Anyone rented a Fiat Ducato 9 Passenger Van
 

I think that's what we are going to need to travel through Italy, and was wondering if it is as massive as it looks - how was traveling in this van? Thanks!

I just got back from 10 days of driving a Mercedes Vito 9 psgr van throughout Netherlands, Germany and Denmark. I was afraid of the size but it was pretty nimble. We got through many a narrow Medieval gate and had no problems using underground parking lots. The only tricky task was trying to pull into parking spaces simply because the back end is so darn long that it sticks out into traffic in places like a supermarket parking lot. And forget parallel parking. A couple of touristy spots generously allowed me to park in the bus lot.

By the way, request diesel if possible. We were getting close to 20mpg with 9 of us inside and 500 lbs of luggage in back.

Thanks Zeus - that sounds pretty good. The reality is we need something that size. How did you like the Mercedes? It's tempting to rent, but costs another $1,000 for our trip if we were to go with that one. Who did you rent the car through?

I drove a Fiat Ducato camper all through France, the Low Countries and England. Only once was there a problem...
when my mirror smacked the mirror of a camper coming the
opposite way on a steep and narrow road near Rocamadour.

Parking was impossible in Monaco as in our case the high top
roof made the van too tall for parking garages.

I'd drive one again in a minute... if that's the size you need for your group that's the size you need. There are lots of other Ducatos out there on the road so it can't be that bad driving one!

Have fun!

Rob

It looks like the Fiat Ducato only comes with a diesel engine. Most vehicles of this size in Europe are diesel.

There are also Peugeot and Citroen vehicles to the same design with just minor styling differences. I think they are all made at the same factory.

This thing will not fit into an undergound parking lot. It's simply too long. It comes with a PSA Diesel, even a Autogas version is available.