Any Europeans out there? Need some help deciding on a rental car while in Franco

[ME30W]

I'm vacationing in France next summer and am a bit excited about getting to rent a manual transmission car. Seems like my options are a bunch of citroens and renaults. I'd much prefer a RWD car to have a little fun in, can anyone point me in the right direction? All econoboxes in the states are FWD, and I'm hoping that is not the case in europe.

Thanks!

[10Toes]

BMW 1 Series.

[Roysneon]

All econoboxes in the states are FWD, and I'm hoping that is not the case in europe.

Thanks!

Economy cars are built FF for economy no matter where they are. Why not rent a nice front drive hatch and have fun with it?

[spanish pants]

I'm vacationing in France next summer and am a bit excited about getting to rent a manual transmission car. Seems like my options are a bunch of citroens and renaults. I'd much prefer a RWD car to have a little fun in, can anyone point me in the right direction? All econoboxes in the states are FWD, and I'm hoping that is not the case in europe.

Thanks!

All econoboxes in Europe are FWD. Trying to rent something something with RWD willl get you either a BMW or Merc along with a premium rental fee.
There are some fun high power hot hatches from Renault, Citroen, Peugeot, Seat, Ford, Opel, VW and all FWD.

Whatever you do decide to rent, try not to go too nuts on the road. Remember, it´s socialist Europe and those fancy social programs for the poor and middle class have to be paid for with taxes and "speeding fines"

Keep an eye out for fixed and rolling radar traps!

[Habla]

focus st

[Stanley Rockafella]

All econoboxes in the states are FWD, and I'm hoping that is not the case in europe.

Thanks!

Oh yeah dude, no need to worry. You'll find oodles of RWD manual cars with at least a 6cyl engine.

And dont' worry about gas, 'cause thats super cheap too

[Frog]

The french cars are nice and most of them are manual and turbo diesel... I go to France about once a year and often have to drive from Paris to St. Jean de Luz which is at the eastern border of Spain.. Just drive a FWD, you'll be pleasantly surprised! I enjoy them, and driving FWD for a couple of weeks is fun...

[evandael]

look into renting one of those crazy new Renault Megane RS's. apparently they are one of the best handling new cars.. FF or not.

[rodrigo]

The french cars are nice and most of them are manual and turbo diesel... I go to France about once a year and often have to drive from Paris to St. Jean de Luz which is at the eastern border of Spain.. Just drive a FWD, you'll be pleasantly surprised! I enjoy them, and driving FWD for a couple of weeks is fun...

I'm with Frog.
While in Paris I rented a Clio Turbodiesel and the thing was awesome..I think it was a 1,500cc Tdi. I just used it for trips between Antony, Longjumeau, Wissous, etc...all stuff that was close by with a few drives to Montrouge and Boulogne.

I ended up renting the same car in Portugal a few weeks ago and had it for 2 weeks driving between Nazare, Marinha Grande, Lisboa, Cartaxo, Sao Martinho do Porto, Leiria ( I was kid of all over the place LOL) by National Road and it got close to 3.4L/100 on steady drives at 140 kph.

Request a Renault Clio, or the Diesel option...it will be great!
Good place to rent is www.economycarrentals.com.
Have fun and drive safe!

[ME30W]

Thanks for all of the information guys. I'm definitely not looking to drop a lot of coin on something exotic/fast, was just looking to see if there were any options that I should be on the look out for.

I'm planning to drive from Paris down to Bonnieux which should be absolutely gorgeous. The trip is not until next year, so I've still got some time for research.

[Loupoz]

If you really want a RWD you should look into landing in Germany and renting the car there. The only RWD cars available will be mercs and BMW, as all ready stated. You might find some 4wd quattro Audis if you'd consider that an option. They will be expensive though, and there will be an extra fee for taking it across the border, but thats what i would if i wanted the best rental for the lowest price. Hell its not unheard of that Danes go to Germany, park their own car, and rent a nice German one for their road trip down south somewhere.

You should take gas prices into account as well though, they're a bit more than double than what you pay in the states, and diesels cheaper over here, and diesels get the best mileage.

[Holland]

You do realize France makes FWD like it's going out of style right?

[SubDad]

Front wheel drive is OK, you can have lots of fun with front drive.

I had a (actually two) Renault Twingo(s) and I hated it until I started driving it like I hated it. "Alors!" it said " I 'ave been waiting for you to wake up."
It/they and I had blast. Great fun.

Get something cheap and manual with a small engine and drive it like a European, you'll have fun.

This is a good deal if you're there for longer than a week or two.

http://www.renaultusa.com/

[Roysneon]

The only thing you can't do is powerslides, and being a foreigner I don't think that would be necessarily advisable any way.

[einhander]

I just got back from a week in France - Cap Ferret to St Malo - I and had a Fiat 500 from Europcar. Five speed, no options, tons of fun.

Ignore all these bozos who are telling you to get a 1er or a Focus ST because you'll pay through the fucking nose for anything that has more than an ounce of horsepower.

Underpowered cars with no rubber are perfect for getting around and providing entertainment on the D-roads.