How does a midsize rental compare to a compact..is it worth the extra money?

[lkohawaii]

I have DD, myself and 2 kids ages 2 & 8. Will a midsize car be worth the extra money. I'm worried about hauling the luggage and a stroller around. Opinions please.

 

[leebee]

I ended up with a compact once when I had reserved an intermediate, and I wasn't very happy with it, and that was just DD and myself, no other adults, strollers, etd. This was through National, don't remember what the car was. On the other hand, my BIL has rented compacts at Dollar- I believe it was a Neon- and there seemed to be enough space. What is the price difference between compact and midsize? When I'm travelling, ms costs $3/week more than compact, so we grabbed the ms and also have a coupon for an upgrade. Even if it's $20 more for the week, I think the ms is worth it.

 

[travelbug]

If you've got a stroller and a fair amount of luggage (and maybe a carseat??), it sounds like you'd be happier with a midsize. Have you shopped around with discount codes and coupons? I just booked a Budget midsize for our Feb. trip, and got the midsize for only 25 cents more per day than a compact would have been. That was a no-brainer decision for us.

Good luck!

 

[CarolA]

You probably are going to be VERY tight in an the small car. I would reserve the midsize.

 

[lkohawaii]

Thanks everyone!!! I didn't really think about the stroller when renting a car until recently. We've always gotten a mini van because there were more of us going. I've been watching the rates and I've gotten it down so that now I can rent a midsize for my original price of a compact. I just hear about people going to the counter and being offered an upgrade that they decline only to get the upgrade for free. Right now it's less than $10 for my rental period from Budget so I guess I will go for the midsize...now should I go for full size? I'm not familiar with the kinds of cars Budget has as an example. If I want something the size of a Toyota Camry what size am I looking for ..is that considered Full size?

 

[SB in KY]

I rented a midsize last summer and it was a Malibu classic....VERY roomy trunk and plenty of interior space for 4 people. I think you would be fine in a mid-size....just make sure you request a 4 door when you get to the counter.

The Malibu had more room than our Camry in the trunk and just about the same inside. Honestly the mid-sizes we have rented in the last 2 years don't seem much/any smaller than the full sizes...Malibu and 2 Mazdas vs a Camry and a Taurus....certainly not worth more than a couple of extra bucks.

 

[PlutoPony]

Our full size in August was a Camry....