Convertible car hire - Europe

[Willwors]

I'm planning a road trip around France at the end of May / start of June.

Whilst taking my own car is an option, it may make sense to fly and hire given time constraints. I've checked all the usual suspects (Hertz, Avis, Sixt etc.) and nobody seems to offer anything interesting or remotely sporty anymore, let alone a drop top. We like the idea of the latter, given the weather (hopefully) and the areas we plan to visit.

The closest thing I've found is a diesel Mini Cooper Cabriolet from Avis. This doesn't exactly set my world on fire, and neither does it have the boot space for luggage for two for a fortnight.

Any tips? Surely shouldn't be so difficult.

Thanks,

Will

[595Heaven]

Plenty of convertibles on the Sixt site for France

https://www.sixt.co.uk/funnel/#/fleet/selectcar/FR

[pingu393]

I usually pick a car that I think I may like to own, and use the time as a real world test drive. Can it handle the shopping, etc.

I tried a Smart car when they were first out. I've had one ever since.

I tried a Fiat 500 cabriolet. After a week with the gutless thing, I was convinced not to buy one.

[plenty]

595Heaven said:

Plenty of convertibles on the Sixt site for France

https://www.sixt.co.uk/funnel/#/fleet/selectcar/FR

I strongly suspect that only a fraction of the cars advertised on that page are actually available on any given date, and that it may not be straightforward to actually book one of those convertibles in France.

In my experience if you are looking for a PH style rental, Munich has by some margin the best choice, with Madrid and Porto some way behind. Not aware of any mainstream outfit in France where you can routinely find interesting options.

Covid has also played a part in decimating the supply.

[Willwors]

plenty said:

I strongly suspect that only a fraction of the cars advertised on that page are actually available on any given date, and that it may not be straightforward to actually book one of those convertibles in France.

In my experience if you are looking for a PH style rental, Munich has by some margin the best choice, with Madrid and Porto some way behind. Not aware of any mainstream outfit in France where you can routinely find interesting options.

Covid has also played a part in decimating the supply.

Yes, absolutely this. If you go to any of the major airports in France and look at the actual selection, those cars don't exist!

[Patrick Magooagain]

A 718 Boxster gts would be around €700 a day if hired from some of the exclusive French hire outfits in Paris or Nice,Monaco etc.

What's your budget?

https://www.luxury-club.fr/location-voiture-de-lux...

[595Heaven]

plenty said:

I strongly suspect that only a fraction of the cars advertised on that page are actually available on any given date, and that it may not be straightforward to actually book one of those convertibles in France.

In my experience if you are looking for a PH style rental, Munich has by some margin the best choice, with Madrid and Porto some way behind. Not aware of any mainstream outfit in France where you can routinely find interesting options.

Covid has also played a part in decimating the supply.

You may well be right. I didn’t research too deeply!

[seefarr]

We tried to book something interesting out of Madrid one time - a manual Z4 sounded like it could be fun so we specifically booked that through Sixt.

Got to the counter and got given an auto diesel Merc SLC. "We never get manual convertibles". Nothing like listening to tractor noises whilst suckin down fumes in the Spanish sun!

It's always blown my mind that nobody rents MX5s....

[plenty]

seefarr said:

It's always blown my mind that nobody rents MX5s....

You can hire NAs in the Scottish Highlands, which are very reasonably priced with unlimited miles. Pickup and drop off Inverness Airport.

https://www.ecossesportscarhire.com/our-cars/

[HustleRussell]

I booked a Fiat 500 convertible once, turned up and they gave me a fking Tiguan.

[HustleRussell]

plenty said:

seefarr said:

It's always blown my mind that nobody rents MX5s....

You can hire NAs in the Scottish Highlands, which are very reasonably priced with unlimited miles. Pickup and drop off Inverness Airport.

https://www.ecossesportscarhire.com/our-cars/

Used that very company a year and a bit ago and would recommend.