Luggage into Rental Car / SUV.... Help me choose!

[Carina]

Down to the wire and still holding 2 reservations I have a Full size Car ( heard the lot is full of Impalas) and a Mid-Size SUV booked

I am flying southwest so the amount of luggage is more limited by the rental car than the airlines.

There are 5 of us, and we are going for 11 days.

The SUV is going to cost $260 The Car $185


What do I do???

 

[staceywj]

It probably depends upon how many suitcases you are bringing. If you are bring more than 2-3 I would definitely go with the SUV.

Although, the trunk space is pretty large in an Impala. We are a family of 4 and hopefully bringing 2 suitcases and 1 stroller but decided for the extra couple of dollars the SUV is worth it.

 

[stitchlovestink]

Down to the wire and still holding 2 reservations I have a Full size Car ( heard the lot is full of Impalas) and a Mid-Size SUV booked

I am flying southwest so the amount of luggage is more limited by the rental car than the airlines.

There are 5 of us, and we are going for 11 days.

The SUV is going to cost $260 The Car $185


What do I do???

Unless the passengers n the backseat don't mind holding any suitcases or baggage that won't fit in the trunk on their laps for the ride to the hotel...but personally, if it were me, I would go for the SUV. meantime keep shopping the rate! Good Luck!!


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[gmeh1]

Down to the wire and still holding 2 reservations I have a Full size Car ( heard the lot is full of Impalas) and a Mid-Size SUV booked

I am flying southwest so the amount of luggage is more limited by the rental car than the airlines.

There are 5 of us, and we are going for 11 days.

The SUV is going to cost $260 The Car $185


What do I do???

Full size car: 5 passengers - 4 pieces of luggage
Mid SUV: 5 passengers - 3 pieces of luggage

This is according to the Alamo car specs.

since you are holding a reservation for each, why not wait till you get there and see which one accomodates you better. Then cancel the one that does not work for you.

 

[Carina]

I have an airmiles code that I redeemed points to get. It gives me $100 off my Alamo rental. It needs to be applied 24 hours in advance.

I am worried that I once I apply it to one it will be invalid for the other.

It says to bring the coupon, so it 'may' let me apply it to both then let me surrender it as I check out the vehicle I want. But if I apply it to the wrong reservation first I loose my back up plan!

 

[Disney st8 of mind]

There are 4 in our family and when we went in January we got a Chrysler 200, which I think is classified as a mid size car and smaller than the Impala. We had no problem fitting 2 checked suitcases, 3 carry on suitcases and our 4 personal carry ons in the trunk with plenty of room to spare. We just got back and this time we had a mid size SUV (a Chevy Captiva?) and only took one checked suitcase and the same number of carry ons and personal items as in January. I actually think the storage space felt smaller in the SUV, although we did like how it sat higher because we drive an SUV at home. I would say if cost is a factor, you should be fine with a full size car. As a side note, when we arrived at the airport (a Tuesday at 11am) there were only 6 cars in the entire full size isle and 4 of the choices were minivans!

 

[gmeh1]

There are 4 in our family and when we went in January we got a Chrysler 200, which I think is classified as a mid size car and smaller than the Impala. We had no problem fitting 2 checked suitcases, 3 carry on suitcases and our 4 personal carry ons in the trunk with plenty of room to spare. We just got back and this time we had a mid size SUV (a Chevy Captiva?) and only took one checked suitcase and the same number of carry ons and personal items as in January. I actually think the storage space felt smaller in the SUV, although we did like how it sat higher because we drive an SUV at home. I would say if cost is a factor, you should be fine with a full size car. As a side note, when we arrived at the airport (a Tuesday at 11am) there were only 6 cars in the entire full size isle and 4 of the choices were minivans!

Yes, the 200 is a midsize with a much smaller trunk than the Impala which has a trunk of 18.+cubic feet, it is quite large. The midsize SUV's are not all that large, as you have noted.

 

[gmeh1]

I have an airmiles code that I redeemed points to get. It gives me $100 off my Alamo rental. It needs to be applied 24 hours in advance.

I am worried that I once I apply it to one it will be invalid for the other.

It says to bring the coupon, so it 'may' let me apply it to both then let me surrender it as I check out the vehicle I want. But if I apply it to the wrong reservation first I loose my back up plan!

I can see your situation and I have no idea how that works. Another thought, you could keep the full size and if that does not work, you could do a counter upgrade and that would keep your discount intact.

 

[corky441]

Personally I'd take the full size Impala.
I like having a trunk. Before arriving at WDW, we always stop at the grocery store for "stuff" & on the day we fly out, we take a late afternoon flight and go to DTD after checking out.

Leaving my luggage and carryons as well as shopping bags in plain view has always bothered me... Ergo .... We take the Impala with the trunk

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[Carina]

HA ha... I'm still no closer to deciding! You guys are as wishy washy as I am

 

[bumbershoot]

Personally I'd take the full size Impala.
I like having a trunk. Before arriving at WDW, we always stop at the grocery store for "stuff" & on the day we fly out, we take a late afternoon flight and go to DTD after checking out.

Leaving my luggage and carryons as well as shopping bags in plain view has always bothered me... Ergo .... We take the Impala with the trunk

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

Yep yep yep.

