Anyone hired a convertible car?

[poohmadmum]

We're going in March 06 and Virgin have offered a free upgrade to a convertible. Sounds good but I'm worried about the luggage. Info states convertible seats 2 x adults, 2 x children and 2 x medium luggage. What do they class as medium luggage? Also we only have 1 DD so may be some luggage could go in the back with her.

If anyone has hired a convertible how did you find the luggage space? I guess soft cases would be better than hards ones? Not so worried getting there as coming home with all those gifts!! Any info greatly received.

 

[rosiejo]

We've never had a convertable - although we had a van once and that was a push for luggage!

I think you need to consider your comfort on a day to day basis as well as to and from the airport.

One thing to bear in mind though is you can check in at downtown disney on your last day - so don't worry too much about getting all those presents to the airport!

 

[kristieuk]

We've had a convertible a few times - the luggage thing is a real concern, particularly if you have more than two pieces. Remember they are basically saloon cars with no roof, so the boot space is levelled off, and you can normally only lay two pieces side by side - the depth doesn't allow for anything else.

In the past, we have taken a bigger car from the airport to transport our luggage, and then gone back to the airport the following day to swap the cars, but were staying within about 20 mins of Sarasota airport, so it was no big deal. Convertibles are also one of the most expensive hire vehicles, so there is never a problem having something bigger but less expensive to hire in our experience.

I do love convertibles on holiday - it just adds to the whole holiday feel, but another thing to remember is that it is unbearably windy in the back if you're doing anything over 40mph.

 

[TinkTatoo]

We had a convertible when it was just DH & I and it was a struggle to fit the luggage in. Also this year we were pulled up at the traffic lights next to a family of 2 adults and 2 kids. The kids looked very wind swept and considering the temperatures were in the 90's they also looked very hot in the back of the car.

 

[ely3857]

I have hired a convertable both WDW trips.

Both times there were two adults.

The first time I had 3 cases and the two big ones went in the boot and the smallest on the back seat.

When DF & I went this year we had a very large case each and didnt have any problem fitting them in the boot.

Jodie

 

[allie5]

We have been offered one in the past by Dollar as a "special deal", but we have always turned it down. When we were a couple, the luggage space wasnt so much of an issue, but I didnt fancy having to "do my hair" everytime we drove somewhere (I know, I know - SUCH a girly thing to say!!), plus our friends had one once and said they rarely used the soft top as they got burnt and preferred to to use it hood down and a/c on, which defeats the object a little!!

Now we have 2 kids (and another on the way!) they just arent practical anymore, so not even an option. We would never get the luggage in! If offered an upgrade we get a 4x4 or a mini van.

 

[mrs-mac]

Hiya

We've hired a convertable both times we've been 2 Orlando, 1st time b4 the children, 2nd time with our 2 DS's. They are a great holiday thrill but as being practical its a big no no!!

When we hired it this time the kids didnt like the top being down cause of the wind and also the heat so most of the time the hood was up. We had 2 large suitcases and 1 small one, 1 large 1 went in the boot and the other between my DS's in the back and then the small 1 wedged under my feet in the footwell

Sorry boys but it seems that the men like the soft-tops rather than us practical girlies, i say opt 4 the comfort factor

 

[jjpenguin]

We had a convertable last trip, and it rained! Go figure...
It is a tight fit luggage wise, we had 1 medium case and a cabin bagage and that fit fine, anything over 2 medium cases would be a struggle!

And for the record DH didn't really get the whole convertable thing, he much preferred the Ford Explorer we hired for the 2nd leg of our trip... it was humungous!!

 

[nicolanunn]

Hi

we were offered an upgrade on a car with virgin, but once the extra insurance was worked out it ended up not actually being free!

May be something to check out.

 

[Shropshire Saint]

We have had them a couple of times. Our only problem is the luggage space. We found it impossible to get 2 large suit cases in the boot. You could have got a large & 2 smalls in there however.

Overall its great to have a convertible, but make sure you wear a cap or hat & put on plenty of sunscrean.

 

[Mrs Dazzle]

Had a convertible on my very first trip to Florida with my brother and his girfriend. Luckily we'd only taken holdalls for our luggage so space wasn't too much of a problem.

Whilst it was great to cruise in it - and it was fun to drive - we didn't find it very practical and after the first week and a half we swapped it for a saloon. We were travelling all over Florida then and it was VERY hot sat in it in the blazing sunshine, dirty and not something I've wanted to do again. Maybe if we were only crusing around Orlando it might have been different, but like I say we drove all around Florida.

But March shouldn't be too hot (although watch for the rain ).

 

[chunkster20uk]

We had a convertable, a Chrysler PT Cruiser Convertable (very cool and very sporty), it was great for the two of us and our luggage (one of the cases on the back seat). Would have been no good if there had been more people.