We might not exactly be saying goodbye to the pandemic just yet. But the last nationwide lockdown in the UK is now largely just a memory. So, there’s no question that great number of us are eagerly making the most of the regained freedoms. And if a road trip across the continent has been on your ‘bucket list’, now could be the time to get planning. Memories of our own trip to Europe from years back are getting afresh. And we are ourselves itching for a new trip to Europe. While commuting in Europe is always a breeze. But this time around, we plan to do some of the wonderful road trips when there.
There’s one particularly important ingredient of any overseas road trip, though. And that is the right car. There are many car options in Europe. And it becomes really difficult to choose one. You might feel overwhelmed. What we recommend is Car Finance Genie. As they reckon that they have some great ideas for the set of wheels you might consider for the job. Whether you’re planning to drive along the Spanish Costas, in and around the enchanting towns and villages of the Italian Lakes region on a trip exploring Italy, or through culturally rewarding and sophisticated German cities. Here’s the top 3 car recommendations for you to rent with them. To make it super easy for you to rent a car in Europe.
Mazda MX-5 – #1 perfect car for a road trip in Europe
If you’re headed somewhere like the Swiss Alps, there’s surely nothing like a two-seater sports car for doing it in. But you might not have the budget for something really exotic. On our own trip to Switzerland, we took a bus to Engleberg Mount Titlis for similar reasons. But, for the last few decades, budget-conscious buyers in such a predicament have frequently looked in one direction: Mazda’s MX-5 roadster, iterations of which have been produced since 1989.
Whichever variant you pick, and whether you buy new or used, you can expect the MX-5 to deliver strong fundamentals for your European road trip. Including driving comfort, but also enough agility to make things interesting when the roads do get a bit more twisty. And, of course, it continues to be impressively affordable. Auto Express gave the most recent version of the MX-5 a five-star review in December last year, praising its “smart looks” and “everyday usability” – although it did point out that the entry price was creeping up, now being higher than £24,000. That might give you all the more reason to get in touch with a car finance specialist to see what kind of deal may be possible.
Skoda Superb Estate – #2 perfect car for a road trip in Europe
We felt obliged to include this one, not least because not every prospective road-tripper across Europe actually wants to get the wind in their hair. Instead, you might yearn for comfort, space to stretch out, and a car that will be easy to drive over long distances, rather than something that’s liable to get ‘snappy’ with you on an unfamiliar road if you push it too hard.
Well, if those are your desires, the Skoda Superb Estate could be an excellent-value – not to mention excellent, full stop – car for the job. With Recommended Retail Prices (RRPs) starting below £30,000, this Skoda offers a lot for the money, including truly mammoth boot space – handy if this will be a road trip on which you intend to pack a lot. What Car? described the Skoda Superb Estate as a “truly fabulous thing” in its five-star review, and our team at Car Finance Genie would be hard-pressed to disagree.
Lancia Delta Integrale – #3 perfect car for a road trip in Europe
What about this venerable Italian favourite for a ‘sideways’ option (quite literally)? A performance hatchback might not seem like the most obvious European road trip vehicle. But given that this souped-up Delta proved itself on plenty of challenging roads around the continent during Lancia’s spell as the most dominant force in rallying up until the 1990s, we reckon it could be a good idea to seek out an example if you fancy something a little ‘classic’.
Top Gear writer Craig Jamieson had the same idea, pointing out the World Rally Championship-winning legend’s practicality as a five-door hatch, as well as the “huge suspension travel” that allows it to “eat up all the road imperfections that’d knock a more tightly screwed-down car off course, all while being as comfortable as a set of COVID track pants.”
So… that road trip. What are you waiting for? car finance genie offer fantastic deals on car finance with no deposit, so even if you don’t have much money to put down for a car finance deal right now, we might still be able to help you get behind the wheel of the ideal road-trip vehicle.
Some of the best road trips in Europe
Now that you have enough information on which car you want to use for your road trips in Europe, let us give you list of some of the best road trips in Europe to take.
- Rome to Florence and rest of Tuscany
- Amalfi coast road trip in Italy
- A road trip across Lapland in winters
- Iceland ring road trip
- Southern Spain’s Andalusia region
- Aberdeenshire circle in Scotland
- The Wild Atlantic Way in Ireland
- Along the Alps from Vienna to Geneva
- Scandinavia – Sweden, Norway and Denmark
- Dalmatian coast
- The romantic road in Germany
- Castle Route in Germany
- Fairy Tale route in Germany
- The Black Forest high road in Germany and Switzerland
- A road trip across Wales
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