U.K. and Ireland - Recommend a compact rental car for a BIG guy and his family

Going to Ireland in December for two weeks - lots of driving anticipated - and need a rental car for three (two adults and one 11 year old). I'm a pretty big guy (350) and am looking for suggestions for a compact car that I won't have to shoehorn myself into.

Thanks.

KC

There's a Skoda roomster which I kept being given as a Group B with National at BRS, which is about the roomiest compact I've ever been in!

It's a pig to drive, but does have lots of space...

http://www.skoda.co.uk/roomster/

Getting any specific car in Ireland may be a problem, I rarely get the car I have ordered, just one in the same class.
IMO to be safe you should book an intermediate.

I would go for at least a ford mondeo

Don't book a compact. Assuming by 350 you mean 350lbs, that is 25 stone. You'll find most European compacts very uncomfortable.

Don't book a compact.

+1

You'll find that throughout Europe, a Compact is much smaller than what you'd get in the same class in the USA.

I'd recommend that you go with one of the major rental companies - preferably one where you have status if any - or at least book a flexible rate. That way you can see which specific cars are available on the day. Even within the same class, cars could differ quite widely, so this is the only way to get one that you'll be comfortable with.

Many of the majors will allow you to contact the rental location directly, and they can be quite amenable to requests, but the level of service really depends on the local manager.

"Compact" in the US seems to refer to a Mondeo sized car. "Compact" in Europe refers to a car that's smaller than a VW Golf - ie two sizes down from a Mondeo

"Compact" in the US seems to refer to a Mondeo sized car.

:eek:

Not a US person, so I had no idea that they would label/term that 'compact'!

In the US, they are always enormous - and drive like a sofa with a steering wheel ;)

I rented a Mondeo in Germany/France last week. It's quite roomy, even at 6'4", 250+ I fit very well in that car. The only drawback is that it's quite gutless. I renamed it the "Ford Mundano". LOL

HTSC

I've rented the Mondeo, and I am of similar size, and it was adequate. Intermediate is the size you will want, trust me on this - after 6 trips to the UK and Ireland, both with me and my husband (who is 500#) you will want at least the intermediate.