I need to rent a car for five days in Italy, so here's one for the team (I know someone has Qashqais).
Early stages, but I have a deal on a Qashqai.
I need to transport five adults - I think that's OK - but will the boot hold five suitcases.
As most manufacturers - the website is unhelpful.
TIA
Neil
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If it's 5 carry ons then yes, if bigger then a risk. That's the guess I would work on if it were I.
I have found the seating in a Qashqai suitable for average sized people. Not good if there are two or three tall, or broad-beamed.
Kangoo/Doblo might have a bit more elbow and leg room, without going for a pricy people carrier
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As manatee says, 5 cabin bags, yes - just. 5 suitcases, No. The boot in the Squashy is really rather small for its size.
However, there are two sizes of Squashy, which one are you getting? And you may think you have a deal on one, your care hire company may well say thats the class, there is probably even a picture of it on their web site. There is a more than 50% chance thats not what you will end up with.
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Are you 100% sure it will be a Qashqai and not a hire company saying it will be a Qashqai or similar.
I'd say there's no chance to fit 5 suitcases in the boot of most cars unless it's a large estate/hatchback.
We once used ResortHoppa in Greece and ended up in a shared taxi to the accommodation. Four adults and four cases. The cases did not fit in the boot of the E Class saloon and the taxi driver tied the last case down on top and left the boot ajar.
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Early in our intercontinental travels we bought a great set of Delsey hard cases.
Arrived in the USA ( cars were somewhat larger in those days ) and the car hire folks laughed at our aim of fitting it all in a mid sized wagon. We had to go up a couple of groups to fit it all in.
After that we got a couple of sturdy holdalls instead of two of the cases.
Holdalls will squash in to use the available space.
Holdalls contained clothes and the rest of stuff in the Delseys.
A few bags for life or similar in case holdalls would not squeeze in.
(That is OK for a family but not for friends)
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I reckon that in the last dozen holiday rentals I have been given been my preferred car once. Usually the same class but sometimes an upgrade. Last time in Canada I ordered a Focus sized vehicle and ended up with a Ford Edge.
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>>but will the boot hold five suitcases.
No. But a roofrack might help..
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A masterpiece of marketing, the SUV. No bigger internally than a car of that same footprint. Good if you wear top hats though. :-)
Last edited by: Old Navy on Tue 25 Jul 17 at 17:04
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Q. boot is 430 litres. A large suitcase is 80 litres plus, just about doable? Nope, as already suggested above the issue is hard suitcases will not use the space efficiently. So get holdalls, or get the five people to take less (its only 5 days ) or book an estate or larger SUV.
Mind you I'm sure I've seen Italians in Fiat 500s with 5 up and luggage..........
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In my experience Autoclick, either direct or through a broker, have proven ok at providing the exact vehicle ordered.
The only time they didn't was when I ordered a 5 door Fiesta and was provided with a Fiat 500L.
Awful thing. I've got better quality plastic on my toothbrush handle.
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We had a QASHQAI on a recent trip to the UK. We fitted two holdall type bags in the boot plus a large stroller, with wheels removed. This left various small spaces that can be filled with odds and ends. Remember to take out the false floor to give a little more space!
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Taking the parcel shelf off and stashing it flat against the back of the rear seats, or on the floor of the boot releases a lot more load room in cars fitted with them. Just be careful to pack so that luggage won't fly into the cabin under hard braking. Sometimes it's possible to raise the rear head restraints a bit to help with that provided they are still performing their safety function for rear seat passengers. Adjust door mirrors properly and it's not really a problem if the sight line from the rear view mirror is restricted. If in any doubt about load stability, bungee cords can be used to secure loose luggage.
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Further to above, another trick I've used ( although it's not much help with a renter ) is to remove the parcel shelf altogether, leave it at home and fit a dog grid to prevent luggage moving into the cabin. You can even instead fit one behind the front seats with the back seats folded to make a hatchback or estate into a sort of van if it's stuff rather than people you need to shift.
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>> If in any doubt about load stability, bungee cords can be used to secure loose luggage.
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Absolutely useless in an impact, good for catapulting stuff around though.
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Nonsense, if used properly they make a huge difference.
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Rather you than me, I would use substantial nylon straps. Why do you think cars have seatbelts instead o bungees to restrain passengers ?
Last edited by: Old Navy on Thu 27 Jul 17 at 09:21
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That too would help. Either is better than nothing and both are far from "useless".
One thing I can claim expertise on, if nothing else in life, is packing loads into cars !
Sad but true !
;-)
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But hopefully not much experience of what happens to it on an impact ! Bike impacts are similar on a smaller scale, but you know about them. :-)
Last edited by: Old Navy on Thu 27 Jul 17 at 09:28
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Son's Audi Q5 has a factory supplied cargo kit.
Two slots the length of the floor plus a heavy cargo net that attaches to the floor and also to specific anchor points in the ceiling plus various other fittings.
Little risk of a childs buggy launching into passengers.
" Thats the away to do it!"
i.ebayimg.com/00/s/MjI1WDMwMA==/z/9HEAAOSwDuJWwp8P/$_20.JPG
vmcdn.ca/f/files/shared/feeds/automotive/2016/12/275070_2018_audi_q5.jpg;w=960;h=640;bgcolor=000000
Audi prices of course.
Obviously not available on a hire car.
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Ford were supplying cargo nets in their Mondeo estates 20 odd years ago. Strong Nylon fishing net type things that could be placed over luggage and clipped to anchor points. I used them regularly.
