February 25, 2004 -- Europe has just as many back roads as the US, and they're just as fun to tool along. But most US tourists don't think of getting a car when they go to Europe. That makes sense for some people, because Europe has great public transportation.
But there's a vast amount of the Continent that requires a car to see properly. The Andalusia region of Spain, the chateaux of France, the hills of Tuscany and the Romantic Road of castles in Germany are all reasons to get behind the wheel and drive. When you do, you'll find smooth roads and high speed limits (although, unfortunately, also high gas prices.)
We usually recommend Auto Europe (www.autoeurope.com) for car rentals in Europe, as they're reliable and have great rates. But for long trips, you should definitely check out Renault's Eurodrive program at www.renaultusa.com. It's almost too good to be true.
Renault's Eurodrive program is for trips of 17 days or longer. You get a brand-new car with unlimited mileage and insurance that covers 32 countries for up to two drivers. You can choose between a wide range of Renault models and pick up and drop off your car in any number of cities from Amsterdam to Zurich.
For a monthlong rental, their rates actually beat Auto Europe's. A four-seat Renault Megane runs $949 for the first 17 days from Renault, plus $21 for each additional day, a total of $1,284. A similar package from Auto Europe costs $1,393 -- and you don't get a new car from them.
Renault also offers a Carminat Global Positioning System (GPS) on high-end models of Laguna sedans, Espace minivans, Estate station wagons and Vel Satis sedans -- and they'll knock $100 off the price of the GPS-equipped models if you book by March 31.
GPS computer navigation systems are especially useful in Europe, where many roads are poorly labeled and signs may be in foreign languages. Renault's Carminat system features a big screen near your dashboard which can give you directions and point out your location on a map -- it'll give the person in the passenger seat something to do on long drives.
You end up paying more for the GPS-equipped cars, but you get more car. For instance, a basic, manual-transmission Laguna is $1,384 for a month's lease. The GPS-equipped Laguna runs $1,894 with the discount -- but the GPS-equipped model has a more powerful engine, air conditioning, automatic transmission, a CD player and leather seats, too.
Auto Europe also rents out GPS units at $299/month above their normal rental prices. From Auto Europe, a GPS-equipped Laguna would be $1,915/month -- and that's without the leather seats or automatic transmission you get on Renault's cars.
How does renting a car compare to taking the train? It doesn't, not really. Train tickets let you idly watch the world go by while chatting with friends, take a nap or read a book en route. You can't do any of that driving a car. Cars let you explore small villages and rural areas where trains are infrequent or entirely absent, and let you travel at your own pace. Trains are often cheaper for single travelers; cars are cheaper for groups and families.
For example, a railpass covering 15 days of travel within two months in five countries is $794 from Rail Europe. That's a heck of a lot cheaper than a monthlong car rental. But a family of four would end up paying at least $2,460 for two adult and two youth passes, considerably more than you'd spend even on a kitted-out sedan with leather seats and GPS.
Naturally, there are ways to make your Eurodrive cheaper if you're in the know. Here's a tip: Renault charges more for picking up your car outside France. So starting and ending your European odyssey in France is a good idea if you want to save $100-$225 on your rental.
Interested? Head over to www.renaultusa.com.
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