I’ve pushed way too many cars that weren’t mine. Probably like 10 in my lifetime? Few strangers, I like being helpful if I can.
Once was a teenager stuck on a very busy road during rush hour. They were in a small little two-door. So I pulled over to a side street ran out. Told her to throw it in neutral and keep her foot ready on the brake Incase I lose my grip and started pushing.
Everyone else was honking at her up until that point and continued even when I started helping. Eventually two other guys came by to help because I started going up a slope and had to really lean into. Still some old lady was honking at the three of us.
Just funny how people will honk nonstop like that’s going to do something, assholes. If you’re not physically able to help, don’t, but lay off the damn horn.
Same. Most cars I’ve pushed have been random strangers.
Ive also stopped and helped fix cars on the side of the road. I’ve got a WRX, and driving to work one day I saw another WRX broken down. Maybe a teenager or early 20s. Only a little younger than me at that point. His radiator hose had been rubbing against a belt after some mod. He said his mechanic couldn’t figure it out.
I took him to get a new hose. Showed him how to trim the edge of it to accommodate his mod, taught him to burp it, and sent him on his way.
It was last or second to last year of school. A bunch of us had been out somewhere, don’t remember where. On the way back, pretty close to home car literally ran out of petrol. I think seem to remember he tried pull away from a traffic light, and well it didn’t.
Did you try in reverse? I found out with my SAAB that it popped way easier in reverse, rather than 1st. That thing’s 1st gear was ridiculously torquey.
First? You shovestart with second gear, because the compression on the first gear is always a bit much, and even a bit of speed (like a small decline on the road for easier pushing, or two people pushing the car) is enough for second to roll and as soon as it does you just clutch.
Idk, that’s how I was taught to do it, in rural Finland.
No but that vehicle is long gone so unfortunately I can’t test it. Long story short I got tired of driving a giant gas guzzliing truck (Chevy Colorado) and traded it in for a 350Z Roadster (also in manual, of course). I figured if I’m going to get shit fuel economy, it might as well be in a vehicle that’s actually fun to drive.
“Bring it back”
“…it won’t start”
Not a concern if it’s a manual transmission.
That brings back memories of pushing my mates car half a mile to the nearest petrol station because he was too cheap to not let it run completely dry.
I’ve pushed way too many cars that weren’t mine. Probably like 10 in my lifetime? Few strangers, I like being helpful if I can.
Once was a teenager stuck on a very busy road during rush hour. They were in a small little two-door. So I pulled over to a side street ran out. Told her to throw it in neutral and keep her foot ready on the brake Incase I lose my grip and started pushing.
Everyone else was honking at her up until that point and continued even when I started helping. Eventually two other guys came by to help because I started going up a slope and had to really lean into. Still some old lady was honking at the three of us.
Just funny how people will honk nonstop like that’s going to do something, assholes. If you’re not physically able to help, don’t, but lay off the damn horn.
You are tempted to just go up to them and say “no keep honking, it will probably scare engine to start again”
Same. Most cars I’ve pushed have been random strangers.
Ive also stopped and helped fix cars on the side of the road. I’ve got a WRX, and driving to work one day I saw another WRX broken down. Maybe a teenager or early 20s. Only a little younger than me at that point. His radiator hose had been rubbing against a belt after some mod. He said his mechanic couldn’t figure it out.
I took him to get a new hose. Showed him how to trim the edge of it to accommodate his mod, taught him to burp it, and sent him on his way.
Hey man, assuming $4.50 a gallon and 20MPG…that’s like, 11 cents saved by having you push it for that half a mile.
You don’t get rich by buying stuff!
This was about 2004/2005 so yeah probably about 80p to 90p to per litre. It was a Peugeot 205, a quick Google suggest about 30mpg.
Gas in liters, efficiency in mpg. UK I take it?
Of course
Wait what?
It was last or second to last year of school. A bunch of us had been out somewhere, don’t remember where. On the way back, pretty close to home car literally ran out of petrol. I think seem to remember he tried pull away from a traffic light, and well it didn’t.
Depends. I once drove a 2007 Chevy that absolutely refused to be push-started. I think it was an anti-theft feature.
'07 is pretty late for stick shifts.
This story is old, so if it was referencing an old Honda it’s probably something from the 90s at least if not late 80s
Did you try in reverse? I found out with my SAAB that it popped way easier in reverse, rather than 1st. That thing’s 1st gear was ridiculously torquey.
First? You shovestart with second gear, because the compression on the first gear is always a bit much, and even a bit of speed (like a small decline on the road for easier pushing, or two people pushing the car) is enough for second to roll and as soon as it does you just clutch.
Idk, that’s how I was taught to do it, in rural Finland.
But what would we know about getting cars back on the road, eh?
No but that vehicle is long gone so unfortunately I can’t test it. Long story short I got tired of driving a giant gas guzzliing truck (Chevy Colorado) and traded it in for a 350Z Roadster (also in manual, of course). I figured if I’m going to get shit fuel economy, it might as well be in a vehicle that’s actually fun to drive.
One time the throwout bearing in my civic seized during my drive home so I had to “roll” start it by cranking the starter in first gear 🙃
OP lives downhill.
Price of a tow is in a lot of places is very cheap compared to hiring a mechanic to replace your starter