bvlenci

I'm trying to decide on a rental car for a family trip to Ireland. We will be six people (5 adults and a child). We will have two cars, but I've just learned that the second person willing to drive on the left won't be arriving when the rest of us do. That means that for one week, including the drive from Dublin airport to our rental cottage in Northern Ireland, we'll all (4 adults and a child) be in one car, along with our luggage. We are all light packers, so I would consider that we'll have four carry-on sized suitcases, plus five smaller bags that probably can be fit inside the passenger space. We won't be making any very long drives once we're there; the longest drive I anticipate is about 2 hours.

I was originally thinking of two "economy" or "compact" cars, but now I realize that at least one of the cars, for the first week, will probably have to be larger. On the other hand, the roads there are often quite narrow, and I don't want to overdo it. I'm trying to decide between "intermediate" (Volkswagen Jetta or similar) and "standard" (Volkswagen Passat or similar). The Jetta is 5 cm narrower and 13 cm shorter.

Just for comparison, the compact-class car would have been Opel Astra or similar.

Does anyone have any experience with similar cars, and a similar-sized group?

bilboburgler

No use on the group but I used to drive all over NI in what ever I could hire and Passat is not too big for NI at all. I would worry a bit more in the south off the beaten track but not much more, the Irish instituted annual car checks in the last 20 years or so and their driving has got much better, the real issue will be forgetting you left hand side, but after a few days in the north that should be resolved for the tourist areas of the south.

sofarsogood

For 6 people plus 4 suitcases plus 5 bags even a standard would be too small - you'll need to go up a size at least.

Once you split into two groups you can get away with a smaller size.

The roads may be narrow but your car will fit on them whatever size you get.

nytraveler

Although the roads may be comparatively narrow and parking space tight you need to understand that there are delivery trucks using these roads all of the time and there is really no need to rent a minute car and have people falling out of the windows.

Granted it may take a little bit of getting used to driving on the wrong side - but ew always rent intermediate or larger cars - and have never had a problem.

Caveat: living in NYC we are used to parallel parking in spaces barely larger than the car and on either size. If you are used to just pulling into a driveway or mall parking it may pay to do some practice parallel parking in small spaces at home.

jaja

And will the child require a car seat? They take up more room than the child his/herself. So people sitting on either side may be uncomfortable.

NewbE

I think it depends on how good a driver you are, frankly! We have friends who rented a roomy sedan to drive around Ireland--like a Passat--because, being Americans, they were afraid of driving too small a car. They got stuck in more than one village, and complained a lot about how narrow the roads are, and had to pay for the scratches the hedgerows put on the sides of the car, and never did get used to driving on the "wrong" side of the road. We concluded they must just be terrible drivers!

So I generally advise renting the smallest car you can get away with, BUT you really should be fine with something like a Passat...

bvlenci

We've driven on the left before, both in Ireland and in Scotland, so that doesn't worry us. (My husband and I are a driver/navigator team.)

We'll have only one worrisome trip, with four adults, a small child, and the luggage. We're staying put most of the time, and by the time we have six people, we'll also have another car, although the new driver will be a novice at driving on the left. I'm not really worried about that at all, because we had no problem and I'm sure she won't either. For the second week, we'll be four and two, or three and three, in the two cars.

We'll mostly be visiting relatives in rural areas, where we've been before, so we know what to expect of the roads as well.

And we do parallel park in rural Le Marche, where many small towns have very little available parking, so we even need to squeeze into small spaces.

Does anyone have an opinion on which class of car would be needed for the one trip from the airport to our first destination?

bvlenci

Bilbo, do you think the Volkswagen Jetta would be large enough? Compared to the Passat, it's a little shorter (for parking) and a little narrower (for passing), and it's a good deal cheaper.

The child will be 11 at the time of the trip. She's small for her age, but I don't think she'll need a booster seat, although she was still using one last summer.

Let me reiterate, we've driven in Ireland (north and south) before, and didn't scratch the car.

Also, we'll never be six people in one car. By the time the sixth person arrives, we'll have two cars.

Tony2phones

I really don't know how we manage to drive on these narrow roads? I suppose it is a benefit that hedges ditches and stone walls have declared an amnesty and agreed not to jump out into the path of anyone except US visitors.

I suggest you go for comfort inside the cabin and take out full insurance for peace of mind outside the cabin. A Passat is not exactly a big car and will give a level of comfort the Jetta will not. You should be fine without a booster cushion for an 11 yr old.

bvlenci

Tony, I live in rural Italy, where we have some very narrow roads also. Somehow, on your own roads and in your own car you become perfectly at ease with whatever the road offers. It takes a while to internalize the width of a new car.

I'm not terribly worried about internal comfort, as almost everything we want to see is within a short drive of where we're staying, and none of us is tall. I'm more concerned about luggage space for that one trip. Maybe we can use one of the bags as a booster seat!

Changing the subject, Tony, since you have two phones, do you have any advice about SIM cards? I'd like to use one of our phones to create a wifi hotspot, since our first week will be spent at a place without wifi.

Alec

SIM card is easy. Just go to a newsagaent or supermarket and get pay-as-you-go SIM card with generous amount of data. EE has good 4G coverage in Northern Ireland.

Heimdall

No doubt in my mind you should choose the Passat over the Jetta. I drive a VW Golf, which has about the same size interior as the Jetta, and I can't imagine carrying four adults plus a child with a car seat in anything but very short journeys. The Jetta has more space for luggage than the Golf, but not much legroom for passengers in the back seats.

One road to my village in England is so narrow there isn't enough room for even two small cars to pass in opposite directions. No problem with that — you just need to be aware of oncoming traffic and pull over when necessary. Most drivers on those narrow rural roads are very courteous and cooperative, and I'm sure it will be the same in Ireland.

Tony2phones

As to Wifi/Sim Card etc much as I hate the company 3 has the best deal at the moment which also covers data whilst down here on a 90 day at home package. If you go with EE former Orange/Tmobile then you will need a separate sim when you get this side of the border or you will eat credit if you do actually get a signal.

If you are coming from Italy then you have nothing to fear from Irish Roads

bilboburgler

bvlenci, Tony may be right but I'd check the law.

In the Uk (incl NI) the law is clear, booster seat are required until the kid is 12 or 135cm which ever happens first.

In Ireland the limit is 150cm.

The car company may also have a rule, over and above.

Thank goodness for EU harmonisation.

The issue is that seat belts are no use for a small kid and what would stop an adult going through a window will just crush a child's throat. Sorry, that sounds a bit harsh but is the thinking.

In terms of choice of car, It is hard to tell, due to size of people, luggage, size of booster seat. If you've done this before with these people then you must have a feel for it. Generally there are more larger roads in the north, but that is a generalisation and it depends on where you end up. Either way people give way for people, you back up, smile and wave

On narrow roads I find I start to notice passing points and count seconds after I've driven by one, normally there will be passing points every 10 to 15 seconds so that gives you a clue who should back up, still local knowledge trumps counting every time.

bilboburgler

Reading back the Jetta may be ok, but it might be a squeeze and of course they may offer you an equivalent.

bvlenci

I've decided to rent the Jetta, and I've laid down the law on luggage. I'll request a booster seat.

Padraig

Some car hire operators charge such extortionate prices for booster seats that it might be more economic to purchase one.

Tony2phones

http://www.argos.ie/static/Product/p...7C14417572.htm

Closest Argos to DUB
Unit F19, The Pavilions Shopping Centre
Swords.

Or pass on the way North at Drogheda
Unit 2, Drogheda Retail Park, Donore Road
Drogheda