Cfalk From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 1, posted (6 years 8 months 6 days 15 hours ago) and read 2215 times:
Quoting AAden (Thread starter): hey guys I was just wondering if it was possible to rent a car with a Manuel Transmission in the united states? thanxs in advance
From the mainstream companies (Avis, Hertz, etc), forgetaboutit.
If you have deeper pockets, there are more "upscale" rentail places that rent out sportier cars. But don't expect the same prices.
DeltaGator From United States of America, joined Sep 2005, 6341 posts, RR: 16 Reply 2, posted (6 years 8 months 6 days 15 hours ago) and read 2215 times:
Someplaces yes but you'll be hard pressed to find them. My company uses Avis and when you select what car class you want they put M or A next to it for manual or automatic.
"If you can't delight in the misery of others then you don't deserve to be a college football fan."
CPDC10-30 From United Kingdom, joined Feb 2000, 4759 posts, RR: 26 Reply 4, posted (6 years 8 months 6 days 14 hours ago) and read 2198 times:
Other than the premium/specialty cars, I've never seen a manual at a North American mainstream car rental place. You'll most likely be getting a Chevy Cobalt or Chrysler Sebring
Coal From United States of America, joined Aug 2006, 1626 posts, RR: 6 Reply 7, posted (6 years 8 months 6 days 10 hours ago) and read 2156 times:
Quoting PROSA (Reply 6): The way things are going, I fear that someday soon it'll be practically impossible to buy a car with a manual transmission in the United States
Not really. Certain cars, albeit the more upscale ones, come exclusively with stick shifts... I mean seriously, an M5 with an auto tranny? Wtf buy the car in the first place?
Coal
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PanAmerican From Germany, joined Oct 2003, 384 posts, RR: 5 Reply 8, posted (6 years 8 months 6 days 8 hours ago) and read 2140 times:
Try these guys in CA: http://www.midwaycarrental.com/
Their Mini and Porsche Carrera Convertible are manual for sure D
But with you being 18 I'm sure they won't give you any of their cars...
In fact, none of the big rental companies will probably give you a car at all or only with a hefty underage fee...
LTBEWR From United States of America, joined Jan 2004, 12331 posts, RR: 12 Reply 9, posted (6 years 8 months 6 days 5 hours ago) and read 2121 times:
But for a few 'exotic' cars (Porsche, Corvettes and the like) rental cars will have always have an automatic transmission. The last time I drove a stick rental was a Ford Mustang out of Denver, CO in 1982 (and it made sense with the wimpy motors of that time and driving in the mountains). While everybody can drive an auto, few in the USA can drive stick and that would cause problems with customers if the only cars left are with stick and they can only drive auto. Maintenance costs (mainly of the clutch) of sticks and poor resale values of stick shift cars also discourages cars with stick shift.
PROSA From United States of America, joined Oct 2001, 5439 posts, RR: 5 Reply 10, posted (6 years 8 months 6 days 5 hours ago) and read 2113 times:
Quoting Coal (Reply 7): Certain cars, albeit the more upscale ones, come exclusively with stick shifts... I mean seriously, an M5 with an auto tranny?
That's the problem. If you want a manual transmission your choices are severely limited. For the most part, you're limited to either very expensive cars such as you mention, sports cars, or the cheapest levels of economy cars (and finding the last with manuals can be tough). While manuals are ostensibly available on some midsize cars such as Accords, Camrys and Fusions, actually finding ones with manuals can be almost impossible. And then there are whole classes of vehicles that are automatic-only: larger sedans, minivans, standard-sized pickups, all but the most basic SUV's.
One more thing to consider is that except in the case of exotic or sports cars, a vehicle with a manual will almost certainly have a poorer resale value than an automatic version.
"Let me think about it" = the coward's way of saying "no"
Cfalk From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 11, posted (6 years 8 months 6 days 4 hours ago) and read 2107 times:
Quoting PROSA (Reply 10): One more thing to consider is that except in the case of exotic or sports cars, a vehicle with a manual will almost certainly have a poorer resale value than an automatic version.
Which is silly. I would much rather have a high-milage manual than a high-milage auto.
PanAmerican From Germany, joined Oct 2003, 384 posts, RR: 5 Reply 12, posted (6 years 8 months 6 days 4 hours ago) and read 2096 times:
Quoting LTBEWR (Reply 9): While everybody can drive an auto, few in the USA can drive stick and that would cause problems with customers if the only cars left are with stick and they can only drive auto.
