Car Rental--Need an AUTOMATIC ...no manual
Jul 5th, 2010, 06:58 PM
#41
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Nothingham: I had two 1964 VW bugs, the first being my first car in 1971, when I was 16. It was great back in the early 70s, as we all got "used" cars as our first car and then the girls, with cars, would "deck them out" and the guys, with cars, would "pimp them out". LOL!
I remember taking my first car into Earl Scheib paint shop and having it painted for around $39.99, I think it was and prayed that the paint would still be on it after the first rain.
I had my VW Bug painted burnt orange, from its original off-white.beige color. Then my dad drove it down to Tijuana and had the whole car reupholstered for under $100. I ended up with black vinyl seats and a black vinyl roof. I was definitely the cat's meow. LOL! All of my friends had customized cars,too and the line to both Tijuana and across the freeway to East L.A. and South Central L.A. was long as those were the areas where the pros were in customizing cars. One friend had a gorgeous yellow Cougar with a black vinyl top. And we had a lot of car clubs, but especially for V-dub Bugs.
Back then a car was judged by the creativity that one put into the car instead of what kind of expensive car one drove. Now the youngins are zipping around in BMW, Mercedes, Mini Coopers, sporty Volkswagens, and many other expensive cars that are very common here. Not a lot of creativity. Happy Travels!
I remember taking my first car into Earl Scheib paint shop and having it painted for around $39.99, I think it was and prayed that the paint would still be on it after the first rain.
I had my VW Bug painted burnt orange, from its original off-white.beige color. Then my dad drove it down to Tijuana and had the whole car reupholstered for under $100. I ended up with black vinyl seats and a black vinyl roof. I was definitely the cat's meow. LOL! All of my friends had customized cars,too and the line to both Tijuana and across the freeway to East L.A. and South Central L.A. was long as those were the areas where the pros were in customizing cars. One friend had a gorgeous yellow Cougar with a black vinyl top. And we had a lot of car clubs, but especially for V-dub Bugs.
Back then a car was judged by the creativity that one put into the car instead of what kind of expensive car one drove. Now the youngins are zipping around in BMW, Mercedes, Mini Coopers, sporty Volkswagens, and many other expensive cars that are very common here. Not a lot of creativity. Happy Travels!
Jul 5th, 2010, 10:11 PM
#43
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Very true, as that's what happened when my friend and his friend arrived into Paris only to find that their reserved automatic wasn't there. Then his friend had to do all of the driving of the stick shift that they ended up having to take in order to get to Provence to the house that they were housesitting. Happy Travels!
Jul 6th, 2010, 04:07 AM
#44
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Nottingham,
It wasn't clear to me that you were not going with your friends. Is it possible you or your husband could give a lesson??
Peter_S_Aus may be a little optimistic. Even if one can't "master" a stick shift in 30 minutes, they will have gained enough skill to get started. But, by the end of their first day in Provence, they will be in great form.
It wasn't clear to me that you were not going with your friends. Is it possible you or your husband could give a lesson??
Peter_S_Aus may be a little optimistic. Even if one can't "master" a stick shift in 30 minutes, they will have gained enough skill to get started. But, by the end of their first day in Provence, they will be in great form.
Jul 6th, 2010, 04:51 AM
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Beginners driving with manual transmission should keep an eye out for sharp inclines where they may have to stop. Being stopped on a slope (with other vehicles behind you) can give rise to the greatest panic of any maneuver that you may have to perform.
Jul 6th, 2010, 08:34 AM
#46
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True, analogue, but you know how these days people run up on the car in front of them and stop about an inch off of that car's bumper. I always stop with ample space, behind the car in front of me, in case that driver is driving a stick and might need to roll back some. Happy Travels!
Jul 6th, 2010, 01:18 PM
#48
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I don't know where you live, but driving schools do teach stick shift to those who already know how to drive. I know that the Westwood Driving School in Westwood, near UCLA, does as they have it posted on their website. So, maybe they need to find a school and take some lessons and then maybe can find someone they know, with a stick shift, so that they could practice more.
Someone at a driving school might know someone willing to help. What's the alternative...to not learn and then hope for an automatic? Maybe they have friends, who have young adult kids that own sticks. I remember the boyfriend of my best friend's daughter had a stick since he was in high school and still has it, 4 years later. There might be a kid who wants to make some extra money teaching, "stick". One just needs to be creative here. Where there's a will, there's a way. Happy Travels!
Someone at a driving school might know someone willing to help. What's the alternative...to not learn and then hope for an automatic? Maybe they have friends, who have young adult kids that own sticks. I remember the boyfriend of my best friend's daughter had a stick since he was in high school and still has it, 4 years later. There might be a kid who wants to make some extra money teaching, "stick". One just needs to be creative here. Where there's a will, there's a way. Happy Travels!
Jul 6th, 2010, 01:24 PM
#49
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My age is definitely starting to show. When a person comes to this board looking for help in finding a place to rent cars with automatic transmissions, they are not seeking suggestions on changes in their daily habits. I started driving at 16, as did my wife, and we both learned how to drive using stick shifts. We are now both in our mid-seventies and could drive a stick shift if we had to. We choose to pay the premiums associated with automatic drive and that is our choice.
