Latest Hire Car....

[Mark996]

So, here I am back in the UK (AGAIN!) for yet another meeting with Notts Police......and what have Europcar given me this time.......?

Well, after the, frankly awful, Astra I had last time, I was pleasantly surprised when the bloke at the Europcar desk said "We've decided to upgrade you a little bit this time sir.....", and promptly threw down a Mercedes key at me!!!!!

I thought, "bloody hell, they've only given me a nice E class or something to knock about in, due to me being their single most prolific customer in the last 4 months!!!!"......then I got to bay 17........

Yep, you've guessed it, a bloody 'A' class!!!!???!!

Not only that - it's a soddin' auto!!!!......

God it's awful.....the driving position is shocking to say the least, and when you (literally) bury your foot in the carpet, absolutely nothing happens......

I've got 2 questions for the bloke when I take it back......

1. Why an auto, when there's clearly absolutely nothing wrong with my left leg?
2. This 'Upgrade'....can I have you on trade discription for that?? An upgrade from WHAT exactly? A Smart ForTwo??

Needless to say, I am NOT, once again, a happy bunny.....

[Topcat]

Thats really quite funny !!

Still better that than a 1.2 Honda Jazz, I had to drive one of those last week for three days - could have run faster!

[Brodick]

Originally Posted by Mark996

So, here I am back in the UK (AGAIN!) for yet another meeting with Notts Police......and what have Europcar given me this time.......?

Well, after the, frankly awful, Astra I had last time, I was pleasantly surprised when the bloke at the Europcar desk said "We've decided to upgrade you a little bit this time sir.....", and promptly threw down a Mercedes key at me!!!!!

I thought, "bloody hell, they've only given me a nice E class or something to knock about in, due to me being their single most prolific customer in the last 4 months!!!!"......then I got to bay 17........

Yep, you've guessed it, a bloody 'A' class!!!!???!!

Not only that - it's a soddin' auto!!!!......

God it's awful.....the driving position is shocking to say the least, and when you (literally) bury your foot in the carpet, absolutely nothing happens......

I've got 2 questions for the bloke when I take it back......

1. Why an auto, when there's clearly absolutely nothing wrong with my left leg?
2. This 'Upgrade'....can I have you on trade discription for that?? An upgrade from WHAT exactly? A Smart ForTwo??

Needless to say, I am NOT, once again, a happy bunny.....

Oi


Careful what you say about Auto's - best thing since slice bread
( the decent ones that is)
Yes you may have slightly more control with a manual car but so what
I have driven both manual and automatics for years and years
and much prefer an auto


( sorry didn't mean to go on - and I suppose it was abit cheeky giving you and auto if you had booked a manual - some people just cant get to grips with auto's)

[Mark996]

The fact that it was an auto was not really the issue, I've driven several Auto's in America, and get on with them fine over there - it's just that this was a 1.5 Petrol Auto......The lacklustre engine, coupled with an auto box just made the car seem VERY gutless.....I'm sure it'd had a manual box, then the 1.5 petrol engine would've seemed a bit more spritely and nippier.......

I think that auto's should only ever be an option on larger engine vehicles over 2 litres.....

Just my thoughts......

[pjelsworth]

Originally Posted by Mark996

The fact that it was an auto was not really the issue, I've driven several Auto's in America, and get on with them fine over there - it's just that this was a 1.5 Petrol Auto......The lacklustre engine, coupled with an auto box just made the car seem VERY gutless.....I'm sure it'd had a manual box, then the 1.5 petrol engine would've seemed a bit more spritely and nippier.......

I think that auto's should only ever be an option on larger engine vehicles over 2 litres.....

Just my thoughts......

My mother-in-law has an auto A-Class which I borrowed quite often while I was waiting for my Civic. Whilst I was grateful, I fully sympathise with you ... I hated everything about it; the looks, the driving position, the performance .... and they are not cheap!

[l-noel]

Last car was a Honda concerto with a 1.6 V-tec engine (courtesy car...) 200 000 Km , but the engine was reving like a dream . first time i did drive a honda petrol engine. And if the Diesel is as good as the petrol one with as much millage I will be an happy driver !

[Brodick]

Originally Posted by Mark996

The fact that it was an auto was not really the issue, I've driven several Auto's in America, and get on with them fine over there - it's just that this was a 1.5 Petrol Auto......The lacklustre engine, coupled with an auto box just made the car seem VERY gutless.....I'm sure it'd had a manual box, then the 1.5 petrol engine would've seemed a bit more spritely and nippier.......

I think that auto's should only ever be an option on larger engine vehicles over 2 litres.....

Just my thoughts......

In the main I would probably agree Mark although I would say 1.8l upwards
but the auto in the 1.4 jazz is fab ( had a lot of fun with them over the years)