New Launch Toyota Hilux.

In September, Nissan set the scene for a car rental battle royal in the 4x4 pick-up sector by launching the new Navara, a vehicle which left the opposition standing in terms of size, power and driveability. Just a month later, Toyota has replied with a new Hilux. With a new Mitsubishi L200 on the way early next year, Britain's pick-up sector is about to move on to a whole new playing field.

Built in South Africa, the new Hilux will be offered in single and double-cab formats but with only one engine - a common rail 2.5-litre diesel offering 102bhp - way short of the Navara's staggering 174bhp. But Toyota officials say that this model is the first of a roll-out of other variants. Both higher-powered versions and a king-cab will be available next year. car rental uk Outside, the new Hilux is considerably bigger than the old one. Its length has increased by 340mm to 5,255mm, largely because of a longer wheelbase, which now measures 3,085mm. The width has grown by 65mm while the height adds 30mm over the old model. The load area also grows, so single-cab models have 15% more space while double-cabs increase by 30%. The cabin now looks more like a car, with conventional-style controls and switches, rather than the van-style controls the old one had. In the double-cab, Toyota claims there is as much legroom as in a upper-medium UK car rental.

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Three grades will be on offer - H2, H3 and Invincible. Basic models have ABS brakes, driver and passenger airbags, electric windows, air-conditioning, remote central locking and CD player. While companies buying the Hilux for business use won't be affected by benefit-in-kind (BIK) tax considerations, drivers who choose these vehicles as a way of cutting their tax bills - and there are quite a few - are about to be hit in a big way. Until April 2007, BIK tax is based on a £500 loading, which means a 22% taxpayer will only have to cough up £110 a year. After that date the loading will increase to £3,000, meaning an annual tax bill of £660. It's a big leap but even the higher cost is still a reasonable amount for a vehicle of this type.

Behind the wheel

The Hilux looks very similar to the Navara - and no doubt when the new Mitsubishi L200 arrives next year it will look similar, too. They are big, brash, bold and beautiful if you like that sort of thing. car rental uk Only double-cab versions were on offer for our test drive and once aboard, it was obvious that Toyota's boast of car-like cabins was not an idle one. Front seats are wide and comfortable while there is plenty of legroom for rear seat passengers.Gone are the old ‘Tonka-toy' knobs and switches, replaced by a stylish car-like dash and upmarket fixtures and fittings. The roads around Marbella revealed plenty about the new Hilux. On fast roads it struggled - 102bhp isn't a lot for a titan like this and with no load on the back, it whined and groaned like a cissy even on relatively gentle inclines.
But heading off-road the Hilux was more impressive. While our ‘dirty' section wasn't too challenging, there were some pretty steep slopes to negotiate, along with rough pits and lots of loose shale and with four-wheel drive selected and second gear engaged, there was never any suggestion that it was going to struggle. The five-speed manual gearchange was slick and the power steering light yet precise. The Hilux retains its second gear lever for changing between two and four-wheel drive while the Navara has a switch on the dashboard.
Driving verdict car rental uk. SO far, with just the Nissan Navara and Toyota Hilux to choose from, it seems fleets have a stark choice - raw power from the Navara or the Hilux's lower running costs.

For those who feel the Navara is too powerful and the Hilux too weak fo car rental in the UK, maybe it would be better to wait and see what extra power Toyota will offer next year. Or will Mitsubishi play a sneaky hand and pitch its new L200 halfway between the two?

Mercedes-Benz B class

MERCEDES-BENZ is hitting back. Tired of volume brands narrowing the quality gap to its premium products, it is pitching its new B-class straight into the fleet heartland of MPVs like the Vauxhall Zafira as well as at hatchbacks like the Golf Plus. By introducing the range at £16,995 for the B150, Mercedes is hoping to tempt company car drivers to trade in their current set of mainstream wheels to upgrade to a large hatch bearing the coveted three-pointed star. car rental uk It expects to move 1,500 units during the remainder of this year, and 6,000 to 7,000 in 2006. At least 75% of these will be conquest sales, it predicts. The fleet market is expected to account for a third of total volume. car rental uk

