Shift Gear First or Depress the Clutch First?

[Ray]

Depress the clutch first. The correct procedure is to start the car, then depress the clutch, shift into first gear, and release the clutch to start moving. When shifting gears in a manual transmission car, first release the accelerator, then depress the clutch, shift gears after fully depressing the clutch, and then press the accelerator again. Depressing the clutch without releasing the accelerator can cause the clutch to disengage at high RPMs, which may burn out the clutch disc over time. The correct sequence for shifting up or down is: release the accelerator, depress the clutch, shift gears, slowly release the clutch, and gently press the accelerator simultaneously. Precautions for operating a manual transmission car include: 1. Become proficient in depressing the clutch and develop a good habit of pressing it all the way down and releasing it slowly; 2. Coordinate the accelerator and clutch properly. When starting, shift into first gear first, slowly release the clutch, apply the accelerator at the half-clutch point, and only fully release the clutch after the car starts moving.