Car Hire Lottery

[Rich B]

Had a brand new Prius two weeks ago.. triple black,

i didn’t know there was a convertible Prius?!

[Jobbo]

MX5 in for its first service today. I asked for a courtesy car and didn't expect anything interesting. However, I got a CX30 and I'm massively impressed with it. Mazda market it as a small crossover, so basically a Juke competitor, but it doesn't feel like it's particularly jacked up; it feels like you'd expect a small family hatchback to feel when you sit in it. Enough space, a well designed interior with good material choices, lovely steering wheels, excellent ergonomics and really good at the basics - easy to jump in and drive, nothing feels wrong about the calibration of the auto box, active cruise control etc.

I had to check the specs and this is a Skyactiv G Exclusive Line. Which means it's a reasonably high spec and has the 2.5 litre petrol engine with about 140bhp. It's just over £29k; you can upgrade to a ~180bhp version which has a 2.0 petrol engine for about £2k but I don't see why you'd want or need to go for that. It's a bit quicker outright but the torque is all up high so needs to be revved; it wouldn't suit the car nearly as well. Autocar managed performance figures way better than Mazda claim too, better even than claimed for the 2.0: https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-review/mazda/cx-30

Anyway, I really like it and would highly recommend it to anyone who needs a sensible family car but wants one which feels a bit more special to sit in and drive than the competition.

Oh, and it's the first time I've driven a car with HUD (a proper one, not on a piece of perspex on the dash like Peugeot etc). I don't like it at all. It's too distracting and still requires you to change the focus of your eyes, so I'd rather simply look at the whole intrument cluster.

[mik]

Oh, and it's the first time I've driven a car with HUD (a proper one, not on a piece of perspex on the dash like Peugeot etc). I don't like it at all. It's too distracting and still requires you to change the focus of your eyes, so I'd rather simply look at the whole intrument cluster.

Our F-Pace had HUD. I didn’t find it distracting, but the focus point appeared to be around 50cm beyond the leading edge of the bonnet - so you had to re-focus to see it. Stoopid - hence I also tended to just use the instrument cluster instead. More info offered there.

I thought I might be able to adjust this in the settings (something like 25m ahead of the car would seem logical to me) but non.

[scotta]

MX5 in for its first service today. I asked for a courtesy car and didn't expect anything interesting. However, I got a CX30 and I'm massively impressed with it. Mazda market it as a small crossover, so basically a Juke competitor, but it doesn't feel like it's particularly jacked up; it feels like you'd expect a small family hatchback to feel when you sit in it. Enough space, a well designed interior with good material choices, lovely steering wheels, excellent ergonomics and really good at the basics - easy to jump in and drive, nothing feels wrong about the calibration of the auto box, active cruise control etc.

I had to check the specs and this is a Skyactiv G Exclusive Line. Which means it's a reasonably high spec and has the 2.5 litre petrol engine with about 140bhp. It's just over £29k; you can upgrade to a ~180bhp version which has a 2.0 petrol engine for about £2k but I don't see why you'd want or need to go for that. It's a bit quicker outright but the torque is all up high so needs to be revved; it wouldn't suit the car nearly as well. Autocar managed performance figures way better than Mazda claim too, better even than claimed for the 2.0: https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-review/mazda/cx-30

Anyway, I really like it and would highly recommend it to anyone who needs a sensible family car but wants one which feels a bit more special to sit in and drive than the competition.

Oh, and it's the first time I've driven a car with HUD (a proper one, not on a piece of perspex on the dash like Peugeot etc). I don't like it at all. It's too distracting and still requires you to change the focus of your eyes, so I'd rather simply look at the whole intrument cluster.

My mate chris had a CX30 with the 180 BHP engine. I can confirm that its gutless unless its revved. He actually though it was broken cos it had that little grunt low down.

HUD - I also am not a fan. Especially at night. Creates a reflection on the windscreen at the projector IME.

[mik]

Head Up Dissapointment

[Jobbo]

My mate chris had a CX30 with the 180 BHP engine. I can confirm that its gutless unless its revved. He actually though it was broken cos it had that little grunt low down.

It's odd enough that the cheaper engine is bigger, but the fact that it's actually quicker when performance tested is particularly funny.

