30 May 2011, 4:39 pm
Well, basically ANY rental you get will be an automatic. Which basically entails getting in car... putting key in/turning on vehicle (no clutch or pedal pressing involved). Pushing brake down to disengage shifter lock - moving shifter to "Drive". Then your car will start rolling. Press accelerator to go, or brake to stop - no shifter involved after that.
But its not so much that they are popular I think, its more so that they are common. People still like stick shifts, but generally most have automatics. (even old mustangs).. There is no shifting at all involved tho, just steering and pressing of the accelerator. Then you put it in park when you park. And then the Basque person asked "but what if you want to go fast?" ... And I had to explain - then you press down the accelerator and it will just keep getting faster until it hits its speed limit or you die.
But I'm also here in Arizona, its good you know about our state. 
