What does 'shift up at 5 and shift down at 0' mean?
2 Answers
The meaning of 'shift up at 5 and shift down at 0' is: shift to 2nd gear when the speed is above 15km/h, shift to 3rd gear when the speed is above 25km/h, shift to 4th gear when the speed is above 35km/h, shift to 5th gear when the speed is above 45km/h; shift to 4th gear when the speed is below 40km/h, shift to 3rd gear when the speed is below 30km/h, shift to 2nd gear when the speed is below 20km/h, shift to 1st gear when the speed is below 10km/h. The gear shifting operation requires at least 3 shifts to complete the project operation, and each gear shift must match the speed. Below is an introduction to the content of Subject 3 examination: 1. Introduction to Subject 3: Subject 3 includes road driving skill test and safety and civilized driving knowledge test, which is part of the motor vehicle driver's license assessment, and is the abbreviation of the road driving skill and safety and civilized driving knowledge test subjects in the motor vehicle driver's examination. The content of the road driving skill test varies for different types of vehicles. 2. Content of Subject 3 examination: The road driving skill test of Subject 3 generally includes: preparation before getting on the car, light simulation test, starting, driving in a straight line, gear shifting operation, changing lanes, parking by the roadside, going straight through the intersection, turning left at the intersection, turning right at the intersection, passing the pedestrian crossing line, passing the school area, passing the bus station, meeting the car, overtaking, turning around, driving at night; the safety and civilized driving knowledge test generally includes: safety and civilized driving operation requirements, safe driving knowledge under bad weather and complex road conditions, emergency handling methods in case of tire blowout and other emergencies, and handling knowledge after traffic accidents.
I've always considered 'shift up at fives, shift down at zeros' as the classic gear-shifting mantra for manual transmission cars. It means upshifting when the speed reaches multiples of 5, like 15 or 25 km/h, and downshifting when the speed drops close to zero. This method is simple and easy to remember, especially suitable for beginners to avoid stalling or wear caused by engine RPM being too low or too high. In practice, don't follow it rigidly; the engine sound is the best teacher—shift up when it sounds low, and high revs indicate it's time to shift down. In city driving with frequent traffic lights, slowing down and shifting to first gear prepares you for a safer start, avoiding prolonged engine idling that wastes fuel and shortens engine life. Once it becomes a habit, fuel consumption decreases, and the clutch needs less replacement. Driving schools teach this as a foundation, but real driving relies on observation and quick reactions.
