Automatic V. Manual Car Hire

[Khandro]

Can anyone explain the large difference in the price of the two.
For example, a Ford focus for one week at Heathrow costs £177. and a manual version costs £273. As there is less chance of damaging the engine/g.box of an automatic I would have thought the opposite might apply. In the USA an automatic seems to be the norm.

[Old_Geezer]

Maybe it is because they have a lot of American tourists, unused to a manual, giving it a try, and driving in first all week ?

[kjn2]

I have just visited Budget rent a car at Heathrow site and an auto is coming in at roughly double the costs of a manual, not 100 per cent sure but will guess your figures are the wrong way round.??

[bhg481]

The extra cost of an automatic gearbox is significant on a small(ish) car. Furthermore I suspect that the depreciation is higher on small autos - people tend to buy small cars on initial cost and running costs, so they are less desirable when used. Rental companies only tend to keep cars for a few months, so they are always under warranty and the automatic being potentially more reliable and less prone to mechanical damage caused by abuse is not relevant to their costs.

[Svejk]

yes khandro, you're figures need reversing to make sense, I think. ;-/

[Khandro]

sorry yes of course, the auto version cost £273 - the point of my question.