doors at the back which might be a pain if you do a lot of driving the kids around as you’ll have to keep getting out to let them in or out, plus they’ve really only got two seats in the back, which could also be a problem depending on the number of kids you have...

No problem for me because they're unable to get in and out yet themselves

Definitely will want an i3 after a test drive and my advice is take it to some twisty back roads, it's a joy.

Ryath

Forgot to report back last year. Got the i3 and must say it really grew on me it really is like driving a go kart!. I'd nearly have one myself but the 4 seats is a little impracticable and wife can't get over the looks!. Could possibly have one as my car if my wife would drive a bigger car as the main family car but she prefers having a hatchback.

Just back from another trip over this year booked a e-Golf this time as granny was coming with us and we needed 5 seats. Paid at reservation desk charging tag was free last year but is €10 a day now. Didn't take it as I knew I could use a free slow charger at our accommodation and we'd be barely doing enough driving to need to charge on street anyway.

When I went to pick up the car they apologised that and said Golf was only at 30% charge. They were short staffed on the day and had forgot to charge it! She went off to check, I assumed just to plug it in and say did we mind waiting a bit. We only had a 35km drive so could have taken it. When she came back she apologised again and asked did I mind taking another car. What are you offering? She points to this beside the office. They'd me give the charging tag for free too.

https://www.sixt.nl/jaguar-huren/i-pace/





Sure I think I'll make do with it! I've been impressed by other ev's but this was something else at the price it would want to be though. 400bhp 0-100 in 4.8secs. It's a heavy bus at over 2000kg but it hides it well on the move. Hard to tell on Dutch roads and sitting on the wrong side so not fully comfortable throwing it around corners I really liked how it drove. The acceleration though, nearest I've been to it is a Leon Cupra 290 and that needs to be worked to come close. The I-pace was just effortless. Had the family at all times with me so didn't get do a full bore 0-100 test! But feck me the turn of pace merging on to motorways from 80-130 is something else. It was just so refined and quite too. Getting back into my diesel at the airport last night was some shock to the system.

It was at 80% 300km range when I picked it up so had more than enough for the few days we needed it. It did come with a granny cable too so tried plugging it in at mobile home for an hour and I tried out the tag at one park and ride facility once too.

Money no object I'd be very tempted but unfortunately I have to live in the real world! It can take a towbar for bike racks though which is one of my requirements when I go EV! Just priced up the spec on Jaguar Ireland It was a mid spec SE model with a few extras Upgraded alloys, pano roof and tan leather interior that added about 15k just over €105k total! :eek: I knew it was pricey when SIXT gave it to me but I didn't realise quite how much and and the performance it had. Just glad to have it for a few days for the same price as the e-Golf, it's a bit over twice the price to rent as the Golf so I doubt I'll be getting to drive it again!

Shefwedfan

I would have waited for the eGolf :-)

Ryath

Shefwedfan wrote: »

I would have waited for the eGolf :-)

Glad I didn't
http://www.zeperfs.com/en/duel7450-6939.htm

krissovo

I went to Duinrell last year (going again for summer hols this year) and its not really worth a car as there is so much to do. Charging on site could be an issue as the cabins trip out when using hair dryers. We hired EV bikes and could only reliably charge at a central bike charging station in the camp which was 1 or 2 KW if recall.

We got a Tesla Model x Transfer for €100 return, if you call the camp they had some local taxi services with fixed pricing.

Ryath

Been a few years but just back from the Netherlands and rented an electric again. Flew into Eindhoven and went to Efteling this time.

Something a bit different from the i3 or eGolf this time, Aiways U5

I have to say overall I was very impressed. The interior is very nice premium and seemed very well built, few odd design quirks though. Seats were very comfortable and kids loved the legroom it had in the back. Boot was a little smaller that you expect at the size of the car.

It drives and handles quite well, steering is too light for my taste. It is pretty brisk with 204bhp, felt a bit dead pulling away from a standstill but it certainly can shift in the 50 to 120 range. LKA seemed to work well but it had a tendency to hug the right hand line a bit close. Fine on a single lane but when your in the outside lane a bit unnerving. It's certainly loaded with sensors 5 exterior cameras and 12 ultrasonic sensor made manuvering in tight spaces on the wrong side of the road easier.

Main drawback was the infotainment system. Wasn't very intuitive, no onboard sat nav which would be fine if it had Android Auto. Instead it has it's own map which mirrors your phone screen. I have no way of locking my phone screen in landscape so every time I went round a bend the phone screen switched to portrait! It does have Car Play though so maybe Apple users would be okay. It would be a deal breaker for me, hopefully it will be fixed in the future.

At 34k in Germany it certainly undercuts the ID4 by a good bit personally at the moment I'd find the extra for the ID4 or a Model Y . In few years when they've proved themselves more and ironed out the quirks it could be very tempting.