2662 Buy a RHD car for travelling in?

[LEFT]Not sure if this is the best forum to place this question in, but Ronald can move it if he thinks one of the other forums is more suitable.[/LEFT]

We are thinking about doing a few weeks holiday in Europe next year. Travel the length and breadth of Italy for example, but also other places in Europe. I know there is a scheme that allows you to lease a car (Peugeot?) for a minimum of 17 days but I want to explore the possibility of buying a right hand drive car here in UK and then driving over with a load of stuff. Then we can sell the car when we return (or possibly keep it, if we want). I'd be looking at buying a used car rather than a brand new one, so would want it to be reliable and would have it thoroughly checked for road worthyness etc by the AA or RAC. My question is whether any one make of car is likely to be easier to fix in Italy than any others, in the event of a breakdown. Obviously Fiat would be one to look at, but I have the impression that they can be unreliable.

I favour smallish cars that are economical to run. We drive a Smart car in London and we could easily get a RHD Smart, but it would kind of put the kibosh on taking anything with us. :p Anyone done this, or have any opinions on the best make(s) to look at?

Category
Travel & Holiday Advice

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 02/13/2006 - 14:29

Licciana
Don't you mean a LHD car ... with steering wheel on left? I'd go for an Opel/Vauxhall Astra; I've seen lots of them around in southern Italy, and from my experience local auto fixers are able to tackle nearly anything anyway (I have a LHD Rover which I feared would be a problem, both because it is very much a UK car and also because, sadly , the company is no more in a practical sense. There were no problems getting repairs sorted out by a local garage in Calabria).
Check out [url]http://www.lhdplace.com/list.htm[/url] ; that's where I bought our LHD car, and found them cheap, fair and reliable.
rgds
EddieB

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 02/13/2006 - 14:36

[QUOTE=Licciana][LEFT]Not sure if this is the best forum to place this question in, but Ronald can move it if he thinks one of the other forums is more suitable.[/LEFT]

We are thinking about doing a few weeks holiday in Europe next year. Travel the length and breadth of Italy for example, but also other places in Europe. I know there is a scheme that allows you to lease a car (Peugeot?) for a minimum of 17 days but I want to explore the possibility of buying a right hand drive car here in UK and then driving over with a load of stuff. Then we can sell the car when we return (or possibly keep it, if we want). I'd be looking at buying a used car rather than a brand new one, so would want it to be reliable and would have it thoroughly checked for road worthyness etc by the AA or RAC. My question is whether any one make of car is likely to be easier to fix in Italy than any others, in the event of a breakdown. Obviously Fiat would be one to look at, but I have the impression that they can be unreliable.

I favour smallish cars that are economical to run. We drive a Smart car in London and we could easily get a RHD Smart, but it would kind of put the kibosh on taking anything with us. :p Anyone done this, or have any opinions on the best make(s) to look at?[/QUOTE]

unless you can afford the best from germany, then a fiat is as good a bet
as anyother secondhand car/or new for that matter.....infact if you get a
diesel version, then you have already moved up into the german reliability
league....

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 02/13/2006 - 18:19

[quote=EddieB]Licciana
Don't you mean a LHD car ... with steering wheel on left?[/quote]
You're Right - I mean Left - I mean... Oh god, I always get my lefts and rights confused. Yes of course I meant LHD car. I was just testing you. :o (Perhaps, best if I give you all prior notice when I'm going to be driving near you!)