StCirq

WorminRome, you are clearly a novice at the business of renting a car in Europe. Hardly anyone there drives an automatic. Cars are picked up from Place X and dropped off in Place Y, including different countries, all the time. People don't show up. People drop cars off earlier and later than expected in places they didn't contract to drop them off in. There is no way a car rental agency can absolutely guarantee you anything, especially if you're in the vast minority of people who can't handle a manual transmission. It isn't a bad business model - it's commonsense. Why don't you just take the time to learn to drive a stick shift; it's not rocket science. Even if you do, if you read the fine print of ANY rental contract in Europe, it will say they absolutely cannot guarantee you a particular car on a particular day (because they can't, which means they understand how their business works); they usually say they can guarantee a SIMILAR car. Like Mimar, I almost always end up with a bigger, better car than the one I paid for. At any rate, it doesn't matter a whit what you think of their business models; if you want to drive there, you're going to have to deal with the realities of their contracts, which will almost assuredly NOT guarantee you an automatic or anything else but a car that's similar to the size you need, or find a way to get around that doesn't involve driving.

janisj

sorry -- I wasn't being obnoxious. (though I certainly <i>can</i> be if I put in the effort)

I was 100% trying to get you to understand . . . No rental company anywhere can <u>guarantee</u> any specific type of car UNLESS they only have one type of car in the entire fleet.

OK -- so say you do get an automatic at Florence. What happens if you have car trouble and have to switch out cars? The rental company will bring you a new vehicle . . . But you can pretty much bet it won't be an automatic.

WorminRome

When I read the word "similar" I assumed it would have a similar transmission as that, to me, is an essential aspect of what would make one car similar to another.

There is a difference between not having the car when I show up and not being able to replace it if broken as janis pointed out. My only point was that it is bad business to accept money for a service it cannot guarentee. If they cared enough, a car would be ready when scheduled. Though its slightly different I have had to rent UHauls many times and they operate on a similar bases and they have always had the exact size truck I requested. But again that is slightly similar.


As both st cirq and janis have pointed out it seems my only reasonable options are to learn to drive stick or figure out an alternative mode of transportation/change of plans as you suggest.

I do not mean to be argumentative, and I do very much appreciate the advice. As both my wife and I would like to explore Italy's countryside I am going to have to learn apparently.

Michael

What you might spend on lessons you will probably save on rentals.

StCirq

<<My only point was that it is bad business to accept money for a service it cannot guarentee.>>

NO. What would be bad business would be to accept your money without telling you they can't guarantee the exact car you want. Trust me, they know more about running their own businesses and what they can and can't do than any of us.

zoecat

<<As both st cirq and janis have pointed out it seems my only reasonable options are to learn to drive stick or figure out an alternative mode of transportation/change of plans as you suggest.>>

I still suggest picking your car up at the Florence airport. They have the best inventory of automatic cars. The airport is a 10-15 minute 25E taxi ride from the city center.

Is there a reason you do not want to do this?

WorminRome

Obviously we have differing views on proper business practices. But that doesn't change the fact that it is what it is.

If I am unable to learn stick is it safe to base our trip on the premise that there should be an automatic available if we pick up at Florence's airport?

zoecat

<<If I am unable to learn stick is it safe to base our trip on the premise that there should be an automatic available if we pick up at Florence's airport?>>

In my opinion, yes. Here's why-

There are lots of rental cars available at the airport. They have the space and the consumer need to have plenty of cars on hand.

At most city center locations, the number of cars available is very limited because they do not have the space to store the cars. There are no rental car lots in the city center of Florence. They use garages and the space is very limited. Therefor, your car selection is very limited.

Just reserve an automatic at the airport from kemwel.com and don't worry about it. Your car will be there waiting for you.

janisj

"<i>is it safe to base our trip on the premise that there should be an automatic available if we pick up at Florence's airport?</i>"

At least 5 of us have advised . . . If you MUST have an automatic, <u>collect your car at the airport</u>. Instead of fixating on 'business models', note what everyone is saying. Rent from the airport - 99.9% they'll have what you want.

WorminRome

Janis: i am pretty sure I mentioned picking it up in Florence and you said it would not be guarenteed. That is what got us into that discussion. Contrary to your claim I am not fixated on business models but on getting a damn car. That is he reason why I made the original post. Instead of jumping all over me, you should read what I have written.

Thanks everyone for the help.

janisj

Worm: I did indeed read what you posted. You didn't mention getting your car at the airport - you talked about taking the train to Florence and getting the car there. Picking up a car <B>IN</B> Florence is not the same as picking one up at FLR.

Dayle

Worm

How about taking on the airlines' "business model" next? We could all have a very lively discussion on that topic

And I still think you should learn to drive a stick.....

WorminRome

Dayle: I've asked my father to teach me on his car, and hopefully I won't destroy his transmission as thought would mean they need a new car.

If all goes well, all issues discussed will be moot.

