# The Best Reason Ever to Drive a Stick Shift! **URL:** \ **Category:** General Discussion\ **Tags:** panoz, esperante\ **Created:** [April 11, 2011, 2:10am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/the-best-reason-ever-to-drive-a-stick-shift/63581 "2011-04-11T02:10:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Whitey](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/whitey/32/24680_2.png) [@Whitey](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Whitey)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2011, 2:10am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/the-best-reason-ever-to-drive-a-stick-shift/63581/1 "2011-04-11T02:10:09Z")
If you happen to need a good reason to drive a stick shift, here it is: ---
**Author:** ![Whitey](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/whitey/32/24680_2.png) [@Whitey](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Whitey)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2011, 2:11am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/the-best-reason-ever-to-drive-a-stick-shift/63581/2 "2011-04-11T02:11:06Z")
Darn. Sorry about the commercial at the beginning. ---
**Author:** ![mcparadise](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mcparadise/32/32_2.png) [@mcparadise](https://community.cartalk.com/u/mcparadise)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2011, 3:09am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/the-best-reason-ever-to-drive-a-stick-shift/63581/3 "2011-04-11T03:09:58Z")
Well, you should apologize for the commercial, but the whole thing is pretty lame. Why is this worth TV news? Must have been a slow day. “Best reason ever?” I don’t think so. Others may have a different opinion. ---
**Author:** ![Rod-Knox](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a183cd/32.png) [@Rod-Knox](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Rod-Knox)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2011, 3:21am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/the-best-reason-ever-to-drive-a-stick-shift/63581/4 "2011-04-11T03:21:02Z")
I would hope that a car jacking would get some special attention here. Interrupt whatever is on the radio and give the report and hope that the hoodlums were quickly in custody. ---
**Author:** ![mark9207](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71c47a/32.png) [@mark9207](https://community.cartalk.com/u/mark9207)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2011, 3:56am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/the-best-reason-ever-to-drive-a-stick-shift/63581/5 "2011-04-11T03:56:12Z")
I have heard of the same situation happening before, in which case someone tries to steal a car, but can’t drive it because it’s a stick shift. In one such case, it ended up turning into a carjacking/kidnapping because the thief forced the vehicle owner to stay in the car and drive it for them. ---
**Author:** ![Whitey](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/whitey/32/24680_2.png) [@Whitey](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Whitey)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2011, 4:17am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/the-best-reason-ever-to-drive-a-stick-shift/63581/6 "2011-04-11T04:17:31Z")
I don’t know about you, mcparadise, but I like living in a place where a car jacking is newsworthy, and not an everyday occurrence. ---
**Author:** ![Wha-Who](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/9f8e36/32.png) [@Wha-Who](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Wha-Who)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2011, 4:34am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/the-best-reason-ever-to-drive-a-stick-shift/63581/7 "2011-04-11T04:34:26Z")
When in Baton Rouge, we have eaten well at Boutin’s (Cajun with live music) and Parrain’s (seafood). The car has automatic door locks but Baton Rouge does not at all seem like a bad place. ---
**Author:** ![MikeInNH](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a587f6/32.png) [@MikeInNH](https://community.cartalk.com/u/MikeInNH)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2011, 1:13pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/the-best-reason-ever-to-drive-a-stick-shift/63581/8 "2011-04-11T13:13:08Z")
> I don’t know about you, mcparadise, but I like living in a place where a car jacking is newsworthy, and not an everyday occurrence. Yea me too…Car jacking in NH is RARE…but in NY it happens almost every day. ---
**Author:** ![Bladecutter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/aeb1de/32.png) [@Bladecutter](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Bladecutter)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2011, 3:36pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/the-best-reason-ever-to-drive-a-stick-shift/63581/9 "2011-04-11T15:36:44Z")
And when that happens, you go as fast as you can into the nearest tree, light pole, or fire hydrant. Chances are the bad guys aren’t wearing seat belts, and aren’t going to be in much shape after the impact. Then you can beat what ever is left of their face in with their gun. BC. ---
**Author:** ![ken\_green](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/ken_green/32/816_2.png) [@ken\_green](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ken_green)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2011, 5:21pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/the-best-reason-ever-to-drive-a-stick-shift/63581/10 "2011-04-11T17:21:55Z")
I kind of agree with the potential kidnapping aspect of such an act, but a carjacking could go either way in all cases. Yikes ! But here’s a reason I use ONLY the ignition key to drive with and not the entire chain full of house, work, remotes, and additional car’s keys. The ignition key is on a quick-release junction and all the rest of my keys stay safely in my pocket. If I were forced out of the truck ( carjacking or on the spot police impound ) they would not have access to my whole life at their fingertips. ---
