Motoring November 2017

IN THIS ISSUE: HIRING A CAR ABROAD | HYUNDAI COMPLETES KONA 10 | 50 YEARS OF VOLKSWAGEN OWNERSHIP | VOLVO’S FIRST SMALL PREMIUM SUV | NISSAN NAVARA BREAKS 50,000 SALES BARRIER

The Malta Independent on Sunday. November 2017

HYUNDAI KONA 10 AN EPIC DRIVING CHALLENGE

also inside

Discover Veneto’s spectacular towns and landscapes VENETO VINEYARD SPOTLIGHT: MASI

DISCOVER

VENETO’S

Riviera del brenta

Verona, Aida performance at the arena

STRETCHING FROM THE ROCKY FOOTHILLS OF THE DOLOMITES TO THE LAGOONS OF VENICE, THE VENTO REGION IS A FASCINATING AREA TO DISCOVER. WITH MEDIEVAL CASTLES AND MODERN SKIING RESORTS, FOOTHILLS DOTTED WITH CHARMING TOWNS AND WORLD-CLASS VINEYARDS, THE WHOLE AREA OF THE RIVER PO DELTA IS A UNIQUE ENVIRONMENT OF EXCEPTIONAL NATURAL BEAUTY AND PERFECT FOR A DRIVING TRIP. eneto is bordered to the south east by the Adriatic, with its beaches, ports Venice and Padova, which contrast with the rolling countryside and vast stretch of Lago di Garda on the west, flanked by lemon and olive groves, and resorts and medieval towns.

The cookbook of Veneto cuisine dates back to medieval noble families who created world-class cuisine, made up of tasty and simple ingredients. The region’s cuisine offers unique flavours which vary according to the geographical area.The area of the Euganean Hills offers two seasons par excellence: spring and autumn - the best times of the year to enjoy dishes made with wild herbs, vegetables and mushrooms. The dishes in the lower area of the Veneto are based on fresh products such as rice, truffles, wild game, and pork.

The Eastern area reflects the influence of the nearby Riviera del Brenta and Venice.

Here dishes are based on fish from the lagoon, sea and river. A local speciality is horse meat. Polenta reigns on the tables in the upper area of the region, often side by

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side with dishes based on wild game and fowl, salted cod and radicchio. With a long and noble history, the local wines are also major players on tabletops.

The region is protected from the harsh northern European climate by the Alps, the foothills of which form the Veneto's northern extremes.These cooler climes are well-suited to white varieties like Garganega (the main grape for Soave wines), while the warmer Adriatic coastal plains, river valleys, and Garda Lake zone are the places where the renowned Valpolicella, Amarone and Bardolino DOC reds are produced.

elegant shops and cafes, Venice is comprised of a group of 117 small islands separated by canals and linked by bridges.

It is located in the marshy Venetian Lagoon which stretches along the shoreline, between the mouths of the Po and the Piave Rivers. Driving into Venice you can leave your car parked at one of the car parks in Piazzale Roma and then explore the city on foot, using the water buses (vaporetti) or a private water taxi.

been selling prosciutto, wine, Italian cheeses, meats and fresh seafood and all manner of treats for over 800 years.

RIVIERA DEL BRENTA The Brenta is a river that runs 108 miles from Trentino to The Adriatic Sea. In the 16th Century, as grand villas were being built along the river, there was a desire to prevent silt from collecting in the Venetian lagoon, and so two canals were constructed, bypassing the lagoon. The aristocracy that owned the villas on the Brenta would travel daily by boat to conduct their business along the canals.

TREVISO Despite comparisons with Venice, the lovely fortified city of Treviso has its own distinctive character. Treviso's balconied houses and porticoed streets are crisscrossed by picturesque canals and filled with beautiful medieval palaces.

