Learn to Drive a Manual Car

From LoveToKnow Cars

Whether you recently bought a new vehicle with a stick shift or you just want to be prepared for an emergency, it's a great idea to learn to drive a manual car. Knowing how to shift gears and use a clutch will give you greater freedom when it comes to renting a car, buying a new vehicle, or borrowing a friend's car.

Difference Between a Manual and an Automatic Transmission

Learning to drive an automatic car is as simple as understanding the rules of the road and the basics of driving a vehicle. When you add in a manual transmission, things get a bit more complicated. However, with practice, you'll be driving a stick shift in no time.

Basically, an automatic transmission does the shifting for you. When the engine reaches a certain number of revolutions per minute (RPM), the automatic transmission shifts into a different gear. Automatics provide for a smooth ride and a simple driving experience, but manual transmissions are often more fuel efficient, better for towing, and can even be more fun to drive!

With a manual transmission, you actually do the shifting. This gives you greater control over the power coming out of the engine, but it also means there's one more thing to think about while you're driving. Some new drivers liken shifting a 5-speed to trying pat your head while rubbing your stomach. However, with a little practice and a good sense of humor, you'll be on the road in no time.

Using the Tachometer

You may be wondering how you'll know when to shift gears. On most manual cars, there is a gauge on the dashboard called the tachometer. You can use the tachometer to determine the current RPM of the engine. In general, higher RPMs mean more power, but there's a limit to this rule. The red area of the gauge, called the "red line," signifies RPMs that are too high for your engine. Shifting gears allows you to keep the RPMs from reaching this level.

Learn to Drive a Manual Car in Five Steps

Learning to drive a manual transmission car is actually not as difficult as you may think. All it takes is some practice, a basic idea of the workings of a manual transmission, an empty parking lot or dirt road, and a supportive friend to offer advice. It helps if the friend isn't the owner of the car you're driving, since this can make things a little tense.

  1. Get familiar with the vehicle. Sit in the driver's seat, and get an idea of where the pedals are. The clutch is on the far left, the brake is in the middle, and the gas is on the right. With the car still turned off, push in the clutch pedal, and practice moving the shifter knob into different gears.
  2. Now it's time to turn on the car. With your right foot on the brake pedal, depress the clutch with your left foot. Now turn the key to start the car. In a 5-speed car, you need to push in the clutch before you can start the vehicle.
  3. With the clutch and brake still on, move the shifter into first gear. Take your right foot off the brake, and move it over to the gas pedal. Now gently give the car a little gas while simultaneously letting out the clutch. The car will begin to move forward.
  4. When the RPMs on your tachometer reach about 3,000, it's time to shift. To do this, simply remove your right foot from the brake, depress the clutch with your left foot, and move the gear shifter into second gear. Then gently push on the gas while releasing the clutch.
  5. Now that you have the basic idea, you can continue moving through the gears as you begin to go faster.

Things to Keep in Mind
  • Stopping is easy in a car with a manual transmission, but like anything else, it too takes some practice. When you're ready to stop the car, push in the brake and the clutch. If you forget to push in the clutch, you'll still be able to stop. However, the car will stall out, which can be a little embarrassing at stop lights.
  • Driving in reverse is similar to shifting into first gear. Follow the same steps, but instead of shifting into first gear, pull the gear shift knob down and to the right until you find reverse.
  • When you first learn how to drive a 5-speed, avoid starting the car on hills. When you're on a hill, you'll have to work a little harder to slip the clutch, and the balance of clutch and gas will be different. With practice, hills will be easy too, but it's best to stay on flat surfaces when you're first learning to drive a stick.

With some practice, you'll find that it's easy to learn to drive a manual car. You'll appreciate the flexibility this skill offers, and soon you'll be teaching others how to shift gears and use a clutch.

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