Hello, everyone! I'm heading to Berlin with my son, and someone on this forum posted about Trabi tours some years ago. Does anyone have a recent experience? Is it difficult to drive those cars??? I'm not the best manual driver, since I've been driving automatic for the past 25 years! My son has been driving for one year (also automatic) and it's something he would probably LOVE as he loves to drive, but I'm afraid it might be too stressful for him as well. Thank you in advance for any advice!
Posted by
Freedonia
19246 posts
If your son has never driven a manual transmission, trying to learn while doing this tour through the streets of Berlin is not a good idea.
In the US, about 3% of cars sold are manual transmission. Across Europe, the average is over 80% (but it is dropping.)
Is there any way you could take lessons or practice prior to the trip?
Posted by
Wengen
4066 posts
I did do that tour. It was fun. But you also find out how bad a car the Trabant really was. The gear shifter sits in the dashboard, and even I, who has driven manuals all his life, needed some time to adjusting.
Be aware that if you did not do your driving test with a manual you are actually not permitted to drive a car with manual gears.
Posted by
Arctophilia (x26), Northamptonshire, England
36996 posts
renting a fast car to drive German Autobahn is a real bad idea if you are not used to drive it.
agreed.
But - not really an issue with a Trabi is it? And would the cars behind be happy?
Posted by
Wengen
4066 posts
Didn't know they had converted some Trabis to electric. That would of course make them easier to drive.
Posted by
OP
8 posts
Thanks, everyone, for your input! I might not have been clear enough: I didn't intend to rent a Trabant to drive on the Autobahn! :-) I was interested in the Trabi Safari tour where you ride with others and a guide through Berlin. But as some have pointed out, Trabi's can be hard to drive when not used to a stick shift. So we'll pass on that idea for this time!
Posted by
Portsmouth
6061 posts
But as some have pointed out, Trabi's can be hard to drive when not used to a stick shift. So we'll pass on that idea for this time!
I agree with your reticence. Trabants don't have a transmission that is similar to the majority of manual transmission cars and it takes some getting used to, the busy traffic in Berlin is not the environment where I would want to practice.