yor

[Pete N]

Thinking of hiring with Algarve Driver next time we visit.
Out of interest, what is the usual age and mileage of the Algarve Driver hire cars please? In the UK, 13,000 miles seems to be a usual life with the Hertz and Avis type firms.
Thanks
P N

[djprescott]

The car I had last month was a VW Polo, year 2002 with about 12k on the clock. That was the oldest car I have rented from them, but the majority are less than 2 years old and I have had quite a few almost brand new.

You can find hire car companies where all the cars are less than 12 months old but obviously you pay more and I have no complaints with this company.

Hope this helps, Pete.

Dave.

[Graham L]

Interesting. I have just returned having hired with Algarve Driver (YOR).

49,000k on the clock and I wasn't impressed.

The car belonged to "nicetripcarrental" (so the rear window transfer told us) so where YOR got it from I don't know - local dump perhaps.
Getting the car was a problem at the airport as well. Filled in the forms, paid, was sent to Car Park 4, Row H and no car. Hot day (of course) luggage in tow, so back to the Terminal. "Oh yes, it's coming soon" Why not tell us that at the time before making us search high and low.
Me thinks it was get us out of the way, and on to the next person without too much customer care taking place.

I'll be discussing this with Steen soon.

[pm]

Why do people get so worked up over the mileage of hire cars? I couldn't give three figs so long as it works. You actually check the mileage of a hire car when you get in it!

[Guest]

I think the mileage has to be a factor. Hire cars are going to be driven by some pretty inexperienced drivers, a lot of British and Irish drivers won't be used to driving on the right and preoccupied drivers aren't always driving at their best. Add to this the inevitable proportion of drivers who don't care how they treat a hire car. "Normal" wear and tear aside it's simply the more miles a hire car does, the more the law of averages stacks up. If you doubt this, see how much ex-hire cars sell for.
I'll admit I have an axe to grind here (not with Yor, I might add). I had a wrecker last time out, high miles and all.
I'll concede a well maintained, high mileage car (like my own) is probably a better met than a low-miler which hasn't been looked after. But, assuming maintenance levels to be similar, give me the newer car every time.

[Graham L]

pm - Pete N asked the question. I replied with a recent experience. Isn't that what this forum is about - trading views?
G

[pm]

Which is what I did?

[Johnny Boy]

Hi, My Daughter is coming out this month, and I have booked a car with Algarve Driver, on the recommendation of this site. I normaly book with AA Castarina, So I will report back on my findings as to wether this company lives up to it. If not there in for some aggro

[Steen Jakobsen]

Interesting. I have just returned having hired with Algarve Driver (YOR).

49,000k on the clock and I wasn't impressed.

The car belonged to "nicetripcarrental" (so the rear window transfer told us) so where YOR got it from I don't know - local dump perhaps.
Getting the car was a problem at the airport as well. Filled in the forms, paid, was sent to Car Park 4, Row H and no car. Hot day (of course) luggage in tow, so back to the Terminal. "Oh yes, it's coming soon" Why not tell us that at the time before making us search high and low.
Me thinks it was get us out of the way, and on to the next person without too much customer care taking place.

I'll be discussing this with Steen soon.

I am sorry about the incident in the airport; unfortunately a very small delay can happen between a car is announced clean and the cleaner return it to row 4 - August is peak season and traffic on the parking area dense.

The rental car in question is from March 2003 and was supplied by a business partner as all our cars were rented out at the moment. I might add it was a group E car with aircondition offered for the price of a group A car. Had you given us a call we could have arranged a replacement.