9 August 2018

Stick shift deters thieves

There are lots of reasons why people might prefer manual to automatic transmissions, writes Brian Byrne. Cost, economy, perceived more 'sporty' driving are among them.

But a woman in Nashville, Tennessee, USA, has another reason. Theft deterrent.

Two teenagers who tried to hijack her car after they grabbed her keys in a shopping centre parking lot fled on foot when they found it had a manual shifter and three pedals ... because they didn't know how to drive it.

They were picked up by police afterwards and charged with attempted car-jacking.