To dodge or not Florida

Hi and evening folks, I am at the last hurdle before the finish line. Due to fly next week for a trip around Florida. I have chose the rental company in carhire3000, but at the minute decided to browse other selection of cars. Now just for an extra £60 I can upgrade from a ford focus to a dodge charger, just me and and my better half. I am going around Orlando, Miami, Everglades and Naples. The question is would you upgrade or not?? And will fuel be a killer in costs.

Thanks for any advice

Kris

[buns]

To be honest, I never think about the cost of fuel, I just concern myself with the comfort of the drive and, after some bitter experiences, ensuring there is enough space for the luggage.

If you do take the upgrade now, you will not be faced at the airport of being pressured into taking what looks like a really good deal only to realise the next morning that it is going to cost you a fortune

You do need to check whther the £60 being offered (IMHO a very good price) includes all the taxes and Insurance - as often this is hiked as you rise up the car grades

buns

we had a dodge charger last year for 4 of us,and still plenty of room,although trunk space is a bit limited

Thanks for the info as we're doing around 800 miles and doing maths think I have worked costs between £60 - 90 worse case. Insurance is the same for both so it looks like the dodge wins.

Thank you for the replies

You are planning a lot of miles so if it were me, I would upgrade for te comfort. It isnt a lot in the context of a complete holiday.
Enjoy.

Personally I'd look at upgrading to a SUV. The Dodge is OK ( I last had one in Oahu when I wasn't going to be doing much in the way of mileage) but I much prefer to be in a higher vehicle whilst in the US.
DL

Personally I'd look at upgrading to a SUV. The Dodge is OK ( I last had one in Oahu when I wasn't going to be doing much in the way of mileage) but I much prefer to be in a higher vehicle whilst in the US.
DL

This is exactly what I do now. An suv just seems better amongst so many larger vehicles on the roads.

Personally I'd look at upgrading to a SUV. The Dodge is OK ( I last had one in Oahu when I wasn't going to be doing much in the way of mileage) but I much prefer to be in a higher vehicle whilst in the US.
DL

100% agree with DragonLady here.
I have had a Charger a few times and if I am honest, the first time was just because it was a Charger, the second time you get to realise that the US cars are not a the same as our European setups. They feel, in my opinion, very soft and lose. After a while it got on my nerves and felt almost unsafe to drive at high speed. I know 55 / 65 / 70 is the limit but we come from a speed mad little island I have been told!!
An SUV gives you a much better drive, stiffer and will give you more room.
As normal, these are of course just my views, others may and will disagree.

Just enjoy the easy roads!!!

I did think about an SUV ( and yes you do feel like King of the road ), but the as long as we get the dodge or type I would be happy with that. Just that we will driving down some good roads and hopefully the most out of the dodge.

100% agree with DragonLady here.
I have had a Charger a few times and if I am honest, the first time was just because it was a Charger, the second time you get to realise that the US cars are not a the same as our European setups. They feel, in my opinion, very soft and lose. After a while it got on my nerves and felt almost unsafe to drive at high speed. I know 55 / 65 / 70 is the limit but we come from a speed mad little island I have been told!!
An SUV gives you a much better drive, stiffer and will give you more room.
As normal, these are of course just my views, others may and will disagree.

Just enjoy the easy roads!!!

Thanks Lovinggold, you could sway me a little. The 4x4 on offer is a Ford Escape i have been informed. I will make a final decision over the weekend. But it 80 ( dodge ) - 20 ( SUV) at the moment.

US cars are not a the same as our European setups. They feel, in my opinion, very soft and lose. After a while it got on my nerves and felt almost unsafe to drive at high speed. I know 55 / 65 / 70 is the limit but we come from a speed mad little island I have been told!!

Like yourself I find a combination of the automatic and the suspension / ride slightly unnerving on anything other than the straight road. How I wished for an SUV or SUV-lite trying the roads up and down to the Blue Ridge Parkway last year...

[Darren Wheeler]

I actually liked the Charger. Handled as well as any standard US car can and the 3500 litre V6 provided plenty of power on the more open road and when you needed to nip across several lanes of traffic away from the lights. Just need to watch the trunk as the lock protrudes quite away and is very painful to crack your noggin on!

I find US SUV's soft and wallow into the curves. Add the higher centre of gravity and you see why I've seen more SUV's on their roof in 2 weeks in the US than a year in the UK.

I actually liked the Charger. Handled as well as any standard US car can and the 3500 litre V6 provided plenty of power on the more open road and when you needed to nip across several lanes of traffic away from the lights. Just need to watch the trunk as the lock protrudes quite away and is very painful to crack your noggin on!

