We're going to Crete in September and we're after hiring a car.  Quite fancied getting a convertable but they're all manual gears.  Has anybody done this before?  Is it an absolute nightmare if you're not used to it and should I just stick to a hatchback (automatic)?

 

Honestly, you just do it naturally, even though the gearstick is on the wrong side. It is harder to remember to stick to the right hand side of the road, especially on quiet country lanes.

My first business trip abroad in the 90's I had a hire car arranged for me at Brussels airport for a journey to Rubaix in France.

As I'd never drove on the right before it took a bit of getting used to. Luckily, most of the journey was on a motorway but when I got to Rubaix, for some reason, I found it really difficult turning left. I therefore ended up in my destination the long way round by only turning right. Good luck.

Ps. Should have gone to Cyprus, they drive on the left.

Edited May 21, 20179 yr by Boby Brno

Garp drove us from Budapest to Belgrade

 

A quite remarkable performance

Went to Spain with Little Whitt.

 

He ended up wanking my cousin off, saying he thought it was the gear stick

 

HTH.

We're going to Crete in September and we're after hiring a car.  Quite fancied getting a convertable but they're all manual gears.  Has anybody done this before?  Is it an absolute nightmare if you're not used to it and should I just stick to a hatchback (automatic)?

 

Driving in Crete tip:

 

Main roads have what looks like a hard shoulder. Drive straddling the white line.

 

Regards gear levers, you soon get used to doing the shift with your right hand instead of left.

 

EDIT = And if you pluck up the courage to overtake, indicate for the distance it takes from starting the overtake to getting in front of the vehicle.

 

EDIT 2 = You will pick up your car with all-but fuck all in the tank. They make money based on the fact that you don't want to run out of petrol so will put plenty in.

 

Make sure you go up into the mountains at night. The amount of stars you'll see is incredible when there's no light pollution.

 

Agios Nikolias (Sp) is a bit of a millionare playground and worth the trip to see some of the private yachts.

Edited May 21, 20179 yr by MickyD

Take a large Union Jack with you

 

Sellotape it to the bonnet and drive on the left as normal but leave the window down and just shout "GET OUT OF MY FUCKING WAY YOU POTLESS GREEK CUNTS" as you make your way to wherever you're going.

 

We baled the fuckers out, don't let them forget it.

Ps. Should have gone to Cyprus, they drive on the left.

We were in Cyprus a couple of years back Boby - on the Greek side. Love the place - and the food! :-)

Is this a euphemism, Kent?

Driving in Crete tip:

 

Main roads have what looks like a hard shoulder. Drive straddling the white line.

 

Regards gear levers, you soon get used to doing the shift with your right hand instead of left.

 

EDIT = And if you pluck up the courage to overtake, indicate for the distance it takes from starting the overtake to getting in front of the vehicle.

 

EDIT 2 = You will pick up your car with all-but fuck all in the tank. They make money based on the fact that you don't want to run out of petrol so will put plenty in.

 

Make sure you go up into the mountains at night. The amount of stars you'll see is incredible when there's no light pollution.

 

Agios Nikolias (Sp) is a bit of a millionare playground and worth the trip to see some of the private yachts.

We're staying in Agios Nikolias Micky. Obviously we'll fit right in with the playboy lifestyles! :-)

 

Great tip re the mountains by the way - I hadn't even thought of that - thank you!

Take a large Union Jack with you

 

Sellotape it to the bonnet and drive on the left as normal but leave the window down and just shout "GET OUT OF MY FUCKING WAY YOU POTLESS GREEK CUNTS" as you make your way to wherever you're going.

 

We baled the fuckers out, don't let them forget it.

I call it - channeling my inner Farage.

So the general consensus is that it's not too bad once you get the hang of it. Thanks for your advice - obviously I'm holding you collectively responsible if I wrap myself around an olive tree.

Maybe driving everywhere backwards might make it easier.

Piece of piss. Roundabouts a tad confusing at the start but alll becomes second nature

Edited May 21, 20179 yr by Escobarp

Did it in the states last year

 

It's fine once you get used to it, particularly driving straight

 

Doing left and right turns is a bit odd at first

 

Though managed to not come across a roundabout which Def would have felt odd

 

Was an automatic which takes some getting used to, expect lots of stop start "take offs"

Done it in a couple of country's and if I'm honest Im a danger. For the life of me I can not get my head around it. I only visit country's that drive on the left now.

You will hit your left hand against the door more than once until you realise that the gear stick is on your right.

There's a lovely little village on the south of the island called Matala, well worth a visit. Also has a nuddy beach there if that's your bag too

There's a lovely little village on the south of the island called Matala, well worth a visit. Also has a nuddy beach there if that's your bag too

I don't embarrass the locals with my magnificent British girth! :-)

 

Stupid question - but are the pedals the same way around?

Just drive around Crete in first gear. Its not your car anyway.

Don't do what my missus did and get in the wrong side when she was supposed to be driving and then pretend she thought was I driving.

Stupid question - but are the pedals the same way around?

Yes. Clutch with your left and brake and Accelerator with your right.

I went to portugal a few weeks back and found it easy after a bit, the secret i thought was doing the motorways a lot and accessing the roundabouts 200yds away. I also found keeping my hand on the gearstick soon got me used to it. Couldnt get used to the seatbelt though

You're worrying about nothing. Just remember that people's lives depend on how you manage and you'll be OK.

I got a bit worried one year in the States when I found myself driving down the wrong side of the road

 

Good job I'd had a couple of drinks

Did a road trip a few years ago. motorways and trunk roads a doddle, smaller roads you just need your wits about you. France, Belgium, Germany, Switzeland, Italy, France. It's fine if there's a car in front of you, just follow it and hope it's going where you want to

Edited May 22, 20179 yr by Gonk