GoCar! A yellow car that talks... and gives you a guided tour of Barcelona
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Why these new self-drive two-seaters are taking over the tourist world
It looks like a bright yellow golf buggy or one of those electric cars that whiz around airports. You can’t help smiling when you see it - and you don’t stop grinning when you’re in one. The GoCar is an exciting new holiday idea set to take the world’s tourist hot-spots by storm. It’s a small ‘talking car’ that takes you on a personal guided tour of a foreign city.
I went to Barcelona to try it out - but they’re also already available in Lisbon, Miami, San Francisco and San Diego. Next up is likely to be Amsterdam, Madrid, Rome, Paris and London. Suddenly open-top buses and coach tours look boring (continued below).
I drove my tiny two-seater around the Catalan capital being directed to the sights by its built-in satellite-navigation computer hidden under the dashboard. The car even gives you a chatty guide to attractions as you pass and tells you where to stop if you want a closer look.
Add in the fact that it’s a bright yellow, three-wheeler with no roof or doors - and your guided tour becomes hilarious fun. GoCar makes you the envy of all the pavement plodders.
Even on the famous Ramblas - Europe’s liveliest street, packed with 24-hour performance artists, pavement cafes and tourists from all over the globe - people smiled, waved and pointed cameras my way.
Sadly, I knew it wasn’t me they were admiring - it was my revolutionary vehicle. When I paused for a moment outside Boqueria Market, a complete stranger - a pretty Spanish woman - jumped in the passenger seat. It was nothing to do with my winning smile or new Prismark shirt - she merely wanted her husband to photograph her in the extraordinary vehicle. As soon as he did, she jumped out again without a word to me.
Anyone over 21 with a car or bike driving licence can rent from GoCar’s city centre office. You got a quick lesson and thankfully it’s a doddle because there are no gears or pedals. You steer with a handlebar, accelerate and brake using hand-grips like a motorbike or scooter. The little 49cc petrol moped engine behind you allows you to keep up with traffic but, with a top speed around 30mph, its not fast enough to be dangerous.
GoCar launched in San Francisco in 2004 where they were an immediate success. Now they’re spreading across the world. The idea is always the same. You choose you language you want and create your own tour by choosing different routes and stopping whenever you feel like it.
It’s not quite the perfect wind-in-your-hair experience though. Barcelona authorities insist GoCar drivers and passengers wear helmets. They’re provided free but I did feel a bit of a nerd driving along the beachfront with a big black helmet on.
The cars are becoming as popular with locals as visitors. And the Barcelona drivers are more brazen about their use of the little holiday vehicles. One local driver had to be rescued after he drove a GoCar right into a shop.
GoCars are available in Barcelona, Lisbon, Miami, San Francisco and San Diego.
In Barcelona call +34 902 301 333 or just turn up at the rental office opposite Santa Caterina Market. Cars are available from 9am-9pm from €35 for an hour to €99 for a day.
GoCars are now in Valencia too - read Simon Heptinstall's report here
Useful links
GoCar Tours website
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