Thread: Kia Rio - any good?

Originally Posted by Mendip

With car hire, a month in the UK will already be costing around 6000 quid and that's not including food or cider.

Isn't traveling fun Mendy. Nothing is cheap anymore. Sign of the times. My recent trip back to the see my daughters and Parents was about $6k. That is only because I stayed at my parents and cousins house and used my Mom's car while there. Had I not had those options available the trip would have easily been 2.5x more.

But in the end it can't be about the money. It's the experience your daughter gets, the time with family etc. Those are quite honestly priceless.

Enjoy your trek

^^ Strangely enough I've just sent off an inquiry to a 'Van and Car' hire place out near Shepton Mallet. For some reason there seems to be a cluster of these places in the same area. This place is advertising a 'medium sized SUV' for £980 for the four weeks, so we shall see. Anything at an airport will cost an arm and a leg and will be a last resort.

^^ I agree Stumpy, my mum is 87 and this has to be done whatever the cost... but there has to be some cut-off in cost.

We will be spending about half the time at my mum's place. A few days there then a trip away, and so on. She needs her car so I have to hire.

The cost is just astronomical though... I mean £280 a night to stay in a room above a pub! I found a place up the road for £1000 for the five nights, with parking, which will at least save about £20 a day, the robbing bandits.

All I can say is that the full English had better be good for that price, with Heinz beans.

Originally Posted by Mendip

All I can say is that the full English had better be good for that price, with Heinz beans.

Is Heinz the top shelf in the runny bean offerings?

Originally Posted by Mendip

For some reason there seems to be a cluster of these places in the same area.

By any chance is it near an Amazon warehouse or similar?

Amazon and their ilk take on zero contract workers who have to supply their own vans.

^ I checked and the closest Amazon warehouses are either Swansea or London. The West Country seems to be a bit of an Amazon warehouse desert.

It's a mystery.

did a check on Kayak; Easirent, ford focus bristol airport pick up 10th june to 8th july £898

What is a bot?

heres the site

Easirent OnlineRes / Expired Quote Results

^ That's interesting Mike. I entered my dates which are around three weeks later and it still came out under £1000. I notice that they offer 500 free miles a week... I wonder if there are other hidden charges. I'll investigate.

Originally Posted by Mendip

I'll investigate.

Good idea. Car rental businesses are sneaky at hiding costs then slap you with an additional bill at the end.

A US rental story. When my wife and I first went back to the states I did a rental car for the first few weeks while I searched for a vehicle to purchase. Anyway we decided to blaze out to Las Vegas. The car was rented with unlimited miles. When I went to turn the car in, I was hit with a $125 surcharge. I said WTF. They said I left California and they were notified by the GPS system. Apparently in all that fine print of the 10 page rental agreement I signed was a clause that if I left the state, I would be charged.

Take the Rio. It has all you need and more. For the kind of driving you are doing you dont really need a bigger car. It will get 20k per liter for petrol mileage. You and the daughter can fight over tunes on the blue tooth, great aircon and if you need it heating in the British weather. Any problems mechanically they will repair or change the car asap. You will quickly get used to the small size which can be a benefit when parking while touring.

Originally Posted by Mendip

I wonder if there are other hidden charges. I'll investigate.

they are an irish based company, i have used them in Ireland - didn't see and dodgy extras. I have checked their t&cs and they are standard. As always, i would check i thoroughly on receipt and i always takle pictures around the car whenever i hire, inside too.

edit

focus's are nice cars too.

The weather is lovely, get yourself a tent for £50. Job done.

Quality time camping in our green and pleasant land

Watch out for those new bus lanes and restricted driving zones that are popping up overnight everywhere.

The £60 fines will be flying like confetti.

Originally Posted by Mendip

... I mean £280 a night to stay in a room above a pub!

Absolutely ridiculous. I suppose that many Brits are holidaying in UK so prices are up. Strangely, I am touring Isan this week, places are deserted and hotels nearly empty but prices are way up.
The catch with buying and selling a car in UK is, for me and maybe for you, I have no insurance history for the past decade so they treat me like a newbie. That is, expensive.
I too used to use second tier car hire companies for long leave. All fine, only not the shiniest plate in the car park. They seem to have disappeared.

Looks like the kind of car Harry Barracuda would drive

I just had a look at the comparison site mentioned on here. You can get a family sized Kia on there for 17 quid a day right now
Then the price trebles when you get over unfortunately.
Kayak it was called.
For the price you want during peak season I think you should give a lot of thought to Kayaks.

You're not far from the Bristol channel, take some binoculars and you'll be able to see the Pier at Weston and get real close to the one at Newquay and think what a great bonding exercise it would be circumnavigating Lands End.

It is ridiculous.

Get a better car and buy some camping gear at Decathlon before you leave.

Use the car as a rolling wardrobe.

You'll both have a holiday to remember.

Fuck these twats charging inflated prices because they know flights overseas are expensive.

Just regulate the sprouts and baked beans consumption.

Originally Posted by Mendip

my usual source of a car is no longer available.

Did your mate pass away or catch that fungal arse crack inflammation you had by any chance?

You did wash it and vacuum all the sand out and fill it up with petrol before you gave it him back?

Originally Posted by Shutree

The catch with buying and selling a car in UK is, for me and maybe for you, I have no insurance history for the past decade so they treat me like a newbie. That is, expensive.

he can just put it on his mums insurance

Originally Posted by Mendip

And another thing... the bloody cost of everything.

i have said before flight costs have gone up 40-60%.

i checked a hotel i stayed in last year in Edinburgh and its up 45% for the same dates

^^^^ Yeah, I've already got a tent but I'm not camping for a month... the daughter would never forgive me. But yes, it would be a holiday to remember but maybe not for the right reasons...

^^^ He passed away, sadly. There, dontcha feel bad now!!?

He was in his 90s so it wasn't completely unexpected.

I wouldn't mind hiring a bus with a driver for a month but you just never know what you'd get these days!

^ ooh. Sorry to hear about your friend.
Did you ask who he left the car to?

^ It didn't seem like an appropriate question when I sent an email of condolence to his family, tbh.

Originally Posted by Mendip

^ It didn't seem like an appropriate question when I sent an email of condolence to his family, tbh.

I bet its still on the driveway gathering dust.

A polite and sincere email could save you a grand

Originally Posted by Reg Dingle

get real close to the one at Newquay

Not too close thst you can see the ice cream and smell the hot dogs though.

Originally Posted by Mendip

^^^^ Yeah, I've already got a tent but I'm not camping for a month..

I thought you said you were over there for a month in total, much of it spent at your mums?

^^

Originally Posted by Joe 90

A polite and sincere email could save you a grand

It's what he would have wanted