Post Recreated: Originally posted - 18 March 2003
I am travelling out in May and wondered whether anyone might be able to offer some advice or experiences on vehicle types. I have read most of the reports on this excellent forum (thanks for the help with the fishing query Steve, Patrick and Walu) but am still struggling with the decision. Budget is a consideration and the Samurai jeep option looks reasonable - I will be using Yes Tourism incidentally. Is there room in a Samurai for two adults and two young teenagers? I know it takes a long time to drive short distances in Tobago and wondered whether an air-conditioned compact might be better - just not sure I want to be cocooned in steel and glass when there are so many wonderful sights, sounds and fragrances on offer. I would really appreciate advice from anyone who has experience of driving in Tobago - many thanks.
Car Hire
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Steve Wooler
- myTobago Editor & Chief Anorak
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Post Recreated: Originally posted - 18 March 2003
Hi Barry
It really is a matter of preference and budget. Up until 2003, I had always used Suzuki’s, other than the one occasion I booked a Suzuki but they delivered a truly horrible Indian Maruti (I wish I could remember which rental agency that was). Security is a problem with soft-top jeeps and I needed to carry around a rather expensive laptop and camera this year, so I decided to risk Jill’s wrath and hire saloon cars. Heavens, what a difference! I could happily have driven around the island twice in one day with the Nissan Almera that we had the first week. The Suzuki Carry we had the final two weeks left us absolutely drained after a simple trip from Arnos Vale across the rain forest.
I promise not to start another tirade against Suzuki vehicles. I’ve used them for years. I’ve even owned one. They can be fun. They are cheap (mind you, that is the operative word). If I was staying in Crown Point area and never going further than Scarborough, I would have one every time. Yes, it’s great driving around with the wind in your hair (as long as you wear a hat or cap and apply lots of sun block), but having limited built-in body suspension ourselves, Jill and I tend to suffer from the rigid suspension over the poor roads outside the main Crown Point area. Maybe we’re just getting too old!
In answer to your question, though, yes the Samurai are four-seaters. They’re not exactly American-sized, but should be OK with kids. I decided to check-out the Yes Tourism pages to see what alternatives there were and noticed that their on-line car reservation system now lists vehicles (including motorbikes) from Sheppy’s and Shermans, so you’ve got plenty of choice. Anybody got any experience of the Daihatsu Terios? I know they’re hard-tops, but are they more comfortable than the Suzuki’s?
Happy motoring!
Hi Barry
It really is a matter of preference and budget. Up until 2003, I had always used Suzuki’s, other than the one occasion I booked a Suzuki but they delivered a truly horrible Indian Maruti (I wish I could remember which rental agency that was). Security is a problem with soft-top jeeps and I needed to carry around a rather expensive laptop and camera this year, so I decided to risk Jill’s wrath and hire saloon cars. Heavens, what a difference! I could happily have driven around the island twice in one day with the Nissan Almera that we had the first week. The Suzuki Carry we had the final two weeks left us absolutely drained after a simple trip from Arnos Vale across the rain forest.
I promise not to start another tirade against Suzuki vehicles. I’ve used them for years. I’ve even owned one. They can be fun. They are cheap (mind you, that is the operative word). If I was staying in Crown Point area and never going further than Scarborough, I would have one every time. Yes, it’s great driving around with the wind in your hair (as long as you wear a hat or cap and apply lots of sun block), but having limited built-in body suspension ourselves, Jill and I tend to suffer from the rigid suspension over the poor roads outside the main Crown Point area. Maybe we’re just getting too old!
In answer to your question, though, yes the Samurai are four-seaters. They’re not exactly American-sized, but should be OK with kids. I decided to check-out the Yes Tourism pages to see what alternatives there were and noticed that their on-line car reservation system now lists vehicles (including motorbikes) from Sheppy’s and Shermans, so you’ve got plenty of choice. Anybody got any experience of the Daihatsu Terios? I know they’re hard-tops, but are they more comfortable than the Suzuki’s?
Happy motoring!