Well, not really, in my case. You see, my doctor replaced my left knee many years back (and has revised it once) and it gets very unhappy when called upon to shift gears. In fact, it doesn't actually bend more than 100 degrees so shifting is almost impossible.
When a person asks for a specific piece of information (many posters get challenged because they haven't been specific enough), aren't they entitled to an answer rather than an oversimplification of just how easy it is to drive a car with manual shift (including detailed instructions)? I guess if I had been the OP I would have had to include the fact that I am disabled but, honestly, isn't that more than anyone on this board needs to know in addition to an invasion of my privacy?
Well, not really, in my case. You see, my doctor replaced my left knee many years back (and has revised it once) and it gets very unhappy when called upon to shift gears. In fact, it doesn't actually bend more than 100 degrees so shifting is almost impossible.
When a person asks for a specific piece of information (many posters get challenged because they haven't been specific enough), aren't they entitled to an answer rather than an oversimplification of just how easy it is to drive a car with manual shift (including detailed instructions)? I guess if I had been the OP I would have had to include the fact that I am disabled but, honestly, isn't that more than anyone on this board needs to know in addition to an invasion of my privacy?
Jul 6th, 2010, 01:41 PM
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Nottingham, I don't recall seeing anything in your postings or at your profile so it is not clear to me which country you are from. If either the US or the UK my best source for years has been Auto Europe. They are a US-based firm but can help you in many different countries in the world. I just went to their website and said I was from the UK and wanted an automatic in Arles in September and they showed availability. They presumably can help in other locations and, without having your specific needs and dates available, I couldn't go further. Their website is:
http://www.autoeurope.com/choosehome.cfm?homecountry=US
I learned about Auto Europe on this board about a gazillion years ago but don't recall seeing any reference to them in this thread above. Instead what assaulted my intelligence was a lengthy discussion about why you and your friends should learn a whole new way to drive. Sort of like suggesting one should become a vegetarian when one asks where to find a good steak, inn't it?
http://www.autoeurope.com/choosehome.cfm?homecountry=US
I learned about Auto Europe on this board about a gazillion years ago but don't recall seeing any reference to them in this thread above. Instead what assaulted my intelligence was a lengthy discussion about why you and your friends should learn a whole new way to drive. Sort of like suggesting one should become a vegetarian when one asks where to find a good steak, inn't it?
Jul 6th, 2010, 01:44 PM
#51
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In the OPs opening sentences, it is understood that her friends are in a kind of a panic because they don't know how to drive a stick and have heard that the cars, in question, are sticks.
So, the issue here, as far as I read into it, is are they going to try to learn how to drive one, in case a reserved, "automatic" is not available when they arrive to the rental company or are they going to take a chance and hope that a reserved, "automatic" is there upon arrival to the rental car company, as several of us have stated, along with the OP in her opening statement, that it's not a guaranteed.
If the automatic isn't available upon arrival, then what? Are they willing to wait possibly hours or a day as someone said for an automatic, if it can even be had? Or are they going to move on to Plan B and try to learn a stick, so that if that's all that's available, they can check it out and go on with their vacation?
And in the OP's last sentence she says that her friends will appreciate any suggestions of which is what have been given....suggestions. Happy Travels!
So, the issue here, as far as I read into it, is are they going to try to learn how to drive one, in case a reserved, "automatic" is not available when they arrive to the rental company or are they going to take a chance and hope that a reserved, "automatic" is there upon arrival to the rental car company, as several of us have stated, along with the OP in her opening statement, that it's not a guaranteed.
If the automatic isn't available upon arrival, then what? Are they willing to wait possibly hours or a day as someone said for an automatic, if it can even be had? Or are they going to move on to Plan B and try to learn a stick, so that if that's all that's available, they can check it out and go on with their vacation?
And in the OP's last sentence she says that her friends will appreciate any suggestions of which is what have been given....suggestions. Happy Travels!
Jul 6th, 2010, 02:27 PM
#53
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Guenmai, I recall seeing lots of advice on what to do if an automatic is not available but very little on how to make sure one is. My response suggested that Nottingham go to an agency which has a very long history of delivering what it promises. When the OP finds out how much an automatic will cost, she will then be in a position to make a decision based on the facts.
Can an agency fail to deliver on a commitment? Of course, it happens every day. Should an agency fail on its commitment to deliver an automatic to me, knowing how to drive a manual would do me no good at all. Ergo, it is incumbent upon me to know with whom I am dealing and what recourse is available to me should they fail. In the case of Auto Europe, with whom I have no relationship other than as a customer, if memory serves, they have a phone number accessible throughout the world and they are staffed 24-hours a day.
Can an agency fail to deliver on a commitment? Of course, it happens every day. Should an agency fail on its commitment to deliver an automatic to me, knowing how to drive a manual would do me no good at all. Ergo, it is incumbent upon me to know with whom I am dealing and what recourse is available to me should they fail. In the case of Auto Europe, with whom I have no relationship other than as a customer, if memory serves, they have a phone number accessible throughout the world and they are staffed 24-hours a day.
