Hello, all--<BR>Will be in Languedoc area of France for a few days in March or April before heading to Paris. Will probably rent through AutoEurope. The Megane is the right size for my needs; just wondered if anyone can tell me how it drives and handles, any quirks to be expected, and Approximately what fuel mileage to expect.<BR>Also, am I correct in understanding that while you may request a diesel, that is not assured? Is there a big difference in mileage gas vs. diesel or is the only difference that diesel is cheaper at the pump?<BR>Don't know how this turned into so many questions, but hey, once I get on a roll I'm hard to stop. Thanks for any help you can offer!

I rented one of these in France a couple of years ago, also threough AutoEurope. Liked it fine - behind the wheel, it felt very much like the Honda Civic I drive at home. I had manual transmission, gas rather than deisel. Mileage was quite good, it had plenty of pickup, and more trunk room than two of us needed. Also of a size that was not problematic manuvering down some narrow village roads - I myself wouldn't have wanted anything much larger!

Hi Randy,<BR><BR> I have used a Renault Megane several times in Europe and have had no problems. It is the perfect size car for two people with luggage. Have a great trip! I just came back from Languedoc in June.

A South African friend of mine recently rented one to drive his relations around England. He liked it and apparently it comes loads with gadgets. You many find it shrieks at at you if you drive to close to the car in front. Diesel, I think, may be slightly more expensive at the pumps but you get a lot more bang for your buck. A petrol car may do 35-40 miles to the gallon whereas a similarly sized diesel will do 60-70 miles. Diesel cars, unless it's fitted with a turbo, generally don't have the ooommphh of a petrol one.

FYI, diesel is less expensive than petrol, min. 0.73 - max. 0.82 euro for diesel vs. 1.00-1.15 euro for unleaded petrol. <BR>You can check gas prices online: http://www.le-plein-malin.fr/statistik3.asp

Randy:<BR><BR>I've driven a Renault Megane around the SW of France on 3-4 occasions. It fit our family of two adults, two kids with minimal luggage more than amply. To me, it feels like a Toyota Camry. It's very reliable, has good pickup, but has a slightly *heavy* feel to it that makes it tiring if you're going to be driving it on winding roads for long periods of time. Our have always been diesels (about 2/3 the cost of gas) and gotten excellent mileage. It's actually unlikely that you'd get an automatic. One precaution: AutoEurope once booked us a Renault Megane and it turned out to be a Megane stationwagon that we were very unhappy with and returned within a few days. It was more car than we wanted and the acceleration was atrocious (probably a quirk of the particular car we got, rather than the brand).

Drove a Megane from AutoEurope in Languedoc, nice car. Traveled from Collioure and through the Montagne Noir, no problems. If you get a diesel, the diesel fuel is gazole.

Randy,<BR>Another happy Auto Europe (through Avis) customer who was upgraded to a Renault Megane diesel on a 2 week ramble through the French/Spanish Pyrennes and upper Languedoc. Car had oodles of pep, handled the very challenging mountain driving with ease (lots of it quite "off the beaten path"), had a huge trunk (compared to last yr's Ford Focus), saved a bundle at the pumps. Comfy for 4. We did request a diesel, which Avis honored (as they have in the past).

Wow! Surprised at the number of responses...many thanks to you all. This is the kind of solid first-hand info that keeps me coming back to this board.

You do get better mileage, but for the time you'll be there, it won't make that big of a difference. And the difference in mileage between petrol and diesel is not quite as large as some earlier poster have said.

North Americans tend to shy away from diesels but we have always tried to rent one when we go to France. I have found that the newer models appear to be as peppy as the gas ones and a lot more economical. As someone noted, be sure to get gasol for the diesel. <BR>As a small point be sure to check out where you open the fuel tank lid. On another model of car I had a bunch of irate French drivers behind me at the pumps because I could not determine how to open the tank...nither did they. (The lever was down at the base of the handbrake.)