Mid size big enough?

[aj2hall]

Just wondering if a mid size car will be big enough for all of our lugagge? Dh and I are taking our 2 boys (6 &8). I'd like to stop at Wal Mart and pick up a few groceries, too but I'm worried about room in the car.

 

[Donald is #1]

How many suitcases will you have? If you have 4 suitcases (1 per person) then a mid-size may be a bit small.

 

[mareed]

I think you'd have to pack extremely lightly to do this. We're also a family of 4 with 2 DS's and a full-size car is the smallest we'll do.

 

[Colinsmom]

I agree that it will be pretty tight. Can one of you take ME with your luggage, and all meet up at the hotel? You can run and get your groceries while DH takes the boys in the pool, or something like that.

 

[BigTigger]

The part that gets you here is the rental companies will say Pontiac G6 or similar for mid-size. The G6 would be fine for what you describe. The issue is when you arrive and all they have is "or similar". Usually this is good for you as you get a bigger car, but occasionally your bigger car is something like a Monte Carlo coupe or Pontiac Grand Prix coupe or sedan which are bigger outside and smaller inside for space. The Chevy malibu is another midsize that is good sized and could handle your party well. Another place you run into this is with mid-size SUV's. When there were tons of Chevy Equinoxes in the rental fleet this was a great size to pick. It could handle 5 plus luggage in comfort. Now that the "or similar" clause seems to mean no Chevy, but a much smaller Jeep Liberty, it's not such a great deal.

The one good thing is that the mid-size car is the one most MCO agencies have the most of, so you should get lucky and get the G6 in most cases. I'm not sure when yo uarrive, but Alamo right now has tons of Chrysler Pacifia crossovers for the same rates as mid-size cars. That type of vehicle would give you more than enough space for you, the luggage and the groceries. Best of luck.

 

[goofyforlife]

i second Big Tigger and say if you are National or Alamo get a G6....

The trunk is huge... and we had our two 29" rolling cases along with a another smaller 20" bag back there. (our 29's were thick otherwise more may have fit.)

The front has planty of room if you need to put one suitcase up front between the boys or on one side.

And here's another alamo/national tip..... They are sister agencies...if you go to the lot and no G6's in the Alamo row you CAN go to the National side and take one of their G6's.

We did this last week because we didn't want a stinky PT cruiser. (which is horrible on luggage space.)

The alamo/national attendant (on B side) in the office told us we were OK to take from National side.