Can I hire a Defender in Germany?

[OLD]

Well it looks like I can't :censored: my way out of attending an event in Germany in 2014, so the Leader of the Opposition and I are wondering if one can hire a Defender in Germany?
I've found that Land Rover "luxury cars" can be hired, but nothing will compare to the luxury of driving my '94 200 tdi Defender:p. If money were no barrier, I'd be preparing Nigel and bringing her along (but even the kids are not coming on this one...).
So, can anyone shed any light and point me in the right direction? The 'trip' has to start in Germany (not sure exactly where yet), and in September, but after a few days, we're kinda hoping to hit the road in a Defender and do Europe over a two week period - preferably in a Defender, and even better, a Defender set up of touring/camping....:angel:
If I MUST go, there has to be something good come out of it. Perhaps it means that I just make for the UK and hire one from there and just travel through there :confused:

Any ideas, comments, recommendations would be very much appreciated.

[isuzurover]

Defender 90: Geländewagen mit Anhängekupplung (AHK) bis 3500kg (http://www.autovermietung-harms.de/landrover-defender-90.html)

However, you may be disappointed as it is very hard to find a non-sealed road in Germany. Let alone somewhere you can legally drive offroad.

IMHO you would be better off hiring something that can do a decent speed on the autobahn.

[Dougal]

The beer will be with it regardless.

[OLD]

Defender 90: Geländewagen mit Anhängekupplung (AHK) bis 3500kg (http://www.autovermietung-harms.de/landrover-defender-90.html)

However, you may be disappointed as it is very hard to find a non-sealed road in Germany. Let alone somewhere you can legally drive offroad.

IMHO you would be better off hiring something that can do a decent speed on the autobahn.
Thanks Isuzurover - the autobahn is one road that, believe it or not, I'm not overly interested in driving myself. Happy to be a passenger, but the days of me driving/riding at speeds >180km/h are long behind me....for us, it's about the trip to where we're going rather than how fast we can get there ��
Thanks for the link - now to contact them and see if they have options to drive outside of Germany...

[OLD]

The beer will be with it regardless.
Indeed it will - and Oktoberfest will be in full swing soon after we get there...��

[isuzurover]

Thanks Isuzurover - the autobahn is one road that, believe it or not, I'm not overly interested in driving myself. Happy to be a passenger, but the days of me driving/riding at speeds >180km/h are long behind me....for us, it's about the trip to where we're going rather than how fast we can get there ��
Thanks for the link - now to contact them and see if they have options to drive outside of Germany...

Fair enough, but if you only have 2 weeks as you say, and don't want to drive on the autobahn, then I don't know how much of europe you will get to see.

We drove from the German border to Paris once, staying off the (French) autobahns the whole way, and it took us the best part of a week. Certainly had a good time and saw a lot though.

The German autobahns are free (unlike the French). Also, most are only 2 lane each way, with the trucks and cars towing trailers speed limited to 80 km/h in the slow lane. So the cars in the fast lane are doing anything between 80 and the top speed of the car...

Braunschweig (where the hire defenders in the link are) to the swiss border is a 7 hr drive on the autobahn the whole way...

[Carlos]

A couple of year ago we came across Hans Ruthe in Bolivia, we were driving our then Puma (Dearly Departed) and he rocked up with half a dozen that he was leading on a promotional trip, he works for Land Rover Germany and was very very helpful to us. He may not be in a position to rent you one but he should be able to tell you where. h.ruthe@landrover-experience.de

[manic]

Forget the Autobahn and huge distances, with two weeks you could do a loop around south Germany, Switzerland, Austria - by shortest route on all the little byways!

I did it in a 200tdi with a chinese sat nav. We asked our often ridiculed sat nav to take us from Zurich to Hohenschwangau near Füssen (chitty bang bang castle) on the shortest route. And I tell you, some of the roads and scenery it took us along were just incredible.

It was a vision in super HD hyper color. I've never seen the grass so green, they have the healthiest cows you will ever see. We went through countless little villages each one with a pub that served hash browns, sausages and beer. We were taken down tiny little country roads , there was no traffic and it seemed that everyone lived in an idyllic little solar powered house with blooming pot plants on the window ledge. At Hohenschwangau I went for a swim in a lake full of Evian water so still it perfectly mirrored the sky and mountains.

We were around there in August without having planned much but thanks to perfect weather, our fearless chinese sat nav and our trusty 200tdi defender it all just came together. Most enjoyable driving section of our Euro tour - we covered around 20 countries!

