Planning to take a rental car for the coming 3 or 4 Auto-x events. Following are the main reasons why I am thinking about such a thing

I am a jus a Novice learning the very basics. Not in the competition/points where even performance., micro seconds matters.

Would like to minimize the wear and tear to my car as my friend would also be be driving the car. Rental charges for one person for a day will not be much as I will be sharing with my friend.

Questions
Are there any places where I get rental cars with manual transmission? (not the exotic type pf places where they rent a Porsche for $300)
If I end up with an automatic rental car. Which car is recommended? Anything like a Dodge stratus where there is an auto manual mode?

Let me know your comments and suggestion if you all think its a stupid idea....

 

It really doesn't wear your car very much.

 

I think it is a good idea, but I would not feel comfortable doing it. If you can avoid an automatic, I raced an auto Accord last year and it was very slow and just didnt have get up and go to it. I do think its better to learn in an auto maybe. I am sure some auto cars will be fast, have fun

 

Drive your car. That's the car you want to learn to drive well, right?

 

As someone who has been involved in the rental industry, I should probably point out that it says in the contract that using a rental car in competition events isn't allowed, so do it at your own risk.

 

Thanks for all the input.....I have been driving my stick shift Integra for the last 3 years and I think after the couple of races with the auto, I should be able to transition to my car comparatively easy.

Talking about the rental agreement, I don’t think SCCA classifies it as race or a competition…isn't it termed as a Driver skill enhancement event or something like that? you all veterans, correct me if I am wrong.
Personally, I think the chances of somebody hitting your car or you hitting somebody’s car, rolling over etc in a regular Auto-x are very less.


Given all these, which is the best automatic rental car for an Auto-x?

 

Use your own car - its what you're comfortable in.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by schumi &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Thanks for all the input.....I have been driving my stick shift Integra for the last 3 years and I think after the couple of races with the auto, I should be able to transition to my car comparatively easy.

Talking about the rental agreement, I donÂ’t think SCCA classifies it as race or a competitionÂ…isn't it termed as a Driver skill enhancement event or something like that? you all veterans, correct me if I am wrong.
Personally, I think the chances of somebody hitting your car or you hitting somebodyÂ’s car, rolling over etc in a regular Auto-x are very less.


Given all these, which is the best automatic rental car for an Auto-x?

</TD></TR></TABLE>

It has nothing to do with auto vs manual, chances are you'll have to shift only once, and everything to do with how the car handles. Why waste time and money to learn how to drive a rental boat when you've got a decient handling car in the driveway. And after you spend all that time in the rental car, you'll get your car out there and return to noob status since you need to learn to drive the car again. 3 events won't do anything but wear tires a little, and maybe the brakes, but they're replaceable anyways. Just drive your car.

 

i think u wont be pleased with driving an automatic-it depends what kind of course u got, i autoXed 2000 ford mustang auto wich was a fkng boat, and i also tried 2003 mazda protege5 the wagon one while my car was in the shop, its pretty slow, but the handling and brakes are superb! it had 16 inch stock alloys wiht lopro tires and 4weel disc brakes, it felt really light but had only 130 ponies wich i think is not enough

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by schumi &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Thanks for all the input.....I have been driving my stick shift Integra for the last 3 years and I think after the couple of races with the auto, I should be able to transition to my car comparatively easy.

Talking about the rental agreement, I don’t think SCCA classifies it as race or a competition…isn't it termed as a Driver skill enhancement event or something like that? you all veterans, correct me if I am wrong.
Personally, I think the chances of somebody hitting your car or you hitting somebody’s car, rolling over etc in a regular Auto-x are very less.


Given all these, which is the best automatic rental car for an Auto-x?

</TD></TR></TABLE>

Here is an quote from a Thrifty Car Rental contract:

"PROHIBITED USES OF CAR
A. The Car may not be used:
...
3. IN ANY RACE OR SIMILAR TYPE CONTEST;
..."

My dad is a manager for a rental company and he said that similar type contest includes autocross.

Besides, like the others said, why learn on another car and then transfer to something completely different? You'll get sick of the tires and the automatic transmission in no time.

 

I was at a HPDE where a guy showed up with a rented Lincoln. It was pretty funny, but he was pretty quick out there.