 Poster: A snowHead
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We're considering driving to Austria this winter - I've read some of the threads on fuel/tolls/euro star vs ferry etc - but I have a slightly different question.
Has anyone hired a 4X4 from the UK and done the drive? (Four adults, four pairs of skis and two weeks worth of luggage etc won't fit in my Ford KA or their TT!).
How much was it? Would a one way drop off each way be possible or even work out any cheaper?
What companies do this???
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Why a 4x4? A few things to consider. IME a 2WD with proper snow tyres does much better than a 4x4 with the standard fit tyres - the one's you are likely to get from a UK hire company. The only advantage might be ground clearance but in reality you are very unlikely to need to drive in those sort of conditions on a holiday. Most main raods in Europe are cleared pretty quickly.
A decent set of snow tires and chains covers everything unless you are doing some seious off the beaten track stuff.
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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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One way drop is very expensive when you cross a countries borders. Might be cheaper to fly and hire a car at the other end., or keep the car for the whole time .
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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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You won't get four adults, four pairs of skis and two weeks worth of luggage etc in most 4x4's either unless you can find one with a fold-down centre section of the rear seat.
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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 could if you had a roof box or hired one - my son used to hire a car with friends - about six of them to drive from the UK to Les Gets, stopping off to borrow our roof box and pick up odd bods along the way. It got more difficult as the friends all progressed and got more and more in they way of equipment themselves and hired less when they got there.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Hiring a car to take abroad is likely to be pricey - even if you avoid the 4 x 4 which is totally unnecessary. You can get a bigger, more comfortable and less thirsty 2WD car. But you're unlikely to be able to hire with snowtyres, and you'd need to buy chains, or rent on the basis that you get 50% back if they are unused.
Fly and drive would be cheaper. And if you hire in an Austrian airport you'll presumably get a car with snow tyres.
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We're heading off to the Val Gardena valley for Xmas week with 2 Discovery 3's and a Nissan Navara. I wouldn't bother with a 4x4 if we didn't own one and need it for towing. A decent 2 wheel drive car with chains onboard would be a far more economical proposition.
Last edited by Then you can post your own questions or snow reports... on Mon 31-08-09 20:18; edited 1 time in total
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we've spent the last 7 seasons in the Alps, with a 2WD car, snow tyres and chains (which we use not infrequently, as we sometimes have to go to Geneva airport to pick up friends and family, or take them back, on days when we otherwise would leave the car in the garage). We've never yet failed to get anywhere and even managed to tow a big bad 4WD monster out of a snowdrift a couple of years ago.
I;ve felt more need of a 4WD on occasions in the summer and autumn, when we've ventured up some pretty rough forest roads.
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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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| spyderjon wrote: |
| You won't get four adults, four pairs of skis and two weeks worth of luggage etc in most 4x4's either unless you can find one with a fold-down centre section of the rear seat. |
A Nissan X-trail will do the job nicely, but you still might need a roof box for the skis.
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Although thinking about it, we only put the roofbox on as we have the dog with us too.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Helen Beaumont, thats cruel putting the dog in the roofbox 
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