Chapter 3: How to Drive a Manual Car
Whether you call it a manual car or a stick shift, it means pretty much the same thing.
If you can drive a manual car, then you can drive any other type of motor vehicle whether it’s manual or automatic.
When you want to learn how to drive a stick shift, it’s advisable that you look for a spacious parking lot or empty street for practice. For most people, learning how to drive a manual is the same as learning to ride a bike. It may look challenging at first, but once you master the skill, you won’t ever struggle again.
Here are useful guidelines to help you learn how to drive a stick shift and get it right on your first attempt. But let’s start with the basics.
Understanding the Different Pedals
A manual vehicle differs from the other automatic vehicles in terms of the number of pedals it has. Get into the driver’s seat and look at your feet to see the three pedals.
The three pedals are the:
Clutch – Left
Brake – Middle
Accelerator – Right
You’ll use the left foot on the clutch and the right foot on the accelerator and brake
Know the Function of the Clutch
Before you begin pushing down this unfamiliar pedal located on the left, take a minute to know its role in the vehicle:
Before you start driving the car, take the time to understand the gear shifter. Many manual transmission vehicles have a gear shifter between the driver and passenger seats.
The first gear is usually found at the top left-side corner. The other four to five gears move from left to right, top to bottom. Most manual vehicles have clearly labelled gear locations.
If the vehicle’s gear shift is in the middle, then the car is in neutral. At that point, it should be easy to adjust the gear shifter forth and back.
Now that you’ve known the basics, let’s move to the steps of driving a manual vehicle:
How to Drive a Manual in 12 Simple Steps
Step 1: Start on a Level Ground When the Car Is Off
If it’s your very first time to drive a manual car, you should begin slowly and methodically. Climb into the driver’s seat and after sitting down, put the seat belt on.
When learning, you may want to slide down the windows, as it’ll help you to hear the engine as it revs and shift the gears accordingly.
Step 2: Access the Position of the Seat to Gain Full Access of the Clutch
After getting into the driver’s seat, slide forward to an extent that lets you push the clutch pedal with the left foot until it reaches the floor.
Step 3: Press the Clutch All The Way to the Car’s Floor
This may be the right time for you to know how far the clutch can go when pressed compared to the brake and accelerator pedals.
It’s also the best time to familiarize yourself with gradually releasing the clutch.
Step 4: Shift the Gearstick to Neutral
The neutral is the middle position, which feels free when you move the gearstick from side to side. The motor vehicle is said to be out of gear when:
Don’t try to adjust the gearstick before fully depressing the clutch, as it won’t work.
Step 5: Turn the Ignition Key
Use the ignition key to start off the engine, ensuring the gear stick is still in neutral position. If you are a novice, make sure the handbrake is on before you start the vehicle.
Note that some vehicles will start up even without pushing the clutch. However, this may not apply to some new vehicles.
Step 6: Remove the Foot from the Clutch When the Vehicle is Still in Neutral
If the car is on a level ground, you should remain in a stationary position. But if you’re on an inclined surface, you should start rolling.
If you are now ready to move the car forward, you can now release the handbrake (in case you’d engaged it) before driving off.
Step 7: Engage the First Gear
Press the clutch pedal to the ground and shift the gearstick to the first gear. The first gear should be in the upper-left direction. The gear pattern should be in some visual layout marked on the surface of the gearstick.
Note that gear patterns may vary, which is why you need to take time upfront and study the gear layout of your car. With the car engine switched off and clutch engaged, you can practice how to shift through different gears.
Step 8: Gradually Lift Your Foot from the Clutch
You should steadily begin to put less pressure on the clutch pedal using your left foot. Based on the vehicle you are using, you might feel it starting to slowly move forward.
As you slowly release the clutch pedal, start pressing the accelerator with the right foot. Don’t do this excessively as it’s delicate motion. Remember, the first gear is meant for a speed of up to 15 mph.
Step 9: Know When to Shift Gears
At one point, you’ll have released the clutch pedal entirely and will only be pushing the accelerator. The vehicle will be moving in the first gear. Keep building speed until you feel you can now engage the second gear.
To know when to change gears, you can use the engine sound, the RPM gauge and speed. It all depends on the vehicle you’re using.
Step 10: Move to Second Gear and Repeat
Remove the right foot from the accelerator as you simultaneously depress the clutch with the second foot. The car will keep rolling. Engage the second gear. Remove your left foot from the clutch as you start to press on the accelerator again. Repeat the process as you keep building speed.
Step 11: Moving from a Higher to a Lower Gear
If you realize the vehicle is moving too slow for a current gear you’re engaged in, the car may shudder because it’s almost stalling.