See, over here in Europe it seems to be exactly the other way round. Every time I rent a full size car I reserve automatic and I always get a manual... It's like only the bigger or more luxurious cars have automatic transmissions here. It's very hard finding smaller cars that are not manual.
In some cases if you go out and buy a new car, automatic isn't offered at all. So it's basically the opposite here.
Doesn't Pontiac offer a decent manual transmission on most of their vehicles in the US?
Quoting Cfalk (Reply 11): Which is silly. I would much rather have a high-milage manual than a high-milage auto.
I think the newer automatic transmissions are just as durable and don't need all that maintenance... However, with the older ones you got a point . I keep hearing bad things about the Ford transmissions... Seems like they don't last much longer than a 100k miles, lol...
I read earlier you have an 01 Taurus. Was your transmission well maintained (i.e. fluid change etc.) before you got it? How many miles are on it?
My 00 Taurus has about 40k miles and I hope the transmission will last... it seems to be the critical part in this car, lol.
However, driving an automatic car is so much more comfortable. I'd never want to switch to a manual. But I guess that's just personal preference.
KaiGywer From United States of America, joined Oct 2003, 12027 posts, RR: 43 Reply 13, posted (6 years 8 months 6 days 3 hours ago) and read 2088 times:
Quoting PanAmerican (Reply 12): My 00 Taurus has about 40k miles and I hope the transmission will last... it seems to be the critical part in this car, lol.
You must have good public transportation where you live I've driven my car over 60,000 miles since I bought it two years ago.
Coal From United States of America, joined Aug 2006, 1626 posts, RR: 6 Reply 14, posted (6 years 8 months 6 days 3 hours ago) and read 2087 times:
Quoting PROSA (Reply 10): That's the problem. If you want a manual transmission your choices are severely limited. For the most part, you're limited to either very expensive cars such as you mention, sports cars, or the cheapest levels of economy cars (and finding the last with manuals can be tough). While manuals are ostensibly available on some midsize cars such as Accords, Camrys and Fusions, actually finding ones with manuals can be almost impossible. And then there are whole classes of vehicles that are automatic-only: larger sedans, minivans, standard-sized pickups, all but the most basic SUV's.
But you also gotta realize, the people that drive Accords, Camrys, vans, SUVs, usually live in suburbia and commute back and forth b/w the cities, meaning hours of long traffic, where you definitely don't want to have a stick. I personally have a stick, but some times I wish it was a DSG (basically a stick shift with paddles on the wheel - can be swtiched to auto, but is much better than tiptronic tranny). It's just a pain in the ass to be shifting b/w 1st and 2nd.
I also wonder how easy it is to sell stick shifts compared to AT. I'm actually trying to sell my car myself. Any takers?
Coal
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PanAmerican From Germany, joined Oct 2003, 384 posts, RR: 5 Reply 15, posted (6 years 8 months 6 days 2 hours ago) and read 2072 times:
Quoting KaiGywer (Reply 13): You must have good public transportation where you live I've driven my car over 60,000 miles since I bought it two years ago.
Lol, yes there is good public transportion but I got the car used and it only had 30k on it so I already put over 10k on it in less than five months...
Quoting Coal (Reply 14): meaning hours of long traffic, where you definitely don't want to have a stick.
Absolutely, so with all the traffic jams on the roads I really keep wondering why people still prefer manual here... That is just crazy
The DSG is a nice compromise and it seems like a good alternative. I really like the idea, though I haven't driven one yet...
As for the resale of you manual car: what car is it?
A lot of my former classmates in the US had manual transmission Pontiacs and really liked it. They thought it was sporty much more fun to drive so I guess there is a market. Now if you're talking about an upscale sedan I think chances that you'll sell it for less than an automatic are very high
N1120A From United States of America, joined Dec 2003, 25852 posts, RR: 79 Reply 16, posted (6 years 8 months 6 days 2 hours ago) and read 2069 times:
Quoting AAden (Thread starter): hey guys I was just wondering if it was possible to rent a car with a Manuel Transmission in the united states? thanxs in advance
Almost impossible, as you see. RentAWreck, who rent cheap used cars may be the best bet
Quoting Coal (Reply 7): I mean seriously, an M5 with an auto tranny?
Up until this year, the new M5 was only available with BMW's 7-speed SMG, which no matter how you argue it, is not a manual. It was actually the backlash from US consumers of all people that got BMW to re-introduce a true manual.
Quoting LTBEWR (Reply 9): Maintenance costs (mainly of the clutch) of sticks and poor resale values of stick shift cars also discourages cars with stick shift.
