Why didn't they just steal a car?

[Lion]

I saw a few cars in the movie.  I wonder why they didn't just steal one and jet once the cops got too close.  I mean they probably would of gottem futher in car.

[Swan 1979]

Well my thought is that back in 1979 did people really know how to hot wire cars yet alone did any of The 9 Warriors know how to.

[molotov]

This has always been one of the main complaints of the plot.  Why didn't they just steal a truck or van and all just pile in?  Any self respecting gang member should have no problem stealing a car.

I think it's because the subway was such an essential part of the story, from beginning to end.  It literally is the device that moves the story along.

I think Walter Hill should have had the warriors at least try to steal a car.  I always thought the orphans scene would have been a perfect time for this. Like after they round that street corner, maybe Ajax finds a van and smashes in the window. He's about to hotwire it when the orphans show up in force.  If Hill just put a small scene like that in, it would have ended all these complaints about the warriors not even trying to steal a ride.

[Darken]

In away if they stole a car it would of kind of killed the buzz throughout the film it would end up being like one of those car chase type films or I can imagine thats how it would of turned out to be if they stole a car then evenchually the cops would find out. The subway i think is a good main transportation compared to if they were to steal a car 1. they can all run to the subway 2. it would be less hassle if one of The Warriors hot wired a car (if one of them knew how to) and not deal with all of them in the car while worrying if they would get "wrecked" by getting crashed into a cop or a gang noticing them.

That and if they were to steal a car they would really have to find the right vehicle to fit all of them in without worrying about the other gang they are running from following them.

If The Warriors were to steal a car I dont think they would of made it.

[Cyrus]

That and if they were to steal a car they would really have to find the right vehicle to fit all of them in without worrying about the other gang they are running from following them.

Yeah man, car was not an option. A bus is more likely!

[the wigan warrior]

Snow and Cowboy did steal a car to get from Riverside Park to Union Square - as far as we know.

As for why they didn't - my guess would be that they thought they could get to the next subway station quicker than they could find a car they would all fit in and hotwire it. They also may not have known their way around that part of the city. Underground is what they were, and underground is what they knew.

I always thought that. I bet none of The Warriors knew there way back to Coney Island. They were as we know "behind enemy lines". If you don't have a clue where your going, your best off sticking to the route you know actually takes you home, the subway.

[Warriorfan54321]

if I was a director and I wanted something that could stop these guys from getting home what transport could they use that would have more rules then cars do...trains

it says in the special features of the directors cut(for those who have seen it)  I think it was the guy who helped walter make it not sure but anyway he said
"I asked the guys at the transit station you know, what would stop a train from getting where it needs to go, and they said well a fire would do that"  explains the fire on the platform, who set it we'll never know. but with a car you'd just be like meh a fire big deal and find another way.


and of coarse if you recall "We've never been to the bronx before"  I'm guessing a car all the way home not a good idea for someone who doesn't know where they're going, and yes someone will say but they knew they're way back, in a way no because they relied on the train to take them and they had to bop the things that stopped them from getting to it. 

[Lion]

I guess if they didn't know the streets, then the subway really guaranteed them their way back.

[Cyrus]

I guess if they didn't know the streets, then the subway really guaranteed them their way back.

There's also one more thing.With all the cops out on the streets looking for a gangs,maybe stealing a car in that moment(in the part of town you're not familiar with)is not the best idea.

[adam88]

Yeah, I see why there a debate on this.  Its one of those "shoulda, coulda, woulda" type of ideas.  I mean yeah we wanted them to attempt to at least hot wire one, and be caught doing, just saw we can say it was logical.  This is one of those topics, that makes it hard to justify not using a car, but we have to think of some reason.  What barthers me, is that I am sure if they had to they would of desperatley squeezed into one, and being that the cops eventually died down, they could have drove away undetected.  I know guys, its fustrating to think of something that was so simple, but not even thought of by the warriors.  Well, lets try to think step by step for a second.  They thought they were home free on the train, until they were split up, by police.  Being that they were split up, what would be the point of one warrior getting a car.  I mean, they all knew that they had to meet at union square, and probably fealt thta if one person got a car, whats the point of searching the city for there fellow warriors, it would be to hard.  But than again they still could have all met at union square with a car, to see who made it or not.  Man its confusing trying to think of wahy they didn't use a car.  I guess we'll just have to believe, none of them can drive, I guess.

[Lion]

I guess if they didn't know the streets, then the subway really guaranteed them their way back.

There's also one more thing.With all the cops out on the streets looking for a gangs,maybe stealing a car in that moment(in the part of town you're not familiar with)is not the best idea.

Yes I agree with you.  I guess no-one knows what is going through people's minds when being chased by a bunch of gangs.

[theSleepiLizzie_of_2006]

a car would've been a horrible idea: 1. as one member was lucky to mention before me: they've never been to the bronx before, so taking the subway was a sure way to get to where they were going; so driving over there would've been a tremendous hassle and a waste of time...would they have ever gotten home? they would've probably driven all over the place and never gotten to their destination...and they couldn't exactly stop and ask for directions! 2. since they're so used to the streets maybe none of them knew how to drive 3. the subway was such a better idea that way there's more action involved and it has more barriers on trying to get home...driving a car is just a quicker way to get from point A to point B (if they knew how to get to where they were going) 4. i think people knew how to hot wire cars back in 1979...there was so much criminal activity back then i would imagine there was a possibility of that... 5. it would've turned out to be one of those car chase movies...in New York City?! we're known for the subways, not car chases!!!! It was a good way to bring out the reality of our transit system back in '70s on the big screen...the maps were confusing to read, the trains took forever to come, the trains were covered in graffiti....gang members roamed the subways late at night...and possibly other more facts I haven't mentioned

[stevo2k6]

I guess if they didn't know the streets, then the subway really guaranteed them their way back.

There's also one more thing.With all the cops out on the streets looking for a gangs,maybe stealing a car in that moment(in the part of town you're not familiar with)is not the best idea.

exactly wasnt the best idea, least the subway it got them to where they wanted to go its the most logical way to travel they knew it wasnt going to be easy with the other gangs and cops about, but was better than a car because of the copsand it if they dont know the area