never learned to drive a manual
 

help! heading to paris and then the Loire Valley in September and was planning to rent a car to drive around the countryside with my boyfriend, but neither of us knows how to drive a stick shift. A quick check on Hertz and Avis show they have no automatics at the Tours train station where we had planned to rent a car. Should we rent in Paris? Anyone have any tips for us?

You have 5 months in which to learn.<BR>Assuming you have two normal arms and two normal legs, I don't see why you cannot.<BR>Of course, finding someone with a manual shift who will put their car at risk is another matter.

If you can't find a friend who don't mind having their transmission &quot;synchrotrashed&quot;, your local driving school usually offers a stick refresher course.

Did you ask the rental agencies if they have any automatics outside Paris, perhaps Chartres or Fontainebleau? Did you try Autoeurope? Driving out of Paris is not that bad, and it would give you the opportunity to visit Chartres on the way to the Loire. I would not recommend learning how to drive a manual and then go to Europe and use a manual while trying to get used to Frnehc road signs and driving habits.

I live and work in Manhattan, therefore learning to drive a manual is out. What's Autoeurope? a local car rental place?

I don't know why learning to drive a manual is out, no matter where you live. <BR><BR>Autoeurope is the &quot;leading&quot; car rnetal broker for Europe. They are NOT a car rental company; they have no cars, but they will provide you a quote and arrange a car rnretal for you -- might be with Avis, Nationa, etc - - and save you 25-50% of what you would pay otherwise.<BR><BR>See www.autoeurope.com<BR><BR>Best wishes,<BR><BR>Rex<BR>[email protected]<BR>

www.autoeurope.com. It's basically an agent for European rental car companies.

Um, first of all, i live in new york city. most people here don't even own cars (myself included) so i don't have someone to borrow a car from. second of all, it would be extremely expensive to take a class to learn how to drive stick shift just to use the skill for three days in europe. lastly, i'm not sure why anyone cares whether i learn to drive a stick. i asked this question because i wanted some info on renting cars in europe (thanks, btw, for the autoeurope site, i will check it out) not to be told to go learn how to do something.

Amyknyc,<BR> As a fellow NYer I understand fully how hard it would be to borrow a car (I don't think I know more than 2 people who own cars!) and learn to drive a stick shift...I can just see you bucking up Madison!!!<BR> <BR> Automatics are much more plentiful than they used to be in Europe and the trick is to just hook up with one on the right day at the right place. AutoEurope reps locations just everywhere. You might ask also about Orleans as another possible pick-up location. Good luck.

It isn't that expensive to learn to drive a stick shift. It would just take a few lessons. The problem with not learning is that when you reserve an automatic (and it is possible) they are so rare that there's a strong possibility that when you arrive to pick up your car, they'll tell you they don't have an automatic even though you reserved it. They can substitute cars any time. Remember this is Europe. They'll look at you and throw up their arms and say, &quot;We just don't have one here&quot;. Also if your car breaks down they may not have an automatic to replace it. If you want to drive in Europe, and this won't be your last time, you need to drive a stick. Just look at it as another skill to learn.

If you do find an automatic transmission car in France, you'll be paying out the ass for it. Not just the rental rate but the cost of the extra gasoline needed.

I see you got lots of silly answers. Keep it simple, rent in Paris (maybe go back to the airport for selection and ease of getting out of town). The US companies aren't always the biggest/best in Europe, but if you are renting at the airport, getting an automatic shouldn't be a problem. <BR><BR>The autoroutes are pretty straightforward driving (though the tolls are a bit expensive). If you are driving around the back roads, investing $20 in a decent road atlas (spiral bound type) can be worthwhile to avoid confusion in the roundabouts.

amyknyc: I agree with Michael -- look for another site (other than in Paris) that has automatics. But as others have said - reserving an automatic is just the beginning. You can always ASK for one -- BUT there is no guarantee you will get one. If a rental location has an automatic or two, OK but what if the previous renter decides to keep it another day -- or they wrecked it and there just isn't another one available?<BR><BR>There will be no recourse - if an automatic isn't available that's it. And if you have mechanical problems or an accident you won't get a replacement automatic.<BR><BR>This is just to remind you to be flexible - you may end up on buses/trains if you just can't cope w/ a stick. <BR><BR>(Lordy - Europeans must think Americans are daft -- can't drive a stick and can't learn how ?!)

