I lived in Europe and I'm back for few months. Automatic rental car costs 2x of normal, so naturally I'm driving stick. I absolutely hate it. It's an absolutely ridiculous bullshit that needs to go (together with ICE's). I firmly believe the only reason stick is still being sold is so that rental companies could gauge their customers.
I mean I’m taking my kids to daycare. Not focusing on lanes, speed, gears, rpm’s makes lets me focus more on road, traffic and cars ahead. Why people insist being a Luddite on even most frivolous things is a virtue?