Car hire

2

Comments

  • edited 8:02PM
    Well I'm confused, because Streetcar's web site still shows quite a few BMW Series 1 cars around in this area - but at the same time some of the regular Golf cars have disappeared off the screen. What's going on?
  • edited 8:02PM
    I noticed those disappearing cars as well. We're streetcar members and find it convenient to have the bays on Victoria and Osborne. I think they are well used, because sometimes they've all been booked and we had to go further afield to Hanley Rd or Wells Terrace. I hope they do reappear.

    The drawbacks for me are the time spent checking for damage before driving (especially in the dark/pouring rain) in case you miss something you're subsequently charged for - and the nagging worry that you're liable for £750 excess for any damage that does occur in your hire period even if it's caused by another driver.

    This may be of interest to streetcar members, it's something I'm considering before the next hire: https://www.icarhireinsurance.com/insurance-information-centre/car-club-members.html?gclid=CMK0-Pedv6YCFQ8f4QodOTBuIA
  • edited 8:02PM
    I got in touch with Streetcar after no change in the situation, and Kraby's info was re-iterated.

    "Unfortunately in recent months we have been regularly targeted by vandals particularly in and around your area who're breaking into our vehicles. These break-ins result in numerous problems for us, including replacing keys, moving vehicles and waiting for new permits if they have also been taken.

    We're working with the Metropolitan police and looking at ways in which we can minimise this problem so it doesn't have this negative impact on our members. My locations team have assured me that we still hold these locations and will be returning cars there, however it may be the case that it is March by the time this happens as we await new vehicles and permits."
  • RoyRoy
    edited February 2011
    Incidentally, Streetcar's latest newsletter says that in response to feedback they are increasing the proportion of Golfs and Polos so that they will constitute 75% of the fleet.

    I take this as a slightly euphamistic way of saying that they realise they screwed up in terms of providing far too many BMW's and have now seen sense...

    I don't object to having a choice, and I might even hire a BMW once in a blue moon for novelty value -- though I'd probably be rather more likely to hire a Prius. In fact, isn't it Streetcar that has one of the new plug-in Priuses that aren't actually available for sale yet?

    -roy
  • Streetcar to me: "I can assure you that the removal of vehicles from this area is a temporary measure. We use the quieter winter months to take some of our older vehicles out of the Fleet, so that we can get new ones in place for members to use before usage picks up in the spring. The vehicles you mention will be replaced steadily over the next few weeks, and so you should see availability improving very soon."
  • AliAli
    edited 8:02PM
    Do Streetcar refund part of your annual membership to compensate for the reduction in what you have bought ? Or do they not have any sort of service level ?
  • edited 8:02PM
    Ali, I threw my toys with them (quite uncharacteristic for me...) about removing all my local cars just as they took the £59 subs. They extended my membership by 3 months.
  • They gave me an hour's free driving. Not much but better than nothing.
  • edited 8:02PM
    BMW on Osborne now. It's the one car on the street, dirtier than mine.
  • edited 8:02PM
    I read that as an incitement to run over the chancellor.
  • edited 8:02PM
    Response from the council as I asked them when Streetcar didn't get back to me (I had a quiet day to kill...) Looks like there are going to be more cars in the borough soon.

    "
    Thank you for your email regarding the removal of streetcar vehicles in N4. The Council are aware that a number of streetcar vehicles which have been temporally taken out of service in the N4 area. Unfortunately the car club vehicles at these locations were stolen by a car theft gang which had been targeting car club vehicles in Haringey and across London over the last 2 months. These vehicles have since been recovered and have been with the Police forensics team. Arrests have now been made and the missing cars will be operational again within a week. All streetcar vehicles are trackable and therefore are not good cars to steal, as the criminal gang has since found out.

    Streetcar would like to emphasis that this theft issue has caused minimal disruption to the car club service and the usage of all the car club vehicles in the N4 area have been performing consistently well. The car club scheme is Haringey has been a success and the Council, in partnership with streetcar, are continuing to expand the network of car club vehicles across the borough, with an additional 20 vehicles being introduced in the spring 2011.

