justretired

Question, please. In Provence, is an intermediate car, say the size of a Volkswagon Passat (which I don't think of as very big, but I think they call intermediate), too big to negotiate through the small steets of the villages? My husband and I tend to like to rent a somewhat bigger car just for safty and comfort, but could easily go with a smaller car, if you thought that it would be easier to deal with. We also don't want to appear too flashy. Thanks,
Margret

AnselmAdorne

Margret, you'll have no difficulty driving or parking a Passat-like car in Provence. As I mentioned in the posting above, this size of vehicle falls in the "midsize" category if you book through AutoEurope.

Anselm

walkinaround

a passat may be an intermediate sized car per the rental agencies (who size cars according to a more international or at least a european-wide standard).

Many vistitors do drive such a car through villages and cities in france. it all depends on your preference and driving skill. If you are not used to driving in very narrow streets and parking under tight conditions then i suggest that you might be more comfortable in a smaller vehicle.

the typical local in these villages will have a smaller car...something more in line with a clio or punto (or even smaller). i live in europe so i am used to driving in tight conditions but find the driving less stressful with a smaller car. Additionally, a smaller car is obviously cheaper to hire and drive and more in line with the local norms in france.

blh

walkinaround - to answer your question about the cost to repair the car after the diesel/gasoline mistake, there was no charge from the rental car company (Hertz) as we paid for the repair. We were frantic thinking we would have a huge repair bill, but the car we were driving (Peugeot) just shut down - we had it towed, they drained the tank and charged us about $100. We were never so relieved and thankful as we had imagined all sorts of expensive solutions! Besides the anxiety, the worst part was the three hours we lost having it repaired. But it makes a great story - we actually rode in the car on top of the tow truck - down the highway, through the toll booths, etc. I just wish we had taken pictures - we were too upset at the time because we didn't know the outcome - to think of taking pictures. But we love to tell the story, and most people think it is too funny - and still kid us about it after more than six years!

cigalechanta

dln, i didn't word it clearly. We saw gazole and did not know that was the word for diesel.

BTilke

My husband is 6'1'' and we have a diesel Renault Laguna. It's fine. I would disagree with some of AR's comments tho--a Renault Scenic is not "a very large car" by European standards. It's medium size and is built on the Megane platform. The Renault Espace is the large people carrier, similar to the Citroen C8, and both of those are more car than you need for this trip.
I don't believe Citroen makes the Saxo anymore (think it was discontinued in 2003), so you're not likely to come across it at a rental dealer. Of the small cars we've rented, we found the Citroen C3 very comfortable for 2 people in the front seat. But it has next to no legroom in the back. The C3 was quite zippy and handled very well (and some models have nifty features like a second, refrigerated glove box for carrying that chilled wine). The manual gearbox was very smooth and it seemed to get over 40 mpg in the petrol version. Haven't tried the diesel.
Of the cars we've liked renting, the VW Passat or Audi A6, the Mercedes 220.
Re AC, it never hurts to have it. Most cars above the Clio size should come with it. In all the cars we've rented from Avis, Europecar, and Budget, none came without airco.
Yes, gazole is diesel. In France, many stations carry a supposedly more environmentally friendly version of gazole.
If you are renting a car in France, you will most likely be given a French car.

crzyjodi

We rented a diesel Ford Focus in Avignon. It was very roomy, but one thing that bothered us was when going slower than 50miles ph, the stench of the diesel fuel made everyone sick. I don't know if all diesel cars smell so bad or if something was wrong with ours, but it was very unpleasant. Suffice it to say we tried to drive very fast everywhere we went as not to smell the fuel. Since it was France no one semed to notice our speed issues.

Underhill

We have a Renault Scenic reserved next month, having rented one once before. My husband really likes being up high for good visibility. This time we'll be travelling with a friend, and a great thing about the Scenic is that the back seats are of the bucket variety; the one in the middle is positioned exactly to that the occupant can look straight through to the road in front. The car is also easy to get into and out of, useful for back and knee problems.

hopingtotravel

My husband thinks he enjoys the trip more if he's driving a real 'driver's' car. Would requesting a small Mercedes, Audi, or BMW throw one into a luxury category?

BTilke

You can request whatever you like, but you won't be guaranteed a specific car (unless you're doing a longer term rental from an outfit like Renault USA). It's always xxx...or similar. Our own experience in France is that you are most likely to be given a French car. If you go for the luxury category, you'd be more *likely* to get a Peugeot 607 or Renault Vel Satis than a Mercedes or Audi.

rex

Same experience with getting a VelSatis when requesting a full-size car. Ressembled a Saab 9-5, except that leather was not standard, as it would be in a Saab or similar higher-end car in the US.

dln

hopingtotravel: my husband sounds like yours. I kept looking at these tiny cars thinking that was just going to be the two of us, and he kept saying that they weren't "real" cars. That's when I gave up and gave him the job of renting the car, but not before I asked for recommendations here!

My DH did look at the Mercedes and others of a similar luxury class, and they ran about $500 or more a week, versus what we ended up with, which was still a lot more than the economy rentals prices I was envisioning. Nonetheless, I thought the Renault Megane was a nice compromise.

The rental through AutoEurope comes with a free upgrade. I needn't tell you all what the DH is dreaming of... (though I've very practically made lists of all the recommendations you've given me).

cigalechanta

Without a small car you can not visit alot of the villages and drive through some roads nor park.

hopingtotravel

Guess I'll have to study some pictures of Renaults. I do remember roads in Cornwall where corners of houses actually hung out over the road.

kmoncrief

Just a tip!!! We accidentally drove up to the regular pump and the attendant put reg in,within a few seconds he was swearing. Luckliy there was a mechanic next door. We waited for two hours while he ,one located the right place ,and then drained all of the gas,which of course we really only needed a quarter tank..So just be sure what gets put in,as they do it for you..

dln

So does this mean that French gas stations have attendants to pump the gas for you?

There's no way you could get regular and diesel fuel mixed up here, as the diesel gas nozzle won't fit into a regular car's tank. I know because once, too early in the morning, I grabbed the green (diesel) nozzle and it wouldn't work. I was cursing like a trouper at my son who ran my gas tank dry, but later I was twice as embarassed at my error.

rex

<<So does this mean that French gas stations have attendants to pump the gas for you?>>

Way more often than not - - yes.

<<There's no way you could get regular and diesel fuel mixed up here, as the diesel gas nozzle won't fit into a regular car's tank.>>

That may be true - - but the converse is equally UNtrue. A gasoline nozzle WILL fit into the larger opening of a diesel tank.

elle

Autoeurope uses a lot of Mercedes "A" class cars--I forget the exact model, but will check with my husband.

This is not a luxury car--it's kind of like a Ford Focus/Toyota Matrix in that it's a bit of a crossover vehicle, with some of the attributes of a wagon or minivan.

They are narrow enough to negotiate medieval streets, but they sit rather high, so will probably have enough headroom for your husband. The only thing that ever bothered me about them is that they seem to have a very high center of gravity for an otherwise light car.

dln

And how did you find that out, Rex?

travelbunny

....just a comment re size of cars and back roads in provence..a laguna is a med sized european car. i find that about as big as i feel comfortable on back roads...your hubby is tall but not TALL so i dont think he'll have trouble unless he is very long wasted...just wanted to remind you that there is a trade off re the comfort of a large car and the "comfort" of meeting another car on a narrow road or negotiating a tight space in an old city.