---
title: "Hire and Fire"
description: "We all know a rental can be mental"
date: 2026-04-29
url: https://www.drivingmasters.uk/blog/hire-cars-are-fastest
type: article
author: "Dave Edmonston"
---

# Hire and Fire

There’s an adage in the car world that “The fastest car is a hire car” and after a recent experience, I really think it is more truth than bluster.

I embarked on a driving trip to Scotland with my chums at [Dettaglio](https://www.instagram.com/dettaglio_autoevents/) last month.The 911 was primed for another blitz around some epic – and largely empty – Scottish roads.

Sadly, on day one, as I got into my stride on a wonderful piece of open moorland day the joy came to an abrupt halt as my turbos ceased to turbo. You don’t expect to see 911s smoking, but this wasn’t the first time so I knew exactly what it was likely to be. Frustratingly on this occasion it was pretty catastrophic and my turbos had turbo’d their last breath.

### Oh come on!

It was game over, before I’d really begun. A low loader managed to get me to Porsche Glasgow before it closed and negotiations ensued with Porsche Assistance as I tried to obtain a replacement car at short notice. Sadly no Pork was available, so I was put onto Enterprise who offered me a Vauxhall Corsa which I politely declined.

Night fell without an alternative being suggested so I chased up the following morning and was offered a VW MPV of some flavour. Now I’m game for a laugh, but I also wanted my money’s worth out of the assistance policy. Like for like was pretty unlikely, but I did please “Do you have _any_ saloons available?”.

### Saloon So Soon

Enterprise to their credit, pulled an E Class out of the bag and even delivered it to the hotel. An E200, with a passable 178 horsepower and a 21bhp electric counterweight. That’ll do pig.

What followed was a week of enormous fun.Cross country with a friend in his 7 series, leaving the Porsches to go do their own thing. We had a blast, hooning through the Highlands in two blacked out saloons.

And the hire car meme was bang on. I’m used to driving cars with more power than I really need, so extracting maximum enjoyment out of the E200 was all about flow – forward thinking, maintaining momentum and not flinging it about to harshly. It was a different enjoyment from the point-and-squirt of a high powered sports car, but I’m not sure I had any less fun.

I didn’t ‘rag’ the Merc, I used it with precision and planning and enjoyed a level of comfort that sports seats don’t provide.

### All Change

The whole experience had an expected outcome too. Driving something out of my usual parameters was a good experience and got me thinking.

After 4 years with the 911, this proved the catalyst to sample something new (and notwithstanding I was fed up looking for smoke when starting up the 911). The GTS went when I got back and I’ve flipped into Barge Mode with a potent 5 series. Whilst I miss the precision of the Porsche, change is healthy and swapping the scalpel for a sledgehammer is joyous too.

### In Summary

The whole experience was a useful reminder that you don't need a gazillion horsepower to have fun.

I wonder if I'd still be smiling in a Corsa?