Verona arena

VERONA Verona, with its rich Roman and Etruscan past, is an aesthetically pleasing provincial city, with streets paved with marble.Verona is also well known as the setting for Shakespeare's timeless love story, Romeo and Juliet. In the center of Verona stands the 1st-century AD Arena Roman amphitheater Arena di Verona. It can hold about 30,000 spectators and is still used for opera performances between June and August. Also not to be missed is Piazza Erbe with its colorful market.

PADOVA

VENICE Celebrated the world over for its splendid and varied architecture, home of

Padova is known known for the frescoes

by Giotto in its Scrovegni Chapel and the vast 13th-century Basilica of St. Anthony.

The basilica, with its Byzantine-style domes and notable artworks, contains the namesake saint’s tomb. Padua's old town has arcaded streets and stylish cafes and restaurants. Don't miss the big fruit and veg market in Piazza dell’Erbe with stall after stall piled high with fresh, fragrant produce, and the covered market, under the grand Palazzo della Ragione that has

VICENZA

Lying equal distant between Venice and Verona, Vicenza is set against a backdrop of mountains and is home of the great Palladio, a leading 16th-century architect, responsible for the city's great palazzi and countless villas in the countryside. Have a break at Pasticceria Soraru overlooking Piazza dei Signori for a cappucino and morning cornetto.

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VENETO VINEYARD SPOTLIGHT

MASI

THE HISTORY OF MASI IS THE HISTORY OF A FAMILY AND ITS VINEYARDS IN THE VENETO REGION. THE MASI NAME DERIVES FROM "VAIO DEI MASI", THE SMALL VALLEY IN VALPOLICELLA ACQUIRED BY THE BOSCAINI FAMILY AT THE END OF THE XVIII CENTURY. FOR MORE THAN 30 YEARS, SANDRO BOSCAINI HAS BEEN THE HEAD OF MASI AGRICOLA, FAMILY WINERY FROM VENETO REGION IN ITALY. MASI WINERY IS KNOWN FOR CREATING THE “APPASSIMENTO” METHOD, USED FOR PRODUCING AMARONE, THEIR MOST SUCCESSFUL WINES. SANDRO BOSCAINI IS SO CLOSELY CONNECTED WITH THIS UNIQUE WINE THAT AUTHOR KATE SINGLETON DEDICATED A WHOLE BOOK CALLED AMARONE: THE MAKING OF AN ITALIAN WINE PHENOMENON TO HIM, NICKNAMING BOSCAINI “MR. AMARONE”. THIS YEAR MASI HAVE EARNED THE “WINERY OF THE YEAR” TITLE IN THE THREE-GLASS ITALIAN WINES GUIDE 2018 FROM GAMBERO ROSSO.

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he Veneto has always been ideal for viticulture, thanks to the huge variety of historically recognised terroir sites. Masi has selected the best vineyard sites in foothill and hillside locations, paying particular attention to the development of single vineyard, or cru, wines.

Masi has lands in the best terroir sites of the Veneto regions with vineyards and historic estates. Since 1973, Masi has collaborated with the Conti Serego Alighieri family, descendants of the poet Dante, on their estates in Valpolicella. More recently, a collaboration has been launched with the Conti Bossi Fedrigotti family, who have always made wine with passion and skill in Trentino.

Expert winemaking in the Veneto has its roots in a traditional legacy of ideal vineyards, native grapes and traditional vinification techniques. Masi has always striven to develop these factors and has a particular expertise in the Appassimento technique, a traditional method used in the Veneto to concentrate aromas and tastes in a wine.

In this method the grapes are laid out on bamboo racks in drying lofts for the winter period before

Sandro Boscaini

vinification. This is an ancient technique, in operation for centuries in the area, and employed in an innovative fashion by Masi Group to make modern wines from semi-dried grapes, above all, Amarone which Masi makes in the widest and most expertly produced range available globally.

Grapes for Masi Amarone are carted off to the winery where they will spend three to four months on drying racks 04 motoring | November 2017

Masi headquarters in the Valpolicella region, where the family makes a range of wines

Masi earns the “Winery of the Year” title in the Three-Glass Italian Wines Guide 2018 from Gambero Rosso.

