Should You Press the Brake or the Clutch First in a Manual Transmission Car?
2 Answers
Whether to press the brake or the clutch first in a manual transmission car depends on the situation: 1. When driving at higher speeds, press the brake first and then the clutch; 2. When driving at lower speeds, you can press the clutch first and then the brake. The method for starting a manual transmission car is: 1. Turn on the ignition switch and start the engine; 2. Press the clutch pedal, shift the gear lever into first gear, and release the handbrake; 3. Slowly release the clutch pedal while pressing the accelerator. A manual transmission car refers to a vehicle that uses a manual gear-shifting mechanical transmission to regulate speed, where the driver manually moves the gear lever to change the gear engagement position inside the transmission, altering the gear ratio to achieve speed variation.
In my over 20 years of driving manual transmission cars, I always brake first to slow down. During normal driving, I depress the clutch when speed drops to around 20 km/h, which utilizes engine braking to assist, reduces brake pad wear, and prevents sudden engine stalling. Imagine in city traffic jams - if you recklessly press the clutch before braking, the disconnected engine makes the car lurch forward, increasing rear-end collision risks. I only engage the clutch at low speeds or when stopping, like when crawling to a red light. This operation is smoother and safer, saves me frequent brake pad replacements, and cuts maintenance costs significantly.
