$1350 automatic shift; $350 manual for a week. Possible?
 

I am stunned by the price of an automatic shift for 1 week as opposed to a manual. Is this true? Auto Europe Car was my source. Any thoughts on the best rental company to use? I am from the US and am pricing the car for 1 week in Provence.

Try economycarrentals.com or nova as well. It's going to be something but that's a lot. If you have time find a stickshift and start practicing. It ain't rocket science- if you can walk and chew gum at the same time.....

are they the same sized cars? Because maybe that location only offers automatics w/ larger models. If that's the case - that could definitely be the price difference.

I agree that you need to confirm that the two quotes you have are for the same class of car. Few if any of the economy class cars have automatic transmissions available. You may be required to book the <b>D</b> class to find a car with auto transmission.

Additionally, France has an environmental tax of 5€/day for the first 6 days of any rental of a car with automatic transmission. This too will increase the comparison costs.

The automatic was a mini Cooper and the manual a Citroen. Still a pretty big difference. Fortunately, I do drive a manual shift, but was thinking in hilly areas, an automatic would be nice. Forget that! $350 is not bad. Thanks.

<<Auto Europe Car was my source...>>

Was it Auto Europe or Europcar? If the latter, call Auto Europe.

its usually a little less than double the price for an automatic from hertz.

also - be aware that sometimes automatics are not available in the smaller car classes so the cost differential may not really show up correctly.

I booked a car from Europcar for $519.06 for 14 days, with delivery at Calais and drop-off at Gare De Leon, Paris. After checking out several rentals, Europecar gave me the best rates, best pick-up and delivery times, and the car I wanted (a Renault Kangoo).
The 800 number is: 1-877-820-0668

Good luck,
Larry

Try another company. I also have noticed that car rentals seem to have increased quite a bit this year.

Forget sports cars---ski high.
The difference is usually about 30% more.
Look at Kemwel--I have had good luck recently with them.

It is for that reason I've always rented a car with a stick shift, even in England! Actually, I prefer a stick shift, and being left handed, had absolutely no trouble in England.

Larry,

The 800 number you have provided for Europcar is actually the number for Kemwel. Could you have made your arrangements for the Europcar rental through Kemwel?

I can't imagine that's for the same size/class of car. Often automatics aren't available except in the mid size cars - which are naturally more luxe (AC et al) as well as substantially larger/more comfortable than the most basic flying sneaker super compact car.

I just priced a car with Auto Europe for one week in August. It is an automatic and the prices start at $417 for pick up at the Nice Airport. The price goes up from there.
Where are you trying to rent a car in France. Do you have to have a Mini Cooper which costs what you said.

P.S. Make sure what you rent is not considered "exotic". Many insurances (credit card) do not cover that type.

cmeyer54,

Yes, the Europecar number is really Kemwell's number. They are ever so much easier to locate and much more able to figure out just what I want to do than the folks I talked to at Europcar. Also, their rates were lower than Europcar, even though it is, in reality, a Europcar I will be driving.
Because I am in both the UK and France this trip, it was just simply easier to book both vehicles at one place.

A Mini Cooper is not a regular rental... it's what AutoEurope refers to as a 'Specialty Vehicle' and you'll pay a premium automatic or not.

You need to compare the same cars or at least cars in the same class to see what extra you're paying for automatic.

Rob

I just selected the cheapest level, checked automatic, and the mini Cooper was the only one that came up at Auto Europe. It was about $1350 a week. When I then clicked on "manual", the price was $350. Pick up and delivery would be Avignon.

Thanks to all for some good information. Manual it is!

I rented automatics in Provence using Autoeurope twice and the cost for an automatic wasn't that much more than a manual. So your figures just seem very bizarre to me, but it's hard to say without knowing what kind of car you are trying to rent, it sounds like two different types of cars. I just rented the cheapest automatic available, a compact. Maybe it is some peculiar supply and demand issue based on your particular locations and dates, who knows. I also rented in Avignon, it's not that.

For example, I just checked Avignon in mid-September, and the manuals were around $400 a week but the cheapest automatic, a Citroen C4 midsize was $652 and the next one was around $700 (for a Mercedes A180). So that is around $300 a week or $40 a day difference. I think that is more than when I rented a few years ago, but it's nothing like $1350 a week. Maybe it's your dates or location, I think you pay more at the airport, not sure. I used the gare SNCF, I think they have the best selection.

Could simply be supply and demand. While ordinary manual cars can be confirmed instantly (because they have a big fleet of them), an automatic is often by request only and has to be specifically sourced for your rental. It may even mean having to transport it from a larger depot (e.g. Nice, Marseilles) a day or so in advance, adding to the cost.

You might consider having a friend give helping you learn to drive a standard transmission car - it's very simple. Two outings should do the trick. Even if you are pretty sure an automatic will be waiting for, it's not a bad idea. The one automatic they had waiting could break down.

It is because it is Avignon. Now I understand. At offices that are not at airports, there are very few automatics usually available.
And therefore the increased price. It is supply and demand.

Good advice, Bardo1! We had an automatic reserved?...and there were only stick shifts available when we arrived. Learn a stick just in case.

