Need advice on what vehicle to rent for 4 adults with luggage please. Wife and I are taking her parents on a road trip around Ireland for 11 days in Sept. There will be a considerable amount of driving, Dublin-Galway, around Connemara, down to Dingle and Ring of Kerry-Kenmare, across to Cork and Waterford and back to Dublin. Luggage is looking like 4 carry on roller bags, and the equivalent of 4 backpacks.
I really wanted to go small but it’s looking like her parents will need reasonable comfort and space.
Are there any narrow mini vans or SUV’s that fit well on the roads. Has anyone done a similar trip and have recommendations or warnings of vehicles to avoid?
Thanks
Posted by
921 posts
The roads are narrow, but we took a 14 day RS tour on a 50+seat passenger bus, so it's not like these roads can't be navigated in a regular size car. I realize we had a professional driver, but it just seems like it's not impossible. Of course parking is another factor to consider.I would think having an automatic would be far more significant as trying to drive a manual and on the "wrong" side of the road would require too much to concentrate on at the same time.
Posted by
Cornwall
341 posts
Are there any narrow mini vans or SUV’s that fit well on the roads.
Delivery trucks, fire engines, buses all use the same roads so shaving half an inch off the width is going to make zero difference. Get a car that is big enough for all of you and your stuff.
Posted by
OP
Detroit
21 posts
I guess I should specify that we plan to do the Skellig ring portion of the Ring of Kerry as well as some of the central mountain passes on the Dingle, Kerry and Beara peninsulas. I believe the tour busses don’t attempt those roads? Are they called “B” roads? I’m not sure what they are called.
Maybe it’s not possible and I should just stick to the wider roads?
Edit: been looking through the rental sites and now trying to decide on what category to book. Looks like standard sedan or intermediate SUV would both work but it’s odd that they seem to think a standard sedan is larger than an intermediate SUV?
Posted by
Sacramento, California U.S.A.
10603 posts
We did exactly this two years ago. We got an SUV, think Toyota RAV 4 sized. It fit 4 adults with the same luggage you will have and was manageable on every road we drove on.
Posted by
Lincolnshire, UK
2288 posts
Ireland has a different method of numbering roads. The naim roads (what ae a roads in the UK ) ae numbered N routes. Thge R roads are the equivalent of B roads in the UK. You shouldn't have any issues on these roads. Use google street view images to see what these roads look like.
Then there are what are described as 'other roads' these don't have a number and are likely to be narrow. Coaches, caravans and mobile homes would be foolish to tackle these, especially if you are not very good at reversing and are concerned about scratches on paintwork.... but they will be fine for the average car.
Choose a car which allows a reasonable amount of luggage storage in the trunk and also reasonable leg room in the back.
Posted by
1588 posts
There are 4 types of roads in the Republic of Ireland. "M" roads are big divided highways or toll roads. "N" roads are at least one lane in each direction and frequently 2 lanes and sometimes divided. "R" roads which are generally 1 lane in each direction but may be only 1-1/2 lanes in total. And "L" roads which will only be 1 or 1-1/2 lanes in total. On the 1-1/2 lane R and L roads there will be pull outs so that cars traveling in the opposite direction can pass each other.
Be aware that although the main Ring of Kerry road is a N road it is not divided. It has been widened so that large buses can pass each other and you won't have any difficulty driving it. But it's just something to remember.
Posted by
10 posts
We just did a trip in April with my husband's parents. Not quite as much driving, but we still needed room for four and luggage. We ended up with a Nissan Qashqai and felt it was perfect. Enough room for everyone and still small enough for the roads.
Have fun!