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The B-class's target audience is the young and well-educated, and Mercedes-Benz expects 65% of its customers to be aged under 40. Unlike its smaller A-class sibling, mostly bought as the second car of the household, this model is designed to be the customer's main transport. Mari Dyson, product executive for the B-class, says this new market is of huge importance to the premium marque. Consequently the B-class's arrival has been backed by an innovative marketing campaign. This has seen the creation of 44 individual 20-second TV adverts - one for every day of its launch campaign - each designed to demonstrate the car's versatility.
This is supported by print and online advertising, and WAP downloads to customers mobile phones. The marketing bill alone comes to £4 million. car rental uk Dyson said: ‘A lot of the onus is on us to drive the user- choosers to our dealers. ‘There's a lot of direct marketing going out, and the website has been very busy. In fact more people have actively registered their details for this car than any other car we have launched.'

Residual values will differentiate it from the volume fare. CAP predicts prices after three years/60,000 miles in the high 30s for the diesel, which is five to six percentage points higher than volume MPVs such as the Vauxhall Zafira and Volks-wagen Touran, while it is at similar levels to the Golf Plus, which has nowhere near the adaptability. Six powerplants are available, comprising two turbodiesels (B180 CDI and B200 CDI) and four petrols (B150, B170, B200 and B200 Turbo), all of which are offered in the A-class.
The B150 won't be here until November, but all other versions are launched on September 15.

The range has two trim levels, standard and SE. Buyers will be underwhelmed by the standard trim, which includes steel wheels and black exterior details, so many people are expected to spend £950 upgrading to the more generous SE. car rental uk
At this level the B-class has a more eye-catching appearance, gaining 16-inch alloy wheels, chrome body details and a chrome radiator grille. Inside, the SE gets leather steering wheel, gear knob and handbrake lever, plus automatic headlight and wiper controls.
Both B200 models auto- matically get SE specification anyway, and the B200 Turbo receives even more equipment as well as a sports pack.

Depending on the depth of the buyer's pocket, the B-class can still be up-specced from a list of more than 50 extra-cost options, including a removable passenger seat system and two choices of panoramic sunroof.
In the versatility stakes the B-class is left slightly behind by the volume mini-MPVs such as the Vauxhall Zafira or Mazda5 with their abundance of storage areas. Yet its passenger seats can be folded down easily, creating luggage space 60 litres larger than a C-class estate.

Naturally, there's an array of safety systems including ABS with Brake Assist, ESP, traction control and six airbags. The B-class also has Mercedes-Benz's' new steer control system. When the car begins to oversteer, this automatically increases resistance in one direction to encourage the driver to correctly steer against the skid. Mercedes expects it to perform well in Euro NCAP crash tests later this year. The A-class, with which it shares some architecture, gained five-stars for adult occupants and four stars for child occupants.
A similar sandwich floor concept is used on the B-class, ensuring that in a frontal collision the engine and transmission are pushed down beneath the cabin rather than back into the occupants. car rental uk

Audi A6 3.0 TDI quattro

It is a testament to Audi build quality that, despite having been on the Fleet News test fleet for nine months, when I first got into our A6 it felt as if I could have been driving it out of the showroom on its maiden voyage. car rental uk. I moved from the test fleet's Saab 9-3 Convertible, which itself is no Amish homestead when it comes to luxury, but the Audi is overpowering in its grandeur and presents a definition of prestige motoring.

Outwardly, its appearance is deceptive. You would not know from looking at it that the latest incarnation of the A6 is the longest and widest car in its class. And it is 120mm longer and 45mm wider than its predecessor. car rental uk
Inside, there is a massive amount of space to the point of being Tardis-like. But unlike Dr Who's dated time-travelling box, the Audi is a vision in subtle opulence and superb construction. The twists in logic continue when you drive it. The light steering, whisper-quiet diesel engine and seat comfort make the driving experience of the A6 like that of a smaller car. car rental uk

