I have a 94 VW Bug I bought and I am teaching myself how to drive a manual. What gear should I keep it in when on the highway? Any other tips would be greatly appreciated because I am scared ta Death!
2006-09-09 14:07:05 · 12 answers · asked by EmersonCyclist 1 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Other - Cars & Transportation
By all means keep it in 5th! That will save you gas and wear on your engine.
2006-09-09 14:08:33 · answer #1 · answered by Joe K 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Congratulations on getting a stick! Hopefully you will learn to enjoy it better than an automatic, just as I do (in 29+ years of driving I've never owned an automatic).
When driving at highway speeds (over 80 kph/50 mph), always keep it in 5th gear, unless you hear the engine laboring and losing speed when going up a long hill; in which case you should shift down to 4th. Listen to your engine and observe the road. That will be your best guide to proper use of the transmission.
Just get plenty of practice, and you will become better and better with a stick. Happy driving!
2006-09-09 14:18:27 · answer #2 · answered by sandislandtim 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Has nothing to do with what type of road you're on. It's the speed you're going and the condition's that determine what is the proper gear. High speed running require's higher gears, lower speeds/increased demands like hills or towing require lower gears. If you're in 5th and lugging the engine than its time to go lower, if your in 5th and reving higher than the cruise rpm I'd say definitely upshift to make life easier on your drivetrain and your wallet.
Incidentally, here in the Philly area I use to commute to work in a '86 V'dub with a manual (it was either a 4 or 5) and on the highways would use every gear in the box due to hills, long straight high speed running, slow crawl's from sun glare or rubbernecking, etc.
As annoying a response as it may sound like, the correct answer is the right gear.
2006-09-09 14:25:41 · answer #3 · answered by Michael G 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I taught myself how to drive my manual too. Practice with it in areas that you are familiar with first until you are comfortable driving it. If you can, practice on a quiet street that you can get the car up to 50MPH and switch to 5th gear. A simple way to know what gear to be in is every 10MPH is gonna be the next highest gear.
Couple of pointers: When you are on the highway, get up to the speed that you plan to stay at while in fourth gear and THEN switch to 5th gear. And relax. Car drives like clockwork, unless you gotta slow down. (but car can run in 5th up to 40-45MPH, at which point you have to down shift or car will go "brrrrr" and run to slow and take forever to pick up again. Will not hurt car to do this, but not safe to drive slow on highway).
Once you get that, another thing you can practice is using your downshifting to brake (DO NOT TRY ON HIGHWAY). You can do this on a safe street. Practice when you are in 4th downshifting to third and slowly let out the clutch, the engine will slow down your car. Do not do this on second unless going very slow or your can hurt the drive train.
With practice, you can get it. The car becomes a second part of you and man, I don't think I will ever go back to automatic. Hope this helps some!
2006-09-09 14:20:18 · answer #4 · answered by sexy34 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Its simple, as long as you cruise along, you can go from 30mph in 5th gear. Try to get of the gas pedal for a second and if the car decelerates very slowly in 5th, you are good. I drive a BMW, where I can see the usage of gas. Surprising, as long as I don't try to accelerate, I can go as low as 25mph, even slightly uphill in the 5th, using almost nothing. If you have a nervous gas foot, don't try the 5th at all.
2006-09-09 15:16:38 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you are on the highway and road is clear you should be in 5th gear,
2006-09-09 15:19:21 · answer #6 · answered by Tony Lo 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
as long as you are above 40-45 mph and not towing anything, select 5th gear. That would be just fine. If towing something you should stay in fourth.
2006-09-09 14:12:20 · answer #7 · answered by sunsetstew 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The decrease the RPM's, the a lot less gasoline being burned. RPM for sure stands for revolutions in line with minute, so in case your crank is revolving 2100 circumstances truly than 1700, every time it rotates a shot a gasoline is shot into the combustion chamber said with the help of a spark. So the decrease that's, the a lot less gasoline being burned. wish that helped!
2016-11-25 22:47:40 · answer #8 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
5th over 50 mph
2006-09-09 14:08:18 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
anything above like 40-45 you should be in 5th
2006-09-09 14:10:22 · answer #10 · answered by k dog 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