First part, completely wrong, second part, mostly correct. Clutch replacement is dirt cheap compared to automatic transmission repairs, particularly on FWD automatics which tend to be the most troublesome.
There is no such thing as a "standard" sized pickup. There are compacts, midsize (mostly the Dodge Dakota) and full-size. All three are available with manual transmissions with any engine and they are prevalent on compacts and popular on full-size diesels
Quoting PanAmerican (Reply 12): I think the newer automatic transmissions are just as durable and don't need all that maintenance...
You are wrong.
Quoting PanAmerican (Reply 12): Seems like they don't last much longer than a 100k miles
More like 60K
Quoting Coal (Reply 14): I also wonder how easy it is to sell stick shifts compared to AT.
Depends on the car. A Camry or Accord might be a problem, a Tacoma or a Civic won't be.
Mangeons les French fries, mais surtout pratiquons avec fierte le French kiss
Well, I was thinking of the new 7-speed automatics that are used by Mercedes and BMW... Those seem to be very well constructed and durable. But of course I could be wrong.
I have no idea how US manufacturers have changed the design of newer transmissions. Do you still have to change the fluid every so many miles?
That is indeed quite outdated.
Coal From United States of America, joined Aug 2006, 1626 posts, RR: 6 Reply 18, posted (6 years 8 months 6 days 2 hours ago) and read 2052 times:
Quoting PanAmerican (Reply 15): As for the resale of you manual car: what car is it?
2006 Scion tC. It's a young persons car, so it might sell easily as a manual.
Quoting N1120A (Reply 16): Up until this year, the new M5 was only available with BMW's 7-speed SMG, which no matter how you argue it, is not a manual. It was actually the backlash from US consumers of all people that got BMW to re-introduce a true manual.
Hence my post
Coal
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Cfalk From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 19, posted (6 years 8 months 6 days 2 hours ago) and read 2044 times:
Quoting PanAmerican (Reply 12): I read earlier you have an 01 Taurus. Was your transmission well maintained (i.e. fluid change etc.) before you got it? How many miles are on it?
The transmission seems to have been well maintained. The fluid is still nice and red anyway. But it does have a lot of miles - 150K. I have no idea if it was ever rebuilt or not. My only complaint about the transmission is that downshifting (when slowing down) is very jerky - you really feel it. But like I said, at 150K miles, I can't complain too much on the drivetrain. My complaints on the Taurus is the awful fit and finish.
N1120A From United States of America, joined Dec 2003, 25852 posts, RR: 79 Reply 20, posted (6 years 8 months 5 days 20 hours ago) and read 2013 times:
Quoting PanAmerican (Reply 17): I hope you're not talking from own experience, lol
My father is a car dealer. I have seen Ford Taurus' that have had 4 replacement transmissions and even Japanese cars have problems. Minivans also have major transmission issues.
Quoting PanAmerican (Reply 17): Well, I was thinking of the new 7-speed automatics that are used by Mercedes and BMW... Those seem to be very well constructed and durable. But of course I could be wrong.
RWD autos have always been more dependable than FWD autos. Still, any planetary gearset has intrinsic qualities that will cause them to go bad
Quoting Coal (Reply 18): 2006 Scion tC. It's a young persons car, so it might sell easily as a manual.
Most tCs, and Scions generally, have manual transmissions. It should not be an issue at all
Quoting Cfalk (Reply 19): The transmission seems to have been well maintained. The fluid is still nice and red anyway. But it does have a lot of miles - 150K. I have no idea if it was ever rebuilt or not.
That is a slip. It has probably been rebuilt or replaced at least once, if not twice.
Quoting Cfalk (Reply 19): My only complaint about the transmission is that downshifting (when slowing down) is very jerky - you really feel it.
Mangeons les French fries, mais surtout pratiquons avec fierte le French kiss
Falstaff From United States of America, joined Jun 2006, 5671 posts, RR: 29 Reply 21, posted (6 years 8 months 5 days 3 hours ago) and read 1982 times:
I used to work for Enterprise Rent-a-Car at their national office in St. Louis, MO. We offered no manual transmissions. Too few people know how to drive them. I think that is sad. I learned on a manual before an automatic.
EMBQA From United States of America, joined Oct 2003, 9286 posts, RR: 13 Reply 23, posted (6 years 8 months 4 days 1 hour ago) and read 1940 times:
Quoting AAden (Thread starter): hey guys I was just wondering if it was possible to rent a car with a Manuel Transmission in the united states? thanxs in advance
Why even ask...?? Your still several years too young to even rent a car..
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D
but I got the car used and it only had 30k on it so I already put over 10k on it in less than five months... 
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