I've reserved a Peugeot 107 or similar through AutoEurope in Lisbon (actual agency is Europcar). Most of our trip will be driving outside of Lisbon - going in a northern counter-clockwise circle through Batalha, Guarda, towards Braganca back to the coast and returning to Lisbon.

My concern isn't about the size of the car as far as people and luggage are concerned - the two of us should be fine. I know that this model Peugeot is billed as an 'urban' car designed for city driving. I'm more concerned about whether this car will be underpowered for driving through the country. Will this be a problem?

I would move up a class--207. Try not to miss Marvao as you drive NE.

It is indeed a small car, the gasoline version has a 1.0 injection engine, the diesel version a 1.4 injection engine.
These are small engines, but since it is a small car and a very modern car, this should not be a problem.
Don't expect to win the rally-racing, but normal driving in and around towns and country-side should be just fine.

Btw; the Citroen C1 and Toyota Aygo are besically the same cars.
Other cars in this category are the Renault Twingo, Opel Agila, Volksagen Lupo, Chevrolet Matiz, Kia Picanto, Hyundai Getz.

Should it have airco switch it off. Small engines can cool cars or make them go forward, but not both at the same time. I used to have a Ford Ka, a lovely car, but with the airco on it could be overtaken by a little old lady on a bike.

As long as it is a shift car, just down shift and step on the gas when you need extra power. It should give you enough power. I had a similar car (Hyundai i10 diesel) in France (Jura mountains, Auvergne and the Dordogne) and it was fine. But I did not use any autoroute except to go around Lyon.

GoAway:


Once again, I heartily second BobtheNavigator's suggestion not to miss Marvao. It is special! Both he and I have stayed at the Pousada there (in fact, we had the same room just months apart)....the views are nothing short of magnificent. I would also recommend the Pousada in Belmonte, just south of Guarda. If you qualify for Golden Age (age 55), most of Portugals marveous Pousadas give a 40% discount.

As was my recent Auto Europe rental, if your Europcar rental is from Guerin Auto Rentals in Lisbon, I can only tell you that they inspect it with a magnifying glass demeanor when you turn it in...even a hair-sized scratch invisible to the naked eye is classified "damage". I've rented cars worldwide,and I can't think of any other like it! Be sure to go over the car very closely when picking it up in Lisbon. (We had an Ibiza 4-cyl., plenty of room for 2-persons luggage, and it performed very well on the open road and mountainous regions as well).

As for Portugal, you're in for a treat!!

Stu T. (I'd be happy to comply if you're interested in pics of Lisbon,Arraiolos, Evora, Marvao, Belmonte, Obidos, Sitio/Nazare, Sintra/Cascais and vicinity)

A 107 is fine if you are not visiting mountains.

Tower - do you remember the address for Guerin Auto Rentals? The Europcar agency I'll be using is the 'Downtown Lisbon' location on Avenida Antonio Augusto Aguiar.

GoAway:

The address for Guerin downtown (they also have an office at Lisbon Airport) is : Avenida Alvarez Cabaral...but you could have the address of the office at the airport which I do not know.

Frankly, I would think that all Lisbon agencies will have the same "magnifying glass" inspection I described above....

At any rate, have a marvelous journey. You wll love the country.

stu t.