Since so many have said that driving is quite hectic I am a bit concerned about driving a manual transmission on top of that. Would you advise auto vs. manual even though the price is additional? Please help.

If you are used to driving with a manual it shouldn't be a problem -unless you're in the UK, then it might be wise to consider an auto, since you'll have enough to deal with with the "wrong side" and roundabouts!

Marcia: You didn't mention where you will be driving (country, cities, etc.) since it represents a factor in your decision. <BR> <BR>Also, have you driven a manual transmission car before? If you have experience with it. then you alone will know if you are comfortable or not. Prior to living in Germany, I had driven automatic-only cars except in the army. Upon arriving in Frankfurt, I discovered that they were almost a rarity, so I went with the manual. At first, I was not very good, but I got the hang of it fairly quickly. That was due to the previous experience, no doubt. Now, I really prefer them, except that I have an SUV now and it's an auto. <BR> <BR>If you used them before, I'd go for it, otherwise, I probably would not. Driving in Europe, especially on the same side as the US, will not be a big culture shock. <BR> <BR>Good luck! <BR>

Marcia, <BR>While it's difficult to respond to you not knowing what countries you'll be traveling to and driving in, I have some thoughts. Driving is truly "hectic" in cities and villages; cities because of the density of auto traffic, villages because of the invariably narrow streets. Parking is invariably a problem in either place. Autobahns, autostradas, major roads are not "hectic" if you adhere to common sense traffic laws. There are two distinct advantages to a manual transmission over automatic; lower rental cost and higher gasoline mileage; the latter can be significant if you plan extensive driving and incurring high fuel costs. Consider, too, that in many smaller European models, automatic transmission is not an option - it's simply not available which may force you to a larger, more expensive car than you need.

Driving a manual transmission for the first time is nothing dramatic. You may do a couple of errors the first day (switching to the wrong gear, letting the car dye on you, "scratching" the transmission) but nothing that may put you or others in any danger (actually, more danger might be involved the other way round - going for the clutch that isn't there and breaking very hard as a consequence ... the car behind you surely wouldn't be expecting it). <BR> Of course, the most important is that you feel confortable and confident. If you're worried, why not make a one day experience back home and then decide? <BR> Paulo <BR>

Marcia, live a little and go for manual transmission....think of it as a character building experience. I would agree with Paulo, try it at home first.

Marcia, my advice would be if you have no experience with driving a manual transmission than pay the extra money and get an automatic. Although driving a manual is not difficult, it does take a while to become comfortable with it. Personally I would find it totally stressful to deal with learning to shift at the same time as reading road signs in a foreign language, finding your way around, trying to enjoy the sights and all the other things involved in driving in a foreign country. I don't think it would be fun, and it would detract from your experience. If you are on a very strict budget, then try to learn before you go, Otherwise, pay the extra bucks and relax. <BR>

Gee. My favorite travel memory is sitting at a train crossing as the first car at the gate, facing uphill, in a manual transmission car which I was driving for about the third time in my life, with my boss, outside of Mexico City, with a whole pile of cars behind me honking their horns, mad that I hadn't tried to beat the train before it reached the crossing. I think I'd chose auto. I'm 50 now. For the extra $50-100 I'd just buy fewer souvenirs for my kids who couldn't care less anyway! Hey, everything is relative.

If you are not experienced with manual transmissions, get an automatic. There is no point in stalling a car part way through an intersection in some big city an ocean away from home, in order to save $100. <BR>For themost part, unelss there are three or four of you travelling together or you are planning to spend hours onmajor highways, it's a better bet to rent a smaller car with automatic than a larger one with manual. And manual, for the first time, in England on the "wrong" side of the road, is particularly stressful. <BR> <BR>BAK

My personal Manual Transmission Horror Story involves a desolate Venezuelan swamp and two five-foot-long alligators. But enough of that. When you decide on a transmission, consider how often you think you will travel in the future, and how far from the standard tourist route you are likely to get. The more you travel, of course, the more the surcharge adds up. And if you stray from the beaten track, you can find that there's no automatic available, even if you have a supposedly guaranteed contract. You don't have to stray very far, either. It happened to my sister in Belgium. <BR>If you don't intend to travel much, go ahead and get an automatic and relax. If you've been bitten by the travel bug, you might class driving stick shift along with reading maps and knowing how to talk to headwaiters as a Travel Survival Skill.

Hello everyone. Sorry to (kind of) stray from the topic...but since it sounds like many of you have rented cars in Ireland, can you tell me what it generally costs per day? I'm planning a trip in September and am still learning the exchange rates. Any insight would be soo appreciated. Thank you!!

Thank you all for your responses. I thought because I had entered Ireland as the topic that my message would only be seen in the Ireland forum. Obviously I was speaking of Ireland and will be driving on mostly country roads. We have driven manual cars.