Manual or Automatic Rental in Countries that Drive on the Wrong (Left)Side of the Road
 

We're going to Ireland soon and the rental cars with an automatic are
much more expensive. I have no problem driving a stick shift but I
wonder if combining shifting with the left hand and driving on the left,
in an unfamiliar country, is too much at once. Last time I drove a stick
shift in a country that drives on the left was in Thailand, but there
they really drive in the middle because the road surface is only good in
the middle.

Manual or Automatic Rental in Countries that Drive on the Wrong(Left) Side of the Road
 

On 06/04/2015 09:46 AM, sms wrote:
We're going to Ireland soon and the rental cars with an automatic are
much more expensive. I have no problem driving a stick shift but I
wonder if combining shifting with the left hand and driving on the left,
in an unfamiliar country, is too much at once. Last time I drove a stick
shift in a country that drives on the left was in Thailand, but there
they really drive in the middle because the road surface is only good in
the middle.

I understand. I usually start by winding down the window the first few
miles. Also don't be surprised by the lack of steering wheel the first
few times you get in the car.

Manual or Automatic Rental in Countries that Drive on the Wrong (Left) Side of the Road
 

Am Thu, 04 Jun 2015 10:36:56 +0200 schrieb Tom P:

On 06/04/2015 09:46 AM, sms wrote:
We're going to Ireland soon and the rental cars with an automatic are
much more expensive. I have no problem driving a stick shift but I
wonder if combining shifting with the left hand and driving on the left,
in an unfamiliar country, is too much at once. Last time I drove a stick
shift in a country that drives on the left was in Thailand, but there
they really drive in the middle because the road surface is only good in
the middle.

I understand. I usually start by winding down the window the first few
miles. Also don't be surprised by the lack of steering wheel the first
few times you get in the car.

And you will be turning on the wipers when you want to indicate.

BDDT.

Regards,

Frank

Manual or Automatic Rental in Countries that Drive on the Wrong (Left) Side of the Road
 

On Thu, 04 Jun 2015 00:46:03 -0700, sms
wrote:

We're going to Ireland soon and the rental cars with an automatic are
much more expensive. I have no problem driving a stick shift but I
wonder if combining shifting with the left hand and driving on the left,
in an unfamiliar country, is too much at once.



It's up to you of course, but I wouldn't do it. Leaving aside the
other points, I don't want to drive on what to me is the wrong side of
the road; most of the time, I could handle it without a problem, but
what frightens me is thinking that I might react improperly in an
emergency situation--doing something like ducking to the right when I
should duck to the left.

I don't even like to walk across the street in a country that drives
on the wrong side of the road, because by habit, I first look to the
left to see if any traffic is coming.

Manual or Automatic Rental in Countries that Drive on the Wrong(Left) Side of the Road
 

On 6/5/2015 7:56 AM, Ken Blake, MVP wrote:
On Thu, 04 Jun 2015 00:46:03 -0700, sms
wrote:

We're going to Ireland soon and the rental cars with an automatic are
much more expensive. I have no problem driving a stick shift but I
wonder if combining shifting with the left hand and driving on the left,
in an unfamiliar country, is too much at once.



It's up to you of course, but I wouldn't do it. Leaving aside the
other points, I don't want to drive on what to me is the wrong side of
the road; most of the time, I could handle it without a problem, but
what frightens me is thinking that I might react improperly in an
emergency situation--doing something like ducking to the right when I
should duck to the left.

I don't even like to walk across the street in a country that drives
on the wrong side of the road, because by habit, I first look to the
left to see if any traffic is coming.

In Ireland you really need a car to get around once you're outside of
Dublin. I got used to driving on the left pretty fast in Thailand.

Manual or Automatic Rental in Countries that Drive on the Wrong (Left) Side of the Road
 

I don't even like to walk across the street in a country that drives
on the wrong side of the road, because by habit, I first look to the
left to see if any traffic is coming.

There speaks somebody who's spent most of their life in a small town.