I find US SUV's soft and wallow into the curves. Add the higher centre of gravity and you see why I've seen more SUV's on their roof in 2 weeks in the US than a year in the UK.

Wow Darren, I am surprised to hear that.
I often giggle on how these big US V6 engines make a lot of noise and seem to take forever to kickdown the auto gearboxes. We seem to have faster 2 litre engines in the UK!!
Of course, that is just me. If people love them then all power to them.
I used to love a brown 1750 Maxi :0 :0 :0 so can't really comment.

I used to love a brown 1750 Maxi :0 :0 :0 so can't really comment.

'Nuff said. You didn't also have some affection for one of those cheese wedge shaped Austin Princesses did you? ):

I used to have a brown Capri....

'Nuff said. You didn't also have some affection for one of those cheese wedge shaped Austin Princesses did you? ):

I used to have a brown Capri....

No on the Austin Princesses but like most chaps my age I had a great Ford Cortina Crusader with a 2.8 Ford Sierra engine and gearbox and a killer set of side skirts that done nothing but get caught on kerbs and in ramps at car parks - Oh Great Days
Might have gone a bit off subject here......

[Darren Wheeler]

Admittedly I drove it like a manual using the sideways movement. Getting a puncture in San Luis Obispo and having to do 50mph on a space-saver to LAX for a swap took the wind out of my sales.

Being an Ex-Pat I can agree with one of the posters above. I have seen at least 4 SUV's on their roofs since I have been here. One I actually witnessed Roll (They were towing and going to fast and span 180 in the air before landing on their roof)!

Personally I would go for the charger. I think it would be a bit of fun and even though fuel is cheap here I think even a small SUV would cost a fir bit more to run. Plus SUVs are pretty slow and boring in my opinion :0

Just my 2c......

JDM

Thanks Lovinggold, you could sway me a little. The 4x4 on offer is a Ford Escape i have been informed. I will make a final decision over the weekend. But it 80 ( dodge ) - 20 ( SUV) at the moment.

I'd go with the above - we went for an SUV a couple of years ago and really liked it. Yes, fuel economy isn't as good, but you're on holiday - and ultimately, fuel there is still a whole lot cheaper than it is here!

By the by - just as here, we find ourselves looking to get the best price for fuel, and take a stupid delight in getting it for 1 or 2 cents cheaper. But then you come back to the UK ans the real world - always feel an 'ouch'!

I know you said you had almost setled on CARHIRE 3000, but have you had a look at US Rentacars or even the Virgin ones as they have an offer on of a Sat Nav for only £1.50 extra a day.

We have fond memories of the last charger we had 3 years ago did 1800 miles pacific coast highway,SFO to Yosemite and back to Vegas thru Death Valley where we unwittingly took the wrong road (was supposed to be a short cut) and ended up doing 75 miles on an unmade road, it got us there and we were so glad to see civilisation.

Mind you nowadays we go for the SUV type as we like the sit up style (age thing)

We had a Ford Sierra 2.8 as well, plus the silver capri and don't laugh Austin Allegro

we have a convertible sports car and an SUV (Eclipse and Explorer). right now its almost too hot for a soft top (we often still have the ac on full blast with the top down). The explorer is far more comfy for longer journeys. just yesterday we did a 350 mile round trip to West Palm Beach. so for comfort I would say SUV, for some fun the Charger

gas is down to $3.10 today so who cares how juicy they are

Oh and ps on the way back yesterday we saw a rolled.............tanker !!! they really ARE the worlds worst drivers here

We always go the SUV route when we get the US. We've had the Lincoln Navigator, and this year (as it was the holiday I was proposing on) I decided to go all out, and hired a Mercedes GL450 AMG. Wow.
Fuel is up in the US, but still lower than here. Do yourself a favour and get a super smooth, big engine petrol V8 - and relax in the drive. It chews the miles and gives you great visibilty.

Thanks for all the replies, you have been really helpful. I have done Virgin & US rentacars's searches this evening and still Carhire3000 come out on top. Made an exective decision, Dodge Wins Wins Wins.

Again thanks

CarHire3000 always gets my business.
I only have one little grip with them. When I pick a car up via them in Vegas I always get told I need to pay for a full tank of gas. I normally like to chose where I fill up. It's $60 and only seems to happen in Vegas. One day I will say no and see what is said, it may just be the agents.
On their plus side, they include all taxes, surcharges so everywhere else is just turn up, ID and credit card and off!!