Post: #1

I might go to Italia for X-mas.
The chick wants to rent a standard and drive from city to city.

1) how feasible is this?
2) how much?
3) and my standard skills aren't the greatest, what's driving like?

Post: #2

Driving in Italy is insanity. As is the case in much of the world outside of Anglo/N. European cultures. Why do you need a car in Italy? The trains will take you pretty much anywhere you want to go.

Post: #3

Their driving is seriously crazy, even in the more quaint towns. Train connects you to most major cities. If you want to rent a girl, just do it in tuscany where it's more useful.

Post: #4

Rent a CAR, not a girl

Post: #5

(12-02-2008 01:20 AM)Roosh Wrote:  Rent a CAR, not a girl

Freud is lol right now.

Post: #6

(12-01-2008 06:07 PM)speakeasy Wrote:  Driving in Italy is insanity. As is the case in much of the world outside of Anglo/N. European cultures. Why do you need a car in Italy? The trains will take you pretty much anywhere you want to go.

That's what I'm thinking.
I imagine the parking is insane as well.

Post: #7

(12-02-2008 03:32 PM)broken Wrote:  

(12-01-2008 06:07 PM)speakeasy Wrote:  Driving in Italy is insanity. As is the case in much of the world outside of Anglo/N. European cultures. Why do you need a car in Italy? The trains will take you pretty much anywhere you want to go.

That's what I'm thinking.
I imagine the parking is insane as well.

Probably so. Like trying to find a parking space in NYC or any big, dense city where people mostly walk and take public transit.

Post: #8

I always wondered how you would deal the cops if you were driving and got pulled over in a country where you couldn't speak the local language.

Post: #9

I say go for it.
Sounds like fun, and having a car will definitely take you places the train doesn't. Like a winding road by the beach. Yeah, a bus might go there but if you want to stop and take a picture at some nice view, the bus ain't gonna stop and wait for you!

I have driven in Europe several times, once on a road trip from France all the way to Bulgaria, stopping to visit many places along the way. It's not so hard, just keep a good GPS unit with a map of Europe with you. Almost any smartphone has that nowadays.
But, what do you mean by a "standard" - do you mean stick shift? Yes, most rental cars in Europe are stick. You have to have a certain level of skill, especially in narrow streets, tight corners, and uphill climbs with a stop sign in the middle!

Finally, renting a car may be the cheaper mode to travel. A Fiat 500 will go for around 20-25 EUR per day which is only 10-12.50 per person - depending on how far you go and how often you travel, you may spend well over 20-30 per day for train and bus tickets.

Post: #10

(05-19-2011 02:15 AM)K-man Wrote:  I say go for it.
Sounds like fun, and having a car will definitely take you places the train doesn't. Like a winding road by the beach. Yeah, a bus might go there but if you want to stop and take a picture at some nice view, the bus ain't gonna stop and wait for you!

I have driven in Europe several times, once on a road trip from France all the way to Bulgaria, stopping to visit many places along the way. It's not so hard, just keep a good GPS unit with a map of Europe with you. Almost any smartphone has that nowadays.
But, what do you mean by a "standard" - do you mean stick shift? Yes, most rental cars in Europe are stick. You have to have a certain level of skill, especially in narrow streets, tight corners, and uphill climbs with a stop sign in the middle!

Finally, renting a car may be the cheaper mode to travel. A Fiat 500 will go for around 20-25 EUR per day which is only 10-12.50 per person - depending on how far you go and how often you travel, you may spend well over 20-30 per day for train and bus tickets.

Indeed, go for it! The train brings you from big city to big city. But you are missing out the real beauty behind the Italian landscapes!! Italy is, like France, a country where you have to discover the local areas, small villages, people, restaurants & scenery. Going by train is shit. In that case pick 2-3 major cities and do the touristical stuff, but you miss out the most beautiful parts of the country.

Driving is not so hard, you just have to fight some more for your space. If you don't, you'll be waiting at every crossing for a while, which the people behind you will not appreciate Small villages on hills mean a little practicing, but if you stay calm & relaxed you get it in no time. Finding an automatic isn't a problem these days. So if you are American, make sure to rent one. It will save you some hassle. Be carefull with speeding, as you don't speak the language and not many people English compaired to other European countries. But again, it's not so special nor crazy, you just have to do it.

Ps Xmas in Italy, especially in the Nord, can be pretty cold. Keep that in mind. Skip the typical summer destinations as they'll be empty.

Enjoy it ! You'll get some of the best food and most beautiful scenery in the world.

Post: #11

Ps Just saw this movie, needed to share it ...

Nice scenery & a beauty of a car...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h95F6COlO...r_embedded

Post: #12

I say go for it. I'm a bit puzzled by the "don't do it" camp here -- especially on a forum on a blog that is, when you get down to it, all about conquering fear.

I lived in Europe for the better part of a decade and did dozens and dozens of road trips. The driving style varies in all of them, but if I might rank the intensity factor in descending order from "totally reasonable" to "batshit insane", here's a sample of a few that I'm familiar with:

UK
Germany
Austria
France
Hungary
Italy
Spain
Croatia
Serbia
Romania
Bosnia
Ukraine

...my point is, Italy ain't that bad, relatively speaking. Sure, the speeds out on the open road are sometimes chasteningly fast, and the Italians do like to take stupid risks passing and such (provided they do it with some sort of flair), and the traffic in Rome can be infuriating. And the autostradas ringing medium-sized cities do tend to jam up for no obvious reason. But generally there's a reasonable level of competence with the Italians' driving.

And it's a great driving country. If you like cars, and driving, you'd be a fool to pass up the opportunity. Unlike in the U.S. or Canada, where you just plop your automatic-transmission slab into a lane and trundle along, Italian roads demand that you man up and control the (presumably standard-shift) vehicle down some narrow, twisty roads in swift-moving traffic, with lots and lots of passing. It's a totally different driving experience. This might sound kind of arrogant, but it is *actual driving.*

Also, the roads are generally pretty good and the scenery, outside of industrial plains of the north, is fantastic. I can't imagine a more pleasurable ride than hauling ass through back roads in Tuscany or Umbria.

So yeah, go for it. Just remember that the passing lane is for passing only, and get ready to pay a mint for gas. And do yourself a favour and don't skimp on the cheapest available rental option. At a minimum, get some sort of sporty model with some balls.

And as for the cops, Italian traffic cops are generally not corruptible, and have no interest in messing with a tourist. Just show them your passport, driver's license, registration, and insurance, smile, and you'll be on your way.

JVM

Post: #13

Driving in Italy is not that bad.

You simply have to pay attention to what's happening around you. I have driven both in northern Italy and NYC e.g. and found NYC to be tougher.

Oh yeah, don't ever speed. The fines are brutal and can ruin the whole trip.

Post: #14

All I can say it do not mess up and unknowingly end up in the bus lane...even if the road seems quiet.

You won't get the ticket until 5 months later because it is done by camera.