Five of us (two married couples and myself)will be traveling together in the U.K. in May. We plan to pick up a vehicle at whichever London airport we fly into, and then drop it off at Edinburgh or Glasgow airport. I'm starting to wonder if we should rent a mini-van as some in my group are advocating or should we plan on renting two smaller cars? We will be staying in the Cotwolds for one week and Stirling area of Scotland the second week, with day trips in the car(s) planned from our accommodations, although we are taking the train into London rather than drive. Pros & cons of one mini-van vs. two compact cars? Thanks!

One minivan will probably be less expensive than two cars. No need for one car to try and follow the other (and get lost). easier to find one parking place than two.

Two cars will give the group more options to split up and do own thing.

If it were me, I want one minivan as it would be less complicated.

Actually - two small cars could very well be cheaper than a people mover (mini van).

Either one makes sense -- there are pros and cons whichever you choose. If you know the group has lots of different interests and stamina levels -- then two small cars will give you a lot more flexibility. Say 3 or 4 folks want to visit Chedworth Roman Villa and 1 or 2 have absolutely no interest in it -- two cars limits the arguments/disappointments.

But a single mini van would make some of you logistics easier.

If it were me I'd opt for two small cars.

(just curious - a week in the Cotswolds and a week near Stirling sounds like you are in self-catering cottages, or in time shares. Forest Hills and Walton Hall by any chance???)

Your main concern is going to be your luggage - even an mpv (Renault Espace for example - I'm sure you can find a picture of one if you Google it)may seem cramped with 5 adults and 5 people's suitcases (potentially 10+ articles of luggage in various sizes).

Furthermore, if your unused to driving on the left and narrow, twisty country lanes (which many overseas visitors to the UK certainly are) you may find the size of an mpv rather disconcerting.

And don't misunderestimate (my favourite Bushism!) the flexibility argument - it may save some serious friction over the long term!

On the other hand - there'll be half as much driving in one vehicle; only 1 person need drive from Oxford to Stratford, for example, rather than two. However you determine whose turn it is to drive it will equate to less time for each individual behind the wheel.

One vehicle will always be cheaper to rent than two, and rental costs what they are in the UK this should be seriously considered too. Not to mention doubling your (not inconsiderable) fuel bill with 2 cars.

It's a real conundrum - I think only you know:
a) How well you all get along and are likely to get fractious or not.
b) Your budget
c) Your ability and that of your friends to pack sensibly and not turn up with two enormous suitcases each.
d) Your comfort with driving on "the wrong side" of the road.

Hope you can determine the best course of action for you and your friends (and remember - it may well not necessarily be the best course of action that other's chose and will recommend!)

Dr D.

Thanks for the suggestions. My internet research suggests that two compact cars would be cheaper than one mini-van (and possibly easier to navigate on some of the smaller roads).

Janis - You guessed correctly that we are renting self-catering cottages. We are staying in Moreton-in-Marsh at The Red House and in Arnprior at Thorntree Barn. Have you heard of either?

haven't heard of the Red House -- but not to worry, there are many rental cottages in the area and not know any particular one doesn't mean anything.

But I have heard (and actually seen from the outside) of Thorntree. I spend a fair amount of time near Aberfoyle which is not far from Arnprior. I looks like a nice property.

You will LOVE both locations. be sure to visit Inchmahome Priory in the Lake of Menteith -- less than 5 miles from Arnprior, on a small island (you take a free govt launch). It is a fabulous site for a picnic lunch - serene setting with lovely views across the lake. And in May the masses of Bluebells will probably carpet the wild half of the island.

We 5 adults rented a Ford Mondeo in England for 10 days and did fine BUT we packed very light (1 carry on each)and we are not overly large people. We just all wanted to be together.

I used to have a Mondeo, and I can't imagine putting 5 adults in it even for a 30-minute drive. 4 is fine, but 5 is really tight.

The main problem we'll have is traveling from the airport to our accommodations and back again. In between trips to attractions won't be a problem because we won't have the luggage with us at that time. Unfortunately, "packing light" doesn't exactly seem to be part of one of our group's vocabulary, although the rest of us are working on her! How big is the boot in a Mondeo?

On the subject of similar interests, we all seem to be agreeing on what types of things we'd like to tour, so there doesn't seem as if there will be a lot of dithering regarding what we are doing on any particular day. We all get along very well, too, and the ladies in the group (my twin sister and our best friend) have traveled together in the past, so we're used to each other's idiosyncrasies for the most part! Dr. Dogood's point about fuel cost is a very good one, too. Thanks

I think what I would do is get a compact that the two people would drive in and something like a mondeo station wagon for the three people (which according to autoeurope seats 5). Since you are not moving from one B&B to another every night, the following thing isn't much of an issue. If you all decide that you want to go to the same place some day you can load up into the Mondeo (w/o the luggage) and drive off. If you decide you want to do something different, you can take both cars.

Based on autoeurope prices you would pay $1185 for the two cars versus $1743 for one minivan (basic rate, no CDW, for 2 weeks). You would be giving up automatic transmission with the smaller cars. I had no problem shifting with the left hand, but others might. Even if you went for the automatic, the price for two would probably be about the same as the price for one (they didn't show all the options for that). The only difference would be gas and I think that would be worth the flexibility.

Just my thoughts.

Bill

Hi twina,

If you go to
www.autoeurope.com and http://www.novarentacar.com/
you will be able to see the different size vehicles and how many people, how much luggage they hold.