Driving in the USA

But an automatic is so much more relaxing to drive.

You can give all your attention to the road and other drivers while your car pretty much does its own thing.

I would never buy a manual now.

Me neither. I changed to an automatic in 2001 and would never go back to a manual.  I am still current on manuals because my wife has one, she's frightened to try an automatic. She's daft, but stubborn too!

TF

Have done a few trips to the US, Wisconsin, Arizona and California.  Absolutely loved it.  I do agree, and have stated it on the forums of how large the parking bays are.  The fuel is cheap, but I thought the meals weren't badly priced.  On one of our trips, we landed at San Francisco, and got to our hotel at about 9:30pm, and the hotel restaurant was closed, so went out for a meal.  We ordered our drinks, OH wanted a beer, he had a choice by the waitress, and one of the beers was Boddingtons.  Couldn't believe it.  I knew you can get Guinness, but Boddies, a Manchester beer, the brewery being right next door to Strangeways:)

Sadly the Strangeways brewery closed in 04, now brewed in Samlesbury, doesn't seem right somehow 

True Byron, but at the time we visited the US, it was brewed at Strangeways.  Also another thing about driving in the USA was that even if the traffic lights were on red, at most of them, you can still turn right provided its clear for you to do so, and also the overtaking and undertaking as well.

I had to have a laugh to myself, that when we were driving to our next hotel to Los Angeles, we were on the freeway, and got in a traffic jam, and I couldn't believe what I said to my hubby, which was "hey, brilliant, we're in an actual traffic jam".  I had to literally slap my face with the amount of traffic jams that I'm in over here

You can turn right at a red light in French France too 😉

"I suppose driving on the other side of the road could be a little daunting, combine that with an unfamiliar car."

I remember driving in a hire car in France and found myself trying to change gear with the door handle!

Have never hired a car abroad since.

We've  hired a few cars in the US but what amazed me was that there was an outfit hiring cars that was called "Rent -a-Wreck", this was in Phoenix, and boy did they look it.

Always wondered whether they ever had any repeat customers.

reface , you are so right!  I have driven my big Landcruiser so many times in France that it became almost second nature!  Then we flew over for a party on a friends boat in Lagos Portugal, and I needed to hire a car!  So I hired a Citroen Saxo, identical to my wife's car, a vehicle that I knew almost as well as my Landcruiser.  Result, - just as you described!  I made a total pigs breakfast of it. Cganging gear with the door handle, and switching on the wipers instead of indicating!  It was hilarious for my passengers. i was mortified!  Never again!  I will take my own car, I have never made a mistake then! 

TF

I don't know if it's because I've been doing it for so long but I've always found it no problem swapping from RHD to LHD. When I used to return from our apartment in Spain, I would end up driving three different vehicles in the space of twelve hours.