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There is plenty of choice in the A6 range of engines. The entry-level model comes with the 177bhp 2.4-litre V6 SE and then there's the 255bhp 3.2 FSI SE and the newly-introduced 2.0-litre turbodiesel and 176bhp 2.7-litre TDI, with the range topping off with the 335bhp 4.2-litre V8 in the quattro SE. car rental uk Our model is powered by the 3.0 TDI engine, delivering a maximum 225bhp at 4,000 revs and a 0-62mph time of 7.3 seconds. Being an automatic, there is a frustrating lag in initial acceleration but then be prepared to re-live the scene in Star Wars when the Millennium Falcon goes into hyperspace. It is that impressive. There is no loss of composure, however, thanks to the latest model's extra length and width. Speed-related power steering stops the steering wheel feeling too loose at high speeds, though this leaves little for thrill seekers who are after ‘seat-of-the-pants' motoring. But if you want to get somewhere as fast as the UK legal system allows and arrive cool and calm for a meeting, the A6 is the car to choose. car rental uk

Mercedes-Benz R-class

YOU may have drivers on your fleet who, buried within them, have a deep-seated subconscious desire to drive around in a grand sports tourer. They will not know it yet, but the appearance of the Mercedes-Benz R-class could trigger this dormant urge and send them to your door. car rental uk That's because the R-class is the answer to a question not yet posed. It is an estate/MPV/saloon/hearse hybrid, with six seats, four-wheel drive, big engines and lots of space. Mercedes-Benz calls it a Grand Sports Tourer, or GST. We were here with the Renault Vel Satis and Avantime a few years back - minus one seat - and nobody could work them out then. car rental uk
But Mercedes-Benz has ploughed on with its own crossover vehicle and there is enough early evidence to suggest that, on a global basis at least, it will be a success. That's because the R-class is designed with the US in mind. Its size, six chairs, huge cupholders, blacked-out windows and drivetrain configuration suggest it is pitched at Americans tiring of SUVs. It is even built in the US, at the Tuscaloosa plant, home of the M-class. Apparently, US buyers want four-wheel drive for the extra safety it brings and that is why this odd choice is the only option, rather than Mercedes-Benz's more traditional rear-wheel drive set-up. car rental uk

The fact is that the heavier, thirstier four-wheel drive system makes no sense at all, until you consider that the US market will take most of the volume, and it is a lot cheaper to build it on the M-class platform in the States rather than ship S- or E-class modules over from Europe. Mercedes-Benz reckons on selling 1,800 in a full year in the UK with half of these being the diesel version, but by the very nature of the car this has to have been somewhat plucked out of thin air. True, there is nothing like it on the market but, after spending some time with the R, the multitude of abilities it has slowly dawn on you. car rental uk For a start, anything of this vastness is going to find some friends looking for ultimate carrying ability. At more than five metres long and nearly two metres wide for the long wheelbase version, the R-class is a big hulking piece of metal and head-turning elegance is certainly not a strength. car rental uk

Lexus RX400h

IMAGINE a world where you really could have your cake and eat it... where you could enjoy all of the good things in life but didn't have to put up with the associated downsides. car rental uk
It sounds like an impossible dream, and in most cases it still is. However, if you narrow down the parameters to cars, things start to look more promising. And if you want to drive a big, luxurious premium SUV, but don't want to choke the planet with your noxious exhaust emissions, then the answer is staring you (literally) in the face. car rental uk
Lexus' new RX400h is the ‘have your cake and eat it' SUV. You get all of the traditional SUV attributes - high seating position, premium badge and ‘out of my way' styling, yet you also get a petrol engine with an additonal electric motor. This means you get petrol performance with diesel economy. Perfect.

But the best thing is that this is alternative fuel technology which isn't intimidating or time-consuming. car rental uk
Unlike a pure electric car, you haven't got to recharge it at night and, unlike a dual-fuel car, you haven't got to hunt around for a petrol station which has got an LPG tank.
Simply fill the Lexus with unleaded fuel and off you go. When you're starting off or travelling slowly, only the electric motor is used, with the petrol engine chiming in as more power is required to boost acceleration. Brake or take your foot off the accelerator and the engine shuts down to save fuel. At the same time, generators use braking energy to recharge the batteries.