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I had a substantial cargo net in my L reg E200 MB estate years ago. Possibly Standard fit....I bought it second hand with 100k on the clock and used it as a van during the week. It fit into the cross bar immediately behind the rear seats...luggage cover extended rearwards, nylon fishnet clipped into the roof somewhere to stop stuff shooting forwards.
Last edited by: legacylad on Thu 27 Jul 17 at 10:51
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My A3 saloon came with cargo nets to hold things like a single case or similar in place. Never used them.
The Superb comes with a few too with a few places they can be fastened to hold items, e.g. under the parcel shelf so you could hold some lightweight items, e.g. a coat/jacket maybe. The boot of the Superb is so much bigger that I would probably use them in that.
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The automatic electricaly retracting cover int he boot of the BMW, also includes a manual cargo divider net that clips to the roof. Its a very elegant and effective solution.
It will live in its very elegant and effective hiding place under the boot floor.
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>>...the BMW, also includes a manual cargo divider net that clips to the roof.
>> Its a very elegant and effective solution.
>>
It seems to be a German cars feature/option. Audi, BMW, MB have been noted.
Many cars have a simple net to retain smaller items to the floor but the cargo net attached to the roof is obviously quite different and certainly the Audi one is very strongly made.
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>> One thing I can claim expertise on, if nothing else in life, is packing loads
>> into cars !
He needs a van really. I think the mota of choice for floggin schmatta dahn the market is a tranny.
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>> He needs a van really. I think the mota of choice for floggin schmatta dahn
>> the market is a tranny.
>>
Think of his image, it must be a Sprinter, it's got a posh badge. :-)
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Did Humph really just give advice on adjusting Squashy door mirrors???
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>> Did Humph really just give advice on adjusting Squashy door mirrors???
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He wouldn't have the brass neck.....would he ? :-)
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I think you'll find it's is missus that knocks off wing mirrors and not him. He just pays for the replacements.
Last edited by: rtj70 on Thu 27 Jul 17 at 20:00
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I have a special savings account now for that very purpose. :-(
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>> I have a special savings account now for that very purpose. :-(
>>
Good job Mrs Runfer doesn't use the LEC, you would need a mortgage. :-)
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I have invested my savings in a company that makes mirror glass. It's doing very nicely thank you.
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>> I have invested my savings in a company that makes mirror glass. It's doing very
>> nicely thank you.
>>
I wish I had, oh well, as they say, hindsight is 20:20!
:-)
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As you no doubt know, diversification is key.
Might I suggest wheel rims?
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Actually, joking aside, I'll bet it is a good little industry. The town we live in has very narrow streets originating from hundreds of years ago. Pretty much every day I see parked vehicles with mirrors hanging off or held together with gaffa tape.
"She" denies all knowledge of course...
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I wonder how much a wing mirror is that is folding, auto-dimming, heated and has one of the 360o cameras in it? More than my first 9 year old car probably.
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At the end of the day I wouldn't mess about trying to cram all that luggage in. Either hire a bigger car or if the capacity is just required for transfer to the hotel get someone to go by taxi with some of the bags.
The extra cost split 5 ways won't amount to much
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Contact the rental firm and ask if 5 suitcases would fit into the vehicle they've potentially allocated.......they'll probably say yes. clarify what model you'll be getting. Then go and visit your local Nissan dealer ask them, then if there not sure, take 5 empty suitcases with you
Last edited by: VxFan on Fri 28 Jul 17 at 10:54
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I'm going to Cyprus and staying in a Villa, and they've put me in contact with a local car hire firm , but they'll only accept cash.......
I think paying by credit card MIGHT offer me more protection in terms of " if things go wrong!!!
Otherwise has anyone good or bad dealings with Economy car rentals .....cheers
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@ wotspur - We've been to Cyprus a few times and used a local car hire firm when we got there. For very specific reasons, which were that we wanted an off roader that we were actually allowed to use off road. The area we liked to explore included the Akamas peninsula which is a conservation area reachable only by sea or unmade forest and mountain tracks.
Most, if not all of the big international car hire firms will rent you a 4x4, but say in the small print that you must not take them off road, strangely enough.
The little local firm we've used has, or had anyway, a couple of pretty old but serviceable Suzuki Vitaras which they were happy to rent to people who wanted to get up country a bit.
Great fun to bash around in and the cars were so covered in dings and scratches already that there were no worries about adding a couple more.
It's a while back, maybe 5 years or so since we were last there, but I don't remember thinking it was expensive, maybe €30 a day or thereabouts.
Cash deal, but no problems as a result. Full tank of petrol on collection and return full to avoid additional charges.
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Many thanks for that, I'll probably use either Rhino or Economy car hire, as I can organise the car here, and pay by credit card and it'll be there at the airport, hopefully when we arrive at stupid o'clock !!
The company I'd been advised too use by the Villa, would only take cash, thus whilst it was a Suzuki grand vitari , at 40E , I don't mind a lesser car, as it'll be unused for most of the hols ! It's just to get to the Villa, which is remote from supermarkets etc .
If we decide to go off-road, we'll use a local place and hire another one for a day !
Thanks for the response
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Then go and visit
>> your local Nissan dealer ask them, then if there not sure, take 5 empty suitcases
>> with you>>
not too sure they'll take too kindly to that, 'yes it's because I'm going on holiday soon you see...'
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Nissan Qashqai - Holiday rental - Manatee
