Rental Cars in the UK?

[Takumi Fujiwara]

I may be going to England with my family in as little as a couple weeks. We'll need to rent a car.

Now, being the car fan I am, of course it would be hard to resist the possibility of renting something not available in the US. Are there any cool cars that are commonly available for rental, that would be suitable for four people, and are not available this side of the pond?

 

[1X83Z]

Giles recommends the Citroen Picasso. His reviews have included things like "flawless ergonomics", "perfect inside and out", "brilliant and sexy", "brilliant design", "excellent handling", and "wonderful ride." He'd buy one himself but he hasn't got a family yet.

 

[Party for GT4]

Not too sure what good cars would be available. Just a few pointers though:
-Motorway speed limit is 70mph(110kph). However, most people travel at 75-80mph. You won't get stopped by the police doing under 80mph. You can easily do well over 85 and be fine, but the official rules are you have to be doing something like 90+ before you can get taken to court. Lots of people will do over 95mph when its open and clear.

-In urban town areas, the speed limit is either 30 or 40 mph. Be careful, we do have speed cameras quite a bit, so don't get caught.

I'm not sure how many of you their will be, but the Picasso is alright. Get a decent engined one though, because it isn't exactly fast. You can hire BMW 3 series cars though and they're pretty good.

 

[pimp racer]

Originally posted by M5Power
Giles recommends the Citroen Picasso. His reviews have included things like "flawless ergonomics", "perfect inside and out", "brilliant and sexy", "brilliant design", "excellent handling", and "wonderful ride." He'd buy one himself but he hasn't got a family yet.

This car?

 

[Famine]

Originally posted by Takumi Fujiwara
I may be going to England with my family in as little as a couple weeks. We'll need to rent a car.

Now, being the car fan I am, of course it would be hard to resist the possibility of renting something not available in the US. Are there any cool cars that are commonly available for rental, that would be suitable for four people, and are not available this side of the pond?

Ford Fusion - you know it makes (non)sense!.

Failing that, try a Ford Mondeo - especially the 3.0 V6 - or the MG ZT (+180/+190 versions only - anything less is a waste of space. You might hit it lucky with a 260, which is FR and V8).

 

[James1985]

Try a clio sport 172. try and get the cup model.

 

[Famine]

And get roadside recovery cover whilst you're at it for that...

The Clio 172/172 Cup/182 are enjoyable cars - but with four people in you're pushing the kerb weight up by 180kg or more (Americans... ). A leggier 6/8 cylinder engine would be better suited, in my opinion.

 

[James1985]

get a audi a4 or bmw 5 series. but it all depends on how minited u are init.

 

[Famine]

They get them on their side of the pond. He's after something he wouldn't likely see in the US.

 

[Dave A]

Rent a TVR Tuscan, you can get people in the back of some of them, might have to cut off their legs from the knee down though.

 

[Takumi Fujiwara]

Problem is, I probably won't be driving the car myself. (Don't you have to be 18 to drive over there?) There are four of us, so I'll be stuck in the back most of the time...

The suggestion of a BMW, well, that wouldn't make any sense, as we already have one of our own! =P

 

[1X83Z]

Originally posted by pimp racer
This car?

Yes, but not the performance version, obviously.

Ford Fusion - you know it makes (non)sense!.

SHUT UP! The Ford Fusion is the single best car produced in tens of millions of years. HOW DO YOU DOUBT THE BRILLIANCE OF THE PACKAGE? Grr.

 

[High-Test]

Originally posted by Famine
And get roadside recovery cover whilst you're at it for that...

The Clio 172/172 Cup/182 are enjoyable cars - but with four people in you're pushing the kerb weight up by 180kg or more (Americans... ). color]

Not all americans are fat. (Damn McDonald's)

 

[Duke]

We took a family trip over to England and rented a total of 3 cars: a Civic 5-door, a Mondeo 5-door, and some kind of Citroen or Renault... I forget. Maybe a bigger Fiat.

 

[Takumi Fujiwara]

Well, looks like the point is moot. My mom deceded she'd rather go to Italy instead. Somehow, I don't think we'll be renting a Ferarri.... So what's worth renting over there?

