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Step 1
Look at the floorboard; you'll see 3 pedals. From left to right, they are: clutch, brake, gas.
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Step 2
Study the simple diagram on the top of the gearshift, which will show you where the gears are. In most new cars, this will look like a three-legged H. First, third and fifth gears are at the tops of the legs; second, fourth and reverse gears are at the bottoms. The crossbar of the H is neutral.
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Step 3
Make sure the parking brake is engaged and the car is on a flat surface in an area where you have plenty of room.
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Step 4
Press down on the clutch pedal and then move the gearshift into the neutral position.
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Step 5
Start the car.
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Step 6
Keeping the clutch pedal down, put the car into first gear by moving the gearshift to the top-left position.
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Step 7
Apply the foot brake and release the parking brake.
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Step 8
Release the foot brake when you're ready to start moving.
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Step 9
Begin to release the clutch pedal slowly; when you hear or feel the engine begin to slow down, slowly press down on the gas pedal as you continue to release the clutch. The car will start to move forward.
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Step 10
Accelerate until the car has reached about 3,000 rpm, then take your foot off the gas, press down on the clutch pedal, and pull the gearshift directly down through neutral to second gear. Be sure to pull the gearshift down until it can't go any farther.
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Step 11
Release the clutch pedal gently, simultaneously pressing down gently on the gas pedal.
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Step 12
Repeat the shifting process each time you hit 3,000 rpm until you're driving at the appropriate speed. (Third gear is up and to the right; fourth gear is all the way down from there; fifth gear is up to neutral, right and then up again.)
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Step 13
Downshift by releasing the gas pedal when you want to decrease your speed. Press down on the clutch and move the gearshift through neutral into the next-lower gear (move down only 1 gear at a time). Once you're in the lower gear, release the clutch slowly and brake as you do so.
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Step 14
Stop the car by downshifting to second gear and applying the brakes. Apply the clutch just before the car stops. Don't downshift into first.
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Step 15
Drive in reverse by following the same steps you would for starting in first gear. The reverse gear engages more quickly than first gear, however, so be sure to release the clutch slowly and begin to press the gas pedal as soon as the car begins to move.
One of the biggest keys to freedom and independence is being able to drive on your own. However, there are… More
Comments
buggers said
on 9/22/2009 This is a bad video. Step 11 tells you to step slowly on the gas but the video shows someone stepping on the brake. That's incredibly stupid!
chezzian said
on 9/15/2009 IT HELPED ME WELL
jettison said
on 7/23/2009 through heel to toe downshifts*
jettison said
on 7/23/2009 This is awful, I drive a manual car, I was lucky to be taught by one of the best instructors in the country (UK). Releasing the hand-brake and applying the foot brake is bad practice, It is not safe on a un-level road. That is the brake pedal that she is calling the accelerator. Modern manual instruction in the UK is to slow down in the current gear, it is safe as it keeps both hands on the wheel, then to apply the clutch at around 20, or just before the car would start to labor. Slowing down in gear is taught for cornering. Double downshifting/upshift is taught as Block changing, up or down it is perfectly safe. 2-4, 3-5 and 4-2 are very handy shifts. Block shifting to or from 1st is not good practice. Block changes are handy and keep both hands on the wheel for longer. As you get more experienced you get to know the cars gearing, clutch... And you can improve your driving through h...
spartanic said
on 4/30/2009 This article on the manual transmission would be helpful if you guys ever run into some troubles: http://www.garage411.com/ManualTransmission