But the only way you notice you're driving a hybrid is by looking at the various digital read-outs which monitor which power plant is turning the wheels and tell you how much energy you have regenerated. You just need to resist the temptation to keep looking at these readouts and focus on the road instead. car rental uk
Other than that, it's just like driving the petrol RX300, which means you're at the wheel of one of the best-handling SUVs, although the angular styling isn't to everyone's taste. Body roll is well contained and the RX turns in to corners very sharply for such a car. The ride can get a bit bouncy, but that's the downside to having a car with such long suspension travel.

And bizarrely for a car with such environmentally-friendly pretensions, the RX400h is quicker than the RX300. With 208bhp, it has 7bhp more, but the headline figures don't tell the whole story.

When you really stand on the RX400's accelerator the 165bhp electric motor joins in, offering a surge of acceleration. It acts like a diesel engine, with the electric boost replacing diesel's wall of torque.

It's also diesel-like in its fuel consumption, returning a claimed average of 34.9mpg and CO2 emissions of just 192g/km (the same as a Vauxhall Astra 1.8 SRi). And that's the beauty of this Lexus. It is a car of the future, available today, which requires no compromises. With the RX400h, you really can have your cake and eat it. car rental uk

Ford Focus 1.6i Ti-VCT

THE Ford Focus is the UK's best-selling car, and I'm starting to realise why the new version is continuing its success. I've been driving our Titanium-spec 1.6 petrol five-door hatchback for almost two months, averaging about 300 miles a week, so it has given me plenty of time to get accustomed to motoring life in one of the car rental uk fleet stalwarts.

The thing which stands out the most is comfort. Sometimes after a three-hour journey I'm ready to call the chiropractor, but it's a different story in the Focus. This is mainly down to the seats, which are designed to support your back in all the right places. Something as simple as car manufacturers getting the seating right can bring joy to thousands of company car drivers. It is surprising how some firms struggle to master this.

Other factors which ease a three-hour journey are the minimal cabin noise, especially on motorways, and the super-smooth suspension.
Ford has refined the new Focus with minimal gaps between body panels, thicker front door side glass and new double door seals all helping to block out wind noise. There's nothing worse than having to crank up the stereo to drown out exterior noise.
Ford has also made the body structure 10% stiffer than the old model and added rear control blade multi-link suspension, which in layman's terms means each rear wheel reacts independently when it hits a bump, helping to increase stability.

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I don't know what the technical terms mean, but they translate into a cushioned ride which irons out the hardest bumps on our roads.
And as well as comfort, the chassis and suspension also give confidence-inspiring front-end grip, meaning the Focus always feels planted to the road. But while I've been enjoying the grip, I still haven't got to grips with the £250 optional voice control system is fitted to our car. This forms part of the advanced telephone pack which lets car ental uk drivers control the bluetooth-enabled telephone, stereo system, temperature control and satellite navigation by the sound of their voice.

So far I've failed to master the system but I am determined to use it soon. I have used the satellite navigation system on several occasions, though. It gets drivers from A to B and it is really easy to choose locations through the touch screen. I just want to view the map and my vehicle's position but covering almost half the screen are buttons to alter the air-conditioning, radio volume, outside temperature, traffic alert, scale of map and vehicle positioning, making it far too busy. Maybe once I've mastered the voice control these will miraculously disappear from the map. I'm also hoping fuel economy will improve. At present I'm averaging 35.3mpg, which is well short of Ford's claimed 43.8mpg combined figure. As most of my miles are being racked up on motorways, I'm a little disappointed with the Focus' frugality. Model: Ford Focus 1.6i Ti-VCT Titanium 5drPrice (OTR): £15,825 (£20,025 as tested) Mileage: 3,005CO2 emissions (g/km): 155Company car tax bill (2005/6) 22% tax-payer: £52 a month Insurance group: 7Combined mpg: 43.8Test mpg: 35.3CAP.

