If you're SURE you'll be getting the Mercedes, why not
wander into your nearest Mercedes dealer with a tape measure or better yet, a couple of your empty suitcases?

Don't forget that though a wagon may have more nominal
luggage capacity you can only
realistically and safely pack
the rear deck as high as the
slide over cover allows... you don't want all your gear in the open inviting theft.

Rob

Thank you all for the advise.

We are most likely going with a combination of 24" and 26"

Thanks again,
Robyn

Rob~
Funny you say that...
My parents went to BMW last night and found a comparable sized car and brought the suitcases with them.

It was a good idea as 4 -26" will not fit. 2 will and then perhaps 2-24"

Great idea. And better to know before actually landing in Italy.

Robyn

Ours was a sedan.

I would never take a station wagon - since then your luggage would be exposed - way too much risk of theft.

The only car we have found in europe that will comfortabley hold luggage for 4 was a Mercedes limo (on the way to the airport).

We did have an Opel station wagon on one trip to Germany, and it did hold a lot more stuff than a regular Opel trunk, even with the luggage cover closed. We easily got two 26" suitcases, a backpack, and a carry-on suitcase into it with room left over.

I guess it just depends on the configuration of the particular car you end up with. And, of course, rental companies do not guarantee what sort of car you will drive out with.

Because I am an artist with lots of "stuff", I always drive a station wagon here in the Boston Area. On occasion, I've needed to rent a carrier to put on the roof rack of the car. These are usually covered containers that come in soft or hard varieties. Perhaps, you can rent something like that for your trip to hold your excess baggage. As others of said, I would not leave any baggage exposed, which seems to say to would be thieves- "take me!"

Good luck,

Margret

Actually, with our Ford Mondeo Station Wagon, the cover in the back hid everything from view. You couldn't tell if there was any luggage in there or not.

And, how many times will you be stopping for long periods with your luggage in the car anyway?

Just home from France where we had a VW Passat TDI wagon for 6 days. Quinnr's luggage would have fit it (just) and with the top cover in place it's as discreet as a sedan.

But I think the big point is can you be sure of getting the car you think you're going to get?

I reserved through AutoEurope
and the example size was a Passat. But after doing the paperwork at the Nice Europcar train station location the vehicle awaiting me in the lot was some sort of Fiat SUV looking 4 wheel drive vehicle
with a luggage area that would not have held all our bags.

Parked beside it was a Passat Wagon... back to the office I went to remonstrate.

A problem... I'd reserved a standard but the VW was automatic... and would be double what I'd already paid!

I ended up having them phone AutoEurope in Maine and within 5 minutes a fax came through and I was off in the VW... for 13 dollars extra!

But I was lucky. And a BIG
thanks to AutoEurope for their great service!

Rob