Kia Picanto as a hire car, how bad?

[teeCup]

A friend and I are going for a short break in Scotland and due to our age and "checkered" motoring history have both had to settle for a Kia Picanto hire car (one each). The plan is a trip across Scotland and a go on the Applecross Pass, lap of the Isle of Skye, then pick our way back to the airport the following day.

I have never driven a Picanto before and both of us are above 6ft2(no goatee) and not of a slight build so were not expecting to be comfortable, just wondering what these are like to drive?

Any insight on the Kia, or recommended roads gladly appreciated

[BenMk3]

Kiltox in T Minus 10, 9, 8...

[teeCup]

BenMk3 said:

Kiltox in T Minus 10, 9, 8...

Sorry, not with you mate? Would you mind explaining?

[Mr E]

We've thrashed them around Spain a few times, and I'd suggest they're perfect 'cheap rental' fodder.

[rfn]

Kiltox has a Picanto!

[teeCup]

rfn said:

Kiltox has a Picanto!

Oh, was wondering what I'd missed! Thanks

[Lets Torque]

Kiltox Kiltox Kiltox

Your thread is here.

If you don't follow what we are saying, he is a regular poster on PH and has got an '11' Plate Picanto. He even is contemplating putting a 24' PH sticker on the roof.

Kiltox's profile.

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/profile.asp?h=0...

[teeCup]

Mr E said:

We've thrashed them around Spain a few times, and I'd suggest they're perfect 'cheap rental' fodder.

This is encouraging! If its anywhere near as good as a C1/107/aygo to drive then I'll me more than happy, think I'm probably asking a but much though!

[Lets Torque]

I don't think it will set the world on fire handling, actually I think it might be far from it as its primary role is a city car.

Saying that though, nothing handles like a rental.

[66comanche]

teeCup said:

A friend and I are going for a short break in Scotland and due to our age and "checkered" motoring history have both had to settle for a Kia Picanto hire car (one each). The plan is a trip across Scotland and a go on the Applecross Pass, lap of the Isle of Skye, then pick our way back to the airport the following day.

I have never driven a Picanto before and both of us are above 6ft2(no goatee) and not of a slight build so were not expecting to be comfortable, just wondering what these are like to drive?

Any insight on the Kia, or recommended roads gladly appreciated

Why the hell would you go somewhere with good driving roads in a picanto, there must be some other option!!

[Tresco]

I bought a Picanto for my Daughter as a first car last year and ended up putting 6000 miles on it myself, done a couple of longish journeys, London-Bath and London-Warwick.

It's fine as a run around,(brilliant in the snow!), but does get rather noisy at anything over 70, I ended up cruising at 60, never spent so long in the inside lane watching lorries looming large in the rear view mirror.

I'm 6ft and it's ok, could do with a little more legroom but for the duration you've got the car doubt if it'll be a problem.

Have a great trip.

[teeCup]

66comanche said:

Why the hell would you go somewhere with good driving roads in a picanto, there must be some other option!!

Lack of other options for the price! 2 days fully insured in the Picanto is £50, we had the choice of a 1.2 Clio for an extra tenner but we both drive Clio's anyway and fancy something a bit different. Small cars can be a good laugh as well, really enjoyed the 107 I drove and even found fun in my ex girlfriends 1.0 old shape Suzuki Swift!

Honest answer?
We only had a weekend to do the trip, we wanted a car each and driving both Clios up from wales would have taken all our time and was considerably more expensive than flights and two small rental cars.

The point of the thread is some re assurance that 2 days in 2 Picantos could be a good laugh!

[66comanche]

teeCup said:

66comanche said:

Why the hell would you go somewhere with good driving roads in a picanto, there must be some other option!!

Lack of other options for the price! 2 days fully insured in the Picanto is £50, we had the choice of a 1.2 Clio for an extra tenner but we both drive Clio's anyway and fancy something a bit different. Small cars can be a good laugh as well, really enjoyed the 107 I drove and even found fun in my ex girlfriends 1.0 old shape Suzuki Swift!

Honest answer?
We only had a weekend to do the trip, we wanted a car each and driving both Clios up from wales would have taken all our time and was considerably more expensive than flights and two small rental cars.

