A friend and I will be touring New Zealand in October/November 2007. Will an 'A' class automatic rental car (3 door hatchback with probably a 1.3 litre engine) be big/powerful enough for 2 people with airoplane regulation luggage around both the South Island and the North Island? Anyone done anything similar in such a small car?

1.3 litres? It sounds like a motorised matchbox! I'm surprised they actually rent something so small. I'm sure it would be fine as a town runabout, but I don't think I'd care to go any distance in. Somehow the words "big/powerful enough" don't seem to quite fit in this case.

Having said that, I suppose it won't leave you stuck halfway up a hill, excactly, but there are places in which you'll have to work the gears - assuming it's a manual. If it's an auto it would be even more wheezy. Unless the cost differential is a killer for you, you'd be more comfortable in a 1.8-litre job.

I'm not sure that a hatchback, if it does not hide luggage, is a good idea.

I would go up a class and I agree about the hatchback. It won't be enough for one person's luggage, much less two. I would either rent a larger, used car, or stick with one of the majors like Avis, as they are more reliable about giving you the car that they advertise.

Yelpir:

My wife and I rented a 4 door sedan, 2.0L USED from Apex and for the most part were very happy. We would do it again.

Think about getting a vehicle that is big enough to "live in" for your travel period because you will be spending a lot of time in it.

We encountered some hills that needed this"extra" power. I own a Camry with a V6 and would not use less of an engine.

Fuel consumption depends on vehicle weight, not engine size. Gasoline provides energy and it is the energy that you need to carry the load, therefore weight through a distance will require a specific amount of fuel and does not depend on engine size. Only excessive idle will make a difference with respect to engine size.

The used car will be much more economical and over 4 trips using such vehicles, we have never been stranded and were always satisfied.

As well, the used vehicle already has a scratch or two so the ones that I add will have company and I will not look quite as much as a tourist, that is, until I step out of the vehicle or make a North American manouver.

I like a luggage compartment that will not exhibit the vehicle contents, not that NZ is an unsafe country, quite the opposite, it is very safe.

Hope you find this of use.

Have a great trip.

Woodie

I rented a used car when I went also -- I would recommend it -- was much cheaper and the car was fine.

Well, I didn't see the luggage as a problem, as I inferred that Yelpir's "regulation" luggage would amount to, in total, 2 suitcases, 20 kg max each, plus 2 carry-ons, 6 kg max each: if the rear seat folds back, or even if it doesn't, I don't see why a Toyota Yaris or similar wouldn't have space for that. However the power and generally cramped size would bother me.

We rented a 4-cyl Honda Accord (I think 2.4 litre) in the NI and a smallish Honda SUV "soft roader", admittedly for 4 people, and they were adequate. I too own a 3.0-litre V6 Camry and my preference actually would have been something that size.

I drive a "motorised matchbox," actually we call it the fridge. It's OK for long distances with two people and luggage as we are both smallish. Biggest downside is that in summer it doesn't have enough power to run air-conditioning and go up steep hills without losing acceleration.

Based on my experience, the most you can get in the back of one of those mini fridges was two SMALL suitcases. And they are not secure from public view.

Thank you all so much for your very helpful advice.

Apex offers a Nissan Bluebird (or similar) for NZ$55 per day (1997-2000 model) and a Toyota Corolla 1800cc for NZ$65 per day (2006 model). The Nissan Bluebird seems to be rather popular with people who post on this forum, so I regard that as a good choice. However, it might be better to spring for the extra $10 per day to get a one year old car instead of a 7 to 10 year old car. They also guarantee the make and model of the Toyota. What do you think?

Yelpir:

I had the Bluebird for two months. It was big and roomy but you might feel a tad more comfortable with the smaller vehicle as the roads often have no shoulder or shoulder space that is quite small.

The one I had on the South Island was fine. No problem what ever and the company treated me very well. We got it in Christchurch and dropped it at Picton where we took the ferry across.

In Wellington another Bluebirde was waiting for me which I dropped at the airport in Auckland. This time the transmission had a howl and the car had a bit of vibration at about 85 km/hr but no breakdown or any other problem. We were on the North Island for about two weeks or so.

In spite of the howl, I would certainly go with the Blubird once again from Apex. They were the only firm who did not require a credit card deposit. I am not comfortable giving my card number over the net. If need be, I would provide it by telephone.

We could put all our luggage in the trunk and out of sight. The air conditioning was great to have and I asked for and got a CD player [we brought a few CDs of owr own]. All in all, I was quite pleased.

I am sure you will be too.

Have a great holiday.

Woodie

Be carefull about that Toyota. Make sure it is the model with the fully enclosed trunk (4-door sedan) not the hatchback or 5 door corolla.

We had a Toyota Corolla in NZ, and it was fine for 2 and luggage (even my travel-mate who really needs a pantechnicon!).

I drive one here, too.

Yelpir, last March, my wife & I revisited the north island of NZ, and we rented a 1.3 litre Diahatsu (only 2 months old), and we just loved the car.
Firstly, we only travel with one medium size luggage bag each, and also we carried a small folding esky for food, a box of NZ wines, and we got all that into the boot, or just laid the seat down. We didn't find security a problem between destinations.
The reasons we loved driving the car were as follows:
1. Extremely frugal on petrol ($1.52 per litre when we were there)
2. Felt like driving a rally car, so nimble, and easy turning, especially on those winding mountain roads. (NZ has a lot of those roads, and some are quite narrow...so our car was a blessing, especially when approaching on oncoming cars or coaches) In fact some of the larger cars had trouble keeping up with us on the mountain roads.
3. Cheaper to rent than a larger car.
4. When on the motorways coming back into Auckland, we had no trouble keeping up with the traffic (100-110 kph no trouble)

P.S. read a posting on Trip Advisor board, where someone recommended to another to rent a small car when driving the Milford Road, due to the narrow road, and oncoming tourist coaches.

Had a car of this size in New Zealand. The boot size was rather inadequate and I must admit I would have preferred something larger with better handling particularly on some of the winding roads. The drive to Milford Sound was particularly hairy - steep, dark and icy tunnel and a few hairpin bends. On the plus side it was very economical on petrol, easy to park and very pleasant for city, suburban driving and being a Toyota, very reliable. A 1.3 litre will also struggle in hilly terrain.

If a car is struggling with the terrain, just use your gears, change down, its so simple.