I've actually wondered if they do this because a lot of reviewers do a "top gear" acceleration test to supposedly test the engine's flexibility at pulling from low RPM. If they make it too tall it will suffer in this test despite being economical.

You're right, proper tires can make all the difference. An M3 still has more than enough power to quickly get things out of hand.

Wow, I'm truly awed by his level of control. With the walls and obstacles so close to the road I'd be far too worried to exceed the grip on those rear tires. I've seen it end poorly in far too many videos like this.

Yeah, if I had the choice I'd take the ratios of the five speed base transmission and just add a really tall sixth. The car is no faster with a six speed as it is.

The close gear ratios keep the RPM up and hurt it on the EPA cycle. The biggest problem I have with the car is that sixth isn't tall enough. The extra gear ratio wasn't needed unless you're actually going to go for economy.

Yeah, I'm pretty amazed at what these cars can do on either end of the economy spectrum. GM engineers deserve a ton of credit for making a world class car on ever level.

And I imagine they do it because most buyers are like you and would be turned off at the extra cost. I understand they need to keep these things selling.

I think it's not worth the labor of removing them, plus it adds a bit of durability to a car that will take plenty of bumps and abuse.

You are right. Many engineers choose gear ratios not for the benefit of real world driving but purely to take advantage of the testing procedure. The Corvette is one vehicle that I'd think is above this. It is a sports car, I'm okay with a hit in fuel mileage.

You are probably correct, seeing as how the EPA test is outdated and unrealistic.

Most taxis around here have push bars still on them since they buy old cop cars.

One MPG wouldn't put them at the mercy of the gas guzzler tax.

I'd love to know how much fuel this actually saves. Have they released the test figures with and without skip-shift? Can it really be that dramatic making the gas-guzzler tax an issue?

I'm fairly certain that was a pretty nice car to begin with. It looks like all that damage was earned while learning to drift.

Yeah, it's a pretty unlikely situation. It is told more like how people see empty guns in movies, not like anyone with firearms experience would actually behave.

I thought these cars couldn't be pushed when they died? Wasn't that the problem with a few of these "bricking" after depleting their battery?

Unless he used moon or half moon clips on his revolver, then it is a clip in a weapon that could click repeatedly on empty trigger pulls.

Also unlikely the pistol continued to "click" repeatedly after being emptied. This disconnects when the slide locks back after firing the last round.

A family friend was with the Sheriff's department for years in a semi-rural area. She mentioned having to put down animals by the side of the road a few times after encounters with cars and no mention of paperwork after. It seems to be a fairly common occurrence.

I couldn't stop the laughter, I'm sitting here covering my mouth while watching. Good thing nobody here cares.