The point of the thread is some re assurance that 2 days in 2 Picantos could be a good laugh!

I'm sure it will be fun, the cars are less important than two mates having a laugh and a weekend adventure. Guess the good point is that with them being the same car you can 'compare' driving skills/styles on certain roads (but don't crash FFS, those picanto's will not hold up well!). Just thinking back to when I hired a car in Lanzarote (was 21 IIRC) they automatically started to draw up the form with the crappy 1.0 twingo which was their main crapbox, I told them to hold on and wanted to see what else they had. Ended up with a mk3 1.8 SRI Astra convertible, hardly supercar territory but was worth it, was ridiculously cheap then though, the hire was less than £30 and a tank of petrol to explore the island was <£15 I think.

[teeCup]

66comanche said:

I'm sure it will be fun, the cars are less important than two mates having a laugh and a weekend adventure. Guess the good point is that with them being the same car you can 'compare' driving skills/styles on certain roads (but don't crash FFS, those picanto's will not hold up well!). Just thinking back to when I hired a car in Lanzarote (was 21 IIRC) they automatically started to draw up the form with the crappy 1.0 twingo which was their main crapbox, I told them to hold on and wanted to see what else they had. Ended up with a mk3 1.8 SRI Astra convertible, hardly supercar territory but was worth it, was ridiculously cheap then though, the hire was less than £30 and a tank of petrol to explore the island was <£15 I think.

Bloody hell those were the days eh? Its the cost of fuel keeping two hot hatches at home, and putting us in something with more "modest" performance! Were going to have to keep it sensible, really don't need an accident to add to my endorsed licence or I might end up running a Picanto full time!

We've arranged to pick the cars half an hour apart to try and avoid any raised eyebrows, I will probably have to leave the trackday trainers at home for this one!

[carlingofblack]

Comparedto the Chevrolet Aveo 1.2 I once had on hire, I'd say a Picanto would be like riding around in a Phantom....OK, I over exaggerate, but like a mid-range 7 Series at least.
For a budget ride, there's plenty worse.....

[Kentish]

I guess this is the old Picanto and not the new one that has just come out.

I guess the new one is better, new is not always of course

The old Picanto I think is a damn fine little car, very well built and drives extremely well.

Soooo much better than the crashy, thunpy, rattly equivalent Nissan Micra!

[teeCup]

carlingofblack said:

Comparedto the Chevrolet Aveo 1.2 I once had on hire, I'd say a Picanto would be like riding around in a Phantom....OK, I over exaggerate, but like a mid-range 7 Series at least.
For a budget ride, there's plenty worse.....

Thanks for the encouragement, Im starting to regain the enthusiasm that got this trip booked after a brief "all this....in a KIA" moment. I was more interested in the handling than how comfortable they are, I drive a Clio Cup and my mate a mk1 valver so were not exactly used to luxury motoring! Saying that Im sure there will be the armful of understeer Im expecting, with body roll to rival a canoe.

[Fruitcake]

Kentish said:

I guess this is the old Picanto and not the new one that has just come out.

I guess the new one is better, new is not always of course

The old Picanto I think is a damn fine little car, very well built and drives extremely well.

Soooo much better than the crashy, thunpy, rattly equivalent Nissan Micra!

What he said.

[teeCup]

Kentish said:

I guess this is the old Picanto and not the new one that has just come out.

I guess the new one is better, new is not always of course

The old Picanto I think is a damn fine little car, very well built and drives extremely well.

Soooo much better than the crashy, thunpy, rattly equivalent Nissan Micra!

Im pretty sure its the old model, but its got 4 wheels and a manual gearbox so there has got to be some fun to be had!

Are there any other must drive roads between South East Scotland and the Isle of Skye/Applecross? Our plan at the moment is get clear of the City and set the satnav as all the roads look pretty decent, at least from what Ive seen with a quick browse on Google Maps.

[ian_c_uk]

Wife has one. The 1.1 with a massive 64bhp.

Gearing is very short, engine likes (has no choice) to rev, fits through every gap and you are so fearful of losing momentum you never, ever, lift.

It's brilliant fun.