Thanks work - Rubbish hire car

Why would you possibly choose a nice stress free flight, most probably in business class with a meal, over driving yourself to Eurozone and then complain about the car you are given.

Hahahaha.


If I can manage to drive non stop to Germany in a stripped out, hard suspension set up, bucket seat fitted track car, get there and go straight to the ring for a few laps then get washed showered and changed and go out on the lash at night without feeling completely knackered, I'm sure you can manage to drive a quiet, comfortable and at worst, a 3 year old car with all mod cons, without crashing it or ending up having some mental breakdown because of it.
Maybe you'll take the plane next time like any sensible person would have :p
 
Scubascorpion said:
Why would you possibly choose a nice stress free flight, most probably in business class with a meal, over driving yourself to Eurozone and then complain about the car you are given.

Hahahaha.


If I can manage to drive non stop to Germany in a stripped out, hard suspension set up, bucket seat fitted track car, get there and go straight to the ring for a few laps then get washed showered and changed and go out on the lash at night without feeling completely knackered, I'm sure you can manage to drive a quiet, comfortable and at worst, a 3 year old car with all mod cons, without crashing it or ending up having some mental breakdown because of it.
Maybe you'll take the plane next time like any sensible person would have :p
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Amazing isnt it, presumably until 20 years ago cars were limited to 70 mile trips - anything over that and the drivers just died i guess?

Hilarious replies in this thread really, lots of precious people!!
 
Shimmyhill said:
Hilarious replies in this thread really, lots of precious people!!
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Hardly... :rolleyes:

I'd much rather have a relaxing flight, read a book and catch a few z's than drive long distance, especially for work. I regularly have to drive 400 miles for work, if my company gave me the option to fly I certainly would.

Each to their own I guess...
 
thepeteh said:
Hardly... :rolleyes:

I'd much rather have a relaxing flight, read a book and catch a few z's than drive long distance, especially for work. I regularly have to drive 400 miles for work, if my company gave me the option to fly I certainly would.

Each to their own I guess...
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I agree.

It was more the not wanting to drive in anything other than a Maybach crew i was referring to.
 
Shimmyhill said:
Amazing isnt it, presumably until 20 years ago cars were limited to 70 mile trips - anything over that and the drivers just died i guess?

Hilarious replies in this thread really, lots of precious people!!
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It's not a matter of being precious, we could all do it in a MkI Mini if we had to. It's a matter of which method is so much better than the other in every conceivable way, that it's not even funny.
 
Jesus guys, its not like its 2000 miles or something.

I really enjoy driving, its less than 500 miles so it won't be difficult, plus I get to chill on the ferry half way.

Also I get paid my travelling time so it's not like I'm losing out.
 
ryanpetit said:
I don't see what all the fuss is about.

When I lived in the states 800+ mile journeys were fairly common.
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But it probably wasn't 100 times cheaper or easier to fly the same journey.

I'm still confused as to where in Germany would require a stop in Amsterdam, especially if said destination is only 500 miles away.
 
Nick1881 said:
Cologne. No direct flights from Birmingham.
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So fly from a different airport or fly to Dusseldorf or Essen or somewhere. There are loads of airports in that area. I can't think of a single situation where driving from Birmingham to Cologne is an easier solution both time and effort wise.
 
I'm sorry, did I title this thread "choose how I should travel to Germany"? No, so if I want to drive there then I will, I'm not complaining, the car isn't bad at all, I'm halfway there now and looking forward to the cruise across Belgium.
 
Nick1881 said:
I'm sorry, did I title this thread "choose how I should travel to Germany"? No, so if I want to drive there then I will, I'm not complaining, the car isn't bad at all, I'm halfway there now and looking forward to the cruise across Belgium.
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Sorry I assumed this was a discussion forum not your personal blog. Maybe in future if you don't want us to talk about it then don't moan about having a **** hire car when flying to your destination is about 100 times easier than driving?

Next week I'm going to start a thread complaining about how hopping 2 miles to work with one arm tied behind my back is worse than driving there. :D
 
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The op makes a good point about the ferry. It's a much more civil and relaxed form of travel.

