by "TahoeSTi" (tahoesti)
Published 09/12/2017 at 17:45
by "TahoeSTi" (tahoesti)
Published 09/12/2017 at 17:45
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STARS: 1
I can pick Automatic or Manual.....finally, a rental car that will keep my left leg from slamming onto those stupid extra wide brake pedals.....do people who drive automatics also only use large button phones and calculators?
I sprung for the Opel Astra seems like it will be a nice cruiser for our trip.
Paris to Stuttgart to Geneva to Florence.
I’ve done Trains in Europe now it’s time for a road trip!
"HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles" (hondasfordsvolvo)
09/12/2017 at 18:02, STARS: 1
Cars in Europe are just more fun
"fintail" (fintail)
09/12/2017 at 18:10, STARS: 1
Wide brake pedals? Was your prior rental a ‘70 Imperial?
What might surprise most is the equipment levels on European rentals, they tend to be more generously optioned than in Murka. I’ve had some relatively loaded cars in Germany. Trains are fun, but sometimes it is fun to drive.
"TahoeSTi" (tahoesti)
09/12/2017 at 18:12, STARS: 0
Have you ever compared the break pedal size on automatics to manuals? All automatics I’ve driven have a strangely wide brake pedal....I’ve never owned an automatic so this stands out to me.
I’m looking forward to the drives lots of cool places to stop....i also prefer to drive.
"fintail" (fintail)
09/12/2017 at 18:18, STARS: 0
I think a fintail brake pedal is the same part as a clutch pedal. My DD W212 is a little wider, but not oddly so - might be a Euro thing.
Nothing like this:
"Eric @ opposite-lock.com" (theyrerolling)
09/12/2017 at 18:21, STARS: 2
I have also noticed that rentals in the EU would make completely reasonable daily drivers. I don’t know why they option them like that, but it’s definitely a thing.
"TahoeSTi" (tahoesti)
09/12/2017 at 18:24, STARS: 0
Compare an automatic mustang to a manual. the brake pedals on all automatics are wider than their manual counter part....It’s True for Fords, VWs, BMWs and Subarus...and most others....most cars don’t have a manual offering to compare too now.
"duurtlang" (duurtlang)
09/12/2017 at 18:39, STARS: 0
I guess they option them like that because they’ll have a much better resale value. The cars are intrinsically more attractive and I guess an added bonus is that it’s not immediately clear it’s an ex-rental. When you buy cars in large numbers I doubt opting for a normal trim level is significantly more expensive.
It’s also more likely a costumer returns when they liked what they were given.
"Cé hé sin" (michael-m-mouse)
09/12/2017 at 18:54, STARS: 0
Easier to sell on, plus car makers like to impress those who hire their cars because they might go on to buy one.
"tromoly" (tromoly)
09/12/2017 at 19:49, STARS: 0
Things that have automatics:
"FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com" (alphaass)
09/12/2017 at 21:14, STARS: 0
Cool hopefully you get it. I’ve reserved manuals twice in Europe. Once I got a manual Clio and the other time reserved a manual 1-Series but got upgraded to a loaded X5 M-Sport diesel. It was an amazing vehicle but sadly not the manual non-US car I was hoping for.
"fintail" (fintail)
09/12/2017 at 21:34, STARS: 0
Different strategies. US firms are historically penny wise and pound foolish, and the rental car business is no exception. The suppliers are just as guilty.
I’ve had some pretty loaded rentals in Germany. My last one was an X5(not my first choice, but the best I could do without paying extra) with an MSRP of something like 83K Euro. I had an X5 rental in Florida that I believe had zero options.
"fintail" (fintail)
09/12/2017 at 21:37, STARS: 0
Maybe it’s a modern car thing. I am 99% certain the brake pedal on my fintail is the same as a clutch pedal (my car is an automatic, but I have been behind the wheel of manual models).
If the W212 is wider (the car exists in manual form in Europe), I don’t think it’s by more than an inch or two.
This makes me think of something. When MB offered the “Hydrak” automatic clutch for a few years in the late 50s, the cars had a unique weird large brake pedal only fitted to the cars with that option. It looks bizarre to me:
"TahoeSTi" (tahoesti)
09/12/2017 at 22:49, STARS: 1
It would make me sad to drive an automatic through the Alps.....but with the right upgrade maybe.
"TahoeSTi" (tahoesti)
09/12/2017 at 22:51, STARS: 0
You mean things that would be better (more impressive) if you could shift it yourself.
"tromoly" (tromoly)
09/12/2017 at 23:52, STARS: 0
No, I don’t.
"Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)" (rduncan5678)
09/13/2017 at 08:23, STARS: 1
During my trip to Europe I rented an Opel Corsa diesel in Norway and a Smart for four in Italy. The Smart was WAY faster and worked out especially well in the medieval streets of central Italy as well as the cliffsides of the Amalfi Coast. The views and the food though were definitely still the highlights of the trip though. Would have been nice to have something a little nicer but the rental agency only had a Cactus as an upgrade and that was a little too odd for me. Everything else “upgrade” was an automatic. They also didnt really try to sell me an upgrade which is odd. Usually in the US the places ALWAYS hard sell something fun even without me asking about it.