Marco Sabellico, editor in charge of the “Winery of the Year” Special Prize, commented: "The history of the Boscaini family is closely linked to that of Valpolicella: the first documented evidence of their presence in the area dates back to 1772, and is also evidence of their involvement in wine, which has grown and made their links with the territory stronger, generation after generation…

Over seven generations of the Bosciani family, their Amarone has landed on the export market in 120 countries of the world.Through it all, the company has kept it identity as being family run. Innovation has always been a big factor, one example being the foundation of the Masi Technical Group in the mid-eighties...Today, Masi Amarone is an ancient wine of extraordinary modernity.

Sumptuous and robust, the child of its terroir, of an expert appassimento and long maturation in 660-litre Veronese casks, perfect for its evolution process. At the heart of this success is the expertise of the Boscaini family, who have explored their own roots and found their own identity in the history and culture of the territory. Nearly 250 years after their company was born the Boscainis really deserve a prize for what they have done so far. It’s richly deserved.

Masi is the Winery of the Year for us.”

BOOKING A WINE TOUR AT MASI. Masi Tenuta Canova,Via Delaini 1 – Loc. Sacro Cuor, 37017 Lazise,Verona. GPS: 45.488734,10.771387 Wine Shop: open daily from 10.30am to 10pm. Guided Tours: advance reservations are required.

Tel: +39 045 7580239. E-mail: canova@masi.it Locally Masi Wines are imported by Attard and Co and available from Sistina Wine & Co.,The Strand Gzira. Opening hours: 10am till late.

WEB: www.sistinawineco.com FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com/sistinawineco TEL: 2131 4161

HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPLETES

THE KONA 10

yundai Motor UK announces the successful completion of the KONA 10 – an epic driving challenge that has seen adventurer Sophie Radcliffe conquer ten of the most iconic volcanic landscapes across the UK and Ireland in under 72 hours, in the KONA, the new compact SUV from Hyundai.

Hyundai worked with historian Dr Michael Scott to uncover the secrets behind some of the UK and Ireland’s volcanic landscapes from Snowdon in North Wales to the Cuillin Ridge in the Isle of Skye, mapping an epic route that has pushed the endurance boundaries of both the car and the athlete.

Highlights from the last 72 hours included: • A stunning sunset on Mount Snowdon. Sophie drove the miner’s track, not normally accessible to the public to drive, before taking to her feet to get to the first summit • A scramble up North Berwick Law, in the dark with rain lashing the rock making conditions treacherous

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THE ALL-NEW KONA IS A COMPACT SUV WITH A BOLD, SHARP DESIGN WITH FULL-LED TWIN HEADLAMPS, TWO-TONE ROOF AND THE CHOICE OF TEN DISTINCTIVE EXTERIOR COLOURS

• Reaching the summit of Ben Nevis, 52 hours into the challenge, eight locations down and in temperatures of -10 degrees with wind chill • Tackling the Bla Bheinn on Cuillin Ridge on the Isle of Skye, then abseiling down it to complete the challenge just 69.5 hours from the start of the journey • Total miles driven: 1,046 – the equivalent of driving from North Wales to Paris and back again Sophie, who quit her job in the city four years ago and now takes on adventure challenges all over the world said, “I’m exhausted but so thrilled that we’ve been able to complete the KONA 10. I knew we were well prepared, but you never know what the weather conditions will throw your way. We were lucky in some locations and not so lucky in others. I had a brilliant team behind me, from expert guides to support vehicles to help ensure this was a success. I can’t quite believe just 72 hours ago we were in Snowdon at the start of this epic challenge.

“The toughest moment was the descent of Ben Nevis in the dark. I was feeling exhausted after 10 hours on the move and full winter conditions; snow, wind and freezing temperatures. Knowing that I had another big climb ahead on the Isle of Skye and would only get three hours sleep was tough, but it’s at times like this that my experience doing challenges over the last few years has taught me how to motivate

myself, how to focus on the end goal and just go for it.