We like getting the suv on vacation, but because of that we budget extra for tips for bell services so we don't leave bags in the car. Also because we drive a grand marquis at home so that sort of car is a yawn for me. But that sort of car tends to have massive trunk space!

If you are packing passengers into the suv, you won't have as much room for bags. Since we are only three people, we don't have that problem, which is another reason we like the suv.


5 of you? I too would do the impala. Google impala trunk space and see!




Side note, the Camry has a pretty huge trunk, too! Each time we have rented a Camry (not for WDW but for other reasons) we have been seriously impressed.

My sis in law has a 3 row durango, and we can barely fit our groceries in the cargo area with that third row up, let alone a bunch of luggage!

 

[gmeh1]

Yep yep yep.

We like getting the suv on vacation, but because of that we budget extra for tips for bell services so we don't leave bags in the car. Also because we drive a grand marquis at home so that sort of car is a yawn for me. But that sort of car tends to have massive trunk space!

If you are packing passengers into the suv, you won't have as much room for bags. Since we are only three people, we don't have that problem, which is another reason we like the suv.


5 of you? I too would do the impala. Google impala trunk space and see!



Both are large trunks.


Side note, the Camry has a pretty huge trunk, too! Each time we have rented a Camry (not for WDW but for other reasons) we have been seriously impressed.

My sis in law has a 3 row durango, and we can barely fit our groceries in the cargo area with that third row up, let alone a bunch of luggage!

Trunk space:
Impala - 18.6 cubic feet
Camry - 16.4 cubic feet.
Malibu - 15.1 cubic feet.
Altima - 15.4 cubic feet (for 2013)
Sonata - 16.4 cubic feet (for 2013)

These are the full size cars I see most often on the row.

 

[francie57]

There is no way that a lot of luggage will fit into a mid size SUV. We rented a full size SUV a year ago and that fit our 3 large suitcases and carryons. Our DD has a Nissan Muranso which is bigger than a mid-size SUV and there is no way all that would have fit. You will make out much better with the full size since the trunk is larger.

 

[Carina]

... but will a Mid-Size SUV let you stack it taller???

Meaning a trunk of a car only has so much space, but in my van I can put suitcases on top of suitcases stacking it pretty much to the roof... might block the back window but I can fit a TON in there. Would an SUV be the same?

 

[sympatico]

We have a mid size SUV and I would go with the Impala for luggage space. We've rented them in the past and the truck is huge.

 

[gmeh1]

... but will a Mid-Size SUV let you stack it taller???

Meaning a trunk of a car only has so much space, but in my van I can put suitcases on top of suitcases stacking it pretty much to the roof... might block the back window but I can fit a TON in there. Would an SUV be the same?

Mini vans have taller seats than the SUVs that is the reason you can stack them high. Trust me, and I am the least wishy washy person you will ever know, you will get more in the full size car. I see people try this everyday and the results are the either go for the full size car, upgrade to a minivan, or to a larger SUV. The mid size SUV is not all that great for luggage capacity.

 

[dsneprincess]

I say Impala, trunk is huge for the size of the car. We just put luggage from a Mercury Marquis into an Impala after breaking down on the road. Trunk space in Impala is MUCH greater than my Trailblazer. No comparison...

 

[Carina]

Mini vans have taller seats than the SUVs that is the reason you can stack them high. Trust me, and I am the least wishy washy person you will ever know, you will get more in the full size car. I see people try this everyday and the results are the either go for the full size car, upgrade to a minivan, or to a larger SUV. The mid size SUV is not all that great for luggage capacity.

Thx... lol FINALLY made it to a car lot today... I asked the dealer if i could look in the trunk of the Impala. As we were walking over to it he says The Impala's trunk is so big it can hold 3 dead bodies. My 16 year old laughed and said to him... "perfect she has 3 kids!"

Was so funny, we had barely said more than hello at that point.

We then asked he to see the trunk of a smallish SUV.... WOW why would anyone own one of those... they are TiiiiiiiiiiiNY!


No more wishy washy. Not a Car person in my Day to day life, but will happily drive one for the next 12 days!

Not to mention it's saving me nearly $100


Thx Everyone

 

[gmeh1]

Thx... lol FINALLY made it to a car lot today... I asked the dealer if i could look in the trunk of the Impala. As we were walking over to it he says The Impala's trunk is so big it can hold 3 dead bodies. My 16 year old laughed and said to him... "perfect she has 3 kids!"

Was so funny, we had barely said more than hello at that point.

We then asked he to see the trunk of a smallish SUV.... WOW why would anyone own one of those... they are TiiiiiiiiiiiNY!


No more wishy washy. Not a Car person in my Day to day life, but will happily drive one for the next 12 days!

Not to mention it's saving me nearly $100


Thx Everyone

You are welcome. I tell people the Impala will hold 5 bodies!!! I am not sure why anyone would own a SUV, but, that is just me. Different strokes for different folks.

 

[staceywj]

Just changed my small suv to an impala based upon the opinions of this thread. I was first under the impression that the SUV had more trunk space but I am wrong. Thanks also for saving me some $, too.