Urbanites everywhere get used to street layouts that send traffic in
the wrong direction.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
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Jack Campin, 11 Third Street, Newtongrange, Midlothian EH22 4PU, Scotland
mobile 07800 739 557 http://www.campin.me.uk Twitter: JackCampin

Manual or Automatic Rental in Countries that Drive on the Wrong (Left) Side of the Road
 

On Fri, 05 Jun 2015 19:59:54 +0100, Jack Campin
wrote:

I don't even like to walk across the street in a country that drives
on the wrong side of the road, because by habit, I first look to the
left to see if any traffic is coming.

There speaks somebody who's spent most of their life in a small town.


There speaks someone who doesn't know me, and therefore doesn't know
that I've never lived in a small town.

Manual or Automatic Rental in Countries that Drive on the Wrong (Left) Side of the Road
 

On 2015-06-04 07:46:03 +0000, sms said:

We're going to Ireland soon and the rental cars with an automatic are
much more expensive. I have no problem driving a stick shift but I
wonder if combining shifting with the left hand and driving on the
left, in an unfamiliar country, is too much at once. Last time I drove
a stick shift in a country that drives on the left was in Thailand, but
there they really drive in the middle because the road surface is only
good in the middle.

I found it to be no problem at all. I too thought it would be, but got
used to it quickly.

The greatest challenge comes from a lack of instinct of the extent of
the left side of the car. Be careful to not turn left too sharply.
The problem is greatest on the narrow countryside lanes, or when
passing. Take it slow and your intuition will improve with time.

I furthermore suggest renting, or "hiring", a car from the airport.
Airports tend to be outside the populated areas with
interstate/motorway -type roads, which are the best for getting a feel
for the change in driving position.

While you have a car, I recommend going out-and-back of the penninsulas
at the southwest of Ireland. Beara was my favorite, with its Healy
Pass being spectacular.

Have a lot of fun!

--
Dan Stephenson
http://stepheda.com
Travel pages for Europe and the U.S.A. (and New Zealand too)

Manual or Automatic Rental in Countries that Drive on the Wrong (Left) Side of the Road
 

On 2015-06-05 08:12:23 +0000, Martin said:

On Fri, 5 Jun 2015 10:01:12 +0200, Frank Hucklenbroich

wrote:

Am Thu, 04 Jun 2015 10:36:56 +0200 schrieb Tom P:

On 06/04/2015 09:46 AM, sms wrote:
We're going to Ireland soon and the rental cars with an automatic are
much more expensive. I have no problem driving a stick shift but I
wonder if combining shifting with the left hand and driving on the left,
in an unfamiliar country, is too much at once. Last time I drove a stick
shift in a country that drives on the left was in Thailand, but there
they really drive in the middle because the road surface is only good in
the middle.

I understand. I usually start by winding down the window the first few
miles. Also don't be surprised by the lack of steering wheel the first
few times you get in the car.

And you will be turning on the wipers when you want to indicate.

but hopefully not going around a roundabout in the wrong direction.

And remember, if you are unfamiliar with roundabouts, that cars already
in the roundabout of right-of-way

--
Dan Stephenson
http://stepheda.com
Travel pages for Europe and the U.S.A. (and New Zealand too)

Manual or Automatic Rental in Countries that Drive on the Wrong(Left) Side of the Road
 

On 06/05/2015 10:12 AM, Martin wrote:
On Fri, 5 Jun 2015 10:01:12 +0200, Frank Hucklenbroich
wrote:

Am Thu, 04 Jun 2015 10:36:56 +0200 schrieb Tom P:

On 06/04/2015 09:46 AM, sms wrote:
We're going to Ireland soon and the rental cars with an automatic are
much more expensive. I have no problem driving a stick shift but I
wonder if combining shifting with the left hand and driving on the left,
in an unfamiliar country, is too much at once. Last time I drove a stick
shift in a country that drives on the left was in Thailand, but there
they really drive in the middle because the road surface is only good in
the middle.

I understand. I usually start by winding down the window the first few
miles. Also don't be surprised by the lack of steering wheel the first
few times you get in the car.

And you will be turning on the wipers when you want to indicate.

but hopefully not going around a roundabout in the wrong direction.

Remember to visit one of the Magic Roundabouts.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi..._Schild_db.jpg