How To Drive a Stick Shift

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More power and better gas mileage are just two of the reasons you might want to learn how to drive a stick shift.

To complete this How-To you will need:

A car with a manual transmission
Patience
Practice

Step 1: Locate the clutch

With the car off, locate the clutch, which is on the floor in front of the driver to the left of the brake pedal. The clutch must be pressed down when shifting gears. Using your left foot, practice depressing and releasing the clutch pedal.

Step 2: Study the gears

Study the gears. Manual cars can have up to six gears; a guide is usually on the head of the stick shift, which is the lever to your right. They are often in an "H" pattern, with neutral in the middle.

Step 3: Locate reverse

Learn how to put your car in reverse. This usually involves pressing down on the stick shift and moving it to the far left or right and then up or down. Consult the pattern on your stick.

Step 4: Practice shifting

With the car still off, press and hold the clutch down as you practice shifting through the gears of the car. Practice both shifting (or speeding up) and downshifting—lowering gears to slow down.

Step 5: Test drive

Find a flat and open area, such as an empty parking lot. With the car in neutral, depress the clutch and foot break. Turn on the car.

Step 6: Put it in gear

Put the car in first gear. Now you're ready to go.

Step 7: Start moving

Release the foot break and slowly press down the gas pedal as you simultaneously release the clutch—the car will move forward.

Tip: Easing down the gas while releasing the clutch is a delicate maneuver that takes practice. In the beginning, you'll probably "pop the clutch," meaning the car will lunge forward and stall.

Step 8: Increase speed and gears

Continue pressing the gas to make the car go faster. Once you hear the engine begin to rev higher—or see the tachometer hit around 2,500 rpm—depress the clutch and shift into second, then slowly release the clutch while giving it gas.

Tip: Don't keep your foot on the clutch—called "riding the clutch"—when you're not using it. You could wear it down.

Step 9: Keep shifting

As you go faster, repeat the shifting process for higher gears.

Tip: The following is a general range for the different gears:
First: 0 to 10 mph
Second: 3 to 25 mph
Third: 15 to 45 mph
Fourth: 30 to 65 mph
Fifth: 45 mph and up

Step 10: Slow down

To decrease speed, go through the gears in reverse order. To stop at a light, either release the clutch and put the car in neutral or keep the clutch engaged with the car in first gear.

Tip: If you will be stopped for any length of time, it's better to have the car in neutral.

Step 11: Try hills

Once you're thoroughly comfortable starting, stopping, and shifting gears on flat land, practice on hilly areas. Keep on trucking!

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Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• howcast
• how-to
• drive
• car
• stick
• shift
• manual
• standard

[Jeffmey95]

1:01 getting his dick sucked and then realizes the hookers a tranny.

[thizguy94]

10mph in first? talk about being a pussy driver xD

[iKnoWScopZ]

I Saw this video i was so confused until i was actually behind the wheel.

[TCMODS]

Next video is how to drive a automatic transmission.

[Rzar08]

@Jeffmey95 why the fuck would u mention tht??!

[nlesiak3]

@Jeffmey95 ROFL

[CnRDirt]

@Tugglzz find a car with hill assist, it keeps you from rolling backwards on hills

[ecstasyecs]

@chitownsportsfan1 it'll be as easy as walking once you get the hang of it & you never forget it either.

[ecstasyecs]

@Tugglzz you "drive" on the clutch, it takes a lot of practise for it to not start rolling backwards though.

[Tugglzz]

I am turning sixteen soon but every body warns me about stopping on hills, can someone give me tips or suggestion for being stopped on a hill?

[xxxUnseenSoulxxx]

@wanabtkd It makes you accelerate faster and I think it can help when towing too

[techfan42]

informative video but I don't think manual is suited for American roads