Carjacking stalls; would-be thief left grinding his gears
118 replies, posted
[URL]http://www.contracostatimes.com/breaking-news/ci_27532720/concord-carjacking-stalls-because-suspect-cant-drive-stick[/URL]
[quote]A man who allegedly tried to steal another man's vehicle at gunpoint early Sunday morning eventually gave up the attempt because he couldn't drive a stick shift, police said.
The carjacking happened in the 1500 block of Monument Boulevard around 12:15 a.m., when the male owner of the vehicle entered his vehicle, only to find another man in the passenger seat, Concord police Lt. Tim Runyon said. That man pointed a handgun at the victim and demanded he be taken to a nearby undisclosed location, Runyon said.
He then demanded the vehicle owner's money and forced him out of the car, Runyon said. But when the suspect tried to drive away, he abandoned the vehicle because he couldn't operate a standard transmission, Runyon said.[/quote]
It's a theft deterrent!
Just another reason I love driving stick in the States
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mKAg4UVnHzQ[/media]
Im not sure who should feel more awkward in that situation in real life.
The title sounds like it comes straight from a Simcity game.
The single time I've given a manual transmission car a go (or any car for that matter), it took me like three tries to get it going on first gear. Got on top of a hill and then the engine shut down. Then again, I was like 12 back then (private road, supervised by my cousin).
Wait, are manual transmissions that rare over in the US?
Imagine a future where everyone uses automatics and you're part of the small handful that still uses stick, and no one can jack your car ever because when they get in they take one look at the stick and go "what the hell is this old manual shit?!".
[QUOTE=GordonZombie;47150323]Wait, are manual transmissions that rare over in the US?[/QUOTE]
Very. I would guesstimte 90% of the population have no clue how to drive stick.
I'm lucky that I do.
Goddamn, down here it's exactly the opposite. I've only seen ONE driver in my 16 years drive automatic, and that was because this driver had some injury a few years ago and couldn't drive manual anymore because she couldn't use the clutch pedal or something.
[QUOTE=GordonZombie;47150323]Wait, are manual transmissions that rare over in the US?[/QUOTE]
i feel like everytime a thread like this is posted people are amazed manuals are rare in the states.
I get the convenience of automatic but hot damn I just love changing those gears makes me feel like a man ooooh yeah
That's hilarious. Also I can't believe manual transmissions are that rare in the US, correct me if I'm wrong but it's almost standard in the UK.
[QUOTE=AncientFryup;47150446]That's hilarious. Also I can't believe manual transmissions are that rare in the US, correct me if I'm wrong but it's almost standard in the UK.[/QUOTE]
You can learn to drive in an automatic if you want here, but you'd have to do another test to be able to drive manual cars. It's so universal that we don't even have a word for it apart from nicking the Americans' 'drive stick' :v:
[QUOTE=Jamsponge;47150473]You can learn to drive in an automatic if you want here, but you'd have to do another test to be able to drive manual cars. It's so universal that we don't even have a word for it apart from nicking the Americans' 'drive stick' :v:[/QUOTE]
Yeah, I passed in a manual which meant I could drive automatic but for a budget car it's almost impossible to find an automatic.
When I went to the states my friend's parents were surprised that I, at 18, had the ability to drive a manual with ease, although it was extremely weird getting used to shifting with the right hand instead of the left. They had no idea that manuals were extremely common in Australia and other countries.
[QUOTE=Jamsponge;47150473]You can learn to drive in an automatic if you want here, but you'd have to do another test to be able to drive manual cars. It's so universal that we don't even have a word for it apart from nicking the Americans' 'drive stick' :v:[/QUOTE]
I can't remember what way around it is, but it's cheaper to take a manual driving lesson or test over an automatic one here as well.
Wait, why do other countries still use stick-shift? Automatic is waaayyy easier.
[QUOTE=N.A.N.B;47150561]Wait, why do other countries still use stick-shift? Automatic is waaayyy easier.[/QUOTE]
Been driving an automatic for like a month now and I have to tell you that automatic is far less satisfying than manuel
Idk like when I drive a manuel it feels much more awarding than pointing and driving the car to where I want it go
That's just me tho
[QUOTE=N.A.N.B;47150561]Wait, why do other countries still use stick-shift? Automatic is waaayyy easier.[/QUOTE]
Easier yes. More fun? No way. Absolutely love smashing through the gears, being able to engine brake etc.
