David, I have leased Renaults before and this time I am leasing a Citroen which I am picking up at CDG. Seriously I have never had a problem. I have gotten straight off the plane from Ausralia and jumped into a lhd car; it is not that hard, as there are a lot of cars in front of you to take a lead from. Are you also aware that you can pick up the renault in town and only 1 street away from the Periferique. That might be a better bet for you as well.

Before you change your booking - I also read this post and wondered if I should change mine to pick up the car in Strasbourg. When looking at the TVG timetable, I realised I would have to wait 6 hours from the arrival of my plane at CDG until the train left. 6 hours at CDG? I think not! So check the timetable first.
Also, the Michelin site, and there are others like Google, will give you detailed street by street directions for your route. So check them out as well.

Also note that you will NOT be picking up your car t the airport. They will drive you in a shuttle to where the car is stored.

Thanks Vientianeboy - appreciated. I have changed the booking and am sorta pleased I did . I wont have to wait at CDG as I will have been in Paris a week before I head down south.

Cheers
David

davidneil, I am a directionally challenged female who rarely drives my husband's manual transmission porsche (live in Virginia) and when traveling in Ireland with my daughter, was told that the automatic transmission vehicle we reserved was unavailable. Three others were being told the same thing, but that's another story. It was basically take the manual or wait another day.

I was quite fearful of shifting with my left hand while driving on the other side of the road. I was amazed at how quickly I acclimated....if I can do it, ANYONE can!!

"<i>if I can do it, ANYONE can!!</i>"

Good girl Judy! (so many people think it is soooooo difficult. Just isn't IMO)

It's not difficult, but requires more concentration. After shifting gear for 37 years with my right hand, I don't even think about it anymore while I am driving in the US or Continent. But when forced to use my other hand, it was no longer "automatic". When my mind would wander off in Ireland and I had to make a shift, I found myself whacking the door with my right hand. Also, not being intimately familiar with the rental (a Peugeot 207) I had difficulty distinguishing 2nd from 4th sometimes in downshifting situations- and I probably would have been better at this with my right hand.

Rick