Carjackers can't drive a stick?

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/strange/floriduh-blog/sfl-flduh-stick-shift-20130619,0,3395237.story

Heeheehee.

We drive manuals because we know they won't get away.

Shocking.

"Chief Keef" Really?

I've read similar stories before. We should get a discount on our auto insurance for having a 'theft deterrent'

there was a story posted on the mx6 boards a long time ago where a girl and her boyfriend stopped at the bank, boyfriend hops out to get cash, leaving the car running. guy jumps in the car to steal it not knowing GF is still in the car. guy starts to try to take off but can't drive a stick, says a few choice words to her about it, at which point she cracks him in the nose with the maglite stored in the passenger door pocket.

Did he try to carjack a woman, or carjack a car?

Car thieves that can't drive, journalists who can't write, what's the world coming to??

JoeyM wrote: "Chief Keef" Really?

After a few "rounds" in prison he'll be called "Chief Queef"

There's the classic about the NY Car thieves who couldn't figure out how to start the Saab 900 they wanted to heist.

Sounds familiar . . . Same thing happened to me. Tried to steal the uhaul trailer, but found it locked to my truck . . . Tried to steal the truck, but couldn't drive manual . . .

So instead they stole my tool kit, road side emergency kit, an umbrella and $5 in ones . . . But left me with $400 repair bill for trashing ignition cylinder and steering column

I have a double security system in my car- I have a 5spd knob from Japan on my 6spd ms3. Even if you have a clue how to drive a manual, good berkeleying luck finding reverse unless I tell you where it is. Nose parked in- you aren't getting it out. So far i've tricked two mazda service techs and my alignment guys with it. About the only thing funnier is watching people try and put the MINI in reverse, those of you with a Cooper S will know what I mean. I had a guy who was storing the car for me have to PUSH it because he couldn't figure reverse out. And I've never seen him own an automatic car.

In reply to mndsm:

Its been awhile, is it the knob pushed down or a collar pulled up.....I can't remember for sure. I remember it wasn't unusual at the time though.

Neither can the Valet at Cleveland Clinic

yamaha wrote: In reply to mndsm: Its been awhile, is it the knob pushed down or a collar pulled up.....I can't remember for sure. I remember it wasn't unusual at the time though.

push the knob down and left past the 1-2 gate, then forward. wasn't uncommon on cars then, even less uncommon now that all manual mazda3's are 6-speed with the same setup.

you just gave me the ultimate idea how to keep my Rover from being stolen. I should just leave the transfer case in neutral when parked in questionable areas

mad_machine wrote: you just gave me the ultimate idea how to keep my Rover from being stolen. I should just leave the transfer case in neutral when parked in questionable areas

just don't forget to set the parking brake- another thing that would confuse the hell out of them...

Strizzo wrote:

yamaha wrote: In reply to mndsm: Its been awhile, is it the knob pushed down or a collar pulled up.....I can't remember for sure. I remember it wasn't unusual at the time though.

push the knob down and left past the 1-2 gate, then forward. wasn't uncommon on cars then, even less uncommon now that all manual mazda3's are 6-speed with the same setup.

But your opportunistic thief is going to see the 5 speed pattern down and to the right- and hit it a few times, kill the car- and run.

novaderrik wrote:

mad_machine wrote: you just gave me the ultimate idea how to keep my Rover from being stolen. I should just leave the transfer case in neutral when parked in questionable areas

just don't forget to set the parking brake- another thing that would confuse the hell out of them...

Yes!

An acquaintance who lives in a "rough" neighborhood had the experience of someone trying to jack his 10 year old Honda Accord while he was in his driveway. Knowing it wasn't worth getting beaten or killed over, he got out and offered the thief the car. The thief got in, took one look at the console, then hopped out and ran away. My acquaintance figured this guy hadn't even seen a manual shift before based on his reaction to it.

When I got my Impala back to the states I was going to make a sign for ir that read:

"This is NOT an automatic transmission. This is a column shift, three-speed, manual, transmission. If you do not know how to drive a column shift, three-speed, manual, transmission then please do not destroy it by trying to steal this car.

Respectfully, The Owner"

Hungary Bill wrote: When I got my Impala back to the states I was going to make a sign for ir that read: "This is NOT an automatic transmission. This is a column shift, three-speed, manual, transmission. If you do not know how to drive a column shift, three-speed, manual, transmission then please do not destroy it by trying to steal this car. Respectfully, The Owner"

you do know that even car thieves have smartphones that allow them to google the shift pattern of that kind of a car, right?

In reply to novaderrik:

Most car thieves just drag it on a flat bed when you aren't home and deal with the details later. If they're that smart about it anyways.

My local vinyl guy/autocrosser made decals that have a manual shift pattern with "This vehicle is equipped with an anti-theft device". Google SSC Tint & Graphics if you want to get one for yourself.

My truck is the ultimate anti-theft vehicle: 3 speed manual on the column. Nobody knows how to drive one of those anymore.

I learned on a 4 sp on the column

and didn't the old VW's have push down and shift sorta towards 2nd ?

Most Euro cars still have Reverse located Up-L. Oddly enough, I noticed the FRZ has that pattern as well. Every other Asian car I've seen is Down-Right.

I'll have to try the "theft-deterrent" quip on my insurance agent the next time I talk to him. That'll probably get a chuckle.