Jul 6th, 2010, 10:35 PM
#54
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Fine Big Blue, but how can any poster give advice on how to "make sure" that an automatic is available when more than a few have commented that it's not guaranteed? And if as you've stated above that an agency can fail to deliver on its commitment as it "happens everyday", then that just takes us back to what has been said all along which is that there are no guarantees, so either find an agency and reserve an automatic and hope one is available and then all will go well, or book one and if it's not available, then have a Plan B.
Also, what does if an agency fails on its commitment to deliver an automatic to you, knowing how to drive a manual would do you no good at all, have to do with the 4 women who are going on the trip?
And as for the OP, the OP isn't even going on this trip, it's been very clearly stated that it's 4 female friends of hers who are taking the trip together, so I have absolutely no idea what you mean by, "When the OP finds out how much an automatic will cost, she will then be in a position to make a decision based on the facts".
So, as far as I'm concerned, had I started the same thread and asked for suggestions and posters had taken this much of their time to throw in suggestions, to try to help out, then I would have been more than grateful and then would have just sent the info over to the friends who needed it and let them decide how they want to handle the situation. Happy Travels!
Also, what does if an agency fails on its commitment to deliver an automatic to you, knowing how to drive a manual would do you no good at all, have to do with the 4 women who are going on the trip?
And as for the OP, the OP isn't even going on this trip, it's been very clearly stated that it's 4 female friends of hers who are taking the trip together, so I have absolutely no idea what you mean by, "When the OP finds out how much an automatic will cost, she will then be in a position to make a decision based on the facts".
So, as far as I'm concerned, had I started the same thread and asked for suggestions and posters had taken this much of their time to throw in suggestions, to try to help out, then I would have been more than grateful and then would have just sent the info over to the friends who needed it and let them decide how they want to handle the situation. Happy Travels!
Jul 7th, 2010, 07:51 AM
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We just returned from a trip where we rented and returned to the Avignon TGV station car rental complex. We used AutoEurope and requested an automatic and got one. We rent all the time and have never had a specified automatic not be available. By the way, our final invoice mailed to us here was from Europcar.
Now, as for all the advice to just learn, it's not hard. True you can learn. But learning 8 weeks before, IMHO, is not smart. You will be driving up hills, you will be parking in tight spots on those hills and many times on a curve on those hills. You will not enjoy being stopped at a light with cars right behind you, almost next to your rear, as the light turns green, with little experience in getting the car engaged to go forward uphill and watching as you either stall or roll back into that slick Mercedes behind you. And forget about trying to parallel park in that only space you found on market day in L'Isle sur le Sorgue that is just a few inches longer than your car. Nothing's a problem with experience, but you won't have any. Besides all that, you're on vacation. The last thing you need to worry about is paying attention to driving and shifting...you want to treat the car as you do yours here, something that is second nature and effortless.
Frankly I wouldn't worry about it. They have always honored my request, especially since I paid in advance. Granted if the world comes to an end and they have really run out of automatics, even knowing the reservations they have, you won't be a happy camper. But, do you carry an anchor in your car prepared for failure of both your regular brake and your parking brake?
I'd say make your reservation and don't worry.
Now, as for all the advice to just learn, it's not hard. True you can learn. But learning 8 weeks before, IMHO, is not smart. You will be driving up hills, you will be parking in tight spots on those hills and many times on a curve on those hills. You will not enjoy being stopped at a light with cars right behind you, almost next to your rear, as the light turns green, with little experience in getting the car engaged to go forward uphill and watching as you either stall or roll back into that slick Mercedes behind you. And forget about trying to parallel park in that only space you found on market day in L'Isle sur le Sorgue that is just a few inches longer than your car. Nothing's a problem with experience, but you won't have any. Besides all that, you're on vacation. The last thing you need to worry about is paying attention to driving and shifting...you want to treat the car as you do yours here, something that is second nature and effortless.
Frankly I wouldn't worry about it. They have always honored my request, especially since I paid in advance. Granted if the world comes to an end and they have really run out of automatics, even knowing the reservations they have, you won't be a happy camper. But, do you carry an anchor in your car prepared for failure of both your regular brake and your parking brake?
I'd say make your reservation and don't worry.
Jul 7th, 2010, 04:31 PM
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Ditto, Winnick. The key point is to deal with reputable people who are willing to make contractual commits with you on a mutually-agreeable basis. In my post above I did not say that Auto Europe fail every day as, to my knowledge, they do not. Rather, it is a well-known fact that across the broad spectrum of car rental transactions across all of Europe there are failures everyday and it was to them I was referring.
Jul 10th, 2010, 09:57 AM
#60
I suppose that it is amusing that I am driving an automatic car this weekend in Paris, because Europcar at Gare du Nord did not have a manual transmission! (And that's the second time that it has happened.) It's a Peugeot 207.
