We are renting a car in France this summer. We have a group of 7, including 5 teenagers. We're wondering if the Renault Espace would have enough room for 7 medium bags. (Pilot size cases) Alternatively, has anyone driven the Renault Traffic in France? Is it difficult to find parking that fits? Is it difficult to drive on European size roads? Would appreciate any insights. Thanks!
Posted by
Chicago
2876 posts
This website has some very good pictures of the Espace's interior. You can see what you're up against. As Roy Scheider said in Jaws, you're going to need a bigger boat. http://www.ideamerge.com/leasing/renault_espace.html
Posted by
Myrtle Beach, USA
12315 posts
It's supposed to have 16 cubic feet of trunk space. I'm not sure if that's enough for seven bags or not. The seating looks like a 2-3-2 configuration and should be fairly comfortable, if you don't have to put bags on your laps. It's hard to get bigger without going to something that looks like a small bus (and might need a commercial drivers license) Vans in Europe are usually a little narrower and the mirrors retract electronically for parking. You should be able to drive most places (maybe not medieval alleyways) but streets and parking will be noticably tighter in the older centers.
Posted by
Lakewood, Colorado
19427 posts
1 cu ft is 1728 cu in, so 16 cu ft would be 27,648 cu in. A regulation sized carry on bag is about 2700 cu in, so you should be able to carry about 10 regulation bags. Of course, that assumes the bags are really regulation carry on size. It will help if they are soft sided bags without rollers.
Posted by
L'Occitanie, France
11063 posts
What about using a roof rack too?
Posted by
victoria, Canada
11536 posts
Seven seaters have almost no trunk space.. I second the suggestion of a roof rack,, except theft then becomes a huge issue.. Can you get rid of one of the kids,, looks like you could put one seat down and stack luggage there.
Posted by
OP
Columbia, MD - Maryl, United States
4 posts
Tempting as that sometimes is... I found the dimensions of the Traffic, and it exceeds my car by at least a foot in every direction, and I think my car is big! (Sienna) Definitely looks like we may have to rent two smaller cars or a third alternative I hadn't really considered is the Voyager (automatic only.) Thanks for all the ideas and input!
Posted by
Chicago
2876 posts
Maybe you have 16 cu ft if you fold down the third row of seats.
Posted by
Arctophilia, Northamptonshire, England
35065 posts
I think you will really suffer to fit three bags in, let alone 7. You could have a look at this review by a major magazine In most maximum seating MPVs, including this one, there is a very narrow area behind the last row of seats for luggage. You will probably find it has no privacy shelf either, or perhaps a roll away one that may or may not work. Renaults are not renowned for fantastic build quality, in fact they tend to be in the bottom 3 or 4 worldwide.
Posted by
Arctophilia, Northamptonshire, England
35065 posts
Where did you get 16 cu ft? The specs for the grand espace which nearly seats 7 are: Espace Grand 7-passenger 4.861 m, (15.944 feet) long, 2.104 m (6.9 feet) wide (with door mirrors), 1.798 m (5.90 feet) high
hidden-luggage capacity: 291 liters (10.27 cubic feet) fuel tank: 83 liters (18.2 US gallons). So that's 291 litres, 10 and a quarter cu fts. Assuming that luggage is like ping pong balls (how capacity is checked) and infinitely malleable and with no space around at all (what no backpacks?) to fit each of your 7 bags would have to be no larger than 13 inches by 13 inches by 13 inches. Except that most luggage is not like ping pong balls so each piece would have to be smaller to safely fit.
Posted by
Arctophilia, Northamptonshire, England
35065 posts
Possibly Tom, but that won't help Leslie who has 7 bums requiring seats.