studentgirl

I will be renting a car in Strasbourg and driving to Provence, where we will spend about a week sightseeing and enjoying the scenery. We'll be visiting some of the small towns of course, and I've taken a look at the street view on Google maps for some of them...tiny streets that I can't imagine two cars fitting on but that have arrows indicating a two way road...

I had planned on renting a compact (Volkswagen Golf or similar) manual, but now I'm worried that might be too big. The next down is economy (Citroen C3 or similar). Since the US tends to be a lover of bigger cars I don't have much to compare the Citroen to, at least I don't think, maybe an older Ford Fiesta? Will that be large enough for two adults and luggage? My mom doesn't pack that light...

Let me know if it would be OK to still go with the compact, or if you all think it would be too big to navigate smaller towns in Provence.

Thanks all!

studentgirl

Actually on the site I'll probably rent from (since it has the cheapest young driver costs...I'm 23) the "compact" says Citroen Xsara or similar. Is that similar to a Volkswagen Golf?

studentgirl

Also, should I get a diesel or not?

telechick

I can't comment on the size of the car - but I would DEFINITELY recommend a diesel. They get amazing gas mileage!

kevin_widrow

Compact will be just fine. You wouldn't want to drive a really tiny car all the way from Strasbourg, believe me. And you won't be driving the really tiny streets in perched villages anyway as you'll park usually down below and walk around. In any case, we all manage and we're not all driving midget cars (says the man who proudly drives a Twingo !)...

And yes, go for diesel, it's a lot cheaper.

-Kevin

StCirq

A compact is definitely not too big, but you'll need to be able to park really well, i.e., squeeze that car into small spaces. So practice. Tell your mom she has to make this trip with a 22" rollaboard suitcase, so she has time to practice packing. And yes, get a diesel (though in all likelihood you'll get one anyway, as the vast majority of cars, other than tiny little Clios and Twingos, are all diesels).

NYCFoodSnob

You can find car specs on the internet quite easily and compare car widths and lengths but I think your concern is not warranted. Unless the circumstances are extreme, all car classes will fit on the streets of Provence. It sounds like you have no experience driving in Europe. If this is true, you'll probably feel more comfortable in a smaller car your first time out. They are easier to fit in and around small spaces.

The VW Golf is not a large car but it is larger than most labeled Economy. The Golf comes in Automatic but I don't like it. I usually get the larger Mercedes or BMW, which makes tight spaces more challenging but doable.

Car rental agencies can't guarantee a specific make and model. You get what you get in the car class reserved at the time of pick-up. If they run out of Economy cars, you'll automatically get upgraded, which usually means a slightly larger car. Each car takes a specific type of gas. You will be instructed accordingly by the rental agent.

Christina

I'ved had a VW Golf in Provence as I recall, and it was fine, I didn't have any problem with it although I usually drive a somewhat smaller car. I agree that very small compact cars are not so comfortable on long drives. What do you think a VW Golf will be too big for? It's not that big a car.

mpprh

European car specs in English :

http://www.whatcar.com

If you want to go in the medieval streets - smaller is better.

Typical village streets :

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&sour...130.52,,3,5.24

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&sour...,62.42,,0,3.88

Otherwise park & walk !

Peter

studentgirl

Thanks all. I think I'll go for the economy, I did some research and most of the economy hatchbacks look like they will suffice!

Pvoyageuse

The C3 is a very nice car but the trunk is tiny (I own one !)

NYCFoodSnob

Peter, thanks for the whatcar.com link. In the Performance and measurement window, they offer a three-perspective graphic of the cars. Do you know what unit of measurement the numbers represent?

Also, some car models don't list front seat headroom and leg room measurements. I have a tall friend who's trying to find out these numbers on the Peugeot 207. I can't seem to find them anywhere. Can anyone help?