The incredible views made it all worth it. The moment when the clouds parted to reveal a stunning sunset on the summit of Ben Nevis was once in a lifetime experience.”

The ten volcanic locations for The KONA 10 challenge were selected

by Dr. Michael Scott alongside volcanologist Dr Julia Crummy. He has dived into the history of human activity at each site. His research has shown how landscapes formed hundreds of millions of years ago have inspired and provided the location for incredible human achievements over the last several thousand years, and as such how these landscapes stand as true markers of the extraordinary variety and vibrancy of the human spirit.

“There is the most incredible yet surprising volcanic history in the UK. The KONA 10 is going to shine a light on our volcanic heritage – from Snowdon to the Isle of Skye. This never before attempted route across the length and breadth of the UK and Ireland will take people on a journey through a rich and incredible tapestry of human history and achievement - from the ancient past, to the modern day. The KONA 10 is another example of an epic human undertaking achieved through sheer determination and relentless spirit.”

The all-new KONA is a compact SUV with a bold, sharp design with full-LED twin headlamps, two-tone roof and the choice of ten distinctive exterior colours. A true SUV with four-wheel drive the KONA also has head-up display, a high-end sound system by Krell and complete connectivity allowing passengers to use Apple CarPlay and Android Auto on the seven-inch screen.

The new KONA, which is available with four-wheel drive, is well suited to those seeking adventure. It offers all-round capability and is just as at home on urban roads as it is on mountain passes.”

Hyundai has captured the KONA 10 route for consumers to explore for themselves using public roads and it can be found at www.kona10.co.uk from 27th November 2017.

For more images, visit: http://hyundaimedia-kona.co.uk/en/kona-10.html

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FROM BEETLE TO POLO, VIA GOLF: CUSTOMER CELEBRATES 50 YEARS OF VOLKSWAGEN OWNERSHIP

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A VOLKSWAGEN CUSTOMER FROM YORK HAS RECENTLY REACHED HALF A CENTURY OF OWNING AND DRIVING A WIDE VARIETY OF THE MANUFACTURER’S VEHICLES. ith the total Mrs Wilson’s local Retailer is JCT600 Volkswagen York, where she was now standing at recently invited for coffee and cake to begin her half-century celebrations, 16 Volkswagen which also included gifts and a letter of thanks from the Director of over those 50 Volkswagen Passenger Cars in the UK, Alison Jones. years, Mrs Karin “I’ve always had really good service from all the Volkswagen dealerships,” Wilson has added Mrs Wilson. “They’re nice and friendly and when you walk in they been looking back over her half remember your name, and the salespeople don’t put pressure on you to century of motoring, which began make a sale. They don’t need to because of their confidence in the cars.” when she purchased a creamJCT600 Volkswagen York Head of Business Andrew Exon said: “This is a coloured Volkswagen Beetle from fantastic story. We’ve obviously known Mrs Wilson for a long time and we North Riding Motors in 1967. wanted to celebrate her landmark.

“I loved the Beetle right from “We look forward to seeing the beginning,” said Mrs Wilson. her again in the future and I “It was brand new and it cost think this is a tremendous £585, I remember other Beetle example of customer owners would wave at you as satisfaction. It really illustrates Andrew Exon and Karin Wilson at they drove past. We drove it to the value for money that we JCT600 Volkswagen York Austria and Germany on holiday. offer to our customers.

