European DUers, I need help.

[Renew Deal]

I am going to Greece in a few weeks for the Olympics and to visit relatives. I am also going to Santorini for a few days to party. I want to rent a car in Santorini and possibly a convertible. This car company emailed me back with all of these "open cars." What is an open car? Is it a convertible or does it mean that part of the roof comes off?

Do you like any of these more than the other? Thanks

____________________________________________________________________

1 , we could offer you a FIAT SEICENTO OPEN for the price of 35,00
euro/day with discount

2 , we could offer you a DAEWOO MATIZ OPEN A/C SITROEN SAXO A/C for the
price of40,00
euro/day with discount

3 , we could offer you a CITROEN C3 , A/C FIAT PUNDO A/C , PEUGEOT 206
,
HYUDNAI ACCENT A/C .
A/C , for the price of 45,00euro/day with discount

4 , we could offer you a SUZUKI SAMURAI 4X4 for the price of
45,00euro/day
with discount

5 , we could offer you a SUZUKI JIMNY 4X4 for the price of 50,00euro/day
with discount

6 , we could offer you a SUZUKI VITARA 4X4 for the price of 55,00euro/day
with discount

7 , we could offer you a SMART CABRIO AUTOMATIC A/C for the price of
60,00euro/day with discount
discount

7 , we could offer you a SMART AUTOMATIC A/C for the price of
50,00euro/day with discount
discount

8 , we could offer you a CITROEN C3 AUTOMATIC A/C for the price of 60,00
>euro/day with discount

9 , we could offer you a JEEP WRANGLER OPEN for the price of
100,00 euro/day with discount


6 , we could offer you a PEUGEOT 206 CABRIO A/C for the price of
70,00euro/day with
discount
The above mentioned prices include: Taxes, Third party insurance

[ps1074]

1. I'll take

PEUGEOT 206 CABRIO any day. Awaseome car :)

But it is also the most expensive car. 70 euro is 85 dollars a day :(. do you think it is wort it?

[Renew Deal]

2. Probably not

but thanks for the info. What about the Open car thing?

[ps1074]

3. Here

Fiat Seicento Open



Not convertable as i see just ... no roof LOL

go for the CITROEN C3 or the PEUGEOT 206 - 45 Euro each = $55

Best buy IMHO. Try to find cheaper cars but you said you visiting during The Olympics, so it might be a tough thing :(

[ps1074]

4. By the way

Why do you need the car? It won't do you much good in Santorini. Just take the ferry to Santorini. My suggestion :)

edited to add:
Traffic will be huge in Athens for the Olympics. And streets there are notoriously narrow. You might do better in Athens with a scooter.

[Renew Deal]

5. The car is for Santorini

I will not be using it in Athens. I will rent it in Santorini. It would be just to get around. I'd rather pay for a car than deal with mass transit and cabs in Santorini. I will not have a car in Athens. I am not that crazy.

[Stockholm]

6. Agree with the above C3 or Peugot but....

If you want to turn heads:



I think open cars refers to both kinds - driving in Greece/Athens - I would consider full insurance.

Have a great time, wish I was going. Damn missed EURO 2004 now the Olympics, guess I will have to aim for World Cup in Germany in 2006.

[Renew Deal]

7. Is that the Smart?

[Stockholm]

9. Yeah but the smart sport roadster is even more cool!

See them a lot around in Stockholm this summer.



www.smart.com for more information (they are really taking of in European cities)

[Pert_UK]

8. DON'T rent a Daewoo Matiz, + other sage advice.....

I rented a Matiz on Kefalonia a couple of years back - the engine was so weak that you had to turn off A/C when going uphill, otherwise you couldn't go above 15mph. Also, I did a 180 degree spin doing literally 10mph in the rain. Very small car.

The Seicento is a very small car, and I suspect that the "Open" bit means a full-length foldback sunroof made of material, so the top opens but it's still not a convertible 'cause you have the door pillars of a normal car. Fiats are notoriusly unreliable, and it will have a small engine (check engine sizes before renting - I don't know the area you're talking about, but most of Greece involves serious hills at least some of the time). So also avoid the Punto (which they've called a Pundo) - I hired one and it was falling apart despite being brand new, and my local garage told me never to buy one.

Citroen Saxo and Peugeot 206 (my girfriend has one) are both nice small hatchback cars and pretty well made. 206 is nicer and slightly bigger - the cabriolet would be very funky but is expensive. Hyundai Accent is decent but not very stylish.

Rule out the Smart cars - incredibly tiny (2 seats, no luggage space), prone to being blown about by the wind, underpowered - unless you're only doing city driving.

Citroen C3 - crazy looking but nice new model from Citroen. About the same size as the 206 or maybe a little bigger. Should be reliable.

All the Suzukis are small 4x4s, with the Vitara the biggest - worth a look 'cause some of Greece's roads are rough and you might want to get off the beaten track.

You know what a jeep is.......

So....

Narrow down your selection and then do a search for images and info via google.

My recommendations -

Don't bother with a convertible because a) it massively increases the cost and b) you'll get sunburnt. But MAKE SURE you have Air Conditioning!!!

Avoid the Fiat and the Daewoo.

Don't go for a 1.0 litre car.....a Saxo 1.1 is not too sluggish, but try and go for a 1.3 at least. I drive a 1.3 car and it's pretty nippy.

Find out how old the car is - some of the hire places have e.g. new Citroens but battered old Suzukis.

If you're not used to manual gears, go for an automatic.

If money is no object then go for the convertible Peugeot 206 'cause it also has aircon, so you get the option to go topless.

If you want to save a bit, go for the Citroen C3 which looks great but make sure it's got A/C and more than a 1.1 engine!

PLEASE be careful on the roads - many Greeks drive like nutters, and the holidaymakers are as bad. Also, the roads are in bad repair and in isolated areas seem to turn into soapy ice rinks when it rains!

If you can, take out extra insurance - 3rd party won't cover your repair costs if you damage the car.

[Stockholm]

10. Kick

"many Greeks drive like nutters, and the holidaymakers are as bad."

Especially when their used to driving on the "wrong" side of the road...

Otherwise really good advice!

[Pert_UK]

11. I should have also mentioned....

that the Peugeot 206 has its pedals very close together. My g/f has no trouble driving it, but I have quite big feet and have to be very careful that I don't get them stuck under the brake when I use the clutch.