Dumb Criminals of the Day: Carjackers failed to steal Corvette because they couldn't drive stick. - Polidicks

I can't believe that there are people who can drive automatic but not manual. It's either obligatory to learn manual here in Britain, or everyone does it anyway.

[QUOTE=Generic.Monk;39413072]really? I only think I've been in a car with automatic transmission once or twice [/QUOTE] my dad owns a manual and my friend owns a manual other than that i rarely ever see manuals.

[QUOTE=Hellduck;39416377]I can't believe that there are people who can drive automatic but not manual. It's either obligatory to learn manual here in Britain, or everyone does it anyway.[/QUOTE] Aye but that's because automatics are for poofs.

[QUOTE=Protocol7;39415766]OK, I can understand not being [I]good[/I] at driving a stick, but being completely foreign to the idea of a manual? I'm an American with an automatic car and even I can drive a stick. I'm not great at it, but I can do it, and I certainly have.[/QUOTE] I'm pretty shit with stick, but I'm newer at driving and like my automatic. It's a simple concept, you release the clutch and go forward, and adjust the right gear. but I've not gotten it down. Not even knowing what the hell manual is? How can you even be so isolated?

I tried learning a manual once. I don't think I ever went further than 10 feet.

manuals are only fun in fast cars, autos are way better in every other situation

[QUOTE=Zeke129;39411293]please stop doing math this thread is about cars[/QUOTE] You're a gremlin and criminals are station wagons.

[QUOTE=NuclearAnnhilation;39416783]manuals are only fun in fast cars, autos are way better in every other situation[/QUOTE] Better? No, more comfortable? Sure. [editline]30th January 2013[/editline] [QUOTE=Hiccuper;39416073]I know a girl who drives an automatic here in Ireland, and she describes it as a big go-kart. She never took a single driving lesson or anything and she's absolutely fine. The downside is she's going to have to take her test again if she gets a manual.[/QUOTE] "Big go-kart" is probably the best description of automatic cars I've ever heard

I hate manuals if only because there's always that jackass who rolls back and bumps into you when they're leaving their parking space or starting on a hill.

[QUOTE=Zeke129;39417214]I hate manuals if only because there's always that jackass who rolls back and bumps into you when they're leaving their parking space or starting on a hill.[/QUOTE] i hate assholes that pull up within a centimeter of my car on steep hills >:(

I honestly don't know how not everyone knows how to drive with a manual transmission. It MAY be cubbersome, but it feels soo nice... I'd love to try semi-auto transmissions though. Those paddles look fun to say the least.

[QUOTE=Zeke129;39417214]I hate manuals if only because there's always that jackass who rolls back and bumps into you when they're leaving their parking space or starting on a hill.[/QUOTE] You hate manuals because there are drivers who can't handle them?

I drive manual and I've always wondered what would happen if someone tried to carjack me and they couldn't drive stick. Though I drive an old CR-V, not a Corvette, so I doubt I'm much of a target.

[QUOTE=postmanX3;39417629]i hate assholes that pull up within a centimeter of my car on steep hills >:([/QUOTE] I leave enough room to see the driver in front's rear license plate every time I stop There's no excuse for rolling back 4+ feet

I have to say, driving manual feels really nice, especially if you are on an open, clear road with plenty of room to just cruise and not give enough fucks. But in inner-cities and small winding roads they are a pain sometimes. Deciding whether or not to change gear on a country road was one of the most annoying parts of my learning to drive :v: Automatics are quite nice to drive if you don't feel like thinking too much, but otherwise, they aren't quite as fun. It just seems really weird to me to see a country where so many people don't seem to know how to drive manual, to the point being able to seems to almost be counted as an achievement. It's not hard once you get used to it, it becomes second nature.

[QUOTE=Zeke129;39417214]I hate manuals if only because there's always that jackass who rolls back and bumps into you when they're leaving their parking space or starting on a hill.[/QUOTE] You fail your driver's license test if the car rolls backwards here in Norway.

[QUOTE=Carne;39420132]You fail your driver's license test if the car rolls backwards here in Norway.[/QUOTE] Good

[QUOTE=Catdaemon;39413210]Why do you have to push the clutch the start the car? I've never heard of that. Maybe they left it in gear - the greatest anti-theft (and conveniently anti-roll) strategy of all time.[/QUOTE] Neutral safety switch. Gotta push the clutch ALLLLLLL the way in to start it.

Driving Automatic is just tedious to me. [editline]1st February 2013[/editline] And it seems to be the trend in America. Why is that?

