Prevent carjacking? Drive manual...

"A Corvette owner carjacked at gunpoint managed to keep hold of his car after bungling thieves failed to work the manual gearstick and fled."

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...=feeds-newsxml

The guy picture is so the stereotype for a Corvette owner - 51 year old white guy, mullet, sleeveless shirt, and a gut.

Originally Posted by cwsqbm

The guy picture is so the stereotype for a Corvette owner - 51 year old white guy, mullet, sleeveless shirt, and a gut.

And look at the watch...lol. This guy is stuck in the 80s!

This is why I don't even lock my car doors.

Originally Posted by phoenixreborn

This is why I don't even lock my car doors.

+1
I didn't even have to worry about co-workers questioning me about borrowing my car.

I think the Post-It on the steering wheel are the manual gear driving instructions for the next hijacker. The guy doesn't want to take his chances to not get shot next time.

Whats with the Post-It on the center of the steering wheel?

Manuals are becoming extinct. I don't think you can get a Ferrari w/o the double-clutch semi-automatic.

Originally Posted by gpburdell

Whats with the Post-It on the center of the steering wheel?

Corvette performance mod.

This is the second time I've heard of this happening. Carjackers apparently don't all study how to drive stick...

Lmao, I'd be the one to get pistol whipped after laughing at the guy for not knowing how to drive stick.

Diehard 6MT guy here. Just another reason to buy a 6MT while I still can. I know the day when I cannot get one is fast approaching. Already happened on my latest acquisition (the x5M).

When did the X5 have a stick?

Originally Posted by GarySL

When did the X5 have a stick?

The V-8's didn't come in a stick. I was referring to my 530i. I've had a few co-workers jokingly ask to borrow it for the weekend. I seriously reply "can you drive a stick shif?" "No, but I know someone who can." Really?
Seems as if its not the thing anymore, especially with the younger crowd.
You can probably leave the doors wide open with the keys in a manual car today, and it'll sit there for hours.

Originally Posted by GarySL

When did the X5 have a stick?

E53. I had two of them. Discontinued for E70.

Originally Posted by Alpine300ZHP

E53. I had two of them. Discontinued for E70.

Thanks Alpine, the E53 with a stick seems to have been an awesome ride. I now understand your longing.

Originally Posted by GarySL

When did the X5 have a stick?

I didn't think x5 ever did. X3 took option out w redesign. audi doesn't have the option in q5.

Lame sauce.

Glad to have found my a4 in stick....god, I love driving her.

It amazes me how many people can not drive a MT any more. Wtf.

Originally Posted by boramkiv

The V-8's didn't come in a stick. I was referring to my 530i. I've had a few co-workers jokingly ask to borrow it for the weekend. I seriously reply "can you drive a stick shif?" "No, but I know someone who can." Really?
Seems as if its not the thing anymore, especially with the younger crowd.
You can probably leave the doors wide open with the keys in a manual car today, and it'll sit there for hours.

I remember when I found my 530i (2007) w a stick. I tried to act like I didn't care...car was great. I taught a couple of girlfriends how to drive stick in that- super easy (compared to my ///m roadster at least).

I'd always drive a stick if I could.

Why are sticks going the way of the dinosaur? I don't get it???

Originally Posted by SailinSand

I remember when I found my 530i (2007) w a stick. I tried to act like I didn't care...car was great. I taught a couple of girlfriends how to drive stick in that- super easy (compared to my ///m roadster at least).

I'd always drive a stick if I could.

Why are sticks going the way of the dinosaur? I don't get it???

Makes access to texting and other multi-media more difficult. Couple that with the fact that auto Trannys are getting better gas mileage and more "fun". In other countries they still dominate the roads though. 50+ year olds still flicking their wrist and popping that clutch like they're 20 years young. Seen it in Brazil.

Originally Posted by SailinSand

I remember when I found my 530i (2007) w a stick. I tried to act like I didn't care...car was great. I taught a couple of girlfriends how to drive stick in that- super easy (compared to my ///m roadster at least).

I'd always drive a stick if I could.

Why are sticks going the way of the dinosaur? I don't get it???

I think that most driving schools/education businesses are teaching on auto to minimize clutch replacement.

Back when I was in high school it took me forever to find a school that had a manual, didn't really help me much because the instructor had a set of brake and clutch pedals on his side and I didn't have to headbang my way through learning first and reverse. The first stick shift I drove after that was a family friend's 540i M-sport, I was hooked after that(once I figured out that reverse was on the other side).

Originally Posted by SailinSand

Why are sticks going the way of the dinosaur? I don't get it???

You called sir?

I Still drive a stick and have never owned an automatic - and I am into my sixth decade. Automatics are for old people....

Originally Posted by dynosor

You called sir?

I Still drive a stick and have never owned an automatic - and I am into my sixth decade. Automatics are for old people....

Same here. I'm going to drive stick as long as it's possible. For me it doesn't matter how good they make the automatics in terms of fuel efficiency, gears, smoothness of shifts, paddles etc. It's still an automatic and I can't regulate the clutch by myself and I don't have a stick to move around.

Here in Europe we can get MT with most car models. But I think that has to do with the fact that here you must pass your driving tests in a car with stick to get your license. So people start out driving stick from the beginning and that becomes the way of life. I have many friends and family who don't know how you drive an automatic (!!) and get panicked when they don't have a clutch to push.

If you go to say Hertz or Avis here and rent a car, 90 % of al available cars will have stick.

Originally Posted by dynosor

i still drive a stick and have never owned an automatic - and i am into my sixth decade. Automatics are for old people....

+1

Our '01 X5 is a 5 spd manual, (though I envy the later 6 speed), and our '02 VetteVert is a 6 speed...

Originally Posted by motordavid

Our '01 X5 is a 5 spd manual, (though I envy the later 6 speed), and our '02 VetteVert is a 6 speed...

Yep. You sir have a carbon copy of the 2002 E53 x5 that I used to own (color and all). Then got another later when the lease was up on that one. By the time I got rid of x5 number two you could no longer get a manual transmission in those cars. It was good while it lasted. As another member mentioned it was only available on the 3.0 motor.