Oppopinions: "And if you get hit, it's your owwwn fault!" Edition

"Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo" (thetomselleck)
05/31/2016 at 16:01 • Filed to: Simpsons reference

I’ve been driving manual since I was 17, daily since I was 19. Yes, I have felt the anxiety of being a dead stop, uphill in downtown Seattle, with a car right up behind me, waiting to for the light to turn green. But still...

Now this bumper sticker here either means “I’m not the best at hill starts,” or perhaps a more general, “back off.” However, in the chance a fender bender does result, I believe both legally and in application, it will be this Mazda’s fault for rolling back too far. Yeah it sucks when people get to close, but it is one of the occupational hazards of sticking with Manuel.

What say you?

DISCUSSION (33)

Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
05/31/2016 at 16:04

I wish people would back off, but i just hold the car with the handbrake until the clutch bites properly if its a really steep hill.

Aaron M - MasoFiST > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
05/31/2016 at 16:06

Finding out that the 1-series had hill holding was the most pleasant surprise of my entire car purchasing experience.

For Sweden > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
05/31/2016 at 16:06

When you’re a Yellowjacket for life but Harvard was your safety school

E90M3 > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
05/31/2016 at 16:06

Georgia Tech sticker, a manual transmission and it looks like they bought it in my hometown as well. Sounds like we could be friends. I’m not the best at hill starts, luckily the M3 has the hill assist feature. However it’d probably be your fault if you rolled back into someone, it’s your job to control your car and it is a hazard with having the stick.

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
05/31/2016 at 16:07

When I’m driving stick I don’t like people too close, but on the other hand I’d consider it my fault if I rolled into someone.

I stalled quite a few times trying not to let it roll

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
05/31/2016 at 16:07

Yeah, it’s their fault. They also just put a target on themselves. If someone bumps into them, the driver in the back can just point at the sticker and say they rolled back.

Echo51 > Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell.
05/31/2016 at 16:08

I loaded a lot of cars on trailers and such for my dad so i had my clutch and uphill starts down when i took my license. I was so fucking pissed that the mercedes i got my license in had a foot operated/lever released handbrake that was useless and a hillhold that just held me back when i already had the clutch point... But yes, handbrake-holding it till you catch the clutch is nice

TheBloody, Oppositelock lives on in our shitposts. > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
05/31/2016 at 16:09

Maybe that dude just needs to learn how to utilize his handbrake. It’s pretty simple to pull away on a hill without rolling back, engage your handbrake and when you pull away release it when you feel your clutch is engaged.

Berang > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
05/31/2016 at 16:14

I think in such case, were a policeman around, the car behind may be cited for “following too closely” - depends on the state though.

Simple reason being, if you pull up to a car that’s not in motion, it’d be your own doing, not theirs.

Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. > Echo51
05/31/2016 at 16:17

Never driven a car with that kind of parking brake actually. Had a few automatic handbrakes but they hold you until you pull away anyway. A foot operated one seems pretty awkward.

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
05/31/2016 at 16:19

That’s part of driving a manual, learning how to hill start without a roll back. Granted it’s easier in Nebraska than Seattle.

E90M3 > Aaron M - MasoFiST
05/31/2016 at 16:20

Does hill hold come standard on all stick BMWs? Unfortunately (maybe fortunately) my only experience with manual BMWs has been M cars, and they’ve all had hill hold.

Supreme Chancellor and Glorious Leader SaveTheIntegras > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
05/31/2016 at 16:22

It would be the mazda’s fault.

I avoid stupidly steep hills in my area because people everywhere in NJ have the need to see my bumper up close

Echo51 > Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell.
05/31/2016 at 16:22

Else didn’t have much issues with the car while i took my license, was nice enough a ride.

Aaron M - MasoFiST > E90M3
05/31/2016 at 16:34

The 128i is the only BMW I’ve ever owned, so I don’t know beyond that. However, the 128i was also the cheapest stick BMW in 2008, so it’s not unreasonable to think the feature shows up in all the more expensive cars.

Spaceball-Two > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
05/31/2016 at 16:35

Seattle drivers are the WORST when it comes to stopping too closely.

smobgirl > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
05/31/2016 at 16:37

Might depend how close they were. I remember one harrowing drive to the doctor soon after I started driving manual. The guy behind me was on a fairly low-powered motorcycle and kept stopping so close to my bumper that he actually stabilized himself at lights by putting his hand on my hatch - multiple times. One of the lights was on a hill so I naturally stalled and he finally went around. I think if you're actually close enough to touch the vehicle in front it's probably your fault if they roll back. But that's just me.

