Sue_xx_yy

Portia - they sometimes, but not always, offer better deals over the phone than on the Internet.

Anna1013 - We had a Ford Mondeo automatic, this car was known as the Contour in North America. This car is no longer being produced, but as far as I can tell, it was slightly smaller than the present Ford Fusion (check with a Ford dealer to find out for sure.)

I could tell you our luggage load and how well it fit, but instead I strongly suggest that before you book your car, you take your empty suitcases and try and fit them into a midsize car (e.g. a friend's if you don't have one, or I have found local auto dealers to be quite gracious about allowing one to 'experiment' providing the luggage is very clean and snag-free.)A word of warning: assume that the European/UK version of 'midsize' will be slightly smaller than the same category in NA.

HINT: our first trip to England as a couple was the first, and last, trip to anywhere that we lugged along any bag bigger than 22-23 inches.

janisj

I agree w/ Sue_xx_yy. I'd first try to cut back on the size of your bags. Your itinerary is fairly hectic (aren't you going to London, Paris, the Peaks/Lake Dist. etc? )

W/ all that moving around, those big bags will get pretty old pretty fast. And w/ smaller bags you can likely get by w/ a smaller/cheaper car.

Anna1013

Thanks again to everyone for their help. We will be driving in the Lake District and the Peak District - I've read some posts that driving in the Lakes can be difficult, but I hope we will be able to get around in a midsize.

Ira,
I had never thought to check the UK website - will Autoeurope match those prices as well?

Mrs Wilde,
Do you remember the size of your bags that fit into the astra?

ira

Hi A,

>I had never thought to check the UK website - will Autoeurope match those prices as well?<

It's the same company.

They will bill you in GBP instead of USD.

Also check prices at www.gemut.com.

Mrs_Wilde

We had two rolling backpack-style suitcases (20"x13"x10&quot. Our companions brought three rolling carry-ons (sorry, don't know the exact dimensions of these but they were of the size that doesn't exceed most airlines carry-on limits). We packed light knowing that we had a washer/dryer at our cottage.

We had driven in the UK several times and knew from our previous car rentals that five bags would probably fit. As I said, it was snug but even at the end of our trip with a few bags of souvenirs which we laid on top of the suitcases, it worked out.

jkbritt

If I were you, I would limit everyone to 1 carry-on and then take the 3 suitcases and combine them to 1. You will not need all that you are taking. 1 backpack each and a combined case should be enough for all 3.

highflyer

If you can't cut back on luggage just bear in mind that the back seat passenger will be sharing their space with a case and some carryon!

mikemo

We rented a Toyota Camry 5 sp equivilant from Auto Europe in July '04 and were quite happy with the room and trunk space for 4 adults - got nearly 36 mpg when fuel was greater than $6.50 a US gallon.
Had no problems with the wrong side ex: always got in the wrong driver's door and could never comprehend the left side of the car in space - lots of interesting high speed apexes with that, lol.
M