Which Gear Should You Generally Use When Driving?
2 Answers
Start the car in first gear, gently press the accelerator to shift to second gear, shift to third gear at around 25 km/h, fourth gear at 35 km/h, and fifth gear at 45 km/h. During subsequent gear shifts, gradually increase the accelerator pedal pressure, but avoid excessive acceleration. First, start by engaging first gear (from neutral, move the gear lever left and then up—together this forms the "top-left" position). Release the clutch to the semi-engaged point (when the front of the car slightly lifts), hold it there, release the handbrake, and let the car begin moving. Maintain a speed below 5 km/h for about 3 seconds, then fully release the clutch. Next, press the accelerator to increase speed. It is recommended to keep first gear between 0-10 km/h. When exceeding 10 km/h, shift from first to second gear. If the speed reaches around 15 km/h or even higher due to heavy acceleration, quickly press the clutch and shift to second gear. This gear is suitable for low-speed driving or climbing steep slopes. Shift swiftly—press the clutch quickly, change gears promptly, and release the clutch immediately after shifting. In second gear, when the speed reaches about 25 km/h, shift to third gear, which is commonly used for city driving. In third gear, continue accelerating, and when the speed reaches around 40 km/h, shift to fourth gear. Third gear is engaged by moving the lever directly forward, while fourth gear is engaged by pulling it straight down. First gear is also a forward gear, but the transmission operates only in this gear and cannot shift to others. It is most useful in heavy traffic or on steep inclines. When going up or down a slope, make full use of the engine's torque. When upshifting, you must progress sequentially—1-2-3-4-5—without skipping gears. However, when decelerating, you can downshift multiple gears at once. For example, you can shift directly from fourth gear to first gear, bypassing third and second gears.
After driving manual transmission cars for so many years, I usually stick to second or third gear when cruising around the city. I start from first gear at traffic lights, shift to second when reaching 20-30 km/h, and third gear feels most comfortable at 40-50 km/h. Highway driving is different—fifth or sixth gear is most fuel-efficient when road conditions allow. Don’t get lazy on uphill climbs; downshift early to keep the RPM up, or the engine will roar without power. Remember to shift when the tachometer hits around 2,500 RPM—if the engine sounds sluggish, it’s telling you to upshift. Frequent gear changes in traffic can be annoying, but don’t cut corners by staying in second gear—it wastes fuel and wears out the clutch.
