Car Rental in Germany - E220CDI MT or E280CDI AT?

[carlcowkau]

Hi guys, this is my 1st post here in this forum.

I'm going to Germany in 12th Jan until 15th Jan, and it will probably be the 1st time for me driving a W211 facelift.

I'm choosing Sixt car rental this time (as it's really cheap compared to other companies), and now considering whether to choose a E220 CDI MT or a E280 CDI AT.

As an absolute manual supporter, the MT should be my choice, but the 2.2L might not satisfy me much. From Autoexpress issue Oct 18, it said the manual box is "sloopy", and the 4-pedal operation makes hill starts to be tricky. Can anybody give any comment them? Also, how's the 3L V6 better than the 2.2L in daily use and Autobahn performance? Would it be such a big adv. so that i won't care about the fun playing with MT?

thanks for your advices.

 

[Blobcat]

Hi & Welcome,

Firstly what do you currently drive? trying a new car / gearbox out in a foreign country with most likely foul wintery weather is challenging.

Personally I would go for the E280 CDI Auto unless I could get the E320 CDI Auto that is. The 220 is not bad but can take awhile to get to speed.

 

[carlcowkau]

Hi & Welcome,

Firstly what do you currently drive? trying a new car / gearbox out in a foreign country with most likely foul wintery weather is challenging.

Personally I would go for the E280 CDI Auto unless I could get the E320 CDI Auto that is. The 220 is not bad but can take awhile to get to speed.

i'm now living in London with my Golf MK4 1.6. I went to Germany in Jun 06 for a week and drove an Astra 1.6 Caravan MT. And this might be my 2nd time to drive a diesel car (Passat 1.9 last time), and I had quite a bad impression on diesel engine. How's the 2.2L and the 3.0L V6 like actually?

 

[Blobcat]

like nothing you have tried. Find a local MB dealer and try one out before you go

 

[carabind]

Both are nice, but the E280 would be a nicer experience. Alslo, Auto would mean one less this to worry about, as you'll be driving on a different side of the rd.

 

[carlcowkau]

thank you very much for both of your advices, here comes my another problem... Do I really a a set of winter tyres at that time (mid-Jan)? They cost me 15 euro per day and I've to book it in advance.

 

[jberks]

check the weather forecasts and then decide. We certainly don't need them here, but it depends on where you are going.
The 220cdi is fine and plenty quick enough, the 280/320 are the same, just with an added lump of fun.

 

[Myros]

15 euro a day extra

That's a bit cheeky. I thought the Germans had just made it a legal requirement for german registered vehicles to be winter-tyred in the appropriate season. Where's PSmart when we need him.

Hold off as long as you can, I'll see if I can find out about this?

 

[bitonw]

In Germany they changed the rules about winter tires.

Since May 2006 you will need them depending on the weather, this is also the same for your windscreen washer! Failure of this will cost you €20. If you hinder the traffic because you aren't moving (slipping tires, frozen windscreen) ect fine will be €40 plus 1 point on your license. If you are involved in an accident in bad weather conditions without winter tires you will have a major problem...


In Duitsland moeten zelfs sinds mei 2006 alle (dus ook Nederlandse) auto’s verplicht onder winterse omstandigheden beschikken over een winteruitrusting. Het gaat daarbij met name om winterbanden en voldoende ruitensproeiervloeistof.
Gaat u onder winterse omstandigheden met uw zomerbanden de weg op, dan riskeert u een boete van €20. Veroorzaakt u gevaar of hinder, dan loopt die boete op tot €40 en 1 strafpunt.

 

[Myros]

I checked with the chaps at the German SL club

and they say at that time of year, you must be using M+S all season tyres, or straight winter tyres, otherwise you might have traction troubles, and if you do have a shunt, you will be in some kind of extra trouble. I don't know if that would apply if you were in a British reg'd car, but it will as you are in a German car.

I'd say it's worth contacting all the hire companies you have tried, and finding out what their tyre policy is. The extra 15 euro might be worth it, or might be beaten by someone else having winter tyres on as standard.

I'd also be checking the tyres on any car I was given when I got there.

Good luck

 

[bitonw]

This rule is for ALL vehicles who are driving in Germany! No exception!

 

[bitonw]

I'd also be checking the tyres on any car I was given when I got there.

On the side of real winter tires you will see an mountain top / snow http://www.snowtire.info . The M+S tires are NOT approved winter tires and can't be used in bad weather conditions i.e. they are not a replacement for winter tires...

 

[Myros]

It's not as clear cut as we would like to think

here is the official german version

http://www.germany-tourism.co.uk/pages/travel_by_car_809.htm.

What is a medium altitude?

 

[Myros]

I just had one of the chaps at 107 sl friends

in Germany get back to me. He said try Europcar, you can have their cars with winter tyres at no extra cost, and you only have to order a day ahead.
I don't know how they compare with Sixt though.

 

[psmart]

Im here.... Im here..... probably too late.... but Im here.....

In Austria, no car rental company will rent you a car without winter tyres and it is illegal to have non-winter tyres whilst driving in Austria during the winter (and also you must have your head lights on ALL the time). M+S are considered winter tyres. They may not be 100% pucka winter, but its sufficient for the laws.

In Germany, it depends on where you are. I dont know 100%, even ADAC give differing advise, but a general rule of thumb is that Winter tyres are not a requirement, just your insurance company will refuse to payout if you have an accident where clearly winter tyres would have prevented it. German Hire car companies will rent you cars out without Winter tyres, as they assume you are only driving in the city, so you have to order them. The trick I use is not to order them and wait until you get there and see what cars they offer you, taking the one with winter tyres, WITHOUT TELLING THE CLERK YOU NEED WINTER TYRES! If non is available, then at that time, ask for winter tyres if your going into the Alps, outback etc!

Im driving my little Fiat Seicento with summer tyres and Im not illegal in Germany!!!!!! but no doubt, if I have an accident, Ill be rolled out, stood against a fence and shot!