Which car is better - intermediate or midsize SUV

[stephany]

Hello everyone!

I rented an intermediate from National, but I just found a mid-size SUV there for $70 less (2 weeks). My husband is concerned about not having a trunk. How important is that to you? Is he just being weird? (considering the fact that we own an SUV and a pickup - no trunks here) BTW - we will have 2 adults, 2 kids (6&9) and 2 large suitcases, 1 small suitcase and 4 backpacks.

I would like to use the Emerald Aisle (EA) service so that we can go right to the car and get to our hotel (we are coming in late and have a b'fast adr the next morning). But the intermediate is $70 more than the same car at Alamo. By renting the SUV, I would have the same rate as Alamo's intermediate and the EA service, but no trunk.

Any advice?

Thanks -

Stephany

 

[Letsbgoofy]

My DH and I both drive SUVs, so I might not be the person to ask but...he always complains when we rent an intermediate for the 3 of us (DS is now 16). We are not used to driving smaller cars, and we are all tall. The luggage never seems to fit into the trunk, and some gets shoved into the back seat with our son. The other problem is that all the cars look the same in the parking lot. Our last family trip, we rented a minivan and it was so much easier to find at the end of the day!

We have a mid sized SUV reserved for our trip in August - just DH and I this time. I wish we could find some good rates through National. We are with Alamo right now, and I will miss skipping the counter.

 

[OhioGrumpyGirl]

We rented a Ford Escape to drive from Ohio to Florida. It was 2 adults and 2 four year olds (yes, we are crazy ). We took a little tykes wagon, luggage for 2 weeks, a cooler, plus all the extras that you usually have. Even on the way home with all the souvies added to that, I could still clearly see out the back window. Hope this helps!

 

[stephany]

Thanks Grumpy & Goofy!

You've convinced me - I just cancelled the intermediate and rented the Equinox and saved $80! (which is even $20 cheaper than the intermediate at Alamo - and I still get to use emerald aisle - no counter) The total for 2 weeks is now $317 - much better than the $525 I started with a couple of months ago.

Just in case anyone is wondering, I used the National code (25% off) on the Vacation Outlet site and the $25 off National e-coupon for SUVs and minivans.

We leave in 9 days!

Stephany

 

[katallo]

Can anyone give me an idea of how many suitcases fit in the back of an Equinox. The Alamo site lists 2 small suitcases and that seems odd.

 

[Fire14]

Can anyone give me an idea of how many suitcases fit in the back of an Equinox. The Alamo site lists 2 small suitcases and that seems odd.

I had 4 larger suitcases a laptop and assorted other stuff in back of one.
I can get more than 2 small suitcases in trunk of my Saturn.

 

[katallo]

Thanks, that's what my husband said!

 

[Jen D]

Just in case anyone is wondering, I used the National code (25% off) on the Vacation Outlet site and the $25 off National e-coupon for SUVs and minivans.

Stephany

Thank you sooo much Stephany! I just cancelled our Alamo mid-size SUV and rebooked with National using the Vacation Outlet code. Price works out about the same but now I can bypass the rental counter