Car rental types - help!!!!!!!

[CharlieB]

Lawdluvaduck !!! (and other quaint London expressions as used by that well known Cockney, Dick Van Dyke, in Mary Poppins).

Many thanks for your input, it's always handy to get the view of someone who's been there, seen it, done, worn the T-shirt, etc.

After much searching on the internet, I was thinking the E350 would be our best bet, but after your comments as Fagin (from Oliver)would say, "I'm reviewing the situation"

My mates hired the Ford Explorer this year in Florida for 6 of them, but they ended up with some luggage on the seats. As they were only fully loaded between the airport and their lodgings this wasnt too much of an issue. However, as we're travelling from site to site we'll be loaded a lot more and the last thing I want is to sit in discomfort. The daft (or crazy as you would proabably say) thing is that there's conflicting descriptions of the various SUV's and Minivans which have left me a tad confused. I'm tending towards trying an 8 seater minivan and seeing how we go when we load it. Failing that, I'll bring along an old red Double Decker London bus, pick up people en route, charge them a fare and subsidise our travel that way !

Lastly, how much is a Gallon of Petrol (Gas) now. Here in the UK we're paying around £1.02 per litre, which equates to approximately £4.64 per gallon, or over $9 in real money.

Charlie

[Foy]

Charlie-
The only addition I'd make is really just a reaffirmation of what's already been written:

An 8 passenger minivan is still a minivan. Limited visibility for the passengers due to being so low, and especially any passenger stuck in the middle. Plus, she'll handle like a Porsche with 4 flat tires with a big load aboard. And that's largely personal preference by yours truly--I just don't like to drive a vehicle which is loaded to at or near its capacity. Any minivan will be V-6 powered, at around 3.5 to 4.0 liters displacement, and will likely provide consumption in the 15-17 mpg range when heavily laden, if that.

The E-350 is a big truck. It drives like a big truck. It parks like a big truck, which is to say at the far edge of where everybody else parks. If that's not a problem for the drivers in your group, it's a great way to gain some visibility and keep from sitting in one another's lap, so to speak, for an extended trip.

When I left CA 8 days ago, I paid $3.45/gallon in Los Angeles. I feel sure it's a few cents more now, and the local news outlets were predicting nearly $4.00/ gallon by early December on through Christmas.

Best of luck,

Foy

[Mark Sedenquist]

Lastly, how much is a Gallon of Petrol (Gas) now. Here in the UK we're paying around £1.02 per litre, which equates to approximately £4.64 per gallon, or over $9 in real money.

"Real money" ha! I doubt it. But you can always find current fuel prices in just about every state in the United States and province on this page (or linked from it).

Mark

[CharlieB]

Hi everybody, some time ago I posed a query about the type of vehicle we would need for 6 adults, going from San Fran to Las Vegas. The sticking point is the luggage as I assume we'll all have a suitcase each, (we're from England by the way). I asked about a Ford E350, but was put off as it was described as a truck with seats.

I've seen a Dodge Ram 12 Seater and now a Chevrolet Express, the question is...... any good or are they much the same? If so has anyone got any suggestions (other than 2 cars!) ?

Charlie

[Foy]

Hello again Charlie,

A quick google of Chevrolet Express shows me that's simply their name for their full size (read: truck chassis) vans. They come in 3/4 ton and 1 ton ratings, which translates to E250 and E350 in the Ford nomenclature and 2500and 3500 in the Dodge nomenclature. And there's little difference between the 3 manufacturers in terms of what their 12-15 passenger fullsize truck chassis vans are. They're all of similar height, width, seating layout, powertrain, and overall design. Oh, and all I could find quickly under "Dodge 12 passenger" suggests a routine fullsize van as described above.

But, Dodge also has the Sprinter, and I saw one reference to the Sprinter passenger van. This is still a truck chassis platform, but is different than the standard Dodge truck chassis platform fullsize van. The Sprinter is essentiallly a European platform (owing to Daimler-Chrysler's now divorced union) and I believe most have a Mercedes diesel, a nice electronic shift auto transmission, much better (and luxurious) seating, and far better visibility (due to higher roofline and taller side and front windows. All of that said, it's still the length, width, and height (only moreso) of a light truck, and it is a light truck. If you don't want to deal with parking, maneouvering, etc, a light truck, it's not for you. I think such a vehicle as a fullsize Chevy, Dodge, Ford, or Sprinter is generally called a "white van" on your side of the pond, at least that's what I recall seeing on a recent episode of Top Gear.

Again, I hope this helps.

Foy

[RoadTripper Brad]

Sprinters are also manufactured under I believe Freightliner out here as well, who commonly only make Tractors/Semi's.

[Midwest Michael]

It really should be noted that in any case, if you decide to go with a 12 seat van that you really will be driving a large truck. It will have a much different feel than even an SUV like an explorer. Going this route means you will need to be much more careful on the road with how you handle the vehicle and what you can expect in response.

[Southwest Dave]

After much searching on the internet, I was thinking the E350 would be our best bet, but after your comments as Fagin (from Oliver)would say, "I'm reviewing the situation"

personally,i agree with foy, i think it may be a good bet.if you have people who are comfortable with driving and competent it should'nt cause any problems,we drove a 30ft r.v. on our first ever trip to the states with no dramas. a smaller vehicle fully laden will probably feel more unsettled than a big one thats nowhere near it's carrying capacity and will feel less crowded

I asked about a Ford E350, but was put off as it was described as a truck with seats.

i'm not sure if that's comparable to what we define as a truck here in the u.k.with large capacity engines,auto boxes and softer suspension they are far,far better than a transit or bedford,lol! by comparision these would be considered luxurious in the u.k. the main issue i would think is the seats for the passengers [although i'm not sure on specs] would be more "bus" like than a car/suv. although personally speaking i would prefer the extra space.
sorry if thats put you back to square one but that's my tuppence worth,lol!
have a great trip!

[Mark Sedenquist]

After much searching on the internet, I was thinking the E350 would be our best bet,

Last summer I rented a six passenger SUV (it was a Dodge, but I don't remember the model) for a four hour trip with five adult passengers. (Two of the passengers had sufficient luggage for an additional 3 people...). It worked pretty well -- there as some luggage stowage issues, but for my money I would suggest you get the largest SUV they have on the lot and forget the E350 Van.

Mark

[CharlieB]

Dear all, thanks for the replies, I guess I'll just bring along a Red Double Decker London Bus, pick up hikers on the way and charge them a fare. That way we'll recoup some of the petrol money !

Seriously though, we'll probably end up turning up at the airport & seeing what they've got that suits.

Charlie