Lordy, something tells me Janis doesn't live in NYC.

No - I TOTALLY understand the NYC issues. I was just thinking how it might look to others who drive sticks w/o a 2nd thought ---

<BR>Take a train to a suburb, rent a car for the day with someone who can drive a stick and practice in an empty car lot, like at a business that is closed on Saturday/Sunday. That is the way my friend taught her son to drive a shift car.

Don't use NYC as a crutch. I live in NYC and drive a stick. Many people in NYC drive sports cars with stick. They still sell them here in the US and some of us prefer them.

My daughter and I took the train to Chartres and rented an automatic there from AutoEurope- no problems at all. We then drove to the Loire, had a great three days there and then returned the car to Chartres. I don't remember the exact cost, but it was not overly expensive.

I never learned either. And in renting cars for over 25 years, have asked and always received an automatic..but I am willing to pay for the convenience. Try Autoeurope, kemwel, though I have never had trouble with Avis. But I rent at the airports outside of Paris and go from there.

Here's 2 other companies you can try. Last June in Germany, we rented an Opel with automatic transmission through the first one (Nova rentacar-europe). Their prices are often better than Autoeurope:<BR><BR>http://rentacar-europe.com/<BR><BR>www.ofran.com

I'm with NYGirl. Rent a standard for a couple of days and practice. <BR><BR>In the alternative, you could just shop until you find a guaranteed automatic to rent in Tours and pay the difference.<BR><BR>I'm guessing it may be easier to learn to drive a standard than negotiate your way out of Paris, then drive to the Loire Valley, with an automatic.

I would caution strongly against trying to learn how to drive a stick shift before you leave. Driving in a foreign country creates a bunch of extra things to deal with: unfamiliar roads, driving habits, signs, etc., and you hardly need the extra problem of a stick shift to deal with. <BR><BR>Yes, it will be more expensive, but the price you pay for the security of a car with a familiar transmission is worth it.<BR><BR>If you don't find an auto car to rent in Tours, it's not a bad idea at all to pick one up in Paris. If you're staying in the city and would rather not drive in the city, reserve the auto car from Hertz or Avis at Orly airport (which is south of the city, toward the Loire valley).<BR><BR>I also strongly second the idea of having good and detailed road maps. Michelin yellow maps for each area where you'll drive are good choices. If you can't find them in NYC (or online), you'll have no trouble finding them once you get to France.<BR><BR>Driving in France is really enjoyable and a wonderful way to see the country. If you're on multi-lane highways, remember to always keep right unless you're passing another car. Also, if another car flashes its lights at you, it means that the car flashing its lights is coming through and you should watch out. (Note that this is directly opposite to the meaning of flashing lights in most of the US, where flashing the lights usually means, &quot;go ahead, I'll wait for you.&quot;)

YOu don't have to pay for special driving lessons, renting cars, etc to learn to drive a manual just to rent a car in France. I've rented an AT and it didn't cost that much more than a manual and was readily available (in France, in Provence area). I'm surprised not in Tours (but I think you are looking at the wrong companies, Hertz is not that good for that) because it's a fairly large city. It isn't that hard driving out of Paris, either, if you had to rent one there.<BR><BR>I used Autoeurope, I'd recommend them. Others have a lot more money or free time to spend learning how to drive manual, I guess, for a few days vacation. Any time and money you spent doing that would be much more than the small difference in rental fees (when I rented, I think it was only about $10 a day difference). Some people don't value their time in any way in that equation, either, I think.<BR><BR>No one ever told me that my reservation for an automatic was just a &quot;request&quot; and that I might not get one. I got one with no problem. I did not pay out the ass for gasoline, either, even the automatics in Europe are very fuel efficient.

