How to Drive a Standard Transmission Car
Manual transmission cars are not as common as they once were, and this has resulted in fewer people learning how to drive them. However, it is a skill that takes time to learn and would obviously be useful if the need to drive one ever comes up. Standard transmission cars have several advantages over automatics. They are cheaper and easier to maintain. They get better gas milage. They give the driver more precise control over the car while driving. This guide should give you a better understanding of how to drive a manual transmission car. However, it is highly recommended that you have someone with you who is experienced in driving manual cars in the beginning. Some people find it to be quite difficult to learn.
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Instructions
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Learn about the clutch. The first thing you will notice getting into a manual transmission car is the presence of a third pedal. This pedal is called the clutch, and it is normally the left-most of the three pedals. When you step on the clutch, it disconnects the engine from the wheels. This allows the engine to continue running while you change gears, or while the car is stopped. On an automatic car, there is no clutch, since the engine is disengaged automatically when necessary.
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Learn about the gears. Most cars use gears to allow the engine to run efficiently at different speeds. Automatic cars have gears too, but they are shifted automatically. If you listen, you can hear even hear them change as you accelerate. In a manual car, changing gears is your responsibility. The following is a very rough guide to the speed ranges of the gears. The speeds will vary from one car to another. First gear is used for very slow speeds (usually below 5 miles per hour). Second gear is used for slightly higher speeds (usually about 5-15 miles per hour). Third gear is used for speeds roughly between 15 and 40 miles per hour. Fourth gear is used forhigher speeds, such as when driving on the expressway. Some sports cars have five, or even six gears. In all cases the principle remains the same.
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Start the car. Before starting a manual transmission car, make sure that you push the clutch in and hold it down. Otherwise, the car will move forward the moment you turn the key. Press down on the brake with your other foot.
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Put the car in gear. With the clutch still held down, and with the other foot on the brake, move the gear shifter into first gear. Also make sure that the emergency brake is off.
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Continue holding in the clutch. When you are ready to start moving, take your right foot off the brake and gently press the accelerator just enough to cause the tachometer needle to go up a little.
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Let out the clutch very slowly until you feel the engine begin to engage the wheels. At that moment, press down a little more on the accelerator. Continue slowly letting out the clutch while increasing power with the accelerator. If at any point you hear a grinding noise, or the engine starts to shake, push the clutch back in and start over. With practice you will learn to let out the clutch in a single smooth movement.
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Accelerate down the road. When the engine is ready to go to the next gear, you will hear the engine whine and the tachometer needle with sharply rise. At this point, quickly push in the clutch, shift into second gear, and release the clutch. Once the car is moving, letting out the clutch is much easier than when beginning from a standstill. Repeat the process for each gear as you gain speed.
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You can also use the gears to help you slow down by reversing the process gear by gear. This is especially useful if your brakes ever fail.
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Don't forget to put in the clutch each time you have to stop.
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