Rental Car-Airport/Rent SUV vs Mini-Van?

[jencav5]

I need to rent a car for 10/29/05-11/5/05, 7 days, from the Orlando Airport. I have compared some prices already. I am wondering, though, how much more convenient it is to have a company right at the airport terminals, as opposed to at the airport, but you have to take a shuttle to get to it? I'm thinking of using Priceline, in which case I wouldn't get to choose, but would get a better price. What is everyone's opinion on this? Is it worth it to book it yourself because of the convenience?

Also, I was thinking of renting an SUV. I noticed a lot of people on these boards are renting mini vans. Has anyone else rented an SUV? I wanted it for the larger cargo space than the mini van. Any opinions/tips on SUV vs Mini Van would also be great! We are a family of 5, on an 18 night trip total. Thanks!

 

[mill4023]

I wouldn't assume you can get a better price with Priceline.
It can be great for hotels, but from personal experience and what I've heard from others, it's not very good for rental cars.

It seems to me that with 5 people, you'd have more cargo space in a minivan. Unless you are talking about a full-size SUV like a suburban, but that will probably cost twice as much as a van.

 

[jencav5]

I wouldn't assume you can get a better price with Priceline.
It can be great for hotels, but from personal experience and what I've heard from others, it's not very good for rental cars.

It seems to me that with 5 people, you'd have more cargo space in a minivan. Unless you are talking about a full-size SUV like a suburban, but that will probably cost twice as much as a van.

I've used Priceline for rental cars before and it has always been great. I would get a better price, or I would not use Priceline. In other words, if they don't accept my bid, which I know is lower than everyone else's, then I wouldn't use them anyway. Thanks for the input, though.

The SUV's on the car rental websites are Explorers, Trailblazers, Cheroke, etc... I know the Explorer has a much larger cargo space than a mini van. Are you saying a mini van has more because you can fold the backseat down? In that case, maybe it would be the same. Also, if you/or anyone has rented a mini-van, are they usually as clean as any other rental car? We've rented lots of cars, but never a mini van. I only say this because when shopping for used cars, used mini vans are the worst-people literally live in them! I would expect that the rental companies keep them clean, but I wonder if it ends up like a used hotel room? Thanks again!