Manual car hire?

[Claire L]

Ok, so looking at hiring a car for October but ideally it may need to be manual, checked Dollar and Alamo, no luck so any ideas?

Claire

 

[torsie24]

Any reason why you need a manual?

If you can drive a go-kart you can drive an automatic, there really is no reason to get a manual.

I drive both here in the UK and I certainly know what car I'd rather have!

 

[Claire L]

Just something someone said to me! But looking like it will be an automatic

Claire

 

[pandv_2000]

An automatic takes a little getting used to at first compared to a manual but you will soon get the hang of it and be fine. My DH had never driven an automatic before but I had so I drove the car off the airport the first trip we made as he was getting confused with being on the wrong side of the road AND driving an automatic but he soon became the main driver for the holiday. I think the key is to keep you left leg firmly planted on the floor. You only need your right leg to accelerate and brake. DH wasn't used to this and I think he had his left leg on the brake and right leg on the accelerator so we just sort of jerked along a bit until I told him to leave his left leg alone.

 

[luke]

Any reason why you need a manual?

If you can drive a go-kart you can drive an automatic, there really is no reason to get a manual.

Fully agree, it really is like driving a go kart!
Does take a slight bit of getting used to (things like remembering the car will move when in drive even if you don't press the accelorator) but the drive from the airport to the hotel should be enough to get used to it.

Don't get me wrong, I much prefer a manual car, the level of control is so much better (obviously) in a manual, but for a few weeks using an automatic is no bother at all

 

[Cyrano]

I was really worried that I would slam on the brake pedal thinking I was change gear So on advice from a friend I tucked my leg foot under well away from the pedals.

By the time I had driven 15 minutes I soon was sitting normally and was fine.

I agree with others that it is really simple and problem free driving with an automatic.

One thing to make sure of is that the car rental shows you is how to put on/off the brake lever

 

[Clare D]

I have to turn the radio down, get the kids to be quiet in the back and then I keep saying to myself 'drive on the right, drive on the right'

I soon get used to it though but then give the keys back to DH

 

[paulfoel]

Is it even possible to hire a manual in the USA????

 

[Pegasus928]

I know that changing gears and driving a manula becomes second nature to most people once they have been driving for a while, but having an automatic certainly does make life a bit easier over there, especially when you are having to concentrate on other things such as staying on the correct side of the road, navigating and trying not to look at all the interesting sites that you are driving past.
I agree that you should ask to be shown how to apply and remove the parking brake though. I had used automatics lts of times before, but on the last trip I put the parking brake on and it took me about 10 minutes to figure out how to get it off again

 

[Claire L]

Think we will settle for an automatic, just the DBF lived in the US for 4 years while at Uni and prefers a manual gearbox, so said I would see if I could find a manual hire car

 

[barnaby1]

I think you will struggle to find a manual car in the US. Also I think that any manual car is actually a column shift which are difficult to drive if you haven't driven one before.

 

[Metro West]

I think you will struggle to find a manual car in the US. Also I think that any manual car is actually a column shift which are difficult to drive if you haven't driven one before.

No...the cars that are manual transmissions have a floor mounted gearshift. They haven't made the column shift manuals in decades. You are right about finding a manual rental car as lots of people don't know how to drive them.

 

[paulfoel]

I've driven manual left hand drive cars in Europe and have found changing gear with your right hand dead hard to get used to !!!!

I kept going to change gear with my left hand and banging the door all the time !

 

[barnaby1]

No...the cars that are manual transmissions have a floor mounted gearshift. They haven't made the column shift manuals in decades. You are right about finding a manual rental car as lots of people don't know how to drive them.

Whoops, obviously showing my age there!!!!!

 

[wishspirit]

When we last drove, my dad did the majority of the driving (being under 25 makes it very expensive for me to drive), and after some 'kangaroo' starts, he got used to it!

He did keep going for the door handle when reaching for where the gear change should be! He loved the cruise control however, especially on those straight American roads!

 

[Claire L]

I've driven manual left hand drive cars in Europe and have found changing gear with your right hand dead hard to get used to !!!!

I kept going to change gear with my left hand and banging the door all the time !

Lol thats what I kept doing in 1998 when I drove in Lanzarote!! Not too keen on driving a left hand car personally but guess I could get used to it if it was longer than a 2 week holiday!!!

 

[offtoseemickey]

RE the foot slams - my mum told me to take my left shoe off! I'll remind you that you don't need to use that foot. I can't believe it, but it actually worked.

Driving in Orlando is easy-I promise!

 

[tennisfan]

I drive automatics for work, they need to be in ambulances as I have driven a couple that are manual & its hard work.

Is there any cars in the US that are semi automatic (tiptronic gearboxes) this is whats in the Mercedes ambulances & its lovely to drive as you can drive it in manual or auto.

I have been spoiled through work & would love a car with a semi automatic gearboxes but it seems on Mercedes have them

 

[Obi Wan Kenobi]

I drive automatics for work, they need to be in ambulances as I have driven a couple that are manual & its hard work.

Is there any cars in the US that are semi automatic (tiptronic gearboxes) this is whats in the Mercedes ambulances & its lovely to drive as you can drive it in manual or auto.

I have been spoiled through work & would love a car with a semi automatic gearboxes but it seems on Mercedes have them

My Discovery has auto and semi manual, but never use the manual shift.
Very few cars available in the USA with manual gearboxes, most manufacturers do not produce them for that market anymore