I was the additional driver on this rental (the reservation was under another name) and I drove the vehicle shortly after pickup.
I have many years of experience driving manual cars and the clutch issue was immediately noticeable during the very first uphill section after leaving the rental office. The engine revved but the car struggled to accelerate and there was a clear smell of a worn clutch.
In Madeira, where many roads are steep, this is a serious safety concern. Someone without experience driving manual cars might not immediately recognize the issue and could easily be blamed for damaging the clutch.
Because the problem was obvious, we returned the car almost immediately and asked for a replacement vehicle. Only about 11 km were driven before the vehicle was returned.
The staff insisted the car was normal and did not offer a replacement vehicle.
After reading other reviews online describing very similar clutch issues and disputes, I would recommend that future renters test the car on a hill immediately after pickup and carefully inspect the vehicle condition.
Hopefully the company will address these concerns and maintain their vehicles more carefully in the future.
Claim your business profile now and gain access to all features and respond to customer reviews.
