Ok, I am the crazy California driver that will be driving 3 other ladies around Ireland starting in Dublin and heading south to Waterford area, west to Dingle, north to Galway and finally leaving car in Shannon. What are the roads like on this route and is it really worth the huge difference in manual versus automatic in rental cars. Lots of mountains, hills, etc??? I drive stick here in CA with my right hand so is it that much different with the left??? Will I be shifting lots on these roads?? Help me with all of these indecions please!!

Thousands of American and Europeans have managed to get the knack of shifting with the left hand. Don't worry, be happy. (PS pedals and gear H are the same, not reversed - urban legend.) The main difficulty I (and I think many others) encounter initially is mirror location - I keep looking at the doorpost instead of the mirror, but again it's a transient trouble.

Some main roads are multi-lane, even some freeway-style, but the majority are two-lane, so the biggest issue will be passing ("overtaking&quot with limited visibility.

You'll get used to it in no time. But I'll bet you'll be using the windshield wipers when you mean to use the turn signals. More than once. The joke there and in Australia is that foreigners have the cleanest windshields...

Have fun

WK

When we were driving around Scotland for two weeks my wife and I drove in tandem a lot. I'd push in the clutch and she'd shift the gears...worked great!

I'll be the first to say that our trip to Ireland was very stressful due to the driving situation. You'll find it written time and again on this forum that driving can be quite challenging because you are not only driving "on the wrong side of the road in a vehicle set up on the right rather than the left" but you must navigate some of the most windy, narrow, blind-curved roads ever imaginable. As the passenger 100% of the time, my heart was constantly in my mouth. If I had it to do all over again, I'd definitely opt for a manual transmission. Why risk the stress when their really is a way to reduce it?

It's not necessarily a problem. I rented a manual for my trip to SW England (same crazy narrow roads) last May. I have not driven on the wrong side of the road for 15 years, and first time a manual that way. But no problem at all, no missed shift, no turning on the wipers.

I do consider myself a good and experienced driver, so your "mileage" may vary.

Another point to consider - don't think anyone else has mentioned it - pardon if they have, is that petrol is so darned expensive over there and a manual will use less than an automatic. On the little roads sometimes you need the quick change down of gears to get passed other vehicles on the road. I prefer a manual when driving in the UK. I feel more sporty!! Plus of course it is cheaper to rent a manual than automatic. If you don't mind the manual shift then for pure $$ sense go with it.

Hi

A mate of mine here in Australia is a policeman who has been trained in pursuit driving. During his trip in Europe he rented a manual car. He said he found it stressful trying to drive on the right hand side of the frenetic highway system while using his right hand to change gears and trying to read road signs, navigating etc. If he was in Ireland it would have been no problem! So what I'm getting at is he strongly recommended the hire of an automatic.

See ya

Bornintheusa: My 2 cents worth is this: If you're used to driving a manual and are a competent driver in the US, take a manual in Ireland.

Yes, there are lots of hills, narrow roads etc, as well as wide flat roads. They're not usually one lane goat-tracks, though. (Although there are some of those if you go looking They'll be there whether you're driving a manual or an automatic. IMO, you have more control in a manual (particularly if that's what you're used to). The only thing I find a bit tedius in really hilly country where there's a lot of traffic is the constant hill-starts where some lunatic parks 1/2 inch from my tail & I worry about that inevitable little slide back on take-off.

I've driven on both sides of the road in auto & manual. And in Ireland. The beauty there is the many lovely little roads not completely jam-packed with other traffic. At first it does feel a bit "funny". It usually takes me an hour or so to feel comfortable on the RHS (and on the LHS when I return to it after an extended time away.) However, as others will tell you, the fact that the car is set up for the appropriate side of the road really makes it easier than you might imagine.

The difference in price is exhorbitant and I can't personally see any value in taking an auto if you're comfortable with a manual at home.

One word of caution though: Make sure you ask about reverse BEFORE you leave the rental counter. In lots of the models in Europe you have to pull up on a little ring-thing on the gearstick in order to engage it. I spent a very humiliating few minutes in front of a growing queue at the gate of the F'co. carpark the first time I rented in Italy.

BTW - I often use the wipers here to indicate too my car's European and has indicators on the opposite side to my friend's Japanese model.

My other tip: If you're the driver & travelling with others, take the car out for half an hour or so by yourself first to get accustomed to it and the roads. There's nothing more guaranteed to make (me anyway) nervous than being in a strange location & car with passengers yakking/directing/advising as I try to get to grips with it. Especially when I've just stepped off a 20 something hour flight (LOL) I take it from your post that you're the only driver?

Caution (2): T intersections need your attention. It's pretty easy to slip into "auto mind" mode & go onto your "normal side" the first couple you encounter if you're not careful. (Voice of experience here ! Refer note above about passengers' advice/questions to driver within 15 mins of exiting carpark after 20 something hour flight.)
Enjoy your trip - it's a lovely country.

