[alfa] re: renting an Alfa in Italia

[Mark Tamas <mst@xxxxxxx>]

   Check out  the Thrifty Italia website.  You can request specific 
models online.  However, this is only a request, it is not a 
confirmation.  When I went to Italia in May, I made a reservation with 
Thrifty, which was very easy and I received a prompt reply.  They were 
also very helpful answering questions such as whether or not my US 
driver's license was sufficient to drive in Italia (it was).
   If you can contact the actual agency in the locale you are picking 
up the car, you may have a better chance of getting the car you want.  I 
had the luxury of not needing the car until the end of the first week, 
so I visited the office in person early in the week.  I even had my AROC 
card with me, which I'm sure they thought was a real scream!  They told 
me they couldn't guarantee an Alfa, but they would try to do their 
best.  When I went to pick up the car, they said I would have to wait 
because the car wasn't ready.  Down the street to the bakery to pick up 
breakfast for my entourage and then back to Thrifty for more waiting.
    Over an hour after I was scheduled to pick up the car they said it 
was ready.  Don't expect to do anything in a hurry in Italia!  The car 
turned out to be a 156 Diesel (imagine my disappointment!), but it was 
seriously no slouch in the performance department.  Great handling car 
(ESPECIALLY for front wheel drive!) and I had no problem going as fast 
as I dared on the Autostrada.  The only thing missing were those gas 
engine noises!  Filling the car up was less painful and frequent as well. 
One more thing.  Don't drive in the cities unless you know where you are 
going or have a navigator.  Driving in city traffic requires 
hyper-vigilance.  The Italians are very skilled drivers, but traffic 
laws are considered more suggestion rather than rule.  Two lanes become 
three, etc.  My advice: go with the flow, keep your wits about you and 
have fun.  If you get into the spirit of the experience, it is really 
quite enjoyable- as long as you don't have to figure out where you are 
going!

Can't wait to go back!

Mark Tamas
Eugene, Oregon


> Date: Mon, 1 Mar 2004 14:17:25 -0500
> From: Joe Elliott <jee@domain.elided>
> Subject: [alfa] Renting an Alfa in Italy
>
> It looks like I'm going to take the plunge and rent a car while I'm 
> in Italy next week so that I can make the most of my time around 
> Modena.  Does anyone know of any car rental companies with which you 
> can make a reservation for a specific make/model?
>
> Thanks,
> Joe Elliott
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