It was slow up the mountain “JCT600 has a rich history passes, but we knew it would get and, ultimately, this is what we us there and back.” try to do every single day: we Another model that stands out want to ensure our customers First Volkswagen for Mrs Wilson is the Danbury are happy so that they enjoy Beetle with family Caravette Campervan: “It was a their cars and continue to 1968 model and we bought it in return.” the 1970s. We took it on quite a Volkswagen has long enjoyed few holidays, my daughters really strong customer loyalty and enjoyed it, too.” the manufacturer’s UK First Volkswagen Golf As well as the Beetle and customer service team is Caravette, Mrs Wilson has aware of similar durations of owned another Beetle, three ownership and of many high Golfs and 10 Polos, making a total mileage cars in use every day. But Mr Wilson’s feat is particularly impressive. of 16 Volkswagens. Her current Alison Jones, Director of Volkswagen UK, said: “It’s heart-warming to see and hear car is a four-year-old Polo R-Line Mrs Wilson’s affection for the Volkswagen brand. with a 1.2-litre TSI engine.

“With our Retailer partners we work incredibly hard every day to meet our “Volkswagens are safe and customers’ justifiably high expectations and, clearly, brand loyalty such as this shows secure, and they feel safe and firm we’re doing just that.” to drive,” explained Mrs Wilson. “That’s the case with my Polo, and I love the panoramic sunroof too. Volkswagen has a reputation for making reliable cars and that is what we For more information about the Volkswagen range, and the Volkswagen ownership have found all these years, it has kept us coming back. And they always look good.” experience, please visit www.volkswagen.co.uk.

PRODUCTION OF VOLVO’S FIRST EVER SMALL PREMIUM SUV BEGINS IN BELGIUM new era starts for the Volvo Cars plant in Ghent, Belgium today as the first customer-bound XC40 small SUV is set to roll off the production line.

The new XC40, for which the company has already received more than 13,000 orders, is Volvo Cars’ first ever small premium SUV.The first customers can expect to take delivery of their new XC40 early next year.

With the XC40,Volvo Cars enters the fastest-growing segment in the automotive industry, and the car paves the way for continued sales and revenue growth for the company. Joining its larger XC60 and XC90 cousins, the XC40 completes Volvo’s global SUV line-up.

The arrival of the first XC40 will be welcomed by a number of high-profile guests, including Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel,Volvo Cars Chief Executive and President Håkan Samuelsson, and Javier Varela, Senior Vice President Manufacturing and Logistics at Volvo Cars.

“This is a proud day for Ghent, the company and all our employees here,” said Mr Samuelsson. “Our people have put in long days and many hours to prepare the plant for the start of XC40 production and they have done a great job.The XC40 represents a bright future for Ghent and for Volvo Cars.”

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OUR PEOPLE HAVE PUT IN LONG DAYS AND MANY HOURS TO PREPARE THE PLANT FOR THE START OF XC40 PRODUCTION AND THEY HAVE DONE A GREAT JOB

The new XC40 is the first model on Volvo Cars’ new modular small-car platform, the Compact Modular Architecture (CMA), which will underpin all upcoming cars in the 40 series.The CMA platform, co-developed with Geely, will provide Volvo Cars with the necessary synergies and economies of scale for the small premium car segment.

Preparations for the production start of the XC40 in Ghent have been ongoing for a long time. Considerable investments in recent years have transformed the Ghent plant into a global export hub for CMAbased cars, including an 8,000 square metre addition to the body shop.

A total of 363 new robots have been installed, including one which has been

nicknamed “the Beast” by Ghent employees.This large robot, unique within Volvo Cars’ global manufacturing system, is used to lift lower car bodies to a conveyor belt close to the ceiling of the plant.

Ghent is one of two car manufacturing plants operated by Volvo Cars in Europe and has produced Volvos since 1965. Until recently it produced the first generation of Volvo’s best-selling XC60 mid-size SUV, while the Ghent plant also builds the V40 and V40 Cross Country small hatchbacks as well as the S60 and V60.

Volvo Cars’ other European plant is located in Torslanda in its home country Sweden.The company also operates two vehicle manufacturing plants in China, while a US plant is under construction in the state of South Carolina and slated for opening in the second half of 2018.

