[Idyllchat] Stick vs. automatic shifts

[Bob Bestor]

As some of you know, I am involved in the 
European car rental business. It's amazing how 
many people are forced into higher rates for 
automatics in Europe because they are unable to 
drive standard transmission. The one-week price, 
including 19% value added tax, in Germany, for an 
intermediate car with automatic is $449. The 
price for the same car with manual is $278. The 
difference is not so dramatic in other countries. 
The car rental business is as much about the sale 
of cars after they have been in the rental fleets 
as it is about renting cars. Germans don't like 
automatics and thus they are not a popular used 
car when their rental days are over. Therefore, 
in the Hertz/Avis/Europcar/Sixt/National profit 
equation, automatics have to generate more income 
when they are in their rental phase.
Bob


>Hi Vance and all,
>When I was 16 (yeah--that was a while back) and 
>took my drivers test in San Diego California 
>it had to be in a manual, which is what I 
>drove, and I DID have to parallel park on a very 
>steep hill. Aced it by the way and can still do 
>it but don't like to. I do love driving manual 
>cars though especially if they're little, cute, 
>fast and convertibles. However, driving one on 
>the left twists my brain too much.
>Lyn
>Dallas
>
>
>----- Original Message -----
>From: "Vance Roy"
>To: "Jay Cloidt"
>Cc:
>Sent: Tuesday, January 29, 2008 6:46 AM
>Subject: Re: [Idyllchat] Stick vs. automatic shifts
>
>
>>I have a hard time believing that you can get a USA driver's license
>>without driving a manual transmission. Don't you still have to parallel
>>park and back up too?
>>
>>
>>  On 29. Jan 2008, at 15:24, Jay Cloidt wrote:
>>
>>>  When you've been driving stick for 28 years, you don't think about it.
>>>
>>>
>>
>>  Vance Roy
>>  gigli.saw at dplanet.ch
>>  http://homepage.mac.com/fredch
>>  http://www.eyefetch.com/fredch/blog.aspx
>>
>>  A top scientist has suggested that the human race will split into two
>>  separate species: One will be an attractive and intelligent group, and
>>  the other will be Democrats.
>>  AJC vent
>>
>>
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