Hiring a car with a manual gearbox in USA/Canada
 

Is it possible?! Last year we did Route 66 and I discovered that I really didn't like driving an automatic. This year we're doing a mini-tour of Canada and I wondered if anyone knew of a company over there that rents manual transmission cars? If not, then it's a gap in the market surely?!

are you mental?

long straight roads, why the hell would you want a manual car :lol1:

The car I hired in the states had a "Stick Shift", no problems getting one :D

Just have to tell the rental company, they will think you are mental though LOL

Shaun

I hired a car when I went to vancouver and hired from Avis, as stated above you just got to let them know

I'd be quite happy with an auto to be honest. Makes life a bit easier while getting used to driving on the wrong side of the road, new road system, etc.

The auto would be easier, but personally On all those open roads, I would want a manual too. Much more fun.

Yes, a manual gearshift enhances the average American rental car no end :D

You'd probably want to email Enterprise, Budget, Hertz, and any other hire companies and ask them if they have stick vehicles available. It will probably cost you more to hire one as auto is the norm, well, depending on the type of car. They might not have, for example, something Accord sized with a manual and may need to get one over to the location you are renting from.

Personally I'd stick with an auto, far less hassle, and unless you're in a sporty car and taking the back roads, then there isn't much reason to have a manual, if you're on highways you'll be in top gear most of the time.

Lol! True. But I'm thinking of the Dodge that we rented when last visiting the US.

Every car I've rented in the US in the past 4 years had tip-tronic style shifters on auto boxes, which was a pretty fair compromise for most of the driving I did. Some worked better than others though, the best tending to be Toyotas.

You can get a manual but as above you have to ask, they check that you are not actually insane and capable of driving and they will reserve you one.

A manual is a complete pain in America though as you have to stop/start every couple of hundred meters. And on the open road you shouldn't be changing gear ...

Steve