Can be had in the Mazda3 as well for the same sort of price. I can see why people buy them.

[Gavin]

The Mini went away to get the dent pulled, or panel replaced or whaever they did, and very clean and shinty it was on handback.

Because BMW makes the Mini, they did a like for like replacement of a Mercedes GLB 200 with jobbie brown seats. It had all the illuminated turbine air vents and several screens and 7 seats, if you are carrying 5 children, they may even work.

It did not feel as well put together as my 2010 E class did when I bought it with 130k or whatever, on it.

It did still have very accurate park sensors, possibly a Merc thing, as the E class ones were excellent.

No idea how economical it was but when I handed it back, I filled it with 36 quid of petrol.

It was nicer than the C5 aircross I got when the Superb was mended, but not much.

[scotta]

Today’s contender.



It looks great but lacks on the engine performance front. Huuuge screen inside which I’m not sure I like but would get used to.

One button push to turn off the speed nonsense is good though.

[IanF]

Is it called 220i? I had a 120 recently (no “i”, but then there’s no d these days)

[scotta]

Is it called 220i? I had a 120 recently (no “i”, but then there’s no d these days)

Aye it says i

What it needs to say is M240i

[IanF]

Is it called 220i? I had a 120 recently (no “i”, but then there’s no d these days)

Aye it says i

What it needs to say is M240i

[IanF]

Yikes!

[240PP]

2025 Renault Espace.

Picked it up from Europcar at CDG. Nightmare experience, they tried palming us off with multiple unsuitable cars until I lost my rag after three hours and they switched us to the Espace.

Petrol hybrid, seven seats, no idea how any of the tech worked other than aircon and getting CarPlay connected. It had four wheel steer which was excellent in car parks in central Paris. It drove ok, seemed economical and took five people/suitcases plus carry ons. HUD was good (first time I’ve used it) but CarPlay disabled it.

I don’t think they’re available in the UK. It looked like this:

[Swervin_Mervin]

That's an insult to the Espace's history.

Speaking of Europcar...

[Swervin_Mervin]

This was the manual Octavia that we hired. Paid £100 less for a manual. And I'm glad I was when we were given it seemed to be a C4 Auto instead.



It fitted the hire class I suppose. Had damage to every panel and wheel. And had 115k on the clocks.

Drove fine. Actually it drove surprisingly well for a Stellantis box, and had no squeaks or rattles.

Had to fill the washer bottle a few days in, which is a bit shit. And then on the journey back to the airport the oil level light came on. Thankfully it didn't blow up (wet belt in these I believe). Probably bought us some slight goodwill in terms of the damage report (I had no way of knowing if it had any new damage, there was that much to start with).

Curiously, there was a post-it note on the front of the pack for the vehicle, with just a date written on. Something like the 8th Aug '25. I did wonder if it was about to be shuffled off to pastures new.

Still a bit miffed though. And this is the 2nd time we've had a slightly shitty hire from Europcar, last time being Seville airport a couple of years ago when we got a ropey Qashquai. Even the guys at the Málaga airport drop off seemed surprised at it when we left it.

I was >< close to booking an R5 but the wife was concerned about luggage space. Would've only cost us £150 extra

[Rich B]

That's an insult to the Espace's history.

i saw one today, i have to agree - it’s basically an estate car now - not even tall like an mpv.

For a car that basically invented a genre, it seems a shame to abandon it.

[IanF]

BIG RED WILLY .. hybrid . Taking the front section of the roof off tomorrow

IMG_1255.jpeg (166.09 KiB) Viewed 1522 times

Nobbly wheels are very wobbly

[Jobbo]

That’s a cool hire car Ian. We hired one for the day on Martha’s Vineyard. It had the full length electric fabric roof which was perfect.

[dinny_g]

Front section of the roof ???

Take the whole roof and all 4 doors off - then drive around in a vest top and "ironic" 1970's sunglasses, drinking from one of those Red cups being a dick to pedestrians for the full "Frat Boy douche" look...

[IanF]

Trying Dinny! Up in Malibu on PCH with Red Hot Chilli Peppers on LOUD!

Tyres (sorry, tires) are LT285/70R17, which was a surprise! Expected 8quarts/5hands or something!