Renting a car for a month in Portugal seemed like a smart financial decision—until I realized the roads were narrow, the hills were steep, and I had chosen a manual transmission. Why? Because the manual car rental cost me a grand total of $46 for 25 days, while an automatic would have set me back nearly ten times that.
“How hard could it be, really?” I thought. Famous last words.
Determined to learn on the fly, I spent 20 minutes watching YouTube tutorials and armed myself with a mantra: clutch is bae. This would be my guiding light through countless stalled engines, exasperated honks, and the occasional near-catastrophe.
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- Flights – I use Skyscanner to find amazing flight deals.
- Accommodation – For the best guesthouse and hotel rates, use Booking.com.
- Rent A Car – I got the deal on Booking.com
- Fun Activities – Get Your Guide and Viator provide ease of discovering and booking a wide range of activities like walking tours, fun excursions, private guides, and more.
- Protect Your Trip – Don’t forget travel insurance!
A Rocky Start (Literally)
The last time I attempted to drive a manual was a decade ago in Ireland. That experience ended with me almost rear-ending a parked vehicle as I tried to pull out of the parking lot and panic-calling my brother, failing to grasp his instructions, and ultimately paying extra for an automatic. This time, I was older, wiser, and had a foolproof plan: get the rental attendant to drive the car out of the lot for me.
Once on the open road, I confidently (read: nervously) shifted gears and made my way from Lisbon to Setúbal. Each red light was a battle against gravity, my car stalling repeatedly as frustrated locals hurled colorful insults in my direction. I shrugged it off as “day one jitters.” But things escalated when I missed my turn and, in my attempt to reverse, found myself rolling toward a tree.
I flagged down a kind woman for help, parked safely for the night, and resolved to seek actual human instruction.
Learning Curve (and Hills) Ahead
The next morning, the hotel manager graciously agreed to sit with me and explain what I was doing wrong. Finally, I grasped the basics (for the most part). Throughout my month-long journey, I soaked in every tip possible. When a new friend hesitated, worried he was “mansplaining,” I practically begged him to keep going. His advice on hill starts likely saved me thousands in insurance claims, especially in Porto, where every street seemed to defy gravity.
Manual Car Lessons from the Road
For anyone considering the challenge of driving a manual car, here are some key takeaways that go beyond YouTube tutorials:
- Reverse configurations vary – Ask a rental car attendant how to use it before you end up rolling into oncoming traffic.
- Handbrake is your best friend on hills – Engage it, accelerate gently, and release once you’re moving in the right direction.
- Some gear shifts have quirks – In my car, I had to pull up the sides of the gear stick every time I changed to reverse.
- When decelerating, engage the clutch – Avoid stalling and embarrassing yourself at intersections.
- Clutch truly is bae – Treat it with care, and it’ll treat you right.
From Chaos to Confidence
The first week felt like a fight for survival, but by the end of my trip, I was in awe of myself. As an avid Amazing Race fan, I’d always wondered how I’d react to being thrown into a high-pressure manual car driving situation. Turns out, I handled it like a pro (or at least, I didn’t cause an international incident).
Would I rent a manual again? Probably not. Do I feel like a badass for conquering it? Absolutely.
For anyone curious about taking on this challenge, here’s the YouTube video that gave me the confidence to try:
Happy (and hopefully smoother) travels!
This was such a fun and relatable read! I love how you turned a nerve-wracking situation into an adventure, and honestly, major respect for learning manual on the fly in a foreign country. YouTube and sheer determination really came through for you—what a great memory to look back on!
Thank you!