On Topic - Stuffing Bike Boxes into Strange European Cars

Triathlon Forum
1

OK, I have to go to France next year to hang out in Nice for 3 weeks. Need a car that is big enough for…

  1. Me

  2. Mrs. Me

  3. Baby Me.

  4. Double bike box.

  5. Portable crib, luggage, booster seat.

Does anybody know if a VW Touran or Renault Scenic will do the trick?

One of you frenchies should know? Francois, Laurent, Asterix?

2

I’ve seen a car rental company that has H2s… :wink:
I am fairly sure the Scenic would do until you try to put the double bike box in…same thing for the Touareg (I guess that’s what Touran is…)

Two options:

  1. see if someone has a relatively small bike box (assuming you have one bike)
  2. get a minivan like Renault Espace
3

I went to a race a few years ago outside of Paris and rented a “kangoo”, it was just like the element I drive now, only even taller. Not sure if they still have those, buy that would do the trick.

Joel

4

Cars and odd size luggage are funny things.

One would think bigger is better, but that’s not necessrily the case. When going out to IMC this year we got upgraded to a bigger rental car at no extra cost. I had orginally orderd a Toyota Echo for three reasons1) We have one at home. 2) It’s great on the gas. 3) I know that the bike box fits nicley and easily in the back seat of the Echo. Turns out we get a Sunbird. They are all out of Echo’s. The rental guy is REALLY happy to give us the upgrade. Problem is I now need the strength of Sampson and a great deal of patience to get the bike box in the back seat of the Sunbird - and to get it out. Can I have my Echo back please!!

Fleck

5

my mom, brother, sister, myself, and my wife just did a round trip of italy in a ford minivan that was diesel and stick shift. Got amazing gas mileage and plenty of room for all of us plus luggage. i am sure it would be enough space for you as well. there is also a huge mercedes van (10 passenger maybe?) but that is significantly more expensive and hard to manuever on narrow european roads.

Have a great time!

Dan
www.aiatriathlon.com

6

OK, I have to go to France next year to hang out in Nice for 3 weeks. Need a car that is big enough for…

  1. Me

  2. Mrs. Me

  3. Baby Me.

4. Double bike box.

  1. Portable crib, luggage, booster seat.

Does anybody know if a VW Touran or Renault Scenic will do the trick?

One of you frenchies should know? Francois, Laurent, Asterix?

Been there and done that, and neither will work. Think about it… the double box barely fits in a full-sized SUV here! The Scenic ain’t that big:

http://www.parkers.co.uk/imagecache/file/590/archive/Renault/Scenic%20(03-

Maybe an Espace:

http://www.parkers.lycos.co.uk/imagecache/file/590/archive/Renault/Espace%20(03-

or check with your car rental companies and look into renting a bike rack as well and leave the bike box in storage at the airport.

7

A Renault Scenic packs quite a bit, but it still might be tight.
Have an awesome trip.
Cheers,
Herbert
Litespeed/QR

8

You flying through Frankfurt Mike?
I got a killer deal on a rental car there this summer… Opel Astra Station Wagon. I was huge. Great gas mileage too. Fit two clamshell bike boxes, two big pieces of luggage, and tons of room to spare. I’ll see if I can find the website I booked through…

9

Fiat Ducato
.

10

Get an Espace, Mike or a VW transporter. Don’t ask for a minivan, they don’t exist in Europe they are MPVs or people carriers.