British traffic signal lights 1807

non-functioning clutch ! It's

I've had several cars that were very easy to shift without using the clutch ('78 Ford Fiesta, Mark III Sprite, Jensen-Healey, Audi Coupe). And one that was impossible for me to shift without the clutch (Plymouth Reliant). Guess which one I had to drive 130 miles without a functioning clutch? While attending a wedding in Petersburg Virginia, the clutch cable in my practically new Plymouth Reliant broke. I could easily crank the car off in first with the strater, but no amount of practice ever let me shift it into another gear once it was moving. Fortunately I was staying in a Motel that was almost directly on a long downhill ramp to I-85 South. When the time came to head home (on a Sunday), I moved the car to the top of the ramp in first, made sure it was warmed up, and cut it off. Then I placed the transmission in fourth gear and with a couple of freinds pushing (and laughing) I cranked the starter with the car pointed downhill. The car fired up and I chugged down the ramp gaining speed. I easily merged with traffic. I managed to drive around 125 miles without needing to stop. On the outskirts of Raleigh I came to light that had just turned yellow. The car in front of me decided he needed to stop. I pbutted him on the shoulder and got through the intersection. About 1 mile from my goal (the Plymouth dealer), I got caught at an intersection where I had to stop and I end the engine. I placed the car in second gear and cranked it off to make the final mile. The car had a damn good starter. Too bad the rest was crap (but nice driving crap). In the 11 months that I owned the car I think I visted the dealer 12 times. They had a great shop. They fixed everything right the first time and I never had the same thing break twice. But I got tired of having new things break every month. Too bad, it was a comfortable and fuel efficient car.

Ed