NAVARA BREAKS 50,000 SALES BARRIER IN EUROPE SINCE WINNING INTERNATIONAL PICKUP AWARD 2016 • MORE THAN 50,000 ALLNEW NAVARA PICKUPS SOLD IN TWO YEARS SINCE NOVEMBER 2015 • NAVARA’S SEGMENT SHARE UP FROM 11% IN 2015 TO 17% IN 2017 YTD • #1 ASIAN PICKUP IN 2017 YTD IN THREE KEY WESTERN EUROPEAN MARKETS – UK, GERMANY AND SWEDEN • NISSAN HAS ONE OF THE WIDEST LCV RANGES IN EUROPE, INCLUDING ZERO EMISSION E-NV200 VAN WITH NEW 40KWH BATTERY • ALL NISSAN LCVS COVERED BY MARKETLEADING FIVE-YEAR PANEUROPEAN MANUFACTURER WARRANTY • FAST-GROWING RETAIL NETWORK PROVIDES A ‘ONE-STOP SHOP’ FOR LCV CUSTOMERS • ‘ROLLING CHASSIS’ NAVARA AND VANS PROVIDE PERFECT BASE FOR BESPOKE CONVERSIONS

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he Navara features high levels of refinement, style, comfor t and quality. It was developed to extend these characteristics – so closely associated with Nissan’s award-winning Juke, Qashqai and X-Trail crossovers – into the LCV segment for the first time. Pioneering technologies available on the Navara include Nissan’s Intelligent Around View Monitor camera system and Intelligent Emergency Braking.

Christophe Longo, General Manager, LCV Marketing & Product Planning, Nissan Europe, commented: “We were so honoured to accept the International Pickup Award for 2016. Jurors clearly recognised the Navara’s exceptional

blend of tough performance and smart technology put it at the top of the class, and customers across Europe have agreed with them.”

The Nissan Navara’s tough and smart character is playing a part in determining which vehicle is the next holder of the International Pickup Award. Shortlisted models include the Alaskan – from Alliance partner Renault – and the Mercedes X-Class. This latter vehicle and the Navara are jointly developed by Mercedes and Nissan on a common chassis and powertrain architecture.

Nissan is setting the standard with its LCV range, which is one of the widest in Europe. It includes the Navara, plus the game-changing e-NV200 van, the

world’s first 100% electric LCV. It will soon be available with a new, highercapacity 40KWh battery, capable of delivering more than 100km of extra range compared to the current 24KWh version. The official range (NEDC) of the Nissan e-NV200 40KWh battery is 280km.

The LCV line-up is completed by the NV200, NV300 and NV400 family of highly capable and versatile vans, plus the NT400 truck.

Designed to cater for a variety of uses and industries, Nissan's LCVs are all about smart thinking and versatile use.

All vehicles provide cleverly-designed and easy-to-use cargo spaces, a comfortable cabin environment suited to long hours behind the wheel, the latest technological features and low cost of ownership.

Nissan’s confidence in the quality of its LCVs is underlined by its market-leading warranty – a five-year 160,000 km (100,000 km on e-NV200) panEuropean, manufacturer-provided policy that’s fully transferrable to second and subsequent owners.

Across Europe, Nissan has network of around 2,000 LCV retailers, with knowledgeable staff who can help business users select the correct vehicle for their needs. These showrooms are now a convenient ‘one-stop shop’ for every van, truck and pick-up customer, and there are plans to grow the network further.

Nissan LCVs provide the perfect base for conversions across a wide range of industries. From camper vans and refrigerated transport to tipper trucks and multimedia broadcast units, versatility comes as standard with Nissan conversions, which cover 97% of the market by vehicle registration.

INFINITI TO REVEAL ALL-NEW MODEL IN LA

NFINITI will reveal an allnew model at the 2017 Los Angeles Auto Show, with world-first technologies, stand-out design and classleading interior space.

The new model will see a fresh interpretation of INFINITI’s distinctive Powerful Elegance design language, characterised by flowing sculptural lines and strong, muscular proportions – presenting a purposeful aura, while hinting at its dynamic capabilities.

