Orvieto Car Drop Off..we hope.
Aug 2nd, 2012, 08:11 AM
#61
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Actually, our worst European driving experience was picking up the car in town in Iraklio and it occurred before the driving even started. But it gave us a bonding experience with the locals. The Avis lady walked across the street to a parking lot and began inspecting a new-looking car with a magnifying glass. Including - I kid you not - wiping off some smudges or maybe barely visible dust here and there with her hand. (Turns out the car had about 150 miles on it.) This set the stage for what was to come.
She handed DH the key and walked back to our office while we both surveyed the car and wondered how we were going to get it out of there. DH was able to squeeze in the 10-12" gap when I held the door open as far as it would go without touching the adjacent car. The cars were so crammed in that I served as driving director and stood by every car as DH pulled forwards or backwards, cutting and sawing his way out. "Ten inches. Six inches. Three inches, stop!" A couple of guys sitting in the steps at a nearby building came over and started making suggestions (in Greek). Then a couple more guys came in off the street and gave more suggestions. DH cut the wheels and moved a few inches, cut and moved a few more inches for what was probably 5 minutes (and seemed like an hour). By the time it was over there were about 6 or 7 streetside drivers offering advice. Finally got the pristine car out, still unscathed, and managed to get onto the street. (Okay, I lied about the Avis lady's magnifying glass but the rest was true.) We also turned in the car unblemished a few days later but worried the whole time, especially driving in Hania and trying to park in a slot about a foot longer than the car. Am thankful it was an automatic and we didn't have to worry about a stall and the accompanying little lurch (into a vehicle 2" away).
Oh, I believe you, Dayle, when you say you enjoy driving stick through the countryside. I just don't understand.
I don't so much mind driving one on open roads, but open roads are such a small part of my driving and driving stick in town is such a pain. Thus, I was happy to dump the Mazda with stick in about 1980 - a car I never bought anyway, got with my marriage; somehow DH appropriated my automatic Falcon and I got stuck with shifting for the next five years.
She handed DH the key and walked back to our office while we both surveyed the car and wondered how we were going to get it out of there. DH was able to squeeze in the 10-12" gap when I held the door open as far as it would go without touching the adjacent car. The cars were so crammed in that I served as driving director and stood by every car as DH pulled forwards or backwards, cutting and sawing his way out. "Ten inches. Six inches. Three inches, stop!" A couple of guys sitting in the steps at a nearby building came over and started making suggestions (in Greek). Then a couple more guys came in off the street and gave more suggestions. DH cut the wheels and moved a few inches, cut and moved a few more inches for what was probably 5 minutes (and seemed like an hour). By the time it was over there were about 6 or 7 streetside drivers offering advice. Finally got the pristine car out, still unscathed, and managed to get onto the street. (Okay, I lied about the Avis lady's magnifying glass but the rest was true.) We also turned in the car unblemished a few days later but worried the whole time, especially driving in Hania and trying to park in a slot about a foot longer than the car. Am thankful it was an automatic and we didn't have to worry about a stall and the accompanying little lurch (into a vehicle 2" away).
Oh, I believe you, Dayle, when you say you enjoy driving stick through the countryside. I just don't understand.
I don't so much mind driving one on open roads, but open roads are such a small part of my driving and driving stick in town is such a pain. Thus, I was happy to dump the Mazda with stick in about 1980 - a car I never bought anyway, got with my marriage; somehow DH appropriated my automatic Falcon and I got stuck with shifting for the next five years.
Aug 6th, 2012, 02:17 PM
#62
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Avis Italy usually have an automatic in the garage.
Sometimes it is also a way to an upgrade. Make the request and if confirmed hold them to it and dont backoff
Just take the insurance and feel assured that you have no problems.
No point in arguing with the credit card company that provides free part insurance if you have a small ding. They will probably want you to pay an excess anyway.
Formula 1 drivers dont play with stick shifts anymore and neither do I
Sometimes it is also a way to an upgrade. Make the request and if confirmed hold them to it and dont backoff
Just take the insurance and feel assured that you have no problems.
No point in arguing with the credit card company that provides free part insurance if you have a small ding. They will probably want you to pay an excess anyway.
Formula 1 drivers dont play with stick shifts anymore and neither do I
Aug 6th, 2012, 04:58 PM
#63
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I know they don't. I work with a guy who has a "side" business of selling "exotic" cars. Last time he had a Ferrari on hand, I begged to drive it. When he told me they now have the paddle shifters I was completely disillusioned!!! I didn't even want to drive it anymore. That's just WRONG.
Aug 6th, 2012, 06:59 PM
#64
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Delighted for all of you who have used Auto Europe with no problems. We used them once and lost out on $700 in spite of the fact that we had pictures proving there was no damage when we dropped off the car.
Aug 6th, 2012, 08:41 PM
#65
<B>Lady:</B> >><i> We used them once and lost out on $700 in spite of the fact that we had pictures proving there was no damage when we dropped off the car.</i><<
Who did you actually get the car from? Autoeurope is simply a broker not a rental agency - so the car drop off/inspection was w/ some agency (Hertz/Avis/??), not @ Autoeurope.
Who did you actually get the car from? Autoeurope is simply a broker not a rental agency - so the car drop off/inspection was w/ some agency (Hertz/Avis/??), not @ Autoeurope.
Aug 7th, 2012, 08:53 PM
#67
Lady: "<i>Maybe, but the sign where we turned it in said Auto Europe so I pretty much hold them responsible. Sorry.</i>"
I very seriously doubt any sign said 'Autoeurope'. Autoeurope does not have any rental offices in Europe (or anywhere else for that matter)
Could it have been EuropeCar or AutoEuropa or something like that? It wasn't Autoeurope.
I very seriously doubt any sign said 'Autoeurope'. Autoeurope does not have any rental offices in Europe (or anywhere else for that matter)
Could it have been EuropeCar or AutoEuropa or something like that? It wasn't Autoeurope.
Aug 8th, 2012, 02:37 PM
#71
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I always find Autoeurope expensive and I dont like the fact that I have to pay in advance (these may be features unique to,booking thru Australian site, not sure).
Much to my husbands dismay, I am solely an automatic driver so when we rent cars we have to reserve an automatic if we are to share the driving.
We almost always use Hertz, reserve an auto, and that is what we get. You don't have to get a large car to do this either. Our last car in Italy was a Ford Festiva - nice and small, great for little streets, driving thru old towns and parking!
Hertz have always said that if we are able to get an auto confirmation in booking then that is what we will get ( so far it has been true)
Much to my husbands dismay, I am solely an automatic driver so when we rent cars we have to reserve an automatic if we are to share the driving.
We almost always use Hertz, reserve an auto, and that is what we get. You don't have to get a large car to do this either. Our last car in Italy was a Ford Festiva - nice and small, great for little streets, driving thru old towns and parking!
Hertz have always said that if we are able to get an auto confirmation in booking then that is what we will get ( so far it has been true)
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