Carcassonne Car Rental

Hi Martin. Try Hertz or Avis.

Thanks. We tried those. None with automatic.

I have rented cars many times in Europe and they have all been manual stick shift. Good luck!!

Here's the really sad part - - I don't know how many times I've stood in line behind people who were promised automatics and one wasn't available when they got there. It's not as though they put your name on a car when you make a reservation or even have some program to get one in place for you. You show up and take your chances - - it's the same reason they don't promise you a particular make or model, just something of the 'class' or 'similar'. I can't even remember the last time I got what I'd sort of expected. Carcass one is tiny. Is there any chance you could try a larger city - - maybe Toulouse? What you don't have to worry about is dropping it off some place else - - all of the well-known outfits will let you do that.

Martin, try Auto Europe.

Thanks so much!

I'd take Ed's advice and look for a larger city to rent from. I've been renting automatics in France for 25 years, and have always gotten one when I've arrived. It's helped that I've always picked up the car in a good-size city, and usually at the airport.

Europcar also has a location there: http://www.europcar.com/

Check with Andy at Gemut.com (in Oregon). He can answer all your questions and book the car for you, usually at a discount over going directly to any vendor.

The reality with a car "reservation" is exactly as described by Ed - nothing promised... (even if a booking agent says so). The suggestion of trying to rent from a larger center, like Toulouse, is excellent and increases your chances of actually getting an automatic, since so few of them are available.

People, correct me if I'm wrong, but with autoeurope, it's not an ordinary reservation because you pay in advance. The company commits to having what you've paid for, like with Hotwire where you pay in advance. Now, you might get the last clunker left on the lot, which happened to us one July at Orly, but you'll get the category or higher of clunker you've paid for.

Bets I think you might be right because when we booked an automatic with Autoeurope, we had to pick up at the nearest airport (Lyon) because the car was being delivered especially for us, and they wouldn't deliver to a small depot.

I think Autoeurpe's as screwed up as anybody else, but not necessarily more so. I've never been down the automatic road, but I've booked cheapos with Autoeurope and found, when I got there, that there wasn't one available with who ever they pushed me off on. I won't accept an upgrade (more gas, too big for back roads and tight parking, etc) - - it's got to be either what I want or nothing. All you have to do is walk over to the next counter and show them your quote. Seventy-three out of seventy-six times you'll get the same deal. The same thing works in the U.S. as well. I'm polite, but I've just quit taking prisoners. The only thing I've learned is that everwho you get the low quote from, it's a negotionable instrument.