So-called Icelandic Superjeeps are all the rage in tourism these days. Team Total Iceland contends its a total waste of your money. PIC Ilya Boyandin
Of the few people laughing all the way to Icelandic banks these days you can be sure among them are the owners of Super-jeep rental companies. Those people are making so much money that a company just starting out last year with one old and worn-down Super-jeep for rent this year will offer five such brand new vehicles. He is laughing so much the people in the bank are getting worried.
And who might the laughingstock be? You of course. Paying ridiculous amounts of hard-earned money for a unique experience when you could have much the same experience for a lot less.
Team Total Iceland made a quick unscientific survey of the price difference between the most popular Super-jeep companies on one hand and regular 4×4 car rental companies on the other. Rough price difference for three days rent with basic insurance: 1100 Euros / 1500 US dollars.
That is serious money for the most of us and the worst part is that its badly spent renting a Super-jeep. Here´s why:
There are only two things you can do in a Super-jeep that you cannot get in a normal 4×4 vehicle. One is a certain awesomeness when you see those massive beasts of cars up close and naturally when you get inside and can see Belgium from afar. The other is their prowess in driving in deep snow and flat glaciers.[blockquote type=”blockquote_line” align=”right”]There are only two things you can do in a Super-jeep that you cannot get in a normal 4×4 vehicle[/blockquote]
Sure enough, when in Iceland you´ll want to do a glacier trip. But this is available as a regular trip from many places and no need whatsoever of renting your own Superjeep. Even worse, not all companies allow you to drive without a guide and what´s the fun in that? Worse yet, going on a glacier for the first time in a car is a glacier wasted. You will want to drive snowmobiles here like crazy and not be stuck in a car. Even if that car is awesome.
Outside of wintertime and outside of glacier driving all normal types of 4×4 vehicles will be enough to get you around 99 per cent of the areas where driving is allowed in the country. True, those are nothing special but this country of ours is way special enough. If all you have to tell mom and dad about your unique trip to Iceland is about some big-ass vehicles then you don´t deserve to come. The local Icelandic nature will amaze you enough.
Then again, it is your money.
