Europcar - updated website

[AdMEL]

Europcar updated their website a couple of months ago to be touch pad friendly and I thought I'd comment on the changes, as there are some good and not so good features. Generally I like the new website (despite not owning a touch pad, yet), with some exceptions.

The Good:

• Clean, modern, simple layout
• Touch pad friendly
• User friendly even without touch pad
• Easy to change selection
• New field for coupon discount (at the end of the booking process). This just popped up with no communication and I suspected/hoped it might work like coupon codes for Avis/Budget and Hertz (separate, stackable discount), so I checked their discounts on their website and nothing showed up. Out of the blue this week, I received an e-mail from Europcar, with a NZD20 discount code for rentals until end of August, including 1 day rentals! I checked the website and sure enough, the discount applies in addition to the contract/promo discount, so on a random date (August 17) for 1 day from AKL, the standard rate of AUD95 for a Toyota Aurion (rental cars are expensive in NZ!) reduced to AUD66, including 20% Europcar Privilege Executive discount. AUD107 for two days, including discounts. Not bad! I also noticed they have BMW 320d's on the fleet - nice! They could be reduced from AUD140 per day, to AUD102! AUD180 for two days, including discounts. Again, pretty good. Cheapest car was a Toyota Yaris, at AUD89 for two days. Note that although Europcar quotes in AUD, they bill in NZD. Hopefully, Europcar start sending e-mails with Australian discounts like the NZ one!

The Bad:

• Main website not iPhone friendly - it crashes every time using both Safari and Chrome on iOS 5 (yes, I know I should update to 6, but have been reluctant to, given the well publicised bluetooth issues with many cars).
• Prompts me to download app, but not available in Oz App store!
• Yes, they do have a mobile website, which was also updated and is in many ways more user friendly than the old mobile website, but has very limited (and reduced from old mobile website) functionality - no coupon code field, only displays limited vehicles (no prestige vehicles, which are the main ones I rent) and unles they've updated it, no ability to cancel a booking except by calling.
• Can't modify bookings to take advantage of lower rate - you need to cancel the booking and make a new booking.