**Author:** ![Whitey](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/whitey/32/24680_2.png) [@Whitey](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Whitey)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2011, 5:38pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/the-best-reason-ever-to-drive-a-stick-shift/63581/11 "2011-04-11T17:38:53Z")
At least if you have a stick shift, you might have a chance to run before the carjacker realizes the car has a manual transmission. In a very cooperative manner, you can get out of the car, offer the guy your wallet, and when he turns to get in the car, bolt in the opposite direction. ---
**Author:** ![ken\_green](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/ken_green/32/816_2.png) [@ken\_green](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ken_green)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2011, 5:41pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/the-best-reason-ever-to-drive-a-stick-shift/63581/12 "2011-04-11T17:41:05Z")
Yes, it had to have been quite funny to see their angst at being faced with the stick shift. If only there were video of THAT :)) But then there’s the danger of the “nothing to steal” syndrome a lot of thieves get. If they can’t take it or anything in it of value…They completely F it up and leave it for you damaged. ( this happend to my 78 Cordoba. when they found nothing to steal thay sliced up all the upholstery and broke windows. ) ---
**Author:** ![dagosa](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/dagosa/32/9837_2.png) [@dagosa](https://community.cartalk.com/u/dagosa)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2011, 6:11pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/the-best-reason-ever-to-drive-a-stick-shift/63581/13 "2011-04-11T18:11:19Z")
That fine Corinthian leather ? Recardo must have been upset ! ---
**Author:** ![bscar](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/bscar/32/34_2.png) [@bscar](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bscar)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2011, 9:34pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/the-best-reason-ever-to-drive-a-stick-shift/63581/14 "2011-04-11T21:34:52Z")
While I’ve never driven stick, I do want to learn. I’ve toyed with the idea of buying a $500 beater car to learn on. I also wish I could’ve gotten my current ride with a stick, would make it that much more fun to drive. ---
**Author:** ![realbinky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a87d85/32.png) [@realbinky](https://community.cartalk.com/u/realbinky)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2011, 9:40pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/the-best-reason-ever-to-drive-a-stick-shift/63581/15 "2011-04-11T21:40:11Z")
Its one of those skills everyone should have, even if you rarely use it. ---
**Author:** ![doubleclutch](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/doubleclutch/32/1281_2.png) [@doubleclutch](https://community.cartalk.com/u/doubleclutch)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2011, 9:46pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/the-best-reason-ever-to-drive-a-stick-shift/63581/16 "2011-04-11T21:46:00Z")
I have a better reason yet: My (insert relative who is a lousy driver here) can’t borrow it! Frankly, I think armed car-jackers, as well as armed robbers, burglars, and rapists, should be shot by their would-be victims on the spot. ---
**Author:** ![Whitey](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/whitey/32/24680_2.png) [@Whitey](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Whitey)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2011, 11:23pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/the-best-reason-ever-to-drive-a-stick-shift/63581/17 "2011-04-11T23:23:41Z")
bscar, if you ever come to Florida, I will teach you on my car. ---
**Author:** ![Wha-Who](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/9f8e36/32.png) [@Wha-Who](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Wha-Who)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2011, 1:45am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/the-best-reason-ever-to-drive-a-stick-shift/63581/18 "2011-04-12T01:45:46Z")
Sure and leave my wife and dog in the car. ---
**Author:** ![Scrabbler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f04885/32.png) [@Scrabbler](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Scrabbler)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2011, 4:09am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/the-best-reason-ever-to-drive-a-stick-shift/63581/19 "2011-04-12T04:09:00Z")
That actually happened to me. No harm done, ultimately, but a 20-30 minute ride with someone pointing a gun at you is no fun. Scrabbler ---
**Author:** ![B.L.E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/848f3c/32.png) [@B.L.E](https://community.cartalk.com/u/B.L.E)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2011, 10:43am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/the-best-reason-ever-to-drive-a-stick-shift/63581/20 "2011-04-12T10:43:46Z")
If you have to start it with a crank, there’s a good chance that nobody will try to car-jack it. [Next page](https://community.cartalk.com/t/the-best-reason-ever-to-drive-a-stick-shift/63581.md?page=2)