Slight problem that you may have overlooked.<BR>I may be wrong here, but check it out anyway.<BR>In UK, if you pass your driving test in automatic then automatic is all your licenced to drive.If you pass in Manual then you are licenced to drive both.<BR>Now UK and french don't usually see eye to eye on anything and driving is certainly one of them, but I would check out the rules anyway.<BR>Those French cops are pretty nasty when it comes to motoring offences.<BR>If my info is total garbage....then at least you would have looked into it,,<BR>Muck

Thanks all for your help! Autoeurope looks like the best way to go, although i'm still price-comparing. the U.S. companies definitely are more expensive and don't look worth it. I don't mind paying extra for an automatic and i like the idea of renting at an airport, like orly, where there is bound to be more selection. thanks again for all the input!

I never learned to drive a manual either and don't want to try at this stage of my life so I can relate to amyknyc's situation. It is more difficult to get an automatic in Europe, but not impossible. I'd suggest renting from airport locations,they have the most cars,hence you are increasing your odds. Make the reservation with the 800 number (not on-line) and insist that the clerk put in the comments section that you cannot drive a manual shift. I've done that and had no problem.<BR><BR>Truthfully, I'd get the car at either CDG or Orly (Orly is closer to Loire Valley and south of Paris anyway).<BR><BR>I've lived in NYC in the past and knew hundreds of people that did not have cars of any kind, that is not unusual in a city with lots of public transportation and high parking garage rates.

Now that you've resolved your auto problem you might want to get Michelin's Chateaux of the Loire for the rest of your plans. It has history and descriptions of the Chateaux, maps, suggested itineraries, time to allot, etc. Villandry, just outside Tours, has the most amazing gardens.

Driving out of Paris on a Sunday morning when traffic is light was no problem for us at all so if that's a possibility for you and you find an automatic transmission car you might want to consider it rather than going to the hassle and expense of traveling to the airport to pick up a car rental. Our very helpful rental car clerk gave us a detailed map and verbal directions (in English) and we drove right out of the city heading toward the Loire Valley. Both my husband and I drive (and prefer) manuals at home so that was not an issue for us. I would not recommend drving a manual in an unfamiliar area in the short time in which you have to learn. It takes frequent driving to feel comfortable driving a manualand since you live in NYC and have few opportunities to do so I wouldn't even think of trying to drive in a foreign country when there are so many other things to distract and stress you.

I had the same problem a few years back, but just learned to drive a standard. It is also much cheaper than an automatic (more fun to drive too!).

It really depends on how you feel about a shift car. If you would feel uncomfortable, as I do, keep calling back and call other companies. <BR><BR>Consider that driving in a strange, large, congested, foreign city is difficult enough, and more difficult when you don't know how to drive the car.

I've learned how to drive a car with manual transmission and it has been very useful in Europe. You have 2 choices, 1) learn how-not for the 3 day trip but for all future trips, or 2) reserve an automatic and have a Plan B.<BR><BR>Neither choice is completely wrong, it's up to you.

After reading the many posts here, glad to read you solved your problem.<BR><BR>FYI: On two of our trips to France we rented from Hertz. Once picked up car at Orly Airport and on another trip was a car pickup at Nice Airport. Both times rented automatic. Our 4-door Pueogot worked out great as we had a lot of luggage. It had a space in back to hide luggage while driving around the country to deter theft. We had no problem at all renting an automatic. (Tip) Advise you set up car rental in States beforehand rather than in France upon arrival. Saves a lot of money that way.<BR>Good luck and enjoy the Loire. It is magical.<BR><BR>Francie

If I were you, I would not rent a manual. Here in Europe you will see, people don't drive like in the Sates. So you will need all your energy to drive like we do. Try to find a manual somewhere. I think that's the best.<BR>Good luck!

Do book in advance. I was recently in Montpellier, South of France and tried to book a car with a day's notice. Not one single company had a car that I could use. So, if you have specific requirements then book well in advance. Even then, it may not be available and you'll have the ubiquitous Gallic shrug!