    "
  • <P>Does anyone have any updated recommendations on this?</P> <P>I don't want to join a car club, I don't use one often enough.</P>
  • Since 1car1 went belly up I started using Europcar on Pentonville Road, booked through <a href="http://www.carhire3000.com/">Car Hire 3000</a><div>Usually the best price I find, always good cars and the staff are pretty good, although the guys behind the desks can be a little slow, but I think this is more to do with their antiquated IT system.<br><div><br></div></div>
  • <P>i use europcar in pentonville rd,which is 5 mins walk from angel end of upper st. tel  0871 384 9950</P> <P>it is £106 for 48 hours car hire (the cheapest car they do).£106 includes an extra payment for best insurance cover so you can get it for cheaper than £106</P> <P>they take £250 deposit which they return to your account about 4 days after you return car.</P> <P>i have found that if you phone in the morning you can often collect a car from the branch about 2-3 hours later which is convienient.It is a huge warehouse full of hire cares at this place so they seem to have alot of vehicles available</P> <P>take bus from finsbury park to angel tube  then a five minute walk down pentonville rd</P> <P>if you want vehicle on time best to collect car from branch yourself rather than ask them to deliver it to you i find...    </P> <P> </P>
  • I always use National/Alamo: http://www.alamo.co.uk/ and http://www.nationalcar.co.uk/<br><br>There are two separate websites, but I'm sure it's the same company and the branches are all the same. There are branches in Finchley and Islington. I've not used either, but I used to go to the one in Lewisham quite regularly and the service was good. Prices when I last used them were excellent, and as it's national you can pick up and drop off at different places. <br>
  • Just checked and it's £62 for 48 hours for the smallest car.<br>
  • Practical Car and Van Hire, Park Road, CE. Opposite Villiers Terrace. 020 8340 7902
  • Sixt, near Calendonian Road tube are very good.<br>
  • edited March 2012
    Ah, yes, the Streetcar initiative.
  • edited March 2012
    Enterprise are pretty good. There's one at Kings Cross.<br><a href="http://enterprise.co.uk">http://www.enterprise.co.uk</a><br><br>;
  • Streetcar have been taken over by Zipcar.<br>
  • Now called zip car.
  • Streetcar now called ZipCar and still very good.<div>Useful for anyone who doesn't own a car (which is less people than I would expect in a City such as London)</div>
  • <p>Can also recommend <strong><a href="http://www.practical.co.uk/locations/england/london/hornsey/">Practical in Crouch End</a></strong>, they have been good and reasonably priced everytime I have used them. Though they do tend to run out of cars over weekends if it is short notice.</p><p> </p><p>And <a href="http://www.a1hollowayrental.co.uk/http://">A1</a> on Holloway Road have also proved decent. I haven't used either in the past year or so though.</p>
  • Having used Zipcar today I note that it's now a Golf on Osbourne Road rather than a BMW.  Rather more useful...<br>
  • Practical Car on Park Road were friendly, reliable and good value. We used them a few times earlier this year and would definitely use them again.
  • I've just joined zipvan to move a large thing (a tree) - haven't yet used the van but it looks promising. However although the sign-up cost is low, once they have you on the phone they sting you for insurance - unless you're willing to risk a £1000 excess you need to pay an additional £15 for a month's cover. I tried to persuade them that although not precisely lying they were not being very clear on the website about the implications - not that I got anywhere of course.<div><br></div><div>Practical I think would be much better for a long journey. I used them for a lot of moving about over several hundred miles a few years ago and they were sound, friendly and straightforward. I wouldn't use the zips for anything other than short in-town journeys.</div>
  • <P>Hi Kate,</P> <P>you could sign up here: <A href="https://www.icarhireinsurance.com/insurance-information-centre/car-club-members.html">https://www.icarhireinsurance.com/insurance-information-centre/car-club-members.html</A></P>; <P>It is basically £40 and insures your excess with Zipcar for a year. So it already pays off after 3 days using zipcar.</P> <P>Tom</P>
  • what a useful thing to know! Thank you! I've bought the first month only - I'll follow up ... <div>Kate.</div>
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