8 seater SUV?

[lmartin]

There are 8 of us (hopefully) going in Aug/Sept next year - rearranged from Oct this year.

I'd rather have a decent car than have to hire a minibus - so was looking at the Chevrolet Suburban (or similar) via BA Car Hire. However, under Budget it says is 8 seats and under AVIS it says it's 7.

Alamo don't seem to have any 8 seater options either.

Anyone have any experience of an 8 seater large SUV as opposed to a minibus / large people carrier?

[enjibenji]

We've had a 7 seater for 4 of us which was nice for a road trip, plenty space to stretch out and luggage space but when there was 8 of us it was definately a mini bus. No way would we have fit into a people carrier and not with luggage.

[lmartin]

We will likely hire 2 cars between the 8 of us - but were hoping we could get one to accommodate us all plus then a smaller one. So with the trips with luggage to/from airport we'd take both cars - but for a day at the parks or out for dinner etc when we're all going we'd all be able to get in the one.

[m3gt2]

Originally Posted by lmartin

We will likely hire 2 cars between the 8 of us - but were hoping we could get one to accommodate us all plus then a smaller one. So with the trips with luggage to/from airport we'd take both cars - but for a day at the parks or out for dinner etc when we're all going we'd all be able to get in the one.

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If Budget list as 8 passenger can't you book with them or are they more than Avis? Also have you thought about Uber from/to the airport? We are considering this as we aren't sure we will get the luggage in an SUV but other than that it'd be fine. I'm not sure how much an Uber would be though but I'm guessing less than a second car.

[lmartin]

We'll want the two cars anyway just to give us the flexibility to choose to do different things if we want to as opposed to doing everything as a group of 8. But on most of the days we will end up going to the same parks, shops and restaurants.

May just have to take the two cars to the parks - looking like it might make more sense ££-wise anyway as an intermediate SUV is £2-300 cheaper than a minibus - so even if we have to swallow 10 extra days of parking charges it makes sense.

[DFCH-Andy]

Budget themselves advertise their premium SUV as been a 7/8 seater vehicle on their website. When I checked in the garage a few years ago, they were all 8 seaters... But it is possible they still have 7 seaters.

Alamo do offer and guarantee an 8 seater SUV but they removed the prices from the online systems a couple of years ago. We do have access to them through our offline system however they are typically very expensive.

[Dom and Sarah]

Originally Posted by lmartin

We will likely hire 2 cars between the 8 of us - but were hoping we could get one to accommodate us all plus then a smaller one. So with the trips with luggage to/from airport we'd take both cars - but for a day at the parks or out for dinner etc when we're all going we'd all be able to get in the one.

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We have hired 2 cars for 8 people. They gave us a Hyundai Tucson and a 7 Seater Dodge Caravan or similar. Not happy about the 7 seater as they are inherently rubbish. If it was a Chrysler Pacifica, I wouldn’t mind, but I hear they are quite rare to find now. I might see if I can upgrade to a Chevy Tahoe. I agree though, it would be good to be able to take most of us out in one car if needed rather than taking two everywhere...

[Wolf1984]

Be aware a chevy suburban 3rd row is more like a bench. 3 adults will not sit there happily for too long. Luggage for 8 may also be a squeeze.

[NewtoOrlando]

Originally Posted by Dom and Sarah

We have hired 2 cars for 8 people. They gave us a Hyundai Tucson and a 7 Seater Dodge Caravan or similar. Not happy about the 7 seater as they are inherently rubbish. If it was a Chrysler Pacifica, I wouldn’t mind, but I hear they are quite rare to find now. I might see if I can upgrade to a Chevy Tahoe. I agree though, it would be good to be able to take most of us out in one car if needed rather than taking two everywhere...

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We have a grand caravan on 2016 and it was brilliant for 5 of us, loads of room and all the mod cons we could have asked for, working sat nav, Apple car play, DVD player. I would be happy enough with one of them.

[Toria_dee]

We had a Ford Expedition LT (now Expedition Max) back in 2017, which BA has said would be a Chevrolet Suburban or similar with Avis.

It was an 8 seater - there were seven of us and it was AMAZING!

We are going next year as a party of six (2 adults and 4 children) and H has said he'll not take anything else but a car from that group.

xx