Vauxhall Vectra Estate SRi 1.9 CDTi

FINALLY we can bring you a road test on our long-term Vectra 1.9 CDTi without the ongoing saga of the ‘widget'. The ‘widget' - or, in technical terms, ‘lug holder' - has finally been fully restored after more than four months of waiting.

Back in November, the car had the plastic casing on the rear seatback locking mechanism repaired but the lug holder, which secures the rear seatback in place, was put on order. The part finally turned up in March and is now firmly in place after a quick visit to our local dealer. Although a missing lug holder doesn't affect the performance of the car, four months is quite a wait for a relatively insignificant part.

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The Vectra has been a firm favourite among the team - its practical load-bearing capabilities mean it is often borrowed to ship bulky items such as bikes, furniture and plants across the country.

Although it is one of the largest estates in its class, our model doesn't come with Car rental uk standard parking sensors. I class myself as quite competent at parking, even when backing into tight spots, but sometimes the Vectra's sheer rear-end bulk has me beaten.
Even after two months of driving it, I occasionally have to get out of the car when reversing to see how close the wall/hedge/car is behind me. Just £400 will add this option and it's well worth the money.

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Cars from £18.00 per day inclusive. Over 200 locations throughout the UK. In-terminal at all major airports. National suppliers only. Rates and service have to be tried to be believed.

We have, however, got the optional £850 adaptive front headlights, and they're great. When the car turns a corner, the headlights swivel round too. I've found this useful when turning into my drive at night - and it gives next door's cat a chance to escape. Car rental uk. The electronic opening tailgate is another plus point and one I think should be standard on all vehicles. Approaching the car with bags of shopping or some of the numerous bulky items the Vectra can carry, a quick push on the key fob opens the boot lid gracefully before you've even reached it.

Another thing I love about the Vectra is its massive fuel tank. It holds 61 litres and means I only have to fill up once a fortnight. Even though I'm not reaching Vauxhall's claimed combined economy figure of 46.3mpg, I'm averaging a decent 41.1mpg.

Volkswagen Passat

VOLKSWAGEN is planning to put a sub-£15,000 price sticker on the new Passat range it will launch in summer. In entry-level trim, the German company's D-sector contender will be pitched to cost just 1.3% more than models from volume manufacturers, Fleet NewsNet can reveal. Finishing touches are now being put on the marketing strategy that will allow British customers to pay substantially less for the lead-in 1.6-litre petrol S version than the £15,600 being asked for the car in domestic Car rental uk market showrooms.

And executives at Volkswagen UK are aiming to step up the pressure on Ford, Vauxhall and Peugeot by pricing the version of the Passat they expect to be most popular - the 2.0-litre TDI SE 140 - only 1% higher than competitor models when specification levels are taken into account.

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Volkswagen UK director Paul Willis said: ‘We are still working on the details, but I can tell you that our SE cars will include six-speed transmission, electronic handbrake, cruise control and 16-inch alloy wheels. This is specification packaging that puts us way ahead of our volume competitors.' Speaking in Barcelona at the company's second media launch of its next-generation model, Willis claimed that early indications from UK contract hire and leasing companies suggested residual values were set to be as much as 10 points higher than the previous Passat. Car rental uk. He said: ‘This is good news. It puts us within spitting distance of Audi and BMW and I'm very pleased with the way things are shaping up. ‘To be honest, I was worried about the prospects for this car because the previous version had such a huge impact on the image of the brand. That resulted in very high demand and a dramatic improvement in our residuals. ‘I wondered if it would be possible to follow that level of achievement, but it looks like Volkswagen has moved the game on again. It's most satisfying.'

