What are the differences between the gears in a manual transmission car?
4 Answers
In a manual transmission car, the first gear is the starting gear, the second gear is the driving gear, the third gear is the acceleration gear, the fourth gear is the medium-high speed driving gear, the fifth gear is the high-speed gear, and the R gear is the reverse gear. Introduction to the gears in a manual transmission car: First gear: The first gear is the starting gear, used when the car moves from a stop or climbs a steep slope. The speed is generally around 10 km/h. Second gear: The second gear is the driving gear. It is used as a transitional gear after the car starts to accelerate or for low-speed driving. The speed is generally around 20 km/h. Third gear: The third gear is the acceleration gear. Starting from this gear, you can accelerate by pressing the throttle to increase the car's speed to a certain level. This gear is used at speeds between 20-40 km/h and is commonly used for city driving. Fourth gear: The fourth gear is the medium-high speed driving gear. This is generally the highest gear used on urban roads except for elevated roads. Depending on the vehicle's speed, it is typically used at around 60-70 km/h. Fifth gear: The fifth gear is the high-speed gear. It is used only on elevated roads or highways, generally at speeds of 80 km/h or above. R gear: The reverse gear, used when reversing the car. Principle of gear shifting in cars: The principle of gear shifting in cars is achieved by changing the transmission gears. The tire drive shaft has gears for different gear positions. When the engine speed remains unchanged, engaging different gears with the engine results in the larger gear obtaining a lower circumferential speed than the smaller gear. In low gears, the gear is larger, and the engine drives a larger radius with a smaller radius, allowing the car to obtain greater driving force. In high gears, the engine drives a smaller radius, resulting in a faster circumferential speed but less driving force.
Manual transmission cars have those gears, and after driving for almost twenty years, I still love the feeling of starting in 1st gear the most. 1st gear is specifically designed for getting the car moving from a standstill, with enough power to pull the car up a hill, but it's not fast, generally comfortable to use under 10 mph. 2nd gear is much more agile, most suitable between 15 to 40 mph, and it's the most convenient to switch between 1st and 2nd gears in traffic jams. 3rd gear is like a middleman, perfect for city driving at 40 to 60 mph, with smooth shifting without any jerking. 4th gear starts to save fuel, ideal for cruising at 60 to 80 mph, and the engine sound becomes softer. 5th gear is basically reserved for highways, engaging it above 80 mph saves fuel and keeps things quiet. Reverse gear requires the car to be completely stopped to engage, and you need to press down the gear knob when shifting into it, otherwise, it's easy to grind the gears. Lower gears for more power, higher gears for more speed—this old rule never fails.
We young folks drive manual transmissions just for the thrill! Stomping the gas in 1st gear gives an awesome kick-in-the-back feeling, but you gotta shift to 2nd gear as soon as the RPM hits 3000. 2nd gear acceleration is the most exhilarating—you can even hear the engine roar at 3000 RPM. Things settle down from 3rd gear onward; this is the most comfortable gear for cruising at 40 to 60 km/h. 4th and 5th gears are basically there for fuel efficiency—hanging in 5th gear at 100 km/h on the highway keeps the RPM just over 2000. Reverse gear is specially designed for backing up, delivering more torque than 1st gear in forward drive, which is most noticeable when steering at full lock during reversing. Remember, lower gears are like sprinters—packing explosive power—while higher gears are like marathon runners—built for endurance. Drop a gear when overtaking, and you'll get an instant boost!
The difference between manual transmission gears is best understood by looking at the gear ratios. First gear has the largest gear ratio, where the engine turns several times for every single rotation of the tires, providing the most power. Second gear has a slightly reduced ratio, making it ideal for acceleration in city driving. Third gear offers a moderate ratio, balancing everyday speeds between 40 to 60 km/h. Fourth and fifth gears have smaller ratios, reducing engine strain at high speeds. Reverse gear is the most unique, with gears meshing in reverse. Attempting to shift into first gear at speeds over 30 km/h will make the transmission scream, while engaging fifth gear at idle will stall the engine. Essentially, gear selection is about applying the lever principle correctly—using the appropriate gear prevents damage to the vehicle.
