When I rent a vehicle outside of the United States, I am typically not concerned as to whether it is equipped with an automatic transmission or a manual transmission — and I have driven on the left side of the road in at least thirteen different countries, so I have no problem with that at all…
Watch Out With Manual Transmission Vehicles On The Opposite Side Of the Road
…but while I was in Ireland, I wondered how many people from the United States actually drive vehicles that are equipped with manual transmissions — so I asked an employee of a rental car facility after I returned a vehicle to find out.
“Not all that many Americans drive here,” said the employee, who rolled her eyes when she continued that “many of them burn out the clutch — and that requires the car to be towed.”
I was astonished when she said that “many of the Americans burn out the clutch before they even exit the car park.”
“Really?!?” I replied in disbelief.
“Yes,” she said as she pointed to a traffic light that was perhaps a quarter mile away at the most. “Do you see that light over there? One person burnt out the clutch there and pushed the car back over to here.”
She even told me about the customer who burnt out a clutch on a car that he or she claimed was faulty. “But you are the first driver of this car,” she replied to the customer.
“You mean to tell me that the car was brand new?” I asked.
“Yes,” she replied as she rolled her eyes again and laughed. “You would not believe how many people who don’t know how to drive a stick shift burn out the clutch. They really should not be driving these cars.”
When I arrived in Glasgow a couple of hours ago, I talked to an employee of a rental car company as I collected the car to rent. He told almost the exact same stories without knowing what the other employee told me earlier today at Dublin Airport.
Final Boarding Call
Driving a vehicle that is equipped with a manual transmission is tricky enough when one is only used to driving vehicles that are equipped with an automatic transmission — but to do so on the opposite side of the road than what he or she is used to doing is basically foolish, as severe damage can be caused to the car…
…and that damage may not be covered by insurance, which could wind up costing a customer thousands of dollars overall — as well as a lot of time and effort.
Fewer vehicles are being equipped with manual transmissions worldwide; so the day may arrive when the manual transmission as we know it becomes obsolete…
…but if you are not familiar with driving a vehicle that is equipped with a manual transmission — especially on the opposite side of the road than what you are used to doing in a country that has different languages and different laws — consider either paying extra for renting a vehicle that is equipped with an automatic transmission; use public transportation; or purchase a tour that best suits your itinerary, as ruining or destroying a motor vehicle is simply not worth the cost and aggravation to resolve.
All photographs ©2024 by Brian Cohen.