Willis claims the new car's pricing structure and strong residuals are paramount to his plans for the development of Volkswagen UK over the longer term Car rental in the uk. He said: ‘Believe me, we understand the supply and demand equilibrium. ‘While we don't have ambitions for any large growth in volume, we do aim to retain our leadership of the saloon sub-sector in the UK. That is not the case in the rest of Europe, but the factory shares our goals. And while we are both working to increase our share of the UK market, we are dedicated to raising the quality of our business. ‘You only have to look at what goes on with competitor brands to see that anyone can sell cars at a discount, but achieving the right balance between volume and quality of share is more difficult. Our strategy is to undersell our share in the rental and other sub-sectors of the fleet market that can adversely affect residuals. ‘This is a declining sector, of course, and some of our rivals are pricing their products at less than the Golf, which is in the segment below the Passat. Clearly, that is a ridiculous situation - they're trying to buy business and it's small wonder you read about them being unprofitable. ‘We are working hard to position ourselves away from all that. The brands that achieve D-sector growth in future will be those that have value rather than forced discounts. The new Passat will be a strong user-chooser car - it has a beautifully sculptured appearance that excites me. I think it looks like a real Car rental uk winner.

As already reported by Fleet NewsNet, standard safety equipment in the Passat will include electronic stability control, driver, front passenger, front side and curtain airbags, fast-response rear LED lights, active front headrests and Isofix child seat mountings. Keyless entry and an electronic parking brake are also standard-fit and a Bluetooth telephone unit, a 600 watt hi-fi system and dual-zone Climatronic air conditioning are among optional items, along with a 230-volt mains outlet in the rear compartment to power laptop or computer games equipment.

Behind the wheel

With longer, wider and taller bodywork to haul around, it comes as no surprise to find that the lowest-rung Passat engine needs to be worked fairly hard to keep up a brisk pace on fast cross-country routes. How it will cope with lugging four or five occupants - and with its bigger boot crammed full of luggage - remains to be seen, but to be fair, the new 1.6-litre FSI motor performed with gusto on our short test drive near Barcelona. Now mounted transversely to free up additional body space, the 113bhp unit becomes vociferous at high revs but does settle to a more relaxed gait in sixth gear on the open road. Irrespective of speed or territory, progress in the 2.0-litre FSI version proves to be noticeably easier, however. In 147bhp guise, the Passat comes closer to achieving Volkswagen's ambition of cutting the cost of motoring with the ambience to go with an upmarket brand. When linked to the group's own torque converter automatic transmission in particular, the stronger petrol motor has the laid-back demeanour of premium transport and combines lively output with a level of refinement that should concern Audi, let alone Ford and Vauxhall. Curiously, the interior treatment of the entry-level version may well have stronger appeal to British tastes. Designed to be sporty as well as practical, its brushed aluminium fascia strip is neater and more visually appealing than some of the walnut-grain wood inserts used in the German-specification Highline versions we tried.

Mercedes-Benz

Mercedes-Benz has unveiled its second new model series in a month with the new R-Class six-seater, which made its world debut at the New York International Auto Show this week.

The R-Class takes the different parts of existing vehicle categories, such as a potential for car rental in the UK sporty saloon, estate, MPV and SUV, which Mercedes says, "is all about the three Ds: Dimensions, Design and Dynamism". The new model will be available with two engine variants. The V8 powerplant under the bonnet of the R 500 propels it from 0-62.5 mph in 6.9 seconds with a top speed of 149mph. Also in the engine line-up is a new six-cylinder power unit with third-generation common-rail, direct-injection technology.

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The V6 272bhp petrol engine, the R 350 accelerates from 0-62.5 mph in 8.3 seconds and reaches a top speed of 143mph.

All engine models are partnered as standard with the 7G-TRONIC seven-speed automatic transmission, which comes with Direct select.

Gearshift buttons replace the centre console gear selector. All-wheel drive, rear axle air-suspension and traction control system are all included as standard. Mercedes customers also have the option of Airmatic all-round air suspension. This is interlinked with the ADS Adaptive Damping System, offering motorists the ability to raise the body by up to 50mm when driving along rough roads. At high speeds above 75mph, the body is automatically lowered by 20mm to reduce wind resistance. Adaptive front airbags and front side bags as well as window bags and belt tensioners can all be found on the standard specification list of the new R-Class. Car rental uk.

Neck-Pro crash-responsive head restraints are available as an added option.

