Anyone who’s ever tried to take on the task of learning to drive a manual car has probably searched for tips to driving a stick shift. If you’re used to automatic transmission vehicles, or you’re new to driving generally, driving stick presents a unique challenge.
That said, driving a manual car comes with its own unique benefits and a driving experience unlike any other. Manual transmission vehicles may have gone somewhat out of style over the last couple of decades, but when it comes to speed and performance, they’re still the gold standard.
Still, learning to drive a manual transmission vehicle is no easy feat. That’s why we’re here to help. Here are our top tips to driving a stick shift. But first, some general information about stick shift vehicles and how they differ from other types of transmission.
What is a Stick Shift?
A stick shift is the casual term for a manual transmission vehicle. This is any car that’s operated by using a combination of a clutch pedal and a gear shifter to shift gears while driving your vehicle.
The simplest way to think of exactly what that means is to think of a bicycle. When you shift gears, you’re adjusting the twisting of the gears that propel the bike forward in order to give yourself more power, or torque. Just as a bicycle relies on the rider to shift the gears manually depending on their needs, a manual transmission vehicle, or stick shift, does the same. You decide when the vehicle shifts gears.
Difference Between Automatic and Manual Vehicles
So, how does that differ from an automatic transmission vehicle?
Considering automatic transmission vehicles are so much simpler to operate, you may be wondering why anyone bothers with driving a manual at all. But manual transmission vehicles do have their advantages. They allow more manual control over the vehicle’s speed and power, which makes them a popular choice in performance vehicles and even in racing vehicles.
But any way you slice it, learning to drive manual for the first time isn’t easy. Here are our 9 tips to driving a stick shift.
9 Tips for Driving Stick Shift
Find a Teacher You Trust
Our first tip to driving a stick shift? Find the right partner. They don’t have to be an official driving instructor, just someone you know and trust who is experienced with manual transmission vehicles and will be patient while showing you the ropes. It could be a parent, sibling, friend, or anyone you don’t mind lurching along in the passenger seat as you stall a few (dozen) times during your first few attempts behind the wheel.
More than anything, this person should be someone you feel comfortable with. You’ll already be a bit stressed when learning this new skill, you don’t want someone in the passenger seat that’s going to cause you to feel even more anxious.
Get Familiar with the Pedals
One thing that most people don’t know about manual vehicles if they’ve never driven one? There aren’t just two foot pedals, there are three.
That’s right! Operating a manual transmission vehicle means you’re working with 50% more pedals than you’d be used to in an automatic car. You have your gas and brake pedals, but you also have the clutch to the left of them both. We won’t get into the mechanics of what the clutch pedal does in terms of its impact on the inner workings of the car, but here’s the basic gist— pushing the clutch down is what allows you to move the stick shifter and change gears while driving.
Speaking of gears, let’s hit those next.
Learn Your Gears
One of the biggest learning curves when it comes to learning to drive a manual vehicle is getting used to the positions of the gears. When you first start out, you’ll need to glance down at the stick each time you want to shift gears to identify the right direction to get to the gear you want to hit. First gear is top left, second gear is bottom left, top center is usually third, bottom center is fourth, top right is fifth, and then reverse is generally found down and to the right.
If that sounds like a lot to remember, it is! But don’t worry— before you know it and with enough practice, the positions of the gears will become second nature to you.
Use Both of Your Feet
This is one of the biggest adjustments drivers must make when moving from automatic to manual vehicles— you need to use both of your feet to operate the pedals!
This takes practice and coordination, so give yourself plenty of time to get used to it. Just remember that your right foot controls the speed of the vehicle— whether it’s moving forward slowly, quickly, or braking. Your left foot just needs to be in charge of the clutch pedal, which will allow you to shift gears when pushed down.
If you want extra practice when you’re not behind the wheel, you can try miming the foot motions while seated at your desk or even at the dinner table— though you may get a few weird looks if someone notices you pushing imaginary pedals with your feet while dining at a restaurant.
Expect to Stall
Listen closely— everyone stalls when first learning to drive a stick shift. Stalling is the result of trying to pop the clutch too quickly, and it’s basically a guarantee that you’ll be doing a whole lot of it in your first few lessons driving manual.
Practice Somewhere Comfortable
Have you ever had a dog, or maybe you’ve known someone with a dog, that figured the best way to get them used to the water was to toss them into the deep end and let their natural doggy paddle instincts take their course?
Well, learning to drive a stick shift is not like that. It takes time, practice, and a comfortable place where you can learn without the stakes of a mistake causing an accident or injury.
With that in mind, we recommend starting your lessons somewhere uncrowded and safe. Think an empty parking lot, or a little-used road that doesn’t experience a lot of automobile or pedestrian traffic.
Even more generally, our best tip to driving stick shift is to always make sure you’re comfortable and not pushing yourself to do something you’re not ready for. After all, you’re operating a powerful machine— you shouldn’t take on more than you can handle at any time.
Check Your Gear Shifter First
It’s important that your vehicle is in neutral before you start the ignition. To do this, hold down the clutch pedal with your foot and check that the gear shifter is in center (neutral position). If it’s not, simply shift it into place. Now you’re ready to start the vehicle (with the parking brake on, of course).
Get to Know the Shift Points
There are many aspects of driving a manual transmission vehicle that start off with rote memorization and eventually become instinctive and second nature. Knowing when to shift is no different.
We won’t outline exactly at which speeds you should shift into which gears, because this varies depending on the vehicle, the incline or decline, and other factors. But just remember that once you get more comfortable with your vehicle, you won’t be constantly checking your speedometer to see if it’s time to shift into 2nd, 3rd, or 4th gear. You’ll simply be able to feel when the vehicle needs to shift and make the shift naturally as you drive.
Enjoy Yourself & Relax
Remember, one of the biggest reasons people learn to drive manual vehicles is that they’re fun. Don’t let the process of learning to drive a stick shift bog you down. Like learning to ride a bike, you’ll eventually find that it just ‘clicks’ and you no longer have to consciously think about every little detail. That’s when you’ll be ready to go from the parking lot or abandoned local road onto the highway and drive to your heart’s content.
Conclusion
Driving a stick shift vehicle is a blast, and we want you to be able to do it safely and with the financial security of being properly insured. Get started on a free quote today and access the best cheap car insurance online with Freedom national.
