 Poster: A snowHead
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Hi there,
We've just costed a return private transfer and it's much, much cheaper to rent a car for the week- provided it's something reasonably small.
Top of the list at the moment is a VW Polo. It also has the benefit of front wheel drive, comes complete with chains and snow tyres.
So the query is - will a pair of 185cm skis fit - with two adults and a couple of bags.
It's about a 90 minute transfer so a little discomfort for the passenger (ie not me) is acceptable.
Skoda Fabia estate is on the list, a little bit more expensive, along with a Golf and a Qashqai.
Also - there was a link on this forum, some time ago, to holidayautos, that gave a discount (if you were an HSBC employee perhaps). Does this still exist?
Thanks
SM
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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shockingmoment, If the passenger has short enough legs to sit behind the driver then you could put the luggage on the other side of the car.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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If it is anything like my son's 2001 polo then it is possible but definitely not comfortable for the passengers. Unless the newer models have a ski hatch in the rear passenger seat then one pair of skis should fit diagonally into the passenger foot well, 1 bag on the rear seat and one in the luggage compartment. Putting half the back seat down will probably help.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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yes; I got 4 adults plus skis/boards into a polo a few years back
if it's 2 adults including your self, just put the back seat down and thread the skis between the driver and passenger seats. you might need to rig something up so the skis don't interfere with the gear stick
don't think the holiday autos discount works any more
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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You will be fine, have had all types of hire car from a Ka to a Kuga and you always get the ski's in up the middle, although the Ka was a little uncomfy for either the driver or passenger depending on whose side got the skis aimed at them but only when you wanted to use the middle arm rest, for a 90 min drive it's only a first world problem
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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try auto-europe.com - often find them to be cheaper thhan holiday autos
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I can get skis in my car (Alfa Romeo Mito) through the boot hatch into the rear seat footwells (just have to remove the parcel shelf) or on the front passenger seat. Luggage goes in the boot. I'd imagine a Polo is much the same,
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I've got skis in hire cars much smaller than a Polo before.
Put the passenger in, unpack the skis and slide them down between the passenger and their door.
They might not be able to escape if the car bursts into flames, but more importatnly you can still change gear ok. 
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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On another aspect of car hire, watch the damage excesses, some companies have increased the amount before the CDW component kicks in, something like the first £1000 is not covered by the CDW but for an additional fee the £1000 risk can be covered.
This is a representative figure I found in the small print of a car hire company I used earlier this year, with subsequent hires I made I paid the additional £5 or so for full CDW protection. Another element of car hire is when asked how many people are in your party, some hirers will restrict cover to that number of persons and no more unless a further fee is paid, so if there are two of you and you subsequently give a lift to a couple of friends you could have a problem if this go wrong.
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If the bindings are rail rather than screw-on, then consider pulling them off. I pack our skis and bindings separately as it makes the skis much easier to slot beside doors, windows etc.
Aside from that, as @Mosha Marc, says, down the side of the door is often easiest.
Or £30 for some inflatable easiracks and don't drive too fast 
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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PS if you're using hertz, use CDP 569608 with a mastercard, gets you 15% off.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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Based on our lads' trip experience 185 is a bit big for fitting diagonally in the back with rear seat folded. Down the middle or next to the doors should be fine (we've done both in the past). Alternatively with a split /fold seat @rjs has it right.
We managed three plus kit in a VW Up! but my brother chundered as we went over the Pas de Morgins - perhaps more of a comment on my driving than his stomach!
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Hire ski rack to go with the car. I did this a few years ago on a trip to Switzerland.
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You know it makes sense.
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Got a polo for the season this year, it will just about fiit a pair of 180's from corner to corner with the seats down but as others have said, watch out for damage. The rental companies make a lot of money from internal damage, much more than they do from external.
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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Got a polo for the season this year, it will just about fiit a pair of 180's from corner to corner with the seats down but as others have said, watch out for damage. The rental companies make a lot of money from internal damage, much more than they do from external.