I used to use it regularly when I had a customer in Belfast. Drive to Fishguard, ferry to Rosslare, drive up through some lovely roads, stay overnight in Bellfast, and on the return journey use something like Dublin -> Hollyhead and then drive home through Mid-Wales. Or sometimes I'd combine it with a Scotland job and do Larne to Stranraer, though the drive wasn't so nice then because that road, while a lovely road, has SPECS cameras for pretty much the entire stretch so all the HGVs do 40.

When you arrive at the ferry terminal the entire thing is basically drive-through, check in through to boarding. You can get out and visit their cafe etc. if you want, or just sit in the car and chill with some music on.

On the boat itself there's tons of seating, with loads of legroom, there is no chance of being stuck next to some greasy smelly person whose rolls of fat are spilling across the armrest and into your personal space. If you do end up next to such a person you can get up and move. The smokers among you can go out on deck if you so choose. Also the 3G signal actually extends quite far out into the sea so you can get a bit of work or spodding done if you want.

For me the biggest advantage is because I have a compromised immune system. I will always, without fail, pick up someone's illness if I fly. I realise that doesn't apply to everyone, but even for normal people the chance is still there, thanks to the unfiltered recirculated air.

If you enjoy driving then the ferry experience is much much nicer than flying could ever be, short of owning your own plane.

Biggest problem is the cost, typically £100 each way, but work are paying so who cares about that?
 
ive got to do about 500 miles for work tomorrow. was either the choice of a train and hotel for the sunday or i could drive myself, in my own car (with their fuel allowance cost) tomorrow.

at least i get to use my own car rather than public transport, a hotel and 12 hours twiddling my thumbs
 
If they pay you less than 40p per mile, don't forget to claim back the tax on the difference from the inland revenue.

FWIW, I refuse to do site visits on a Monday for that reason. No way am I giving up my Sunday night or starting early on a Monday.
 
exactly. almost regardless, im not going to give up my sunday night.

its hardly earth shattering stuff that were going up there to see but the person organising it is a little crazy. ive done the drive a million times though so when i start at 530am i really could just as well be asleep
 
I've had customers pull stunts like that before, and resist strongly, last time, they arranged it with my boss though. 9AM meeting in Stafford with them and their IT department.

We got there at 8:45. Their IT people who are 10 minutes drive away got there at 9:45 and the manager, who was 45 seconds waddle away, turned up at 12!


The "just as well be asleep" comment is why I don't do early starts. I used to do 60,000 miles a year in my last job in my own car! and got sick of driving whilst tired, it's dangerous even if you know the route. Arrange the meeting for Tuesday, travel down the night before, have a nice meal and a few pints at the company's expense and turn up in the morning.

If you're starting at 5:30AM Monday, you're still giving up your Sunday night, due to the early night needed.
 
Lum said:
I've had customers pull stunts like that before, and resist strongly, last time, they arranged it with my boss though. 9AM meeting in Stafford with them and their IT department.

We got there at 8:45. Their IT people who are 10 minutes drive away got there at 9:45 and the manager, who was 45 seconds waddle away, turned up at 12!


The "just as well be asleep" comment is why I don't do early starts. I used to do 60,000 miles a year in my last job in my own car! and got sick of driving whilst tired, it's dangerous even if you know the route. Arrange the meeting for Tuesday, travel down the night before, have a nice meal and a few pints at the company's expense and turn up in the morning.

If you're starting at 5:30AM Monday, you're still giving up your Sunday night, due to the early night needed.
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Pretty much what I do as well, had South Devon last week and Bournemouth the week before, both of which are a pain in the bum to drive to so got the train down the day before, had a decent meal, alright sleep and then fresh for the meeting in the am.
 
i meant that ive done the drive so many times i could do it in my sleep. im an excellent morning person, i hope well clear the first 40-50 miles in a flash. ill get to brum as "rush hour" starts :(

Lum said:
The "just as well be asleep" comment is why I don't do early starts. I used to do 60,000 miles a year in my last job in my own car! and got sick of driving whilst tired, it's dangerous even if you know the route. Arrange the meeting for Tuesday, travel down the night before, have a nice meal and a few pints at the company's expense and turn up in the morning.

If you're starting at 5:30AM Monday, you're still giving up your Sunday night, due to the early night needed.
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