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Easiest Ways To Drive A Manual Car For Beginners

ByMatsumoto Naoki-May 23, 2018

Though the number of manual transmissions sold is as low as 6%, all Fiesta Movement cars are manual. Many drivers prefer manual over auto for some unique features. Below are eight steps to help you learn to drive manual transmission from scratch.

Know Your Way Around

To learn to drive manual transmission, changing the gears is the most basic and important step. Most manual transmissions come with 4 or 5 speeds, besides the reverse. It requires you to use the clutch pedal at the far left when shifting gears. As you push the pedal, the clutch engagement is over.

Rather than being a gear, neutral is, to be exact, the absence of gear. When the engine is in neutral, the car won’t move even after revving. Second gear is the key to use when driving on a steep surface or in a bustling downtown.

Learn The Gears

The gear is very crucial in the system

Before you even step inside the car, you need to learn to shift the gears when the car is not running. Every time you change the stick, push the clutch as well. Make sure to adjust the stick fully, without pressuring it too much. Now do the same when someone else is driving the car. If you fail to change gears properly, the car will stop halfway through.

Starting The Engine

Before starting the engine, put the car on neutral, so that it doesn’t jump suddenly. Most of the cars will not start without pressing the clutch. Let the engine warm up while the shifter is at neutral.

Using The Clutch

The clutch mechanism lets the gears transit back and forth. If you release the clutch without pulling the gear completely, there will be an unpleasant noise.

Always remember that the location of the clutch is on the left, while the gas is on the right, and the brake is in the middle. Learners often find it hard to remember the sequence while going through manual car driving lessons.

Using the clutch correctly is another story

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Upshifting

Upshifting is all about bringing the clutch upward while pressing the gas down. It is the stage when you shift the gears and the car gets pace.

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Downshifting

What happens when you try to slow down when driving a manual? You downshift. When you learn to drive manual transmission, this is one of the most distinguishable differences from automatic transmissions. It doesn’t only slow the car down, but it also puts the car in right gear.

Reverse

Reversing is another technique to master

The reverse gear is quite sensitive, so be careful when using it. To go to reverse, you need to lift collar on the shift lever. Never ever do this while the car is moving.

Parking

The emergency brake plays the most important role when parking the car. The reason is no other than, unlike automatic transmission, the absence of a parking gear. The pull-up emergency brake works sufficiently in most of the cases.

Matsumoto Naoki is senior car blogger at Car From Japan. Having background in mechanical engineering, he has a unique perspective on a lot of new car innovations. Prior to Car From Japan, Matsumoto was Mechanical Design Engineer at Yajima Plant, Subaru Corporation. His articles provide detailed DIY instructions and how-tos to help you get your new car on the road. If you want to save money and feel more confident when working on your cars, you should not ignore Matsumoto’s sharing posts. He presents driving tips and tricks for everyone through easy-following steps and mechanically but friendly writing.

Comments

Dawn Zahrte15:25 June 05, 2019
Reply

My step father got very sick… in his garage is a mustang roush. He said I just want you to drive that instead of the
Mercury Grand Marquis…’I’m 50 years old I’ve only driven an automatic. I don’t have anyone to teach me so ive been
watching videos and reading all kinds of sites on how to drive a manual..I’ve gotten as far as sitting behind the wheel and checking out the dash. I can do this right?

Karinho Rudixia00:01 January 11, 2018
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I find these teachings more educative and usefull.

nathan njihia17:37 November 22, 2017
Reply

hi your lessons are very educative kindly teach me about the purpose of 1. overdrive. 2. drive 1,2 n when to use them. when climbing up a hill n also climbing down which gears am i supost to engage

Desmond15:19 September 13, 2017
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Hi. i am going for my license in a few weeks time. I been driving automatic all this time. Want to drive manual but seem to have problem with clutch. I release it to fast. I am very nervous

Trang Tran02:46 September 26, 2017
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