What's that third pedal?

Foiled by a manual transmission

FOUNTAIN HILL, Pa. — Police in eastern Pennsylvania said two men tried to rob and carjack a pizza delivery driver but were defeated by the vehicle's standard transmission. Fountain Hill police said the Domino's Pizza driver had stopped at a red light early Friday when a man ran up to the vehicle from the rear and grabbed her by the throat and shirt. He demanded money while a second man tried to open the passenger door.Police said the driver reported that the men fled after making a reference to the manual transmission. Investigators did not say whether they escaped with any money from the driver.

I heard a story about a woman that was carjacked in her own driveway. The perps coulnt drive a gear box and ran off after stalling about three times.

Just another in the list of great reasons to own a proper transmission.

mith612 wrote: Just another in the list of great reasons to own a proper firearm.

fixed

I deliver pizzas and one of the reasons I drive a car with a manual transmission is the idea that no one will steal it.

I went to a press event at a fancy-schmancy resort a while ago. Drove up in a Mustang GT. Valet parking was taking all media cars away to a lot somewhere near Siberia. Not one of the valet staff could drive a stick.

I left my car in the front lot and was able to make a nice quick getaway instead of waiting around for someone to bring it to me.

Isn't that a requirement to be a valet?

In reply to Tommy Suddard:

Not when you practically have to order a manual transmission these days.

Lesley wrote: I went to a press event at a fancy-schmancy resort a while ago. Drove up in a Mustang GT. Valet parking was taking all media cars away to a lot somewhere near Siberia. Not one of the valet staff could drive a stick. I left my car in the front lot and was able to make a nice quick getaway instead of waiting around for someone to bring it to me.

Wouldn't that be a job requirement? It was for me.

I really dislike valet services for the most part (even though I am one). We were staying at a hotel that offered valet. We had two cars there. They were all out of regular spots, so we valeted one car, and went out in the other. We came back and saw a spot right in front of the door. We parked there (there was no sign suggesting we couldn't), and the valet drivers got all pissed at us saying we couldn't park there, it was for valet only. That made no sense whatsoever, it was literally the closest spot to the door. Still parked there, though.

sad to say we are getting too lazy to use the left foot and move the shifter at the same time.

Good to know most thieves cannot drive any of my cars

My dipE36 M3 neighbor learned how to drive a stick while changing oil at Wally World. He told me an amusing story about driving a car and oops, forgot that drain plug refill part.

That was 15 years ago, he hasn't worked since....

My very best valet experience was at a swank manufacturer's Christmas dinner for media. It was a non-press car week for me, so I took my truck. I loved the look on everyone's faces after dinner, waiting for valets to bring cars around... you could hear the "thump, thump, thump" of the cam before my ole pickup came into view. I don't think anyone knew just what in heck was coming

I'm sure the valet was impressed... then again, maybe it was the most interesting thing he parked all night.

Lesley wrote: My very best valet experience was at a swank manufacturer's Christmas dinner for media......

Lesley wrote: I went to a press event at a fancy-schmancy resort a while ago........

With all that swanky fancy schmancy stuff, if you ever run out of accomplices, er I mean escorts, I'll volunteer. It's been eons since I put on the ritz.........

Sure!

mad_machine wrote: sad to say we are getting too lazy to use the left foot and move the shifter at the same time. Good to know most thieves cannot drive any of my cars

True.

What's fun is when you take a car that originally had an automatic and swap it out for a manual trans. I owned an '87 Cutlass that came with an auto. The previous owner had broken reverse gear somehow so a friend and I switched it out with a 3-speed manual from a late 70's Cutlass. When the car was done, it had 4 pedals and 2 shifters. There was the parking brake, clutch , brake and gas pedals. We kept the column shift because we forgot to changed the back up lights, and the key would only work if the car was in "park". The car also had a bench seat with a floor mounted shifter for the manual trans.I'd take the car everywhere just to see the looks on the mechanics faces when they tried to drive it.

In reply to hotrodlarry:

Friend of mine had an elcamino that went the other way. It started life as a four speed, but at some point an auto with column shift was swapped into it and you had to push the clutch pedal to start it. I've got no idea why they wouldn't have put a floor shifter in, but rednecks are weird sometimes.