How to Drive a Manual Transmission Car on the Road?

[OGavin]

Press the clutch, engage first gear, and gently press the accelerator while releasing the clutch to start. After the car moves, shift to second gear. Shift to third gear between 20-30 km/h, fourth gear around 40 km/h, and fifth gear above 50 km/h. Maintain speed thereafter. When decelerating, simply press the clutch and engage the corresponding gear. The key to manual transmission is the coordination between the clutch and accelerator. Below are the specific methods for operating each gear: 1. First gear: Push left and then forward to engage, and push back along the same path to return to neutral. 2. Second gear: Hold the gear lever and pull it down to the lower left side, then push back along the same path to return to neutral. 3. Third gear: Push straight up from the neutral position to engage, and push back along the same path to return to neutral. 4. Fourth gear: Push straight down from the neutral position to engage, and push back along the same path to return to neutral. 5. Fifth gear: Push straight to the right and then up to engage, and push back along the same path to return to neutral. 6. Reverse gear: Press down, push left and forward to engage reverse, and push back along the same path to return to neutral.

[LaColin]

When driving a manual transmission car on the road, I feel the most important thing is coordination. Before starting, check the seat position, then press the clutch and start the engine. When moving off, keep the clutch pedal steady while gently pressing the accelerator, slowly releasing the clutch. If you feel the car shaking, don’t release it too quickly—give it a bit more gas and continue releasing to avoid stalling. During normal driving, shift gears according to speed, usually upshifting at around 2000 RPM, such as from third to fourth gear. When downshifting, if the speed is low, press the clutch and shift down—you can downshift before entering a curve to increase speed. For stopping at a red light, press the clutch in advance to slow down, coast in neutral, and finally brake to a stop. Pay attention to hill starts by using the handbrake along with the clutch to prevent rolling back. Practice clutch control regularly so that city traffic won’t be too exhausting. Also, maintain the clutch disc periodically—replace it if it’s heavily worn, don’t wait for problems to arise.