That said I would hate to be in the airplane industry!

tower

worm...haven't posted to you since you had some questions on whether or not to spend your money in Hungary. I gave you a ton of information at that time including several phone numbers....and you've never responded. Seems you ARE changing plans for your 2013 trip as fast as we can respond to you.

In so doing you seem to have developed a knack for bringing down the house upon yourself. Please write me at my email address which you have or at the alternate I've listed below.. I have a little friendly tutorial to offer you which may prove helpful...if you ever DO take another trip to Europe...any trip.

[email protected]

Good_Will

In 2009 we hired a VW Golf Plus Automatic from Avis in Siena. We drove through various parts of Tuscany and Umbria, then dropped off in Orvieto after we dropped our bags to the hotel in the middle of town.

As you probably know there is little point in having a car inside the confines of the main part of the township of Orvieto. It is a town for walking.

The Avis drop off location in Orvieto was a small office front, not a garage and very close to the train station from near where the escalator and the local bus will take you back into the main part of town.

WorminRome

Thanks for the reassurance goodwill.

Sher

WorminRome. Last year we rented a car at the Rome Airport(an automatic) and stayed in Orvieto for two days. We stayed in the middle of town.
It is a little tricky because there are certain zones that you cannot drive through at certain times. You may notice doing so immediately after. That is what happened to us.
Our hotel kindly gave us a copy of the fax they sent to the local police informing them we were hotel guests.
I haven't heard anything yet about a violation although I underatand it could take many months to do so.

I have rented cars many times in Europe, three times in Italy, all automatics. I guess I have been lucky. Two in Florence in town and once in Rome at the airport.
A tip is to rent at an airport or large rental office and another thing is not to begin a rental on the weekend. I do not know if that is blind luck. My brother always begins his vacations on a Saturday and he gets shut out more times than not. But he can drive a stick, a lucky tool to have. Alas I never will. I don't believe it matters which office of the car company you make the drop. It is the pickup office that is important.

I never understand the word "similar" to mean that another substitute would not be an automatic. To me it means that if they do not have and automatic in a Ford Focus they will have an automatic in a Opel Corsa.

I never start my vacation with the thought that I will not have a car waiting, although there are many other things I worry about. Just give it your best shot and good luck.

polly229

Interesting thread since I will probably soon be looking for a rental car somewhere in Tuscany for April. Never thought of not being able to pick up or return during "siesta" time or whatever it is in Italian. Am somewhat traumatized about the zones you can't drive through at given times and how you figure that out, though.

We haven't driven much in Europe but when we rented a car at Heathrow some years ago, we had to go through 3 upgrades after we got there to get an automatic. Naively thought we were getting a great deal - leather seats and all kinds of luxury for 200 pounds. That's until we got to our first old town with narrow streets, people parked half on the curb and half in the street, and a lorry coming at us from the other direction. Not something we'd want to do again. Luckily we didn't have to take a huge car in Cork to get automatic a couple of years ago because driving on the left and shifting gears with the "wrong" hand is a combination neither DH nor I want to try. And we didn't have any trouble getting automatics in Greece, once Athens airport and once in Iraklio downtown.

Driving stick is a useful skill to have but "fun"? I don't think so. DH and I parted with our last manual transmission over 30 years ago and good riddance we both say. I'm not sure I want to practice my rusty shifting skills on hills in Italy and I certainly wouldn't want hilly terrain to be where I first drove after learning the basics. A lot of it comes with experience. Also, you lose a lot if you don't do it for a few decades. I did drive stick around Rhodes a couple of days several years ago, but it wasn't any fun at all. DH drove something tiny (a Punto?) on Santorini the year before that and his size 12 feet didn't fit on the 3 wee pedals on the small floor. (Probably why he made me drive on Rhodes the next year.)

What I really wonder is why, after over 50 years, automatics don't seem to be catching on in Europe. The excuse used to be better gas mileage but that's no longer the case. And especially if your shifting skills are not up to par. Also, I read in car reviews from time to time that automatic transmissions are more reliable than manual on this car or that. And sometimes cheaper. Maybe I can kinda understand why young or even middle-aged guys like shifting gears with muscle cars, but otherwise, I just don't get it. What is with the Europeans? (I'm cranky because I have to pay more for automatics there.)

Dayle

Well polly, my Dad taught me how to drive a stick when I got my license. It was an unsynchronized 3 speed in a 1964 1/2 Mustang one of the original 200000 that were made. The transmission survived and I still say driving a stick though the countryside is a blast. Now that some people would call me a middle aged LADY, I am still a very good stick driver.

Zoom, zoom!

Sher

polly229. Automatics are getting easier to find. They just do not have as many of them as they do stick shift cars. And they are more expensive.

I let go the irritation of having to pay for an automatic a long time ago. It is just something that I factor into the cost of a great vacation.

One just has to be be smart about where to rent and maybe when to rent. And I loved the tale about the narrow street. On our very first trip to Europe we were thrilled when we received a huge automatic. Those guys are still laughing at the stupid Americans. I remember trying to navigate those narrow streets in Spain. Oh well, I guess I can laugh about it now having to back out of that street!