No idea how to drive manual, and will probably never learn either.

[QUOTE=Carne;39420132]You fail your driver's license test if the car rolls backwards here in Norway.[/QUOTE] In here, you fail the test if you don't switch to the lane to your right whenever you can. Thats what happened to the guy who did the test before me. 5 mins after he started, he was told to stop. You also fail if you don't use the hand brake at the end of the test or if someone gives you permission to pass and you do it when it should be you who has to give permission. Even if someone is friendly enough to wait for you to pass. [editline]1st February 2013[/editline] [QUOTE=POLOPOZOZO;39440181]No idea how to drive manual, and will probably never learn either.[/QUOTE] I drive a manual. Truth be told, it can be tricky in the first few days but then it just starts being a normal thing. Easiest way to learn would be in a diesel engine. If you let go the clutch completely (with the usual care) the car will start moving slowly on its own without stalling or needing a bit of acceleration to get it going.

The place where I work (a car wash) specifically looks for people who know how to drive manual cars; it is actually pretty rare here in America. If not rare, at least unusual for the young people in this area. I love driving stick because it actually feels like I'm in a machine: in a manual car you can feel the whole thing shuddering and the gears twisting and grinding, it's wonderful if you're a fan of steampunk art or themes. [editline]1st February 2013[/editline] [QUOTE=*Freezorg*;39440083]Driving Automatic is just tedious to me. [editline]1st February 2013[/editline] And it seems to be the trend in America. Why is that?[/QUOTE] How is it tedious? It's literally doing all of the work for you, all you have to do is press down on a pedal- not even that. If it's in gear it'll start moving in the direction of the gear to begin with, without even needing to step on the gas.

[QUOTE=demoguy08;39418419]You hate manuals because there are drivers who can't handle them?[/QUOTE] No he hates manuals because he doesn't observe safe driving and stopping distances :P That said a good driver should never let a car roll of a hill since you should know how much gas to give.

[QUOTE=Zeke129;39417214]I hate manuals if only because there's always that jackass who rolls back and bumps into you when they're leaving their parking space or starting on a hill.[/QUOTE] if you can't see their tires you're too close

Learning on a manual is required in the EU otherwise you're not legally allowed to drive manual (but you can still drive automatics). Basically, most who've actually taken driving lessons in the UK and Europe learns on a manual and then can drive either.

