Automatic vs. standard in Ireland
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Automatic vs. standard in Ireland
Wondering if anybody has comments on how difficult(or not)it is to get used to left-hand shifting. Going to Ireland next month and have noticed automatics cost almost twice as much as standards to rent. Visited last year, had automatic, found left-lane driving an easy enough adjustment. Also having problems with pronouns(ha ha). On a side note, I booked a fly, drive, b+b package tour last year with Brendans. The reservation clearly stated manual transmission, but when I got to Shannon, I was issued an automatic, which was great. Anybody had that happen to them? I'm thinking about reserving a manual and trying to upgrade to automatic at the airport. What do you think?
#2
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I thought that it was quite natural, and picked it up as if I had always done it. Your right arm is on the armrest of the door, of course; your body knows instinctively that the left arm has to do the job that it never has done before.
Best wishes,
Rex
Best wishes,
Rex
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We reserved an automatic on our last trip to Ireland but were told it was not available when we went to pick up the car.
I was dreading shifting with my left hand AND remembering to drive on the left and was amazed at how quickly I adjusted. It was much easier that I thought it would be, and I'm easily confused!
I was dreading shifting with my left hand AND remembering to drive on the left and was amazed at how quickly I adjusted. It was much easier that I thought it would be, and I'm easily confused!
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I would not reserve a manual with the hope of getting an automatic. So many tourists are from the US that automatics are at a permium - and as Judy said you may sometimes not get one even if you reserve it. It happened to us as well - the beau drove and had no problem - but then he's never had an automatic - always driven stick - so the change was less than someone who usually does auto.
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