Here's the thing - it really depends on how much you like driving, how comfortable you are driving in unknown territory, how good a navigator you'll have with you in the car, and how good your reflexes are.

For me the automatic was worth the money, and so was the collision damage waiver, and i wish i'd turned down the free upgrade to a larger car because the smaller the car the better on those winding, narrow roads in the west of Ireland. Even with the automatic it was stressful, and the CDW came in handy when i was hit by a parked car.

What happens is, even though the roads are narrow enough to begin with, local drivers park their cars at the side making it narrower still. Then other drivers want to go whizzing along, so they ride your bumper if you don't feel comfortable whizzing yourself. and if you feel under pressure to drive faster than you really think is quite safe, and you have trouble judging where your left bumper is because it's in a different spot in relation to yourself than you're used to, and you insist to yourself that there must be enough room to get by because other cars do it, that's when those darned parked cars are likely to just reach out and hit that bumper of yours.

don't let me alarm you, it was still a grand trip and i'd do it again in a heart beat, but i'd do everything i could to make driving as easy as possible.

that said, my uncle drove a motorhome on those same roads. so... back to my first point - it really depends on you. (and it seems like it ought to be possible to upgrade to an automatic after a few days if you start out with a manual and don't feel comfortable with it. if you're thinking of giving the manual a go, you could ask about that.)

have a wonderful trip, kate

Suggestion: Take a local driving lesson. The insructor will explain local driving idiosyncrasies.

It depends on you.

I pay the extra wherever I go--I've got enough to do in a new driving environment plus trying to find my way about and catch glimpses of the countryside to worry about shifting gears, especially with my off hand.

Once I got a car with A/T, I never contemplated getting another vehicle with a manual transmission. Might as well go back to horse and buggy days as far as I'm concerned.

But I'm not a car nut while some people just enjoy shifting gears, and others will put up with additional aggravation to save a couple of hundred bucks. I'll save money elsewhere. Personal choice and preference.

The title is misspelled. "Whoa" should be spelled "woe".

First of all - a majority of Americans have never driven a stick so they have two learning curves - shifting adn the "wrong side of the road". You don't have that problem.

Second - I am totally uni-dextrous - Can't really do anything lefthanded. yet I have no problem shifting w/ my left hand. You won't be doing any power shifting or trying to pull someone off the line. At least I hope not And missing a shift now and then is no big disaster anyway. You likely won't ever get into 5th and on most country lanes you will be in 2nd and 3rd. And in small villages - 1st/2nd. So don't think you will be constantly shifting through all the gears.

And third - I actually think having a stick helps keep you alert to being on the "wrong side". Most visitors get into trouble is when they sort of go into "auto pilot" and forget about being on the left. A stick is a big help at keeping you on your toes - whereas an automatic can let one drift off.

SO -- even w/o the money savings I'd usually choose a stick.

No, I think "whoa" works in the context.

Well, put us in the automatic vote. My husband is an outstanding driver, in all kinds of road and weather conditions. Yet, without an automatic in Ireland, the driving would have been traumatic.

We were SO glad that we opted for automatic, as we drove throughout the island and encountered so many difficult passages -- a manual transmission would have undone us. (And yes, we both know how to use manual, and also are originally from California so we understand that traffic and the highways/freeways there, as you, bornintheusa!)

Well, whatever you decide, have a safe trip -- and enjoy. Ireland is magical.

All the best,
Sue

I'm in the pay the money for the automatic camp for all the reasons that have already been stated.

Since you're accustomed to a manual, use a manual. As others have said, it's no big deal. I've been to the U.K. and other left-drive countries and it takes just a couple of minutes to get used to it. The one word of warning is to be careful at intersections when you're turning right. You're accustomed to the left being the "danger" side when you're looking but remember that there it is the right because you'll be crossing the lane(s) with oncoming traffic when you turn right. So you need to look both ways.
Have a good trip. It'll be fun!!

Born, we have driven in Ireland 4 times, only once with an automatic. For our most recent trip, I ordered up an automatic because I thought it would give DH a break. He decided to take an upgraded vehicle with standard for the same price (which was excellent through O'Scannlain/Hertz, by the way).

If you are still undecided after reading all this input, I say price it out. Go to several websites and get prices for similar cars in both standard and automatic. If you can narrow the price gap, then go for the automatic and the peace of mind. (Especially the peace of mind for whomever will be your navigator, as that is really the hot seat, IMHO!)

Let me explain a little further why it's not an issue:

- Pedals are arranged the same way as in LHD cars. There's no confusion there.

- Yes, you shift with your left hand, but since you have never shifted that way before, there's no confusion where the gears are. I learned and learned quickly. I didn't even have to think about it after maybe 15-20 minutes.

- Unlike the problem some people confusing turn signals with windshield wipers, I can guarantee you that you won't hit your right hand on the door because you want to shift with your right hand. Not going to happen.

It's really a minor nuisance rather than a major issue. Go for the manual.