Are We There Yet?

For at least two crooks, that time has already arrived. I read about a bank robbery just a couple years ago in a big city where the two young crooks came running out of the bank, carjacked a vehicle in front of the bank, and after ejecting the driver, were unable to speed away because the car they had stolen had a stick shift - and neither Dillinger-wannabe knew how to drive a stick-shift car. The cops yanked them out the car, still trying to figure out how to make the car go forward between gears in neutral. "What's that pedal on the left for???" I can imagine the laughter that followed when they were arraigned in court. It's one thing to be stupid. It's quite another to be CRMINALLY stupid!
Marshall
 
Pretty darn close.

But get this. I was a show and a 16 year old kid asked me what was that was on my door. I said what do you mean, and he pointed to it. This kid had never seen a window crank. Amazing, now ask him to crank start it and shift it. Duh.
 
My wife was car jacked by a guy with a gun, got out left the keys in the ignition and ran away. Police caught the guy still in the parking lot because he could not drive a stick.
Dan
 
Years ago I was at the JD dealer scoping out parts for an engine rebuild,when the owners son walked up and asked if I could move my truck,they were changing the displays in front of it.The parts man I was working with said,I'll bet you $100.that Keith left the keys in it.I said,move it wherever you want,I'll find it when I come out.A few minutes later the kid was standing behind me,but not saying anything.I asked if he had moved it,he said I can't,it's a standard.19 year old kid whose daddy owned the tractor dealership,and couldn't drive a stick.Actually,I'm seeing more and more kids driving sticks.Theyre in these 5 and 6 speed things that are little rocket ships.A driving instructor we know told us that might even be seeing more girls than boys taking the stick course.He said only a minute number of students don't take the stick course.
 
nkaminar said:
Driving a stick shift makes you smarter. That would explain why there are so many stupid drivers out on the road driving automatics.

https://www.jalopnik.com/2206392/driving-manual-makes-your-brain-healthy-study/?utm_content=JP-NL-TOP-3&utm_source=convertkit&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=%F0%9F%8F%86%205%20Car%20Rental%20Companies%20That%20Have%20Solid%20Ratings%20And%20Cool%20Cars%20-%2022546414&sh_kit=63ba4d082f25676f30c39d1538837f114a075b634ed47f72df66919564370bd0
Click to expand...

It sure would make everyone come to a complete stop at stops signs if they had a non-synchro first gear. Most around here just roll thru the stop (when they even slow down for a stop).
 
Last year leaving Hershey I stopped at a diner for lunch. After ordering I pulled out my map just to check my route. A young puzzled waitress asked ....
'What is that ?'

The thumb tweedlers don't have the necessary attention span to operate cars.
 
There was a point, somewhere in the mid 20th century, where even the farm kids didn’t know how to saddle and bridle a horse anymore.
 
Last week here, there was a clip shown on the nightly news service of an idiot trying to escape in a modern car. The hand brake was on and he didn't know how to release it. The car was front wheel drive and the brake was on the rear wheels. As he tried to get away, the car looked like a dog with worms but I doubt he would even know what that means.
The lack of smarts doesn't stop at the gear shft.
 
Some Nashes started by key, then pulling the column shift towards you.
At least one brand (can recall which) had the starter button under the throttle pedal. You floored it to crank the starter. Not sure how well this worked in practice.
 
A mid 50's Buick is started by flooring the gas pedal. It took me a while to figure that out when working on a friend's car.
 
My 54 Studebaker started by stomping the clutch pedal to the floor.The present owner has it for sale right now on Mass. FB marketplace,and there is a picture in the ad that shows the pedal and starter button.
 
Soon a decal will be required to meet the full disclosure terms of a sale.
 

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There has been a rumor going around in N.H. for years that if you got your license in an automatic,that's what you were restricted to.Not really true.That is an E restriction,marked on your license,and is for the operation of COMMERCIAL vehicles,not your everyday vehicle.However,if you look it up the AI answers just shows the restriction for all vehicles.The state of N.H. DMV shows and states this very clearly,but for some reason AI just passes it by.
 
David in San Antonio said:
Some Nashes started by key, then pulling the column shift towards you.
At least one brand (can recall which) had the starter button under the throttle pedal. You floored it to crank the starter. Not sure how well this worked in practice.
Click to expand...

Buick. Worked very well in fact.
 
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