To switch to a lower gear while moving, follow a similar process of releasing the accelerator and depressing the clutch pedal, switching gears (for example, from the fourth to the third), and releasing the clutch as you depress the accelerator.
Step 12: Coming to a Complete Stop
To bring the car to a stop, shift the gears slowly until you reach the first gear. When you want to make a complete stop, move the right foot from the accelerator and place it on the brake pedal. Press the brake as required.
While slowing down to around 10 mph (or 16 km/hr), the vehicle will be almost vibrating and shaking.
Press the clutch fully down and shift the gearstick to a neutral position so the car doesn’t stall. Apply the brake pedal to bring the vehicle to a complete stop.
If you are in any gear and want stop quickly, you need to depress the clutch and apply the brake while moving the gearshift to neutral.
Parking
A manual vehicle doesn’t have the “Park” gear, which is why you need to use the emergency brake each time. You should also put the vehicle into gear rather than in neutral mode. This way, you’ve both the gears and emergency brake to keep the vehicle from rolling or moving.
Keep in Mind:
To practice how to drive a manual car and correct any mistakes, you need to learn under the guidance of an experienced manual driver.
Most importantly, you should avoid starting or stopping on a steep hill when you’re just starting out to use a manual transmission vehicle.
How to Drive a Manual Vehicle up the Hill without Rolling Backwards
Driving on a hill can be tricky because you can easily roll back or even risk hitting a vehicle right behind you. To drive uphill successfully, follow these steps:
1. Stop Completely
Picture this: you are driving up the hill and then you see a red light just before an intersection right ahead. You’ll have to use the brake pedal or handbrake to stop completely.
By using a handbrake, you’ll be able to free your right foot so you can use it on the pedal later when you want to start the car again.
2. Shift to the First Gear
As soon as you see a green light, switch to the first gear. You should start pressing on the accelerator at almost the same time, but don’t let go off the handbrake. Keep pressing the accelerator until the car’s engine revs at about 3,000 RPM.
3. Let Go the Clutch
Slowly release the clutch until you detect at what point it begins to bite. You’ll easily notice it because the car’s noise dips slightly with a slight decline in the engine note. This occurs because the clutch tends to take on the weight of the vehicle.
4. Release the Handbrake
Gradually, let go of the handbrake as you continually release the clutch pedal and press on the accelerator. As the handbrake disengages, the car should move forward.
5. Disengage the Clutch
As the engine sound begins to wane, slowly release the clutch and press the accelerator more. The action will set the vehicle up the slope at a full force such that it can’t roll backward.
How to Drive a Manual Car in Heavy Traffic
Heavy traffic inconveniences most drivers, and the worry it generates can have a negative impact on your driving.
Driving in heavy traffic requires that you be aware of the surroundings and be fully alert when on the road.
By following these safe driving tips, you’ll get through that traffic hassle-free.
1. Ensure There’s Extra Space Between Your Car and the One Ahead
You should allow more space than what you usually do when using an automatic vehicle. This way, you’ll have enough time to crawl ahead in a lower gear as the traffic begins to flow again.
2. Use Engine Braking to Slow the Vehicle
Manual vehicles can exert a braking force referred to as shift braking or engine braking by letting go the accelerator and shifting to a lower gear.
You may need to wait for the car’s RPMs to reach acceptable levels so you can shift down. However, when you do, the vehicle will undergo a gentle braking effect.
Once you release the accelerator pedal, the engine throttle closes, which creates a partial vacuum that slows the vehicle’s speed and creates engine resistance.
To exert a greater braking force, engage lower gears.
3. Stay Clam when Vehicles Tailgate
Depending on your local laws, drivers may be required to provide some cushion distance between their cars and those in front. The distance is aimed at protecting manual car drivers because they sometimes roll back a little bit when they shift into the first gear.
If you’d like to shift into the first gear and there’s inadequate space behind you, or you are on a hill, give the vehicle some more gas as you switch to the first gear and gradually release the clutch.
4. Keep a Constant Speed That’s a Bit Slower than Traffic
Often, impatient people in traffic will want to accelerate faster to fill the gap between them and the car ahead of them. This habit is inefficient because the higher speeds will not only cost you a lot in terms of fuel, but won’t also get you to the destination earlier.
For a manual vehicle, this can get worse, as you should use the clutch to engage a lower gear or stop the car. Thus, a better approach would be to:
Accelerate at a slow speed that’s a bit lower than the traffic flow. That way, you can move forward in your preferred gear and you won’t need to stop or shift down.
This slow yet steady technique will also create a strong buffer between you and the vehicle ahead of you. However, if an impatient driver merges into the buffer space, you should be ready to shift down.