Extra options suitable for car rental in the UK also include the chrome styling package for the exterior, a sports styling package featuring a styled instrument cluster, sports pedals, 19-inch wheels and power-adjustable sports seats upholstered in Alcantara/ARTICO man-made leather and an interior appointments package comprising of leather upholstery, power-adjustable front seats and wood trim.

The new R-Class is being launched first in the US in autumn 2005. Deliveries to customers in Europe will begin early in 2006 with UK arrivals around spring 2006.

Our aim at Spirit Rent a Car:

is to provide you with vehicle rental services the way they should be. That means great deals that are easy to buy and a hassle free UK car rental service that works. The secret to our success is simple, we care about your rental.

At Spirit we provide a fantastic range of vehicles from hundreds of locations all at great prices. Whatever vehicle you want from the latest model hatchback or family saloon, to exciting performance and luxury cars or even a van for that important move.

I have been a frequent user of car rental for many years and all too often found myself disappointed with the deal and the service. It seemed no rental company really cared about me as a customer and made me want to come back to them again. So I started Spirit Rent a Car to provide the kind of service that I, as a customer wanted to buy.

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Its our role at Spirit to get you a great rental deal, to make sure the service and the vehicles are of the highest standard because we want you to come back again and again and to recommend us to your friends and family for car rental in the UK.

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If you are reading this page the chances are that you have rented a vehicle before that you want to rent again but are not going back to the company you used last time. I understand how you feel, that is why I started Spirit Rent a Car.

Join the growing number of people who have found in Spirit the great deals and services that they want provided by a small team who really care about wanting you to come to us every time you need to rent.

Saab Sport Wagon

SAAB has finally announced details of the long-awaited estate version of the 9-3.
Called the 9-3 SportWagon, it will come with a full seven engine line-up and give Saab the opportunity to secure more fleet sales - a high volume area for lifestyle estates. Available for car rental uk.

Carrying huge loads is not the SportWagon's prime strength. With a maximum load of 1,273 litres, it has only slightly more space than the likes of the small A4 Avant but does have a TwinFloor stowage facility. By pulling a chrome, aircraft-shaped handle, the main boot floor can be folded and relocated for access to a recessed sub-floor. Full UK pricing, specifications and technical data will be announced.

Saab Sport Wagon
SAAB has finally announced details of the long-awaited estate version of the 9-3.
Called the 9-3 SportWagon, it will come with a full seven engine line-up and give Saab the opportunity to secure more fleet sales - a high volume area for lifestyle estates.

Carrying huge loads is not the SportWagon's prime strength. With a maximum load of 1,273 litres, it has only slightly more space than the likes of the small A4 Avant but does have a TwinFloor stowage facility. By pulling a chrome, aircraft-shaped handle, the main boot floor can be folded and relocated for access to a recessed sub-floor.
Full UK pricing, specifications and technical data will be announced.

Peugeot 407SW

Hot on the heels of its new 407 saloon launch, Peugeot has introduced the 407SW - the initials unofficially standing for Sport Wagon. In showrooms now, the 407 SW is priced from £15,850 for the 1.8 S, rising to £23,350 for the 3.0-litre V6-powered Executive automatic. Car rental uk. Take the badge off the rear tailgate and you could be forgiven for thinking that this is a car from the Saab stable, with its coupe-like styling and bold C-pillar. As a result, its profile lives up to expectations as far as the 'sport' element of the name is concerned and company car drivers who crave a little extra space for samples or luggage will appreciate the low sill height of the tailgate and unimpeded access. Car rental uk.

However, the 'wagon' part is less evident and readers who see the 407 SW as the natural successor to the cavernous 405 and 406 estate models will be surprised to learn that its loadspace is significantly less than its predecessors. For while rivals like Vauxhall and Ford have unashamedly gone down the route of the voluminous repmobile, Peugeot's designers have decided that there's more to be gained from being a lifestyle accessory than a leg-iron.