As Alfonso Albaisa, Senior Vice President, Global Design, has

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put it: As with all INFINITIs, the new model is a result of inspiration by INFINITI’s desire to drive, expressed with power and artistry. Inspiration comes from striking the perfect balance between lust and logic. At a glance, seamless and sculptural, getting closer to the car reveals an ingenious blend of proportion and space.

The all-new INFINITI will be revealed in Los Angeles on 28 November at 17:00 PST (01:00am UK). Full media information will be available from www.InfinitiPressPacks.com November 2017 | motoring 07

HIRING A CAR ABROAD – How to avoid getting ripped off WRITES PAUL VELLA, RMF TECHNICAL DIRECTOR.

PLAN AHEAD TO KEEP COSTS DOWN It should be easy to hire a car but all the different insurances and conditions of hire can make it hard to make the right choice.

And it doesn’t help if you leave it to the last minute.

If you just pick a hire desk at random when you land, you won’t know if you’re getting a good deal, and after waiting in line for an hour, you’re unlikely to be in the mood to read the terms and conditions carefully before taking the keys.

It’s always best to plan ahead so you can work out the total cost, including fixed and optional extras, and can compare prices and terms between suppliers. There’s a good chance you’ll save money too.

CAR HIRE EXCESS INSURANCE Most hire firms expect you to pay the first part of any accident or damage claim unless you pay extra for their ‘super’ insurance. But it’s often cheaper to arrange your own car hire excess reimbursement insurance.

FUEL You may not get a choice, but there are two ways that fuel can be supplied: • Supplied full, return full – pay only for what you need but you’ll have to find a filling station close to the hire car return. There’ll be a big service charge on your credit card if you don’t return the car with a full tank.

• Supplied full, return ‘empty’ – pay up-front for a

08 motoring | November 2017

full tank and return the car as empty as you dare. OK if you’re planning a lot of driving but not great value if you’re only visiting a small island.

YOUR CHECKLIST • Damage – check the car carefully and make sure any damage is noted on the rental agreement.

• Pictures – photos or video showing the car’s condition on collection and return can be really helpful if there’s a dispute later.

• Controls – if any switches or controls don’t appear to work or you don’t understand them ask for help.

• Additional insurance – if you can, choose comprehensive damage cover without an excess, but check what is actually covered as some don’t cover damage to tyres, rims, the underbody or stone chips.

• Theft insurance – recommended if not included in the comprehensive insurance.

• Mileage limits – make sure that any daily mileage limit is enough.

• Credit card and documents – you can’t rent a car without a credit card and the card must have sufficient funds. You’ll need your driving licence and will need to have held it for at least a year. You may also be asked for an ID card or passport.

• Age restrictions – there are no general rules but you may come across a minimum, maybe 21 or 25 years, or a maximum age.

• Breakdowns and accidents – ask what you should do if you break down, have an accident or the car’s stolen, and make sure you have an emergency contact number.

• Rules of the road – check the local rules of the road so you know if you have to carry things like a warning triangle or reflective jackets in the car. Ask the rental firm to provide anything that’s missing as you could face an on-the-spot fine.

• Hidden costs – watch out for: • additional or young driver charges

IF YOU JUST PICK A HIRE DESK AT RANDOM WHEN YOU LAND, YOU WON’T KNOW IF YOU’RE GETTING A GOOD DEAL, AND AFTER WAITING IN LINE FOR AN HOUR, YOU’RE UNLIKELY TO BE IN THE MOOD TO READ THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS CAREFULLY BEFORE TAKING THE KEYS. • VAT • cleaning charges • additional road-use charges (other than tolls) • charges for crossing an international border • servicing and refuelling charges • extras such as child seats or sat nav If you feel uncomfortable about the car, or if you discover a defect, exchange it as soon as possible.

IF THERE’S A DISPUTE In Europe it’s best to use a hire company that’s a member of the European car rental conciliation service scheme (ECRCS). ECRCS members agree to be bound by the decisions of the conciliation service.