Car rental question
 

Hi everyone!

My husband and I will be traveling to France this spring and we’ll be renting a car in Avignon for 5 days.
I got my quotes from the rental companies (Kemwel being the cheapest) and we have a couple of options that we are considering.

One is an economy Renault Twingo or Similar, Economy Car/2 Door Manual Transmission, Air Conditioning

The other is a compact Renault Megane Diesel or Similar, Compact Car/4 Door Manual Transmission, Air Conditioning.

In your opinion, which car should we reserve if the difference in cost is about $50 (with the economy one being the cheaper). Would you want to rent an economy car, or feel that it’s way too small and won’t be able to make it “up the hill”? Would a diesel car be fuel efficient enough to compensate for the cost difference?

Any recommendations?

Thanks in advance,
dk

From my own experiance and what I have read.. By the time you get to the rental desk, the cheapest cars will be gone and they will give you an upgrade car for the same price.. I would go with the Twingo and hope for a free upgrade. I looked at the Twingos last Sept in Paris. They will be fine for you if you are not upgraded.

Since you are getting a standard shift car, going up hills will not be a problem. Just be willing to downshift and step on the gas.

I concur that you will almost surely get a free upgrade. Happens to me about 90% of the time.

Having said that, I've driven both of those cars, and I would never want to head out on the autoroute in a Twingo again.

Shoot… So the Twingo does feel small and not very powerful…

and I may not get a diesel car if they upgrade me (which I am guaranteed with the second option)…

Does anyone else care if they get diesel or not?

I don't think Twingos operate on diesel. The Mégane will almost certainly be a diesel (and yes, that will save you some money).

I drove the Twingo from the Dordogne to the Cévennes and I honest to god thought I was going to get blown right off the road going through those gusty mountain passes. Scared the bejeezus out of me.

If you are just driving from village to village in Provence, an economy car will probably be enough car for you.

However, if you are planning to go on a more heavily travelled motorway, you might want to consider a larger car with more pep. There's a lot of truck traffic on France's motorways.

We usually ask for a compact - Megane or VW Golf. Besides, there's not enough room for my shopping in the back of a Twingo! LOL

2010

Thanks everyone for your input. I think I'll err on the safe side and book the bigger car!

we went with the Megane - neither has much trunk space but the Megane being a 4 dr makes it handier to get in luggage etc - and there is a good savings with the diesel I have found - definitely worth the extra bucks - believe I have had the same in the past and a nice car with good pep and comfort for the toll roads and smaller roads - and yes may get an upgrade to midsize!!!

I love diesel cars. You can drive forever and ever on one tank.