Driving in Spain - what has been your experience?

I have driven there as well as all over Europe and UK... really no different, relatively well marked roads. If you are just going point to point and don't want to explore or wander along the way I would just use public transportation. I picked up my car after the Seville, Granada and Jerez part of the trip to drive countryside a bit and then on to Portugal. I am sure parking is the same as in any other tourist city... a bit difficult, but doable.

Using public transit might pose a problem. I'll be staying in Seville before going to Jerez. If I take public transit I will have to log my luggage with me to the horse show and back to the station.

Oh, that's a pain... then I would just get the car as I left Seville... Jerez was really not that busy so I assume parking might not be too hard there. Granada obviously is busy, but there is parking. I think you will enjoy the scenery as you drive the countryside, and it will give you the opportunity to stop if you see something interesting.

A few years ago we drove a similar route but starting in Granada and ending in Seville. The picking up and dropping off in these cities was quite easy but I wouldn't want to keep the car while staying in either place. You could also do some driving through some of the white villages - which is lovely.
I don't find driving in Spain any different than other western European countries. But, like other countries, having a car in a bigger city would be a pain.

Pls do yourself a huge favor and obtain an IDP at AAA as it is required by law.
Pu the car on your way out of se ille and make sure you drop it off prior to entering old granada.
Check out via michelin web site for excellent maps.

Marbleskies, I was hoping to drive to my hotel, dropping my bags and then returning the car. I'll have to drop the car and find my way to the hotel on public transit.

Rent the car after visiting Sevilla. Don't have a car while in Sevilla as you won't need it, and if your hotel is in the old city, you will have a hard time accessing it and parking.
I found no problem driving into Jerez. I didn't particularly like the town, but if go there, parking is available.
Between Jerez and Granada, I'm sure you want to visit Arcos, Ronda, and other Pueblos Blancos. If you want to stop along the coast Nerja is nice.
Whether you can reach your hotel in Granada and drop your bags before returning the car depends on where your hotel is located. Mine was easily reached by car, not sure about some of those located up in El Albaicin.
Driving in Spain is just as easy as driving anywhere else in Europe or North America. Andalusia is very hilly so there are curves and hills. I'm saying this because I have friends living in the Midwest, who are used to flat and straight roads, that when they come to the San Francisco area totally freak out at the thought of driving on roads that are on a steep hill and not straight. If you are from Fairfax, VA, you have the Appalachian mountains near you, so I'm sure you have some practice. If you are from Fairfax here in Marin County (Calif), then you live next to mountains. Renting automatic cars may be problematic in Europe, so if you rent a manual transmission car, you need to know how to start a car going uphill without rolling back and hitting the car behind you.

Thanks everyone. I've given up the idea of driving. After looking at a few quotes, seeing were I have to pick up and drop the car, gas, parking and the privilege-of-picking-the-car-at-the-airport fee, it does not make sense to do so.