rented car -spain to senegal in JULY?

[MR. MAGEE and MOLLY]

am i an idiot, or is it possible to travel on the atlantic route (morocco to senegal) in the middle of the summer with a rented Kangoo diesel 1,5 and four people?? i know it'll be hot,hot hot hot, but will we be the only ones around, and could the car make it, or should i give it up? any tips or reprimands appreciated.

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MR. MAGEE and
MOLLY

[beddhist]

To the best of my knowledge it will be next to impossible to find a rental car which you are allowed to take out of Europe.

Check out the temp purchase schemes French car makers run in France. Should be cheaper than renting, too. It's discussed elsewhere on this forum.

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Salut from Southern France, the bikers' paradise,

Peter.

[Holger]

its possible to rent cars in Ceuta and Melillia for Maroc - perhaps on this way?

report us!

[MR. MAGEE and MOLLY]

well, ideamerge.com can LEASE a kangoo diesel for up to 180 days (really not a bad price)tax free. Travel to Morocco is definately covered on the insurance (they even state so on the website), however, i believe the offer is only good for non-EU residents, or more specifically only US and Canadian residents can lease. don't know why, something to do with taxes, i suppose.
The thing is, i have NO idea what the leasing company and the Mori and Senegalese border patrol will have to say about a leased car coming and going in these parts (insurance, carnets(the idea of which i still cannot grasp)ownership matters.
Moreover, the question remains ...Is it just too damn hot in July?
Thank you both for responding, looking forward to hearing from others...
-ANDY-
Also

[MR. MAGEE and MOLLY]

...would a silly little 2WD Kangoo diesel make it?
-ANDY-

[ctc]

Judging by your last post you seem to be asking for someone to disuade you. If you were'nt, my apologies!

Unless you thrive on stress and discomfort I'd think again. The countries you propose visiting are great but not at that time of year or in a hire car. You are stacking up the odds against your enjoying yourself.

a) Temperature: During the daytime the temp will be over 40 degrees centigrade and perhaps hit 50 degrees. This is "unpleasant."

At night the temperature will drop, but if you're on the atlantic coast you'll still be breaking sweat throughout the night (this again is unpleasant).

If you therefore resort to cool lager to numb the discomfort, your hang-over in this temperature will also be unpleasant. Getting the idea...?

b) Damaging your hire car: Despite the fact that you have found what appears to be a good deal. Hire companies are not generally keen on you trashing their cars. Worrying about your hire car being damaged equals stress. Doing the beach piste in a hire car is asking for trouble and stress. If you damage it, and odds are you will at some stage, bye bye any insurance excess you agreed to pay and hello big bill on your credit card until you sort matters out with your hire company. This is again .... unpleasant. If someone steals your car or you lose it you are still responsible for it to the authorities of that country especially if it stamped into your passport - more stress.

c) Hire cars and borders. You can rest assured that the customs guys you meet will have little experience of your case. This equals confusion, potential for loss of face, stubbornness, aggression and bureacratic hurdles (paperwork & "fees" to overcome the above). This is .....wait for it......frustrating and ... unpleasant.

d) Your choice of car. Basically you are choosing to travel around in a green house on wheels (I've never seen so many square feet of glass ! Unless you have got an AC this will be..... unpleasant.

Ground clearance looks unimpressive and the 1.4 diesel looks adequate. One small positive ..I gather the running gear is from a clio which, however unlikely, I have seen do the beach piste so maybe OK.

Not withstanding the above, most things in this world are possible and I'm sure it can be done but bear in mind any idiot can be uncomfortable!

Why not go in the normal season or somewhere else which is seasonal (ie tour France and Spain and do a shorter trip to Morocco (mountainous areas will be cooler) in your hire car)?. Mauritania and Senegal are a different kettle of fish to Morocco and a long way from Europe.

Good luck!

CTC

[This message has been edited by ctc (edited 12 March 2004).]

[This message has been edited by ctc (edited 13 March 2004).]

[MR. MAGEE and MOLLY]

Excellent. Thank you very much for the extremely helpful reply. I really appreciate all the advice, very nice of you. I'll re-think. Good luck in everything...
-ANDY-