As far as size is concerned, the SW is some 87mm longer than the saloon - a function of a rear overhang of 1009mm compared to 922mm in the saloon. It is also slightly higher than the saloon, by 41mm, though this is to accommodate a different roof design rather than to provide more passenger headroom. In volume terms, these dimensions translate into a modest increase in boot space over the saloon - 432 litres vs 455 litres (489 litres when the side storage compartments are taken into account Car rental uk). However, while the saloon's seats are fixed in place, those in the SW fold to reveal a flat load floor capable of swallowing up to 1365 litres of luggage and - with the front passenger seat folded flat - taking items up to 2700mm in length.

By way of comparison, Vauxhall's Vectra offers 500 litres of luggage space in hatchback form, while the estate has 530 litres with the rear seat up and 1850 litres with them folded. Peugeot has no plans for a truly load-lugging estate version of the 407 and the battle lines between 407 SW and its rivals will be drawn according to the load space requirements of the commercial traveller.
Engine options mirror those of the saloon, with 1.8-litre, 2.0-litre, 2.2-litre and 3.0-litre V6 petrols, plus the 1.6-litre and 2.0-litre diesels. Sales of Peugeot's 407 saloon have been predominantly to fleets and predominantly diesel and there's no reason to suppose that the SW will buck this trend, though its stylish looks and functionality will certainly give the range more retail appeal.

Pick of the engines is undoubtedly the 136bhp diesel developed jointly between PSA and Ford. Alongside CO2 emissions of just 155g/km and a combined fuel consumption of 47.1mpg, it offers a top speed of 126mph and accelerates from rest to 62mph in 10.1secs. For those with cash to burn, there's the 3.0-litre V6 petrol which, while marginally quicker than the HDi 136, is nearly twice the price in BIK terms and less enjoyable to drive.

Up-rated rear spring and damper settings on the SW are in place to accommodate heavier loads, though there's no self-levelling suspension on offer. Stiffer springs might mean a marginally firmer unladen ride, but only the most sensitive will find fault with the 407 SW's chassis, which combines excellent straight-line stability with an impressive performance on twisting roads. A double wishbone set-up is used for the front suspension, with a multi-link rear axle. The news that there's not going to be a load-lugging 407 estate might have raised a few eyebrows in solus Peugeot fleets, but those who are on user-chooser schemes will be attracted by the SW's smart styling and versatility. Standard specification and safety levels are impressive and the HDi 136 is a potential gem for car rental.

Vauxhall Vectra SRi

Latest addition to our long-term test fleet is a Vauxhall Vectra SRi, powered by a 150bhp, 1.9-litre diesel engine. It is with us for a year, which provides the opportunity to look in a bit more detail than usual at some of the technology in the car, the most impressive of which is undoubtedly Adaptive Forward Lighting or AFL for short. For those who bunked off physics at school, light does not bend - no matter who you are. However, by developing a system that combines swivelling lights with an additional bulb, Vauxhall has indeed made it possible to see round corners.

The aim of AFL is to make driving in the dark and in bad weather conditions easier and above all safer. According to the latest figures from Germany's Federal Statistics Bureau, more than 40 per cent of all automobile accidents resulting in death occur at night, despite the fact that there is up to 80 per cent less traffic on the road than during the day. Car rental uk. It does this in three ways. In bends, the headlight swivel by up to +/- 15 degrees, depending on steering wheel input. At junctions and narrow bends, a turning light provides wide-angle lighting. The illumination is nearly 90 degrees to the direction of travel over a distance of around 100 ft from the car. This turning-light is designed to function only at speeds up to 30 mph so that it does not activate in situations like lane changes on the motorway. Key benefit is that dark junctions become significantly safer. Finally, at motorway speeds the light angle on dipped beam rises slightly, illuminating the road ahead for a greater distance.

Before I tried the system I was naturally sceptical and while it is an expensive £850 optional extra, it comes into the 'wouldn't be without it' category as of now.
Source ROSS DURKIN
VAUXHALL VECTRA SRI 1.9 CDTI 5DROTR Price: £19,665Max power : 150bhp @ 4,000rpm
Max torque: 232lb.ft @ 2,000rpm
0-62mph: 8.8 secs. Top speed : 135mph. Combined MPG: 47.9mpg. CO2 emissions: 159 g/km
Typical monthly rental TBA.

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