Maybe this should be in Top Tips, but...
On occasions when you are required to hire a car always ask for a budget-priced automatic.

The nice people at Avis will then try and talk you into upgrading your car to a bigger, more flash one.

Repeat that you/your company will only run to a budget car and insist that is what you want to order.

They'll accept in the end.

Wait until your budget car is delivered and then smile in delight as you are given either a Merc C Class, a 3 or 5 series BMW or some other 'exec' car.

I've yet to find a car hire place that stocks budget automatics.
( JeffTheDogFucker Can you dig it?, Thu 22 Apr 2010, 14:25, 3 replies)

the other option
is to specify a roofrack on the hirecar, because you're going skiing.

Generally they won't have a car with one, so you get given a large exec estate instead.
(Le Misanthrope last procrastinated on, Thu 22 Apr 2010, 16:17, closed)

Europcar/National unfortunately do have some really shitty corsa auto's.

But it's generally a safe bet and a top-tip.
(Touji Bugger me sideways!, Sun 25 Apr 2010, 15:34, closed)

also....
...Enterprise used to stock Nissan Micra automatics, haven't used them since they moved away from Vauxhalls and Fords to Daewoo and their awful awful gearboxes.

I actually had to take one back after 20 minutes to which the girl behind the counter said "Yeah, shit aren't they - no-one here likes them" while she sorted me out a different car!
( Mister B is eating an icanhazcheezburger with lmaonaise, Sun 25 Apr 2010, 17:16, closed)