So I just started to learn to drive a manual...?

Question

and I have some questions...

How is the BEST WAY to start up again after stopping? And also, what is the best way to stop in the first place? I've basically been stepping on the clutch and brake at the same time, but which one should be put down first? Sorry if I'm sounding stupid right now asking these questions, but it's because I need help!

Basically, I really need to know the best way to stop the car (like say, I get to a stop sign/ light), and then what is the best way to start up again and get going. I never know what to push down when, and if like one should go before the other or something...

also, if anyone knows how to explain to me how to know when to change gears, I would really appreciate it. Thanks so much for any help anyone can give me! really!

*and yeah, I guess this question pertains a lot to being stopped on an incline!Thanks everyone :)

Answer 1

i love your question, because i love driving a manual...one sec.
OK...if you are coming to a stop, you don't need to hit both the clutch and the brake at the same time. Do this: hit the brake until you slow down, then before you come to a complete stop, push the clutch in....

Ok so there you are at the stop light...then the light turns green....

Here's what you need to do...As you ease up on the clutch, press the gas gently until you start moving..then easy on the clutch as you push the gas more, until you are ready for 2nd geear..etc etc.

This takes practice and patience, but sooner or later, it will be second nature...good luck to you and email me if you want further assistance.

EDIT: you probably know this, but you always need the clutch pushed if you come to a complete stop. Or else the car will stall as you've probably found out. Keep practicing!

Answer 2

When coming to a Stop sign, brake first to slow the car, push in the clutch while your other foot is still on the brake and shift into a lower gear. When you let the clutch out again your engine will act as a brake as well. Keep your foot off the gas. Push the clutch in again just before you come to a smooth halt.

After you've stopped, keep the clutch depressed and select 1st gear. When its safe to go, rev your engine a little and slowly let the clutch out until you feel the car start to move forward. Then its slowly off the clutch and onto the gas.

Changing gears at the right time takes practice. If your car has a tacho, try changing up at about the same revs between each of the gears. Changing down smoothly as you're slowing is something most people don't get right but when you've mastered this you'll be a great driver.

Get a copy of the road rules and study it until you know it backwards. It could save your life.

Safe driving!

Answer 3

When stopping, you depress the clutch when the speed your car has slowed to goes below your current gear's speed. (eg. if you are travelling 55 mph and shift to 4th normally at 45 mph, when you brake, don't depress the clutch until you hit below 45 mph.). At a stop, keep the clutch all the way in with on e foot and put the car in 1st with the other foot on the brake. Do NOT put it in neutral (it is illegal in some places).

From a stop, let off the brake, give it some gas and let the clutch out while still giving gas (not too much!). If you feel the car start to jerk or stutter weirdly, give a bit more gas, as it is stalling. Be easy on the clutch, let it out smoothly with your foot. Never let it "pop" out. When practising this, make sure you are not going to hit the car in front of you when you engage the clutch (too much gas will make the car lurch when the clutch is let out).

Changing gears is based on your vehicle. Check the owner's manual to see when you should be changing gears. Basically, you will hear the engine whine a bit louder when you have to change gears. Once you understand the speed at which you need to change gears, try to remember what the engine sounds like so you can change gears without looking at you speedometer.

Good luck!

Answer 4

My best advise is get a good teacher. I learned when I was a small child on farm tractors. Anyone who has driven a large tractor knows what happens when you drop (take your foot off fast) the clutch. Practice makes perfect here too. Experience helps. I was able to teach my sister and my husband but not over the net. Anyway let me see if I can help you any. This is from what I remember, if I were you I would try to find someone you can trust to help you out.
You should find a large empty parking lot to practice starting in. One that has some slopes would be good. The best way to start up from a stand still is to push the clutch in, put it in 1st and then give it gas and let off the clutch at the same time. Its slow and even. Turn the radio off and open the window and listen to the engine. You will know when you are giving it too much gas or letting off the clutch too fast or slow. Learn your vehicle. So you want to give the gas and let of the clutch about even. Find a hill you can practice on. Then you want to learn your clutch. I've had cars that you can slowly let the clutch out with out giving any gas and it will go on its own. Practice each thing until you think you have it. It should become natural in no time. If you are on a hill don't get jumpy. Relax. If you have bad hills, I lived in Cali once and they were hell, then you can use the e-brake trick. Pull the e-brake, push in the clutch, put it in first, give it a little gas, take your foot off the clutch a little and then let the brake out. You should be able to learn how much gas and how much to let off the clutch so that you can stay on the hill. Its something I've done a few times, but you don't really need to. Just good to know.
You stop a manual about the same as you stop an automatic. Some people will just push in the clutch, take it out of gear and use the brake to stop. Thats fine. You can also down shift. Its really not something you should do a whole lot until you understand how to shift up through the gears. Again every vehicle is different so you need to listen to it. If you see a stop sign or a light you can take it out of gear and let it drift some and then break to a stop. Or you can shift down through the gears to slow it down. In any case you will need to use the break.
To down shift you want to push in the clutch, switch gears and slowly let off the clutch. You want to go from 5-4-3-2-1, don't switch from 5-2 or anything like that. It will slow you down if you do it correctly. I really reccomend you have someone show you how to do this. What I do is I take it out of gear and let is drift a ways, and usually the light will change before the vehile stops. This makes it easy, you just put it in the gear that works for that speed and keep going.
I don't know that I can really explain how to shift up to you. You should pay attention to your tack, if you have one. If not you may have a shift light that tells you. My old car had a shift light but it was a little slow. My car gets to between 2000 and 3000 RPM and I need to shift. It also depends on how quickly you want to pick up speed.
I hope I helped some. If you want me to explain something better then just let me know.

