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Post by dixinormus on Jul 26, 2018 7:22:09 GMT
The rental companies at the airport here do go for the hard sell. Can take ages to get the keys. Upsizing your rental for a few bucks extra per day seems to be their starting point... I was made to wait for my compact car to be cleaned last time I was here, in a busy yard full of cars coming and going. Was I really waiting for their only compact to be prepped?
Aside, Nissans are plentiful here. Altima sedan looks sharp, shame we don't buy sedans any more...
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Post by Deleted on Jul 26, 2018 8:25:59 GMT
These days I don't order a car by class, I tell them I want 'this model'. So it is obvious I want a four door car with seats for five and space for x pieces of luggage. My usual is to say I want a Hyundai i25 (a small four door saloon based upon the i20 but not available in the UK). I don't always get one, but always something suitable and frequently a grade up for free.
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Rob
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Post by Rob on Jul 26, 2018 15:28:26 GMT
Exactly what happened to me. Others getting cars and leaving and me hanging around... trying to force me to agree to pay for the upgrade.
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Post by dixinormus on Aug 14, 2018 7:31:39 GMT
Something of a change this week: 2 days in a brand new Suzuki S-Cross 4WD All-Grip. Quite impressed so far. Suzuki don't seem to be doing much wrong these days do they?
This car's a 1.6 petrol auto. Wonder if there 1.4 petrol turbo is an option? It is in its very close sibling the Vitara. (Wonder ifthe 2 models compete with each other?).
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Post by Deleted on Aug 14, 2018 11:29:46 GMT
They do have some odd cross overs in their range...
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Post by Deleted on Aug 14, 2018 11:39:24 GMT
This summer was meant to be a rental car free period, as it is the time my father returns to the UK for a few weeks so I use his car here in Israel.
However, the downside of this is getting to and from the airport, when I either take a taxi (£60) or the train (£6 each).
Yesterday we were meant to fly at 9pm. However a celebration in the family of some friends meant we had to go to Jerusalem first and from there go to the airport. We contemplated getting taxis but the cost was very high, and it was cheaper to rent a car for 24 hours and return it to the airport.
So we got a three year old 60,000 mile Mitsubishi Lancer. It had no good features. Just automotive white goods. The boot was hampered by a structural member across it reducing its useable height halfway in, the four speed auto gearbox was old school with no tiptronic or flappy paddles and it had limited power.
The passenger cabin had less space than the Sirion.
Think I might have taken a sledgehammer to it if I had kept it for any longer.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 14, 2018 23:01:05 GMT
Got back a few weeks ago from a month house hunting in Spain. Booked a car that would fit two plus luggage and it turned out to be a Fiat Panda 1.2L petrol. Decent little urban car but really struggled on the Autopista. I went with the cheapest (Centauro) even though I have a Hertz card and had read some online reviews from customers who claimed they had been ripped off with charges for damage they were unaware of. The pickup at Alicante airport was quick and efficient with delightful jokey staff. Although they did try to sell their extra insurance which would have added over 250€ to the cost, I declined it politely (I have cover through my card) and they just reserved 1000€ on my card and gave me the keys.
A quick inspection confirmed that there was no visible damage to the car and we were on our way.
Returned it in the same condition but slightly dirtier. No spurious damage charges and they've refunded the extra fuel I returned it with (silly fuel policy of same-to-same with refund for extra, or 25€ plus fuel cost if less).
Can't complain at less than 200€ for nearly four weeks.
I've looked at booking another car for Sept & Oct/Nov but all the companies I've checked so far are taking the piss. Any rental over 30 days jumps into the 1000's of €.
Oh well. I'll just have to drive to the airport and get a clean car every month.
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Rob
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Post by Rob on Aug 15, 2018 0:13:24 GMT
Curious where you're looking. Our plan has been for Greece but a few things getting in the way. Plus Brexit.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 15, 2018 14:35:03 GMT
I've looked at booking another car for Sept & Oct/Nov but all the companies I've checked so far are taking the piss. Any rental over 30 days jumps into the 1000's of €. Odd. Usually a rental over 28 days cuts the weekly price significantly...
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Post by Deleted on Aug 15, 2018 22:07:06 GMT
Curious where you're looking. Our plan has been for Greece but a few things getting in the way. Plus Brexit. Absolutely love Greece, we've visited and sailed around many of the islands and buying a house out there would have been our first choice but the year-round weather, infrastructure and facilities are much better in Spain. Practicalities that need to be considered when you're thinking of a permanent move. We have been looking on the Costa Blanca between Denia and Guardamar but keeping away from the tourist hotspots. We're going back soon to narrow down our choices of possible locations and properties. We also managed to get our N.I.E numbers (Foreigner's ID Number) while we were there so we are ready to get the process moving if we spot anything we really want.
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Rob
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Post by Rob on Aug 16, 2018 0:49:07 GMT
I hope Brexit does not impact you. For other reasons our search has taken a back seat for the last 3 years (family health). The two of us are totally up for it.
We did see some holiday programmes years ago about areas north of Malaga and visited. It was good we did it early in the year because the weather was very cold. Ruled those areas out. Local towns the locals had little to no English. Ruled it out.
We did have a good visit to Granada and spent a few days in old town Malaga which we liked.
We still prefer Greece and have favourite locations. Permanent living is different. Brexit is also a consideration.... can you get a permit to live all year round.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 16, 2018 1:09:48 GMT
Cadiz. No more to be said.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 16, 2018 22:59:09 GMT
Cadiz is nice but it's on the Atlantic coast which isn't quite as pleasant as the Med. Snorkelling and sailing is easier in the Med, especially as we aren't getting any younger. Can't be arsed with crazy tidal waters any more.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 16, 2018 23:21:37 GMT
>Brexit is also a consideration.... can you get a permit to live all year round.
Even if (when) Brexit buggers up free movement we should still qualify for permanent residence in Spain via their "wealth visa" which basically means that you have sufficient funds and regular income without needing to work.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 16, 2018 23:46:34 GMT
>Local towns the locals had little to no English. Ruled it out.
We both speak some Spanish and want to mix with the local folks so it will be an incentive to improve.
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