I heard there is a new law in 2021 that allows driving manual cars in CH with an automatic B license.

Is this true ?

Yes, I guess most cars in CH are automatic in 2021 so fairly academic, even many manuals have flappy paddles

A car with flappy paddles is automatic! Unless it’s a race car then it might have a manual clutch

There are people who drive a stick-shift?

Err, yes. Never had anything else. (but would never call it a stick-shift )

the only way to be fast

Excuse me, a manual transmission?

I think I should give it a chance. But it's not like the roads here are fast, anyways, otec?

That's correct.

My answer was just generic.

Still prefer manual transmission although our new Citigo-e has a sorta automatic, but only one forward gear —> Zoom …

To be fair, manual transmission only really matters in non-trivial surroundings, say when you go for a ride on twisites in mountains.

When you drive at Spa or Nürburgring in predictable conditions every lap, most of automatic transmissions do just fine.

How does it work in practice Someone from the US or Canada who's only ever driven automatics arrives at Hertz at night and is given a manual vehicle because thats all they have. Do they expect that person to be able to safely reverse out of their parking spot and drive off?

At best they will be bunny hopping down the road, or worse, slamming into stationary cars as they fumble with the peddles

3 of our 4 cars!

(and all 8 motorcycles)

Tom

Normally they would pre-book an automatic.

Understood, but on this side of the pond they can come at a hefty premium so to save money the renter might take their chances

Everyone I know in the US or Canada can drive manuals.

Tom

Thats not borne out by the statistics

Lies. Last time I was at DMV in Chicago people had troubles recognizing stop sign

Before I got a car here, I would often hire one for when friends or family visited me. It’s just so much easier to show them around Switzerland.

The trick was to always book the cheapest manual transmission on the website to be picked up at Zurich airport. I’d get there, and they’d try and give me an automatic because they “didn’t have any manual transmission cars available”. Of course this was bullshit, and they just didn’t want to give me a premium car.

After a lot of back and forth about what contracts mean in this fine country and their obligations etc I’d always get an amazing car out of them.

I said "everyone I know", not "everyone".

Tom

Maybe the ones who don't drive manual never venture to take a plane across the Atlantic, some self-selection thingy