[QUOTE=ButtsexV3;39445660]if you can't see their tires you're too close[/QUOTE] Or in the case of really low slung cars, cars with low hanging rear bumpers, and when you're driving something really high up, their license plate. I've found that, since my vehicle's so tall(My eye level in the driver's seat is about two inches higher than it is when I'm standing on the ground, and I'm just over 6' tall!), stopping where the bottom of a bumper mounted license plate is at the top of my hood puts me about ten feet away on average, which is useful when I'm coming up on a low slung car. [QUOTE=Rocâ„¢;39440273] You also fail if you don't use the hand brake at the end of the test[/quote] I would be absolutely fucked then. My parking brake hasn't worked since I bought my truck in 2006, and fixing it required spending a couple hundred bucks that'd be better spent on more important systems. [quote] I drive a manual. Truth be told, it can be tricky in the first few days but then it just starts being a normal thing.[/quote] Yeah. For me, within six months, it was entirely subconcious. I never had to think "Ok, I'm coming to a stop. Clutch in, first gear." My left leg and right hand just did those things automatically, and even to this day they still do. Nowadays, if I notice the clutch at all, it's usually "..is it chattering?..ehh...maybe a bit...silly old truck". [quote] Easiest way to learn would be in a diesel engine. If you let go the clutch completely (with the usual care) the car will start moving slowly on its own without stalling or needing a bit of acceleration to get it going.[/QUOTE] Or a large cube gas motor. In America it's very common for the only vehicles that have manuals to also have V8s. These V8s chuck out far more torque at idle than the diesels to which you refer can, so they will effortlessly take off without any throttle input. Older I6s also do this, hell the 4.9L I6 I have has a powerband that would be familiar to any diesel driver. Peak torque is at 1600RPM, for example, and she's out of puff at just 3500. Redline? 4100. It doesn't care that it's lugging 5500 pounds of American iron around on gearing that sees first gear top out at 35MPH, it will happily get things going at idle. I love that engine. Really the only cars that [i]won't[/i] take off at idle without throttle input are the small 4-pot gas commuter cars. [QUOTE=POLOPOZOZO;39440181]No idea how to drive manual, and will probably never learn either.[/QUOTE] You need to know it. It doesn't matter if you never use that skill again, you never know when life will force a third pedal on you, and if you don't know what to do with it you're fucked. [QUOTE=*Freezorg*;39440083]Driving Automatic is just tedious to me. [editline]1st February 2013[/editline] And it seems to be the trend in America. Why is that?[/QUOTE] Lazy people. [QUOTE=Carne;39420132]You fail your driver's license test if the car rolls backwards here in Norway.[/QUOTE] Even a few inches? It's positively unavoidable in my truck, it's going to roll backwards no matter what you do unless you like doing drop-clutch burnouts on every hill start. Foot operated parking brakes make it difficult to use that trick, and heel+toe is possible but not perfect. I've gotten the technique down to where it will only roll back about half a foot, but still. [QUOTE=Led Zeppelin;39419117] Though I drive an old CR-V, not a Corvette, so I doubt I'm much of a target.[/QUOTE] Thieves love hondas, bro. [QUOTE=postmanX3;39417629]i hate assholes that pull up within a centimeter of my car on steep hills >:([/QUOTE] I just use those people as a chock for the hill start :v: [QUOTE=NuclearAnnhilation;39416783]manuals are only fun in fast cars, autos are way better in every other situation[/QUOTE] Having a stickshift is what makes the differecen between 12MPG and 17MPG for me. An '85 F150, 4x2, 4.9L I6, automatic will get about 9 city 14 highway when the clock rolls over 300,000 miles. A granny four version will get about 12 city and 15 highway, but only if you're on the interstate. The gearing has the engine screaming along, at 70MPH it's about 3500RPM or so. If you stick to 55MPH backroads, these configurations will fetch you about 20MPG highway. The overdrive manual I have nets me about 12 city and 20 highway, all while roaring along at 75MPH. Driving stick is a HUGE moneysaver, especially if you have a larger displacement engine. Oh, and should I also mention that manual gearboxes last longer? My OD 4-speed has 300K miles on it and it shifts as smoothly as a brand new car, it stays in gear, it comes out of gear easily when you're changing up/down, and all five gears work flawlessly. The synchros on the forward gears still work!...reverse never had a synchro. There is literally nothing wrong with my transmission, it works flawlessly. I've honestly never heard of a manual gearbox just "wearing out", they only fail because of abuse or manufacturer defect. Automatics, however? Yeah they're made of wear-and-tear parts. Good luck getting one to live much past 200K before the clutches and bands inside the thing are toast. [QUOTE=DrogenViech;39415725]I've never driven an automatic yet, are manual transmission cars that rare in the US? Manuals are the most common cars in germany :S[/QUOTE] They are indeed. It makes it annoying for someone like me, who refuses to drive automatics, to buy a car in the US. If I'm buying new, I cannot buy: Pickup trucks SUVs Minivans most sedans most hatchbacks most performance cars(They increasing substitute a flappy paddle box for a manual) If I'm in the market for new wheels I don't even bother looking at anything newer than 2001 or so, because I already know I'm not gonna find anything with a manual in it beyond that point. That's fine with me since I think modern cars are hideous and I do my own work, so it works out anyway, but still. [QUOTE=Priori;39415596]Manual isn't hard to drive at all, it's also funner. Shame so few people seem to know how to use them.[/QUOTE] Better city mileage too, and everything will last longer. [QUOTE=willer;39413961]Not really newer cars imo. I have a 1998 ranger, I almost laughed out loud when the person I bought it from tried to start it again without pushing in the clutch. He started cursing at it and wondering why it wasn't getting gas.[/quote] My '85 F150 has a clutch safety switch on it. 27 years old and the starter won't engage if the clutch pedal isn't on the floor. These switches have been around for decades.

Wonder why this haven't been posted yet [video=youtube;F6Y3NVe5Y1o]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F6Y3NVe5Y1o[/video]

[QUOTE=Petrussen;39452510]Wonder why this haven't been posted yet[/QUOTE]That truck is so adorable! :D

I don't even have a car license yet and I can drive stick. Sort of.

[QUOTE=willer;39443329] How is it tedious? It's literally doing all of the work for you, all you have to do is press down on a pedal- not even that. If it's in gear it'll start moving in the direction of the gear to begin with, without even needing to step on the gas.[/QUOTE] That's exactly why it's tedious. It's doing all the work for me. I don't want the car to drive itself. [editline]4th February 2013[/editline] [QUOTE=NuclearAnnhilation;39416783]manuals are only fun in fast cars, autos are way better in every other situation[/QUOTE] I have never read such utter nonsense.