Renault Model Advice Please?

Purrybonker · 01:44 PM

GF and I are going to take my bi-annual (or so) extended "bounce around" europe this May/June. Probably Germany, Poland, Czech Rep, Slovak Rep., then back via Austria, Italy to Spain/Portugal then Paris. Something like that.

Will be doing the Renault Euro Drive program again - love the freedom and price of this thing, wish Porsche offered something like this. You "buy" a new Renault and they agree to buy it back after a minimum of 21 days. With insurance, registration - everything really, it runs anywhere from$1000 for 3 weeks to $3 grand, depending on model.

Trying to pick a model - last time I had a Scenic and really, really liked it. Enough room to sleep in, if need be.

Here are my first two picks:

CDN $1900 (21 days - 1.9 diesel, manual, air, gps)

CDN $2100 (21 days - 1.9 diesel, manual, air, gps)

and the less practical choice:

$CDN $2800 (21 days - 1.9 diesel, manual, air, gps)

Scared of the luggage cap on the cabrio, even with just 2 of us.

Any advice?

lendaddy · 02-26-2007, 01:50 PM

That seems like a ton of money for very little car. Are rental rates that bad over there?

scottbombedout · 02-26-2007, 01:55 PM

I've got a diesel Grand Scenic, superb car, loads of space fantastic fuel economy, everything really.

Seems like a clever way of renting a car for a few weeks, good luck!

Dottore · 02-26-2007, 02:00 PM

Purrybonker,

That is a lot of money.

Were going to be in Italy and France for much of the spring and have just booked a new VW Golf for 57 days at a total all inclusive (taxes etc) cost of Euro 1,500.- To get this rate you have to book through a number in North America.

PM me if you are interested and I will send you the details.

Porsches are insanely expensive to rent in Europe - but Sixt (the rental company) at Frankfurt airport will sometimes give you a very good deal if they have one waiting around. I've rented a Porsche there a few times for the price of a standard E-type Benz.

Cheers

legion · 02-26-2007, 02:01 PM

Comes out to $333 a week if you "sell it back" at 21 days.

Without any discounts, it costs $250 a week to rent a Chevy Cobalt here in Bloomington.

jriera · 02-26-2007, 02:10 PM

For rentals Hertz will have much better rates if rented from here (two weeks ago a got a Megane for $105 a week unlimited milleage in Spain)

Dottore · 02-26-2007, 02:12 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by legion
Comes out to $333 a week if you "sell it back" at 21 days.

Without any discounts, it costs $250 a week to rent a Chevy Cobalt here in Bloomington.

That's it. Forget Europe. We're coming to Bloomington.

Purrybonker · 02-26-2007, 02:15 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by lendaddy
That seems like a ton of money for very little car. Are rental rates that bad over there?

Actually, Len - I should have explained a bit more. This program works better the longer you go. The "add-on" rate is around $30/day - so if you go for say, five weeks it works out to like $2300 for the Scenic.

Don't forget that's Canadian and includes taxes and FULL insurance ($0 deduct). And a brand new car. Pick it up and drop it about 30 places around europe.

Purrybonker · 02-26-2007, 02:17 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by scottbombedout
I've got a diesel Grand Scenic, superb car, loads of space fantastic fuel economy, everything really.

Seems like a clever way of renting a car for a few weeks, good luck!

Power Ok with the Grand Scenic? Would you recommend it over the regular Scenic for 2 adults?

Jim Richards · 02-26-2007, 02:18 PM

Curious about one thing...if you have an accident while there, and get it fixed, will the company still buy it back?

Purrybonker · 02-26-2007, 02:19 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by jriera
For rentals Hertz will have much better rates if rented from here (two weeks ago a got a Megane for $105 a week unlimited milleage in Spain)

Are you serious? Wow that's cheap <$20/day u sure?

I better do some more research.

lendaddy · 02-26-2007, 02:34 PM

I just check Hertz out of Germany and 21 days ranged from

588 euros for a VW Polo to 950 euros for a Mercedes C class

Purrybonker · 02:41 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Dottore
Purrybonker,

That is a lot of money.

Were going to be in Italy and France for much of the spring and have just booked a new VW Golf for 57 days at a total all inclusive (taxes etc) cost of Euro 1,500.- To get this rate you have to book through a number in North America.

PM me if you are interested and I will send you the details.

Porsches are insanely expensive to rent in Europe - but Sixt (the rental company) at Frankfurt airport will sometimes give you a very good deal if they have one waiting around. I've rented a Porsche there a few times for the price of a standard E-type Benz.

Cheers

We'll be $2300 ($66/day) for five weeks on the Scenic. That's about 1500 euro - so you're kicking my deal severely. What about insurance?

The magic of the Renault program is supposedly in the tax avoidance due to the buy-sell.

PM sent...

Oops can't PM you - there's a block. Can you just toss the number up here?

Thanks

scottbombedout · 02-26-2007, 02:55 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Purrybonker
Power Ok with the Grand Scenic? Would you recommend it over the regular Scenic for 2 adults?

Bags of power in the 1.9, loads of torque and loads of space. The hand brake takes a bit of getting used to but even thats brilliant.

I think that is a great deal you are offered but we Brits pay over the odds for everything anyway

imcarthur · imcarthur's Garage

Check insurance carefully. Many rental cos exclude Slovakia, Hungary etc or I think they demand an additional payment.

Ian

imcarthur · imcarthur's Garage

Oh & we rented a 307 Peugeot last time in Spain. It's similar to that one. A convertible was a blast! But luggage space did suffer. Only 1 bag fits in the trunk when the top is down. And not too thick either. The rest has to go in the backseat.

Ian

Purrybonker · 02-26-2007, 03:09 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by imcarthur
Check insurance carefully. Many rental cos exclude Slovakia, Hungary etc or I think they demand an additional payment.

Ian

Insurance is good in... (bold mine)

Germany, Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Denmark, Spain, Finland, France, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxemburg, Monaco, Norway, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Czech Rep, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland, San Marino, UK, Vatican City.

Pretty darn inclusive list.

Anywhere else you're on your own ticket for damage/theft. Too bad Russia is a no-go.

notfarnow · 04:53 PM

My father and his wife spent 4 weeks in Spain and the south of France last year with another couple. They did this same "sell back" deal and got the Megane station wagon. Lots of room even with 4 people and their luggage, and dad said the car had "adequate" performance.

Dottore · 02-26-2007, 05:42 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Purrybonker
We'll be $2300 ($66/day) for five weeks on the Scenic. That's about 1500 euro - so you're kicking my deal severely. What about insurance?

The magic of the Renault program is supposedly in the tax avoidance due to the buy-sell.

PM sent...

Oops can't PM you - there's a block. Can you just toss the number up here?

Thanks

It includes the two or three taxes and the minimum insurance. I get the excess insurance automatically by paying with my credit card. Works out to Euro 26.- per day - which is the best price I've found in Europe for a Golf sized car.