well, i learned to drive a standard (stick) on an old car that was kinda hard to drive. then the 2nd standard i drove was an even older car ('66 mustang! yea!), but it was easier to drive than the first. i think the clutch was adjusted differently. you could almost let all the way out on the clutch without it dying. then i've driven really new cars that were the same - easy, but a while back i drove a truck that was a stick that was a pain!!! died constantly, and in very bad places. and i'm alway afraid of rolling backward on a hill when i'm driving a standard!!
ok, if we can't have an automatic for this trip, i may not be driving! 😕