Just a little whinge

[pologti18t]

Probably a pretty obvious reason why the Octavia is off the books. They are all turbocharged now. This could have implications, in certain states, as to who could rent them and other issues with refueling. Far easier to stock cars that run a normally aspirated engine, a torque converter auto and run on 91RON.

I get a corp discount through work for rental cars. XR6/SV6 for the same money as a povo Corolla/Lancer.

[VRS147]

We had the similar experience with Europcar back in March. Booked Octavia but got a Cruze. I was pretty happy at first since the car had only 18Km on the clock, we are the first customer. After we arrived at Gold Coast from Brisbane Airport, I went to their local branch and made complaint about this powerless car with strong plastic smell (headache). They didn't have anything to swap and offered me some allowance for compensation.Lucky we didn't use the car much over three days, otherwise I will be so pissed off.

I used Europcar rental in NZ twice before, they have Suzuki Kizashi now. Definitely my next pick if they still got it.

aware: we had a XR6 in NZ for 14 days, traveled about 3000Km. Its a comfortable car for log-drive, fuel economy is about 10L though.

[woofy]

After putting in a pref for the superb today, I got the sv6. I've been curious to drive one, but there are odd things with it, on being no height adjustment on th seatbelt. Have commodores always had that, our mid 90s falcon even had that. The other ie that the car seat loop, there is only one that you move between spots. Again I've only seen that in a Honda integra and my parents maxima. For a family car it's odd it's not very baby friendly, maybe the wagon has more?

I didn't see any superbs there today nor on the roads, maybe they are gone now? I saw quite a few in early Aug though....

[woofy]

I should add the big deal was in March, I expected a Skoda, and almost couldn't fit my work boxes in the Cruzes tiny boot. Had the same issue in July and struggled to fit two adult bags and a slim foldup stroller, even our 323 could fit that. I have to park a lot of painful places when working interstate. I don't mind the hyundais, just need more boot space. A falcon or commodore is always harder to get into some spots. There really is nothing like a Skoda in the market with the interior room in that size with a hatch either. Noone rents mondeos or 6s which would also work.

[BlackSuperb]

Followed a white Superb station wagon along the M5 from SYD airport and it had a Europcar sticker on the back.

[woofy]

I saw one when returning the SV6 I got last week, not as many as I did only a few weeks earlier though. I hope they still have them. The Octavias are well and truly gone now, I haven't seen any rentals in months. Maybe in some slower places like Townsville I might see one again.

For the record the SV6 crapped all over the Cruze..although it did have its WTF moments like why there is no boot opening button inside the car except for the remote fob, and the seatbelts don't have height adjustment, even our mid 90s Falcon had that. I'd already had another WTF moment at the car show in July when we realised the sedan SV6 doesn't have split fold seats...how hard is it to put them in? It also only had one car seat anchorage that you have to move around if you want another position, not very child friendly for a family car.

[whitelion]

For the record the SV6 crapped all over the Cruze..although it did have its WTF moments like why there is no boot opening button inside the car except for the remote fob, .

It's in the glove box, for valet security, I believe.
Steve

[mfl]

oh well, I am the 5th person, who gives a #####, am going down to Melbourne soon, and have a day to drive the Great Ocean Road, will probably get an XR6, because the only other car that looked maybe okay was an A4 from Europcar, but they only include 200kms and it becomes an expensive proposition.

last thing I want to do is the GOR is in a Korean product - keeping in mind I have driven enough Falcons and Commodores to know what I am getting.

[VW Convert]

Just returned from a trip to Melbourne, hired an XR6 and after owning 4 new Falcons in succession prior to swithching to VWs the experience re-iterated to me just how different they are to drive compared to the VWs I've owned since. It got me there and back in comfort and whilst I would have preferred a VAG product or similar, in reality as long as it drives OK and gets me there and back I don't really care what it is.

Also noticed quite a number of Skodas in the Europcar parking area so they are still available.

[woofy]

I actually got given the A4 last time instead of the Superb or the SV6 but it was a very basic model, and the boot was smaller than both so we struggled to fit a pram in the boot. At least it had 3 anchor points in the back though. I actually have nothing against Hyundais and hire them where appropriate, but the offerings and the Cruze don't have the capabilities that the Octys had. Even the Commodores don't really, their boot and in particular the opening size has been a big issue for me. They do apparently have Mazda 6s which is what my previous work car and is now my wifes car, but I've never got one nor been able to hire one.