I am looking into booking car rental for a week in Provence. I know that automatic can be much more expensive than manual. I am able to drive both, but want to check if some of the hill towns have many steep raods around them. May sound a silly question, but I'd rather not get stuck in traffic on a hill. I used to live in San Francisco and owned a manual-I would try to avoid the steep hills at all cost because they can be a bit scary. I've checked with autoeurope and argus car rental and they both seem to have good rates. Would appreciate any advice.

Hi SM,

Yes, some towns have steep hills.

With brake on, put car in neutral.
Pull up parking brake.
Depress clutch.
Depress accelerator.
Slowly release clutch.
When car tries to move, release parking brake.
Go forward.

Have a nice trip.

While one of us drove standard, both of us drove automatic, so that was our choice. The price difference wasn't that much, so the automatic it was.

We drove many hill towns, roads on the edge of mountains and through narrow town streets - no problem.

Go with the vehicle you know you'll feel most comfortable and safe.

Reserve your automatic well in advance--not all agencies have them. You're more apt to find one at a railroad station or an airport.

Susanmac, what time of year do you think you will be traveling in Provence? We drove a manual and never had much traffic, it was at the end of May. I think it may be a different story traveling in "high season". My husband and I prefer to rent small, sporty cars with manual transmission, rather a gymkhana mentality . Deborah

Because you said that you avoided the steep hills while residing in SF, I would suggest that you stick to an automatic.

I rented a Renault Megane Scenic in England 2 months go, and it has a electronic parking brake system which holds the car on hill and disengages automatically when you clutch out on a hill. Doesn't need the best coordination with your hand brake control to prevent the car from rolling back. I think that was pretty neat...

I had a manual for a 10-day trip in Provence last year. It worked out OK,but quite frankly, I was scared to death a couple of times. I have owned several manual cars in the past, but I live in Florida, so hills were never a problem. If you have a choice, and don't mind the extra cost, I'd suggest the automatic. Anyway, if the cost bothers you (like it did me!), you'll probably do fine with the manual. Just don't do the steeper hill towns during your first couple of days!

Thanks. I just wanted to know what to be prepared for. I would probably be just fine with a manual. We will be travelling the last week of sept and a few days in beg. Oct. We plan on going to Rousillon, Isle sur la sorgue, avignon, saigon, arles, st. remy, pont gard among many others not necessarily in that order.

There are no hills in the areas you plan to visit that compare to some in San Francisco.... Avignon, l'Isle sur la Sorgue, Pont du Gard and Arles are on flat land... there will be some climbing going to Roussillon and the steepest climb will be heading up to Saignon.

Even driving over the Alpilles from St Remy to Les Baux isn't that steep.
PB

I've drive in that area twice, and there wasn't tons of traffic except in major cities, but that wasn't on hills. The worry wouldn't be about getting stuck in heavy traffic on a hill so much, as just driving in unfamiliar areas while you may be looking for something and don't know some of the signs -- and, that some of the roads in the hills or mountains (can be very narrow and very near the edge. A couple times, I was a little scared as I was alone, and thought I probably should not have been driving on some roads -- so I turned around on some mountains. Some of the roads are about narrow enough for only one car and next to a cliff -- and other cars coming towards you can sometimes by driving recklessly or too fast or way over on your side. The usual. I'm a good driver, also, and used to heavy traffic conditions. Last time, I was caught by a freak hailstorm and thunderstorm (so it was very dark) on a narrow road next to a cliff near Grignan and it was a little scary, although I managed okay. I was afraid the hail was going to break the car windows, but of course, that's not a transmission issue.

I've rented automatics in Provence, and they were not "much more expensive" than a manual. They were a little more, but not that much -- about $15 a day. Last trip

Be confident! I've rented manual cars--vans, in fact, to stow bikes and kids etc., and the driving through Provence has been fine. The traffic between Les Baux and St. Remy was definitely heavier this August--compared to some other months, but it was still quite doable. You may find that some of the smaller roads are definitely a bit narrow, and you want to keep your eye out for the edges of some roads, which are edged by ditches, but they are all navigable. I actually like driving better in France than I do in this country. I am especially a point-rond fan, because they so clearly mark your options at the intersections, and because you can keep going around in circles (something I do alot of anyway in my life) until you decide which way to steer.

Happy driving!

Spend the extra money on an automatic. It's obvious you won't be all that comfortable with it--why bother on what's supposed to be an enjoyable time.

I drove manual transmission cars for years. Then I got my first automatic transmission car in 1975--a 302 V-8 Ford Maverick Grabber all bronze and white. It was like being liberated! No clutch, no shifting, no problems with hills and city traffic tieups.

I would drive a manual if there was no other choice; or maybe I'd change plans and take trains and buses.

I ended up booking the automatic. After checking some other postings on rentals I found out autoeurope.com is more expensive than auto-europe.co.uk even with the conversion from sterling to dollar. Now mom can share in the driving as well
Thanks all.

Be comfortable and get an automatic...as far as it being overly hilly...don't be concerned..some spots a bit narrow, but very scenic. I have many times driven the whole area..Alpilles, Vaucluse, Luberon, Grand Canyon du Verdon, hill roads above Nice...all very doable! I'm an old lady compared to most you, too!!