If you need another reason to purchase a manual transmission in your next car instead of an automatic, here it is: the population of carjackers who know how to drive a stick is apparently in decline. A St. Petersburg, FL man and his girlfriend learned this firsthand when the pair was approached by two would-be carjackers.
The robbers produced a handgun and ordered the victims out of the car. Next, they demanded cash and a cell phone, before jumping into the car for an escape. As Left Lane News and the St. Petersburg Times explain, that’s where things started going wrong for the robbers. The car, a 2007 Nissan, had a manual transmission, which thoroughly baffled the criminal duo. Unable to drive the victim’s car, the rookie robbers were forced to make their escape on foot.
Also, don’t forget that you can get discounted new car pricing with a free quote through qualified local dealer partners.
I say we start lobbying insurance companies for steep discounts on manual transmission cars. They require a higher level of awareness behind the wheel, and since driving a stick requires using your right hand to shift, texting while driving is nearly impossible. Even talking on a hand-held cell phone is difficult, which encourages manual transmission drivers to use a Bluetooth device. We can now add “reduces theft” to the list of benefits, so who’s with me on this?
Kurt Ernst has been passionate about automobiles and driving nearly his entire life. His early years were shaped working in the family service station, though his real passion was auto racing. After graduating from the University of Colorado, Kurt spent a year club racing with the Sports Car Club of America, before focusing on a business career in marketing and project management. Later, his passion for writing and the automotive hobby found him freelancing for a variety of automotive news sites, including Automotive Addicts and Motor Authority, where his work was syndicated and appeared in several national publications. Recognized as an expert in the automotive field, Kurt joined Hemmings Motor News as an Associate Editor in 2013, and in the years since has progressed to Editor, Hemmings Daily; Managing Editor for Hemmings Motor News, Hemmings Classic Car, Hemmings Muscle Machines, and the Hemmings Daily; and now, Managing Editor, Hemmings Auctions. Kurt was instrumental in organizing the Hemmings Motor News Concours d’Elegance from 2013-2019, and has served as a judge at this event and The Vintage Racing Stable Concours d’Elegance. A Skip Barber Racing School graduate and prolific writer, Ernst is also skilled in copyediting, project management, brand development, and public relations.
