How big a car ?

[SidB]

Just looking for some opinions.

I've booked our car for next year, a full size model. There are 3 adults and 2 children in the party. 4 out of 5 are female, so I imagine that there will be some heavy shopping activity going down. I'm thinking of upgrading to a seven seat minivan. My question really is about luggage space. My experience with people carriers in this country is that it's fairly limited, so what's it going to be like in the USA. I reckon I may end up needing space for 4 large and 6 medium suitcases, assorted hand-luggage, as well as 2 huge Minnie Mouses !

Opinions anybody ?

Perhaps one of those massive trucks would be better.

 

[BONZO]

As a "rule of thumb" I'd say go for the car that suits the luggage - not the number of people.

I've seen too many people try and shoehorn luggage, pushchairs etc into mid-size car boot.

 

[carene]

Hi Sid!

We always get the seven seater mini van, and yes, you are right about the limited amount of luggage space in the boot (trunk!).

However, since you only have 4 passengers, I'm sure there will be adequate room in the back seats of the van for additional luggage storage.

To give you an idea, one year i remember there was four adults and two kids in our mini van, 4 suitcases, large holdalls, other luggage plus two huge Minnie Mouses, and all that fitted without us busting out of the van!!!

BTW, we always get a Chrysler Vogayer and they are superb- I would get one over here, if i could only afford it!

Carene

 

[vernon]

I'd go for a Chrysler Voyager or similar. With that number of women who are shopping you may need a roof rack as well

 

[SidB]

Thanks guys. I like the idea of a Voyager.

Vernon, the roof-rack sounds about right, but I think I might need a trailer too !

I think the next problem will be how to get all of our gear home when we get back to the UK.

 

[cslogg]

I have booked a 7-Seater for September through Virgin/Dollar.
Any idea which make/model I will get?

cslogg

 

[SidB]

If you check out the Dollar website they're showing the Dodge Caravan 7-seater.

 

[DizneyDaze]

You should definately consider a 7 seater or similar. The first time we went to California we had a compact car which came with the flight 2 adults, 2 children. As we were travelling around for 3 weeks I packed everything, (complete novice) worrying about no laundry facilities in the hotels etc etc we ended up with 4 quite large suitcases. When we went to the Dollar pick up in LA we ended up with the poor porter or whatever you call them trying each size of car from the one we had ordered to full size etc etc we ended up with the 7 seater! Not only was this process time consuming and embarrassing (these cases were heavy) we also had quite hefty upgrade costs (not budgeted plus they had us over a barrell no deals for us) as we were there for three weeks! I now know that in the USA the trunk size is usually smaller than our boot size so beware. If you are just thinking of being overloaded from and to the airport you might get away with it - but the comfort and space of a 7 seater is great we have never looked back we always have either a 7 seater or a 4 wheel drive and now we only take a couple of cases and usually half empty - but jammed pack on return!

Shop and shop some more.

Have fun

 

[Disney owl]

Please note as you read this reply I'm the non-driver of the family!

So not sure how valuable my opinion is but here goes.

On our last trip we had a 7 seater van for 5 of us , 2adults & 3 kids aged over 10.

We had loads of room & room to split the kids so less arguements!!!!!!!

WE had no trouble fitting in our luggage, but on our return to the airport, friends we had travelled with couldn't fit all theirs in & we had to help out. They had a full size model & just 2 smaller kids but no buggies etc.

We're going again in August & have again booked a 7 seater this time for 6 of us.

 

[SidB]

Sat down with the wife last night. She is really unhappy with the thought of the extra cost of upgrading to a minivan for the three weeks we are there (2 weeks in Orlando, 1 on the coast), and came up with a possible solution.

We we leave the UK we're going to pack the smaller suitcases inside the bigger ones. Therefore a full size car should be OK trunk-wise. She'll be doing some heavy shopping in Orlando, so the smaller suitcases will no doubt be filled, hence the need for a minivan. So, she suggested that we visit the Orlando rental agency and upgrade for the last week.

I've done something similar in the UK and it worked OK. It might be one of those bizarre options that nobody else here has done, but if you have......

 

[kipper]

I also have two shopoholics in my family and like you suggested we store extra empty holdalls in our suitcases (holdalls lay flat when empty) after the wife and dd has finished shopping the holdalls are full. But we are not upgrading to a larger vehicle because the only time you have to transport them is when you leave for the airport.So i just place the holdalls on the laps of those who bought the goods for the short distance.Also whilst they are shopping I also remind them it will be on thier laps for the journey.

 

[carene]

We we leave the UK we're going to pack the smaller suitcases inside the bigger ones.

LOL Sid!!

I have done the thing with putting Holdalls inside the case, but never this!

I guess it is one to try!