[Idyllchat] Single traveler

[Jay Cloidt]

For me, you're actually not a contrarian. I won't buy an automatic. Hence, I
knew how to drive a stick. I was just pointing out that many Americans are
not aware that in many places in Europe, you need to reserve an automatic if
you want one. Since 90% of cars sold in the US are automatic, I thought this
was an important point.

It's getting harder and harder to buy a stick. If I don't want a base model
with no power, I either need to by a sports car, a Subaru, or a German car.
Nothing else seems to come in manual transmission these days.

  - Jay in New York

On Jan 28, 2008 12:47 PM, Jerry Clancy <jclancy at billtrak.com> wrote:

> Hate to be a contrarian, but I actually prefer a stick shift in places
> like Italy or Provence, anywhere I am likely to encounter very hilly
> terrain. I find the ability to up and down shift as needed in the hills and
> mountains much more to my liking. Automatics can be much more sluggish in
> these conditions. Besides, sticks get better mileage (and petrol is really
> expensive) and automatics typically carry a large premium in most of Europe.
>
> For what it's worth.
>
> Jerry
>
> At 11:52 AM 1/28/2008, Jay Cloidt wrote:
>
> >That's a good point. Most first time travelers to Europe do not realize
> that a manual transmission is usually the default from rental car companies.
> I know I didn't. You need to request and reserve an automatic transmission.
> >
> >The first time I traveled to Europe, my boss and I got in the rental car.
> I was driving. I looked down and said, "Wow, it's a stick". My boss got this
> panicked look on his face, and said, "You know how to drive one, don't
> you?". I replied, "Sure. I just wasn't expecting it." Unless you rent a
> high-end sports car, American rental car companies never have manual
> transmissions, and it just caught me off guard.
> >
> >Sometimes it works in your favor. I was traveling to Germany with a
> colleague who did not drive stick, so we reserved a mid-sized automatic.
> When we got to the rental counter in Frankfurt, they had just rented the
> last Opel Vectra automatic. They upgraded us to a Mercedes Benz. That was a
> great trip.
> >
> >On my last 2 business trips to the Netherlands, the rental cars were
> automatic by default. I didn't request it. But that's not a guarantee. This
> was Hertz, but other companies may have other policies. Automatics are
> becoming more common in Europe, but they are not entrenched like here in the
> US.
> >
> >  - Jay in New York
>
>
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