Answer 5

first of all don't worry about this question... manual is a little difficult at first. I stop by pushing in the clutch and than applying the brake. the best way to start up again is to put the car back into first gear(push the clutch in first) than let out the clutch while giving it gas . if you have a tachometer don't let the RPM drop below 800.it's a fluid motion though let out the clutch while giving it gas. you can change the gears when you think the engine rpm is getting a little high. like around 3,000 RPM.than shift to 2nd 3rd and so on.eventually you'll learn to shift without looking at you engine speed. good luck

Answer 6

The key point is you should never shift gears without using the clutch, but you can use the clutch and brake in several combinations.

To start, it is alright to briefly use the brake while you are letting out the clutch. This keeps the vehicle from rolling before you are able to engage the engine.

To stop, can use the brake to slow down the car. You can also shift to a lower gear, which uses the engine to slow the car rather than your brake.

Answer 7

When you're going 50 mph. and under and you plan to stop with plenty of distance in front of you let the engine slow you down with the clutch dis-engaged. As you slow down under 35 mph. push the clutch petal in and shift to the next lower gear. Again let the engine slow you down. at speeds of 25 mph. and under push both clutch and brake at the same time until you stop. When starting out in first gear slowly release the clutch petal and press the throttle only enough to keep the engine above 1,000 rpm. Up shift from first to second when your tachometer reads 3,000 rpm.(revolutions per minute). Do the same pattern until you reach high gear. All these things may seem a bit confusing now but as you become more comfortable you will not have to glance at the tachometer at all. For now turn off the distracting radio and your ears will be accustomed to the rpm. of the motor. Remember to shift down as you slow down it will not damage the engine and you'll triple the life of your brakes. Best of luck to you!

Answer 8

As soon as your foot leaves the gas the clutch should go down, you release the break and up on clutch and down on gas at same time, normally change gears when you hear your engine start to rev, first to second about 20 mph second to third around 30 to 35 mph and so on

Answer 9

starting - slowly ease off the clutch while deppressing the gas at approximately the same rate

slowing down brake as normal gear down using cluch when rpm drop

stopping - you can brake untill rpm s drop low then depress cluch when stopped gear down to 1st gear or you can gear down and brake between gearing down using the gears to slow the car

change gears when the rpms reach about 4000 range or just at the begining of the red line on your indicater after a while you can tell by the sound of the motor

Answer 10

after stopping ,,,and you want to move again ,,,put it in gear,,,as you life you foot up from the clutch slowly ,,,,you also slowly press down on the gas,so as your clutch foot comes up your gas foot goes down ,as if on a excersizer,that you see advertised ,
to stop ,right you are coming up to some lights ,slowly lift your foot of the gas as you put your other foot slowly down on the clutch getting ready to go down a gear ,go a little way and do the same again ,and down another gear ,,,then as you have to stop ,put your foot down on the clutch,go into first gear,as you push down on the break,this way you are now in first gear ,you have breaked and you are ready to pull away again ,as you are in first gear,but if anyone is likely to walk out in front of you pull the hand break on ,and put the car into nutral ,cos if you are on a test and dont do this you will fail ,as the safty of a walking perdestrian must come first ,
so ,,,,gear ,clutch,gas ,,,,go
and ,clutch,gear,break,stop ,into first,
i hope you can understand this ,its really hard having to write it down as i just do it with out even thinking now ,,,,thank god hehe ,,,i wish you well ,,,come back and tell us when you pass ,,,all the best ,,kat