 

[Mike Rotch]

Try a Fiat Multipla. Looks like alien technology but apparently is as versatile as a pocket knife.

 

[DQuaN]

An Alfa Romero

 

[Race Idiot]

Originally posted by Mike Rotch
Try a Fiat Multipla. Looks like alien technology but apparently is as versatile as a pocket knife.

Suckz!

If you want a nice car try the Renault Laguna.

Or the new Fr0d Mondeo.

Citeroen C5

Or a seat Leon.

The first three are common as rental cars. The seat leon i'm not sure about.

Or you could rent a Fiat Panda.

Or a punto.

 

[Mike Rotch]

They get the Mondeo in the States foo'.

C5 and Laguna = as boring as toast. I'm with DQuan. Get the 156 2.5L Sportwagon 👍

 

[Race Idiot]

Originally posted by Mike Rotch
They get the Mondeo in the States foo'.

C5 and Laguna = as boring as toast. I'm with DQuan. Get the 156 2.5L Sportwagon 👍

They don't get it anymore, as far as I know they don't have the latest shape mondeo/contour.

Have you driven the Laguna? I drove a 2.0 rental last summer and it was nice. Actually the power steering was light as fook and there wasn't feel in the steering.



Err.................

 

[Mike Rotch]

Mondeo is pretty in any event.

The Laguna is better then the C5 in the looks dept, and its v6 doesnt sound too bad. But, when in Rome...

 

[Race Idiot]

Originally posted by Mike Rotch
But, when in Rome...

You most likely end up driving a fiat.

 

[TsLeng]

Rome.hmmm...SCOOTERs!!!!!!

Okay, just joking. If you want something different, Alfa 156.

No alfas in the US.

 

[Mike Rotch]

Originally posted by TsLeng


No alfas in the US.

No 147 GTA or 156 GTA Stateside?

 

[Race Idiot]

Originally posted by Mike Rotch
No 147 GTA or 156 GTA Stateside?

They don't get allot of European makes, well anymore. It's mainly ze German makes in america.

 

[Mike Rotch]

Shame.

The Clio 2.0 Sport & V6 and Pug GTi 180 are pretty cool cars for them miss out on.

 

[Race Idiot]

Originally posted by Mike Rotch
Shame.

The Clio 2.0 Sport & V6 and Pug GTi 180 are pretty cool cars for them miss out on.

Yeah, they'd probably make great autocross cars.

If only there was Autocross in England.

 

[1X83Z]

Originally posted by Mike Rotch
They get the Mondeo in the States foo'.

The Ford Mondeo was sold in the US as the Ford Contour and Mercury Mystique (which replaced the Ford Tempo and Mercury Topaz) beginning in 1995. Despite rave reviews from magazines, a good 170-horsepower 2.5L V6 (though a four-cylinder was standard), decent styling, fairly decent spec, and, in later years, a high-performance "SVT Contour" which got 195-horsepower, the cars never sold and were cancelled in 2000. Currently, the Ford Focus occupies that segment in our market.

It's mainly ze German makes in america.

And British - remember, we get Land Rover/Range Rover and Jaguar, and there have been plans to bring MG back, though I'd bet your life it won't happen anytime in the near future.

 

[pimp racer]

Originally posted by M5Power
Yes, but not the performance version, obviously.

I know.

 

[Famine]

Originally posted by M5Power
The Ford Mondeo was sold in the US as the Ford Contour and Mercury Mystique (which replaced the Ford Tempo and Mercury Topaz) beginning in 1995. Despite rave reviews from magazines, a good 170-horsepower 2.5L V6 (though a four-cylinder was standard), decent styling, fairly decent spec, and, in later years, a high-performance "SVT Contour" which got 195-horsepower, the cars never sold and were cancelled in 2000. Currently, the Ford Focus occupies that segment in our market.

Later "top spec" Mondeos carried a variety of V6s (all rounding to 2.5) pushing up to 200hp for the ST200. The latest generation is topped by a 220hp ST220 3.0 V6 - and is the best car in it's class (officially. Well, magazines give it awards ).