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Poster: A snowHead
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dont be surprised when you turn you do not get a polo quite often it is a car of a similar size or type you can be lucky and get a bigger one if all the small ones have gone.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Nice one. What a response!
Thanks, and thanks for the car hire code. Tried Hertz, but they all come up 'Call to book' with no prices (same without the code btw). I'll call later.
Auto-Europe are cheap, really cheap... with Megadrive. Heard some real horror stories about them though. The others are a little bit dearer than HA - but thanks anyway.
I've got a set of magnetic roof ski racks, light enough but they take up valuable luggage space.... Not sure if I'll ever use them!
Great response - many thanks
SM
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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VW Polo is big enough for two people plus skis. take the skis out of the ski bag and either fit them between the two front seats or between the seats and the doors, one on the left and one on the right.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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We've done it a different way a couple of times. Take two lightweight ratchet straps with you. When you get to the car, fold a large towel lengthways twice and lay front to back along the roof of the car.Then put the skis on the towel. Loop the strap around the skis and then in through the car and tighten. Also put a twist in the strap either side of the skis above the roof so the strap doesn't vibrate and make an annoying noise at speed. Worked for us.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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| brock wrote: |
| dont be surprised when you turn you do not get a polo quite often it is a car of a similar size or type you can be lucky and get a bigger one if all the small ones have gone. |
You should have seen the face of the hire guy when he realised that the only manual car he had ready was a stonking great Mercedes estate ... he moved Heaven & Earth to get a Mazda ready for me instead.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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To clarify, do the above with the car doors open, not through the windows!
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We used to do tuis all the time with 203s and 207s.
Man up.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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rented a VW Up a few weeks ago. Put some 189's out of the passage window facing forward - not to be recommended, I nearly froze.
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I have travelled the Alps in a hire Polo and carrying my 179 Missions. My way of doing it was to flatten the passenger seat backwards and get the skis in fore and aft. This does mean the passenger (if any) has to sit behind the driver. I would think linds, remembers the experience!
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Keep the skis in a lightweight ski bag or wrap them with your thermals or similar to prevent damage to the interior trim. As said by others, hire car companies will kill you with interior damage charges
Last edited by snowHeads are a friendly bunch. on Wed 17-12-14 23:13; edited 1 time in total
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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| under a new name wrote: |
We used to do tuis all the time with 203s and 207s.
Man up. |
Peugeots or skis ?
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We managed a fiat panda (not even joking) 2 adults, 2 bags, 90mins, so I don't think you will have a problem!! Lol
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You know it makes sense.
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As mentioned watch out for the CDW. If you have a prang, all hell breaks loose. Try Protect My Bubble to cover you or google CDW insurance to find a deal, a few pounds extra is worth it!!
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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Certainly much much easier in a Golf. Mine's a mk1 Leon (same as Golf etc. basically), and 183cm Rictors fit in diagonally, with wide part of splitfold down, tails wedge between passenger seat and door, and tips fit nicely in boot corner. That's what I do when it's just me + skis + 8 hour drive.
If 2 people and short transfer, then I tend to put skis right down the centre also with wide part of splitfold down, and fit luggage in around. Can *just* get 3 people, 3-4 pr skis, 3 luggages etc. in that way, but it's cosy and you have 3 ski bags by your ear when driving. Coffin bags booger everything up though... 3 people, 2 skis, 1 board only fit if the coffin bag is folded in half and the board loose on top.
Polo is the absolute smallest I'd go with 2+skis+luggage (assuming luggage is not huge hard suitcases).
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Poster: A snowHead
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@musher, both. Obviously.
@Spinout, many of the CDW insurances are scams. My credit card insurance includes CDW and CDW waiver cover, no excess. Very handy when we had a c̶a̶r̶ ̶p̶a̶r̶k̶ ̶d̶o̶u̶g̶h̶n̶u̶t̶ random car park mishap in Italy with an €850 excess.
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FAQ
