Car rental model options - help please

Hi all,

My boyfriend and I will be heading to Iceland between 11-25th Sept and are planning on renting a car. Currently, we're deciding between:

1) Ford Escape AWD (petrol)
2) 4x4 Dacia Duster (diesel)
3) Toyota Corolla (diesel)

We will be travelling the Ring road with a couple of days in the West Fjords.

For those who have been, particularly in Sept, could you let us know which would be recommended for us?

We're not sure about F-roads, are they absolutely necessary to travel on to in Iceland? While doing research, I have not come across any paths that might lead us to the F-roads, but I'm not sure if that would be the case when we are there. Does anyone have any recommendation on F-roads paths to take, if any? I've also read that F-roads may be closed in September?

Any help would be greatly appreciated, thank you!

Any of these will do a roundtrip on main Road 1, the normal tourist destinations in the Westfjords in September. Personally I would probably like a bit larger than a Clio and again I personally isn't fond of the quality of a Duster.

I agree with Björn, any of these will do fine. For what it's worth,. diesel is quite a bit cheaper than petrol these days - I picked this page at random to demonstrate. With the approach of winter diesel prices will presumably climb - but not much before mid-September.

I wouldn't spare F-roads a thought in September, July is the time to go roaming in the highlands :-)

Hello

Thanks for your response! In that case, would you recommend the Toyota Corolla over the Ford Escape if the Dacia isn't a very good car? I'm just wondering whether the Toyota would be sufficient because it's a "regular" car and I'm afraid we might not feel safe in the Toyota (I've read that Iceland weather is pretty scary/unpredictable!) as compared to the Ford?
The price difference between the 2 is about 150USD (Ford being the more expensive option and uses gasoline).

Hi Leifa

Thank you for your response! We will avoid the F-roads this time around :)

A question though, would you recommend the Toyota Corolla over the Ford Escape if the Dacia isn't a very good option? I'm just wondering whether the Toyota would be sufficient because it's a "regular" car and I'm afraid we might not feel safe in the Toyota (I've read that Iceland weather is pretty scary/unpredictable!) as compared to the Ford?
The price difference between the 2 is about 150USD (Ford being the more expensive option and uses gasoline). I saw the link you gave, am I presuming correctly that the prices is per litre or would it be per gallon?

Well, MY car is a Pajero (Shogun to you I would guess - Montero if you were American!) on 38" wheels so I can't even pretend to know which of those would be better. I think Björn misread the types when he advised against the Clio (which wasn't one of the choices) - maybe he has an opinion on Corolla vs. Escape ...

PS I must admit to a certain pro-Japanese bias when it comes to cars :-)

Sorry, I missed part of your query - the price is per litre. Also - I don't think the weather should affect your choice of car - the only cars that are positively dangerous in high winds are those with high windage, such as caravans. With other cars you just steer into the wind a bit :-)

The original question listes 4 cars one of which were a Renault Clio. Apprently Leifur has seen the posting before it was edited.
Wonder why OP thinks the Toyota is an unsafe car, AFAIK it is the Best Selling car in the World and that is not due to a low price.
Re Dacia what I say is that it is a discount car, but many are happy with it as they are happy with discount airlines.
I think you are far to scared re the quality of roads. They are ok and probably the weather in September will be OK. If you rent some big 4WD you may be dissapointed that you will never have to use any of the facilities as you will only drive in regular roads.

Hello again!

Thank you, your responses have been very helpful and reassuring and definitely put my mind at ease. I can't thank you enough!! Enjoy the rest of your week :))

Hello, I was doing research and kept reading about gravel roads, which is why we were worried, especially in the West fjords, but thank you for letting us know that the quality of roads isn't really that bad, we keep imagining lots of gravel roads everywhere reading about rental car scams in Iceland and crazy unpredictable weather, we wanted to be super safe. However, your words have assured us much better now. I will take you and Leifur's advice not too worry too much! We really appreciate your help, have a great week ahead :)

A gravel road is not (always) a bed road. Those you meet connecting villages in the countryside will normally have a solid surface and you can drive maybe 50 km/h. Many times you will hardly notice going from blacktop over on gravel road. The roads are "constructured" with selected types of gravel and the surface treated several times/year.

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