[OLD]

A couple of year ago we came across Hans Ruthe in Bolivia, we were driving our then Puma (Dearly Departed) and he rocked up with half a dozen that he was leading on a promotional trip, he works for Land Rover Germany and was very very helpful to us. He may not be in a position to rent you one but he should be able to tell you where. h.ruthe@landrover-experience.de

Thanks Carlos - will certainly be contacting Hans. I'm hoping that his English is better than my German...

Regards

Martin

[OLD]

Forget the Autobahn and huge distances, with two weeks you could do a loop around south Germany, Switzerland, Austria - by shortest route on all the little byways!

I did it in a 200tdi with a chinese sat nav. We asked our often ridiculed sat nav to take us from Zurich to Hohenschwangau near Füssen (chitty bang bang castle) on the shortest route. And I tell you, some of the roads and scenery it took us along were just incredible.

It was a vision in super HD hyper color. I've never seen the grass so green, they have the healthiest cows you will ever see. We went through countless little villages each one with a pub that served hash browns, sausages and beer. We were taken down tiny little country roads , there was no traffic and it seemed that everyone lived in an idyllic little solar powered house with blooming pot plants on the window ledge. At Hohenschwangau I went for a swim in a lake full of Evian water so still it perfectly mirrored the sky and mountains.

We were around there in August without having planned much but thanks to perfect weather, our fearless chinese sat nav and our trusty 200tdi defender it all just came together. Most enjoyable driving section of our Euro tour - we covered around 20 countries!

I was hoping that I wasn't the only one to think two weeks around Germany in a Defender would be enjoyable/do able.

Thanks Manic - that sounds about the trip we'll do. Don't suppose you'd have a copy or remember your route plan would you?

Regards

Martin

[Dougal]

Thanks Carlos - will certainly be contacting Hans. I'm hoping that his English is better than my German...

Regards

Martin

Most of the Germans you meet will have English better than your English.

[sheerluck]

Just to back up what Manic is saying - I've lived in Germany three times in total, the first time in the south, second and third times in the west near the Dutch border.

The south is by far and away the prettiest area. If you started somewhere like Baden Baden, go south through the Black Forest, into Switzerland, head east into Austria, then loop back north into southern Germany, you'd see the best of the scenery and is doable in 2 weeks. The whole area is stunning, lots of mountainous areas with little lakes everywhere, pretty little villages and seemingly a Schloss on every peak.

[sheerluck]

Most of the Germans you meet will have English better than your English.

In the cities and tourist areas, yes. Not so much off the beaten track.

[Dougal]

Forget the Autobahn and huge distances, with two weeks you could do a loop around south Germany, Switzerland, Austria - by shortest route on all the little byways!

I did it in a 200tdi with a chinese sat nav. We asked our often ridiculed sat nav to take us from Zurich to Hohenschwangau near Füssen (chitty bang bang castle) on the shortest route. And I tell you, some of the roads and scenery it took us along were just incredible.

I found Hohenschwangau a bit boring, especially for the entry price. Neuschwannstein however was well and truely worth it.

I went in the middle of winter, the scenery was amazing, but the German wood-piles even more so. The forest everwhere was littered with perfect stacks of wood all of graded size and cut to matching length and neatly stacked for drying.
The Bavarians take their winter preparation seriously. The ones that didn't froze to death centuries ago.

[OLD]

Just to back up what Manic is saying - I've lived in Germany three times in total, the first time in the south, second and third times in the west near the Dutch border.

The south is by far and away the prettiest area. If you started somewhere like Baden Baden, go south through the Black Forest, into Switzerland, head east into Austria, then loop back north into southern Germany, you'd see the best of the scenery and is doable in 2 weeks. The whole area is stunning, lots of mountainous areas with little lakes everywhere, pretty little villages and seemingly a Schloss on every peak.

Thanks Dave :thumbsup: For no particular reason, the south appeals to us. We'll work on route that way once we know where the 'must attend' family party is being held.

Regards

Martin

[sheerluck]

No problem Martin.

Let us know when you've got your start point organised, and I'll see if I can pass on any other places to visit.

After writing my post above, I went on a trip down memory lane. I went looking for pictures of my times over there, and found an old one of my school
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2013/06/979.jpg

This was taken about 40 years before I got there though! Part of it was a monastery that dated to the early 17th century, and was our Maths block.