Renting a Renault Safrane from Auto Europe. Looking for info from someone that has rented this car. Is there enough luggage space for 4 people? There is supposed to be 18 cu ft of luggage space, or do we need a minivan? We will each have one large bag.

Not exactly info on the Safrane but this might help you compare the Safrane with other Renaults: We (four adults) have twice rented a Renault Laguna (I think it's just slightly smaller?) in France. We brought five full carryon-size bags and three more "carpetbag" smaller ones. There was still room for items such as purchases, hats & jackets, etc. but that took careful packing of the trunk, in order to keep all out of public view. We could do it probably because of the ease with which one can configure several small suitcases... <BR>P.S. In case you don't have experience with the Renaults or others with ignition cutoffs: Don't EVER lock the doors manually; always use the keyless clicker to lock and unlock doors. We had quite an experience in Chamonix as the ignition kept cutting out as we tried to restart the car (and the recorded voice emanating from the auto spoke French just too fast for us (and our B&B host) to figure out the problem; a very helpful local resident happened by and smilingly, knowingly, (and with flourish!) helped us out. Good luck.

Not exactly info on the Safrane but this might help you compare the Safrane with other Renaults: We (four adults) have twice rented a Renault Laguna (I think it's just slightly smaller?) in France. We brought five full carryon-size bags and three more "carpetbag" smaller ones. There was still room for items such as purchases, hats & jackets, etc. but that took careful packing of the trunk, in order to keep all out of public view. We could do it probably because of the ease with which one can configure several small suitcases... <BR>P.S. In case you don't have experience with the Renaults or others with ignition cutoffs: Don't EVER lock the doors manually; always use the keyless clicker to lock and unlock doors. We had quite an experience in Chamonix as the ignition kept cutting out as we tried to restart the car (and the recorded voice emanating from the auto spoke French just too fast for us (and our B&B host) to figure out the problem; a very helpful local resident happened by and smilingly, knowingly, (and with flourish!) helped us out. Good luck.

oops. Got message back from trying to post, saying "document contains no data" so I posted again...

This web site should help: <BR>http://www.eurodrive.renault.com/

Trunk capacity of the Safrane is 16 cu ft (and not 18, Bill), just slightly more than that of the Laguna or Vectra (15 cu ft). IMO, the main "problem" with trunks of European made cars is it's height (a large suitcase won't fit standing and two large suitcases won't normally fit on top of each other) and the width bottleneck due to the rear wheels (two large suitaces won't fit side by side). <BR> <BR>Anyways, what's your definition of a "large bag"? I've had some difficulties with the English language regarding the word bag If you mean 4 suitcases, even if they're flexible, the shouldn't fit ... <BR> <BR>Is it flexible so that you may shape it a couple of inches in length, height and width? What are the "normal" (at rest) dimensions of such a bag in the three directions? <BR> <BR>You wouldn't have any trouble fitting 4 flexible 16in x 12in x 30in FLEXIBLE bags in the Safrane. You would even have extra space available for other stuff. Unfortunately, bags and suitcases are not manufactured to fit in nicely in European car trunks If you have the choice to use a couple of bags instead of a big one for each of you, it would certainly work out better. <BR> <BR>Finally, there's another source of potential problems. When we travel as a family, we usually take 2 large flexible suitcases and 4 carry on bags. When we arrive ... no sweat. Unfortunately, along the way our suitcases and bags tend to swell almost without bound (we usually stay a month)... and more often than not there's no way to fit everything in the trunk. <BR> <BR>Have you considered to travel as light as possible? <BR> <BR>Paulo <BR> <BR>

Go to the Renault webpage:http://www.eurodrive.renault.com/ang...mme/aindex.htm <BR>There if you click on range, and then click on Laguna,and then on boot capacity, they show a picture of suitcases that will fit in the Laguna. <BR>The sizes they list that will fit are: 2 each of 69"x55"x24";63"x51"x22"and 54"x40"x21". Obviously,the (") does not stand for inches,but instead must be milimeters. If so, the suitcase sizes the trunk will accomodate are approximately 2 each of suitcases that are: 27in x21.5in x 9.5in. <BR> 24.75in x 20in x 8.66in <BR> 21.25in x 15.75in x 8.25 in <BR>This website shows the trunk capacity of the Safrane is 16 cu. ft. and the Laguna to be 15.9 cu. ft. <BR>Hope this helps.

I rented a Renault Safrane while in Paris a few years ago. In US, I drive an Audi 100CS. It is a bit larger than the Renault but I felt that four could ride comfortably in the Safrane. The trunk held my/my spouse's 4 bags + purchases easily. The car had an alarm. It wasn't gas-guzzler. You won't need a mini van. I think we rented it from Eurocar but it could have been Auto Europe, it's been a few years. All I recall is trying to navigate the Arc d'Triomphe at Rush Hour on our way to Levallios! (We are now veterans!) I would rent another in a hot minute! It was quite nice.

Thank you, Cherie, Jack & Karen. <BR>It seems that the Safrane or Laguna will handle our needs. I guess there is nothing worse than picking up a rental car and finding out that it won't handle your luggage needs. By the way, Jack, where did you get your Math/enginering degree? Can I borrow your sliderule? Now that's showing my age!

OHHHH NOOOO! I thought my husband was the only nerd left with a slide rule....You know what they say....all the nerds drive expensive cars now....Enjoy the Safrane.

Or, to follow up on Cherie's theme: <BR> <BR>The geek shall inherit the earth... <BR> <BR>PS to Bill: Four adults will ride very comfortably in either car. Enjoy your trip!

Just to reiterate the earlier point about always opening a renault with the automatic key beam. We have owned one for four years and still find that the sequencing goes wrong if you open manually and have had to call the AA in our own front drive !