Those new Citroën are about the most beautiful cars built since the 50s. I don't like the C1 because it's too small. But the rest are "super sexy cars" ;-).

Great, you didn't spoil the fun, by looking for an automatic transmission! Yuck!!
Have fun!

I learned to drive using manual transmission cars. They're all I drove for my first 20 years of driving. When I finally got my first automatic transmission car, it was heaven, and I've never looked back.

Unfortunately, on a trip to France a few years ago I decided to save some money (though it certainly wasn't any $1,000 difference!) and get a manual.

It wasn't pretty; it wasn't fun--especially in small towns and hilly areas or in the occasional traffic tieups that required a lot of shifting. I'm sure Avis had to replace that transmission. I like to drive, but it's been automatics (again) ever since for me.

The engine is your friend. Treat it nice and get a manual.
Not everybody knows how to to play the piano, but those who do enjoy it and they may become quite good at it.

Others have to buy an automatic. Unfortunately EU regulations 20 years ago forced the governments to accept those drivers without proper knowledge of driving on the roads.

That's weird . I just priced on Avis and there is only a $200.00 difference between manual and auto. Even an Auto Mercedes is way under $1350.00 fior a week

The price differences, and there always ARE price differences, between these two types REGARDLESS of which agency, broker, etc., you use.

Do you need an automatic in France. No! is it nice to have one? Sure. Are stick drivers better drivers than auto drivers and are they part of the tarmac and all that other NASCAR-hormone-driven BS? No, and i know because i drive a VERY VERY fast stick shift high performance car

My ONLY rec and as ridiculous as it sounds...DO NOT leave the lot with ANY stick until you KNOW how to get it into and out of reverse.

Avignon in October '09 offers plenty of automatics for 60% less than the price the OP posted here.

If you don't book an automatic at least six months in advance, especially during high season, you will be left with fewer choices and much higher prices. The OP never mentioned when the car would be needed.

I think the Mini Cooper is ugly and, considering what it costs to purchase, it's not worth $1350 for a week.

We just return from a 3 weeks driving vacation in France. We booked on May 30, 2009 a Mercedes A180, automatic to be picked up at CDG on June, 20. AutoEurope quote was $1380 for period from 6/20 to 7/8 – drop off – Nice, Airport. We found a lower rate at a competitor, and AutoEurope matched and bettered their rate. We paid, $980 for almost 3 weeks rental, plus they charged us additional $100, do not remember what was it is for. The rate included insurance, but we declined it.

If you get a manual car, just make sure you can do hills without rolling over the person in back of you after you've stopped and have to go forward again. I love manuals and have driven them since I was 15 and have only owned them since I was 16...and I'm early 50s now. Even bought my new 2008 in a manual. Happy Travels!

One project of visitors to Europe should be to learn to drive with manual transmission. It's one of those cultural things like learning a few words of the language. It won't kill you.

Anyway, I am in Avignon at the moment, during the height of the tourist season, and AutoEurope gave me a car through Hertz for a week for 195€ all inclusive.

By the way, a manual is FAR better for driving in hilly/mountainous area than an automatic. Why do you think "serious" 4WDs are manual. Automatics are great for city driving.

<i><font color=blue>"a manual is FAR better for driving in hilly/mountainous area than an automatic. Why do you think "serious" 4WDs are manual."</font></i>

One doesn't need a "serious" 4WD to enjoy the mountains of Lake Como or the undulating hill towns of Tuscany. This isn't Vermont or the Rocky Mountains in winter being discussed here.

I like to relax when I drive and manual transmissions in the stop-and-go of city traffic require more physical exertion and more mental focus, especially if you don't drive manual on a regular basis.

I once owned a manual in Manhattan. It was a pain. And Manhattan is relatively flat. As Guenmai said, <i>"If you get a manual car, just make sure you can do hills without rolling over the person in back of you after you've stopped and have to go forward again."</i> This is a serious situation to find oneself and it's bound to happen in Europe. You will need to know how to move forward from a complete stop on a steep incline with another car climbing up your behind. This is NOT a situation for a novice manual driver.

Manual transmissions are more cost effective in Europe and Middle Class Europeans are accustomed to working harder and enduring certain inconveniences to save money. If you do something long enough, you get used to it. I suspect many Europeans would switch to automatic transmission cars if gas was cheaper and they could get the car at a price-point lower than a manual.

I hope to be around drivers that are mentally focused.

That's why sometimes driving in the US scares the s*it out of me. If you're unable to move forward after you've stopped on a hill without rolling backward in a manual car, you should not be allowed to drive at all. Not even in a car with automatic transmission.

Actually, driving a manual can kill you if you aren't experienced with it.

Supply and demand. Too many tourists demand automatic transmissions and push the price up.

You can find similar savings on lodging if you don't insist on ensuite bathrooms.

NYCTS you did not read my post correctly. Who said anything about getting a 4WD? I stated that manuals are better in hilly terrain and that is why serious 4WDs are manuals. persoannly I think all licence testing should be required to be done in a manual car. Agree with logos999.