I found a really good rate on a pickup truck but just noticed that it does not have power steering. Do you think this will be a problem? I'm especially wondering how this will work out when we are going to dinner. Is it usually easy to find a spot that won't require parallel parking or otherwise make power steering a necessity?

I assume the dive spots wouldn't be a problem - is that a good assumption?

I will be in Bonaire in August.

Ed my last trip the truck did not have power steering and it was a real pain. I would recommend an upgrade.

I agree with Cecil that a truck without power steering is a real pain. Besides the lack of power steering, the least expensive trucks usually also do not have air conditioning and have plastic/vinyl seats, while (at least with AB), the first upgrade provides at truck with power steering, air conditioning and fabric seats. While climbing into a truck wet and sitting on fabric might sound crazy, the plastic seats are downright uncomfortable when they are hot.

Hi Ed, Not to be cantankerous, but I always rent a truck without power steering or air conditioning. Parking is rarely a problem in August; which is usually when we are in Bonaire. The trucks are small and I don't really notice the difference. Of course I learned to drive in a truck w/o power steering, so maybe it would be best for whatever you are used to. As for the A/C, the heat isn't too bad, I'm usually in shorts and a T shirt. I usually have a t shirt or towel in the truck to sit on if the seats are hot, which does happen. I personally enjoy tooling around with the windows down. It all boils down to what you really want or need. Have fun, Jeff

I'm not afraid to be cantankerous. My truck has manual steering, manual transmission, a manual choke and no air conditioning. It does me just fine.

Sometimes at dive sites you have to maneuver a bit. I've even had to parallel park outside of Cultimara supermarket. My first trip I rented w/o power steering, rented with on the next two. To me, it was worth the few extra dollars.

My husband's truck has no powersteering, my car does. It does make it difficult for him to parallel park (which you can do quite often on Bonaire) and extremely difficult if not at all impossible to make tight turns. I agree go for the gusto...splurge!

Ed how comfortable are you with manual transmissions? If you aren't, you really need to get the power steering.

Still, I would pay up for the power steering. The first year we went to Bonaire we had the base level truck and it was no fun. Last year AB ran out of the upgraded trucks and gave us a manual one for a few hours so we could settle in. (They were very apologetic about it). I was very happy when I swapped to the truck with power steering & airconditioning (the radio is not necessary - I only found 1-2 stations that had anything remotely close to what I wanted to listen to).

The northern dive sites have much tighter parking than the southern end. The parking at Oil Slick can get especially nuts.

I'll weigh in on the cranky side one more time: if you drive a vehicle that is an appropriate size for Bonaire, power steering is completely unnecessary. This isn't an island for F150 pickups, and the large Toyota quadcabs are too big as well. Our roads are narrow, and your vehicle should be narrow enough that you can have one going each way with at least 1/2 meter of clearance on both sides of both vehicles. Most parking spots are taped out at 4 1/2 meters, and your vehicle should fit inside it.

No...top speed 35mph....little truck.
Cup holder would be nice though

Wally and Eva, I am with you. I am very happy with no power steering, no airco in my little truck but would like a cup holder! Funny what we find important!!

I'll foregoe the powersteering, but I need AC and a cup holder...lol...

All, For the price of an airline ticket, I offer my services as a cup holder. For the price of my dive package, I will bring along a fan to wave in your direction should the AC in your rental vehicle fail.

Beau, ticket's in the mail...lol...My OWN personal cup holder, can you believe it Susan? I'll share with you if you want though. We can take our own personal cup holder and back up AC fanner with us everywhere we go on island!

Grasshopper, I think we are on to something and I will be thrilled to have Monsieur Bales as my personal cup holder. Since I don't like AC you are welcome to his fan!

I always get a truck with the model 4-40 air conditioner. (4 windows down at 40 kph) Never breaks down. Jeff

Jeff, thanks for the chuckle.
There is only one problem with the 4-40 system, especially in the rainy season. Bugs get in.
We were passing a swarm of dragon flies and one got into the car. I've been working very hard on getting over my aversion to bugs and not freaking out. A dragon fly blew into the cab and landed on my shirt. Somehow I managed to say in a very calm tone, "Seb, please pull over. There appears to be a large bug on my chest."
He pulled over, I shook the shirt, the bug flew away.
Whew!

Just a quick question. With all of the windows open, how do you keep your baseball cap from blowing off? Inquiring minds want to know.

Mare

Mare, Mark usually has no trouble with the 4 windows open and his baseball cap except when we are heading south and getting a real "cross breeze"! Then he just turns in backwards! What drove me crazy last year was when the seat belt strap kept flapping in the wind and making noise .... still not going for airco though!

Susan, put a clothespin on the flapping part.
I know that sound well.

Mare

I don't have any problem keeping my ball cap on...see, I'm from West Virginia and state law requires us to wear a ball cap at all times. (except in church, during a funeral with the body actually present)

And for bugs....Well, I'm from West Virginia.

Jeff

You guys are cracking me up. I like the windows closed (so that no bugs can get in the vehicle...I'm with Mare on "bugs.")...and the AC on full blast. Only problem is that my glasses usually fog up when I get out of the truck...lol..

Jeff...thanks for the chuckle...

After the first 24 hours we have become acclimatized and don't need the AC in the truck so we don't get it. But then we are from southeast Texas and it gets HOT and humid here. Just the last 3 days it has been up to 80 and this is early March, who knows how hot it will get this year.

Andy

Auto AC is not environment friendly.
I never use mine. I drive with the windows down, and I've never had any insects fly into my car. Maybe lucky.