Also because manuals are usually cheaper, more fuel efficient as well as a necessary evil for small engines if you want to get anywhere. Newer automatics are getting better. But not everyone can afford a brand new car, and there is always going to be people like me who will refuse to drive an automatic.
I actually tried driving automatic after two years of driving only stick. I almost fucking crashed and pretty much looked like a spastic idiot not knowing what to do with my clutch foot and my shifting hand.
I wanted to drive manual but both my parent's cars that I learned in were automatic :(.
Still, can't complain - didn't have to buy a car to learn how to use it, in the end.
I managed to pick up automatic very easily. I just imagined it as driving one of those Go-Karts that just have a gas and brake pedal. I just keep the foot I'd use for clutch rested on the side.
[QUOTE=N.A.N.B;47150561]Wait, why do other countries still use stick-shift? Automatic is waaayyy easier.[/QUOTE]
More control over the car can help. If i want more power I can just jack it up into 1st or 2nd and floor it. You can accelerate much faster if need be since you're not limited by what your car thinks is the optimal time to shift.
Can't quite do that in an automatic. Similarly just putting it into neutral and coasting downhill feels awesome.
[QUOTE=N.A.N.B;47150561]Wait, why do other countries still use stick-shift? Automatic is waaayyy easier.[/QUOTE]
Mostly power control. If I've got a steep hill start or it's wet/icy I can put it into second, get the revs up as far as they can go, and it just goes.
Christ, coming from someone who's only had a few hours of experience with manual transmissions (in cars that is), it's not even hard to get going. Clutch in, neutral to first, off the brake and slowly release the clutch, when the car wants to pull forward you ease on to the throttle and you're off. How can you not do that.
[editline]17th February 2015[/editline]
[QUOTE=Ogris;47150789]More control over the car can help. If i want more power I can just jack it up into 1st or 2nd and floor it. You can accelerate much faster if need be since you're not limited by what your car thinks is the optimal time to shift.
Can't quite do that in an automatic. Similarly just putting it into neutral and coasting downhill feels awesome.[/QUOTE]
Most modern automatic transmissions have a sequential mode where you shift the stick into a position where you can push it up or down and it will change gears accordingly. My Ford Falcon has that with its six speed, but it will still automatically shift only if the engine is on the point of stalling or if it reaches the redline.
[QUOTE=MelonGuy;47150433]I get the convenience of automatic but hot damn I just love changing those gears makes me feel like a man ooooh yeah[/QUOTE]
autos make city driving so much easier - less time/brain power spent changing gear, more attention to the busy road.
(although manuals are very fun to drive)
[QUOTE=N.A.N.B;47150561]Wait, why do other countries still use stick-shift? Automatic is waaayyy easier.[/QUOTE]
If you drive stick properly, your vehicle consumes less fuel than it would had it been automatic
Then it's also the small fact that you get a lot more control
[QUOTE=Rixxz2;47151103]If you drive stick properly, your vehicle becomes more efficient, fuel/emission wise.
Then it's also the small fact that you get a lot more control[/QUOTE]
This isn't necessarily true, cars equipped with CVTs are in almost all cases more efficient than the same car with a manual gearbox.
[QUOTE=N.A.N.B;47150561]Wait, why do other countries still use stick-shift? Automatic is waaayyy easier.[/QUOTE]
Not only is a standard transmission more fun to drive, but it's often a hell of a lot cheaper to repair.
[QUOTE=Antdawg;47151118]This isn't necessarily true, cars equipped with CVTs are in almost all cases more efficient than the same car with a manual gearbox.[/QUOTE]
A CVT saps all semblance of soul out of a car, though.
[QUOTE=Prismatex;47151199]A CVT saps all semblance of soul out of a car, though.[/QUOTE]
boo hoo, 9 out of 10 people who drive cars do so out of necessity, not passion. Better that those 9 people are all driving cars which are as efficient as possible, than none of them.
Going along the lines of your argument anyways, a car such as a Tesla must have no soul at all considering they have quiet electric engines and don't have gearboxes? But Facepunch seems to have a collective boner for them?
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