Saving On Rental Car Costs In Europe
The VW Polo BlueMotion, available only in Europe, is the Continent's
most economical five-seater: It gets 60 miles to the gallon.
Photo: Volkswagen of America
Renting a car in Europe this summer? Two reasons to opt for a diesel:
(1) Diesel fuel is typically about 50 cents a gallon cheaper in Europe, where gasoline can cost as much as $7.50 a gallon. During my own most recent Euro-drive, in a superfast Maserati Quattroporte sedan, I routinely watched hundred-euro bills gurgle into its gas tank.
(2) Diesel cars get 20 to 25 percent better fuel mileage than the equivalent gasser. Europeans love the economy of diesels, and more than half of all new cars sold in Europe have diesel engines.
Do the math: Drive 2,000 vacation miles in a 60-m.p.g. VW diesel and you'll pay less than $140 for fuel. Do the same trip in a 37-m.p.g. Ford Focus and you're out more than $250. You'll have no trouble finding a diesel to rent at any European or British rental agency -- in some countries, like France, you may find nothing but diesels available -- and, trust me, you'll never know you're in an oil burner.
Modern Euro-diesels are nothing like the clattery, bog-slow smudgepots that adventuresome tightwads bought during the big fuel crises of the 1970s. Today, they have super-sophisticated fuel-injection systems with microprocessors working their magic on the combustion process, and diesel fuel is much cleaner as well: no more smoky exhausts, no more pocketa-pocketa rattles from under the hood, no more waiting for the little red glow-plug light to go off before you start the engine. And if you think diesels are only for econocars, be aware that BMW, Jaguar, Alfa-Romeo, Mercedes and other high-end brands offer diesel versions of some of their cars.
The only thing that hasn't changed is that if it spills, diesel fuel is oily, stinky, and stays on your hands far longer than gasoline. Tip: Pack a pair of dishwashing gloves to wear while refueling. Oh, and another thing: Diesel fuel mileage typically drops about twice as fast as gas-engine mileage when you're really honkin', so stay off the Autobahns. There's lots more to see on European backroads anyway.
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