adjusting to left hand drive vehicle and roads

thanks so much to everyone who responded with advice and other tips. Very helpful.

I'll start off saying when I was in France (every year's vacation for about 10) I got a car because I was going where there was no public transport but there were times when I'd been driving for a couple hours and I'd see a TGV zipping by and I would definitely envy the lucky people on board....
and on Thorn Tree I learned about a wonderful website with just about all the info you'd need or want for train travel...
(just about anywhere, but especially in Europe): http://www.seat61.com/sitemap.htm
I think if you read the site (there are great descriptions of the various train routes, where they go, how they go, and what you'd find on board_ you may decide that yes, trains are the way to go. What I personally love are the small tourist trains that often use the old equipment on the narrow rails' both history and adventure and fantastic scenery.
But if you decide that you have to rent a car...don't rent: lease.
The French car companies have programs where you can book a car--new from the factory. You select the model, the amenities, where you pick it up, where you drop it off, how many days/weeks, and the website will quote the prices. There are extra costs of pick up and drop off for many locations but it just pays for the relocation of the vehicle. The amount they quote you is all-in....no tax, no insurance costs. Special options can cost more but that too will be lump sum, not per day or per week. You sign a contract, pay for the vehicle in advance, and they prepare the car for you so that what you get is a fresh-from-the-factory vehicle that's been test driven but you will be the first actual driver. So you wouldn't be inheriting someone else's problems. At 5000km you'd have to pay for an oil change (not a big mark up). If you have a flat or run out of gas, that's your responsibility but if anything happens that needs service attention, there will be someone available 24/7 who speaks English who can arrange to have the problem solved. At no cost.
I used that program the last four trips I made and it was a real joy. I'd pick up the car at the facility near Charles de Gaulle airport (I'd call and they'd come pick me up) and away I'd go. Turn it back in and get a ride to the airport...so easy. And I ran into people from all over the world who were doing the same thing...Aussies, Koreans, Canadians, and more. When the car is returned, it is taken back to the factory where it's gone over completely, then sold as gently used. I met people (friends of friends) who bought only the 'gently used cars'...they loved the program.
Here's links to the major companies:
https://www.renaulteurodrive.com.au/
http://www.citroeneuropass.com.au/
https://www.driveaway.com.au/Peugeot

But if I were to do it again...I'd take the train.

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