Steve Wooler
myTobago.info - the definitive Visitor Guide to Tobago
myTobago.info - the definitive Visitor Guide to Tobago
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Steve Pitts
Car Hire
Post Recreated: Originally posted - 18 March 2003
Hi Barry I endorse all that Steve says. Jeeps are 'Fun' for a few days, but the lack of power stearing and rock-hard suspension means that the novelty soon wears off. If you're staying for a fortnight, why not hire the Jeep for the first week and then change vehicles and enjoy a little luxury (air con, P.A.S, suspension that doesn't shake your fillings out, a stereo that you can hear the local stations on, plenty of leg room and no sore bums for your back seat passengers). I've done it both ways and we always opt for the comfort of the saloon car. Oh, nearly forgot... you don't get wet when it rains( and it probably will) in the hard-top. Have fun
Steve
Hi Barry I endorse all that Steve says. Jeeps are 'Fun' for a few days, but the lack of power stearing and rock-hard suspension means that the novelty soon wears off. If you're staying for a fortnight, why not hire the Jeep for the first week and then change vehicles and enjoy a little luxury (air con, P.A.S, suspension that doesn't shake your fillings out, a stereo that you can hear the local stations on, plenty of leg room and no sore bums for your back seat passengers). I've done it both ways and we always opt for the comfort of the saloon car. Oh, nearly forgot... you don't get wet when it rains( and it probably will) in the hard-top. Have fun
Steve
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Ian R
Car Hire
Post Recreated: Originally posted - 18 March 2003
Regarding Steve's commentary on the qualities (?) of various brands of jeeps. Aaaaaargh! - The Maruti suspension system was an exact copy of one developed for an oxcart in ancient Persia in 300 BC except due to technical difficulties in translation of the instructions from Persian to Hindi it was not as well made! The Suzuki Samurai is I admit marginally better as long as driven on tarmac as flat as a billiard table - try and find that on Tobago! The Daihatsu Terios is an example of a soft roader disgused as an off roader and comes with an asthmatic engine and inadequate space for 2 adults plus children excluding luggage - trust me I hired one for three days in St Lucia and regretted not going for the bigger Kia Sportage an altogether more capable vehicle. PS for our British readers Jeremy Clarkson is a role model when it comes to car reviews!!
Regarding Steve's commentary on the qualities (?) of various brands of jeeps. Aaaaaargh! - The Maruti suspension system was an exact copy of one developed for an oxcart in ancient Persia in 300 BC except due to technical difficulties in translation of the instructions from Persian to Hindi it was not as well made! The Suzuki Samurai is I admit marginally better as long as driven on tarmac as flat as a billiard table - try and find that on Tobago! The Daihatsu Terios is an example of a soft roader disgused as an off roader and comes with an asthmatic engine and inadequate space for 2 adults plus children excluding luggage - trust me I hired one for three days in St Lucia and regretted not going for the bigger Kia Sportage an altogether more capable vehicle. PS for our British readers Jeremy Clarkson is a role model when it comes to car reviews!!
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Barry
Car Hire
Post Recreated: Originally posted - 18 March 2003
Thanks for the advice gents, I think the consensus - now mirrored in this household - is for something conventional. I suppose we could always open the windows if we are feeling particularly adventurous. We did have a jeep in Turkey a few years ago but the roads were pretty good so the suspension and steering wasn't too much of an issue. The children were smaller then and the novelty of open-air motoring contained their natural inclination to inflict verbal and physical injury on each other. Sadly they are much less easily impressed now. It didn't rain either which is something I hadn't considered. Thanks again and keep up the good work with the site.
Thanks for the advice gents, I think the consensus - now mirrored in this household - is for something conventional. I suppose we could always open the windows if we are feeling particularly adventurous. We did have a jeep in Turkey a few years ago but the roads were pretty good so the suspension and steering wasn't too much of an issue. The children were smaller then and the novelty of open-air motoring contained their natural inclination to inflict verbal and physical injury on each other. Sadly they are much less easily impressed now. It didn't rain either which is something I hadn't considered. Thanks again and keep up the good work with the site.
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Steve Wooler
- myTobago Editor & Chief Anorak
- Posts: 4856
- Joined: Sun Apr 21, 2002 11:00 pm
- Location: Suffolk, England
- Contact:
Car Hire
Post Recreated: Originally posted - 18 March 2003
Given what you say, Barry, there would be one advantage to an open-top Suzuki. If the kids got two boisterous and were inflected too much verbal and physical injury on each other, and your patience, you would simply need to speed up. Ooop! Where are the kids?
Given what you say, Barry, there would be one advantage to an open-top Suzuki. If the kids got two boisterous and were inflected too much verbal and physical injury on each other, and your patience, you would simply need to speed up. Ooop! Where are the kids?
Steve Wooler
myTobago.info - the definitive Visitor Guide to Tobago
myTobago.info - the definitive Visitor Guide to Tobago
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Barry
Car Hire
Post Recreated: Originally posted - 18 March 2003
Nice thought Steve, perhaps I should reconsider, especially since the the threat of being sold in the local bazaar won't really wash in Tobago. Actually I'm being unfair they have matured into pretty sensible young adults - provided, of course, that they are allowed to submerge into their world of electronic anaesthesia.
Nice thought Steve, perhaps I should reconsider, especially since the the threat of being sold in the local bazaar won't really wash in Tobago. Actually I'm being unfair they have matured into pretty sensible young adults - provided, of course, that they are allowed to submerge into their world of electronic anaesthesia.