What gear should be used when going uphill in Subject 1?

[LukeFitz]

When going uphill in Subject 1, you should shift to a lower gear and press the accelerator pedal. Below are some key points to note when driving uphill: 1. Key points for climbing the slope: If the road is flat before the uphill section, you can appropriately increase the speed when traffic conditions allow, using the inertia generated by high-speed driving to climb the slope. The climbing distance can last up to several 10,000mm. 2. Key points for shifting gears: After climbing the slope for a certain distance, the vehicle may start to lose power, and the engine will show obvious lack of power. This is the right time to downshift. At this point, you should quickly and accurately shift to a lower gear, usually second gear is more suitable. When shifting gears, ensure the action is swift and accurate without hesitation. Inaccurate or delayed shifting can easily cause the vehicle to stall or roll backward. Therefore, the gear shift must be successful in one attempt. 3. Key points for accelerating: After shifting gears, the throttle should be quickly applied because the resistance to the vehicle's forward movement is already quite significant, and the required power should correspondingly increase. Only a low gear and high throttle can ensure sufficient climbing power. 4. Key points for speed: The speed should be low and steady. If the slope continues for hundreds or even thousands of meters, maintain a low gear and high throttle to climb the slope at a consistent speed. Stay in the gear where the engine operates normally until reaching the top of the slope, avoiding sudden speed changes or frequent gear shifts.

[VanFaith]

Back when I just passed the written test, I also struggled with this. The instructor repeatedly emphasized that hill starts must be done in the lowest gear - first gear for manual transmissions, and L or S gear for automatics. This builds up enough torque to prevent rollback, especially if you release the clutch too quickly during a hill start - the engine's torque will be sufficient to avoid stalling. During the test, using second or third gear on a slope would immediately get points deducted. Experienced drivers might cut corners by using second gear on gentle slopes, but beginners really shouldn't follow suit. Last time I tried second gear in an underground garage ramp, the engine shuddered violently like it was about to fall apart - I quickly shifted back to first gear to stabilize it.

[McCameron]

Share some funny stories about my driving practice. Once, I stalled the car three times on a slope at the training ground, and the coach yelled at me to look at the gear lever: always use first gear when climbing a hill! You need to rev the engine up to 3000 RPM to get enough power, just like using a small gear when cycling uphill. It's even simpler with an automatic transmission—just shift to L gear to lock the low gear, or use sport mode, and the computer will automatically increase the RPM. Don't believe those online theories about saving fuel with second gear. Using the wrong gear for the hill start in the driving test (Subject 2) will result in an immediate fail, and rolling back more than 30 cm means you're done for.

[StVanessa]

Don't get confused by the gears, there are just two core principles: first, ensure the engine has enough power, and second, prevent rolling back. For manual transmissions, starting in first gear with the handbrake is the most stable method. Wait until the RPM needle reaches 1500 before slowly releasing the clutch, and only release the handbrake when you feel the front of the car lift up. For automatic transmissions, you can actually climb in D gear, but it's safer to use L gear on steep slopes. I've seen a newbie driving an automatic transmission car up a spiral ramp in a mall—pressing the gas in D gear didn't move the car at first, then it suddenly lurched forward and almost hit the wall. That's because the transmission didn't respond in time.