E90M3 > Aaron M - MasoFiST
05/31/2016 at 16:39

Oh actually had a 2015 320i with a stick as a loner, but I was in Corpus Christi, so there’s a lack of hills. I’d assume that they all come with it now, hell the B180 Mercedes I had in Europe back in 2013 had it.

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > Spaceball-Two
05/31/2016 at 16:45

“Seattle is the worst” — could have stopped there and still been right :D

Spaceball-Two > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
05/31/2016 at 16:46

North End 4 Lyfe!

wkiernan > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
05/31/2016 at 17:38

I wouldn’t put a bumper sticker on my car that says “Hey everybody, I don’t know how to drive this car, but I’m doin’ it anyway!”

190octane > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever
05/31/2016 at 17:56

Are there even hills in Nebraska?

190octane > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
05/31/2016 at 17:57

I bet you at least 50% of the US population has no idea how to drive a stick and wouldn't have a clue as to what this bumper sticker even means.

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > 190octane
05/31/2016 at 18:40

No, Nebraska is fairly flat.

jkm7680 > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
05/31/2016 at 20:40

Harvard AND Georgia Tech, lives in Wash state.

And sometimes I roll back a bit on purpose, just to let the person know that I may unpredictably roll backwards.

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > jkm7680
05/31/2016 at 20:41

and chose the sedan over the hatch.

jkm7680 > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
05/31/2016 at 20:41

tsk tsk tsk and I have you beat. I’ve been driving manual since I was 14 teeheeee

Svart Smart, traded in his Smart > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
05/31/2016 at 20:43

When I’m stopping in traffic, the amount of space I leave behind the car in front of me depends on whether or not that year/make/model was available with a manual transmission. It’s a fun game to play. 2011 Camry Hybrid? I’ll pull right up near the bumper. 2011 Camry, non-hybrid? Better leave an extra foot or two just in case.

e36Jeff now drives a ZHP > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
05/31/2016 at 21:05

I’ve reached the point of driving stick where I can keep a car on a hill using only the clutch, slipping it at idle just enough to prevent rollback. When I was younger and just starting out hill starts were my nemisis. I’d usually give it 2 tries, then just floor it and dump the clutch.

wafflesnfalafel > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
05/31/2016 at 22:08

Hand brake shuffle - zero roll back. My work is right downtown there and we can watch cars try to negotiate the hills. Honestly, many folks with automatics have troubles, not left foot braking so they roll back then just bust the tires loose as the car continues to roll backward... The worst I ever saw was a guy in a WRX a couple years ago - he was on the hill and just could not get it to go, stalled it a couple times then sat there and rode the clutch until it started to smoke bad. It had to be towed away...

Richtofen, Baron von Pickup > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
06/01/2016 at 02:22

The ass end of my short bed 1500 is a bit on the light side, so on wet pavement the tires tend to spin a little when I take off. The person behind me would be an idiot to pull up so close, but they seem to think being six inches off my bumper will magically make me faster off the line.

FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
06/01/2016 at 09:48

I know the feeling, but the better bumper sticker would be one that isn’t being a dick about it... more like “Car may roll back, please leave room”

I remember many times being nervous learning how to drive a manual on the hills of Pittsburgh, and a lot of clutch smoke... but it’s rare to roll back more than a foot or two and most of the time that it looks like someone is that close, they are really a few feet off your bumper.

My Forester has a standard pseudo-hill-hold. It will hold the brakes when you let off of the clutch for about half a second. I don’t think I need it, but it is nice to know it is there when someone pulls up close on a hill. Not sure how I feel about it being there when I try to re-teach my wife to drive a manual this summer. On one hand it makes it easier, but on the other it doesn’t teach you what to do in a car that doesn’t have one or if it fails.

Denver Is Stuck In The 90s > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
06/01/2016 at 21:28

In colorado, you can get a “following too closely” ticket if a manual driver rolls back into you at a stop light. So “whos at fault” really depends on local laws.

Also, here if you rear end somebody its always your fault. Regardless of circumstance. for Example; If you rear end someone that brake checks you, its your fault