My wife and another couple vactioned in Italy last year for about two weeks. Part of the trip was spending four days in a Chianti villa. During that time our ride was a Opel wagon. 1.9 turbo diesel, 6 spd. Held four people and luggage very comforatbly. Drove all over Tuscany, visited Pisa, Maranello (I liked the Galleria Ferrari - curious to what SRT found disapointing ) and completed the road trip portion of our vacation in Venice. No issues with the autostrada, roads or any drivers. I really like the fact the the left lanes are for passing only. They way it is supposed to be here. You do have to stay aggressive which I have no problem with.

I did have one funny (frustrating at the time) drving problem. We had just picked up the car in Florence and driving towards Sienna. I made a wrong turn somewhere and had to turn around. We are on a straight country type two lane road and I figured I would just do a quick 3-point u-turn. I get to the reverse portion of the turn and I could not get the car in reverse. Everytime I think I am in reverse I am actually in first and the cars inches forward a little. Now in front of us is a little ditch followed by a mountain. My friends in the back seat starting to worry. I am pulling and pushing on the **** with no better results. Finally I notice a small button on the back of the shift lever and wa lah the car goes in reverse. So the obvious tip for you is any time you rent a manual trans car, figure out where reverse is before you leave the garage.

Our Opel is the one on the right