How do you drive Manual/Stick Shift in Traffic in Los Angeles?

Question

How do you drive in traffic in LA with a Stick Shift/Manual.
Can I stay in 2nd gear while going 4mph or will it mess up the car. what should i do if traffic is going 4mph. and how do i change lane with a stick shift if theres traffic.

Answer 1

LA also has those downhill or level segments where you can keep the car in neutral and use only the brakes to control forward motion. On uphills, you're in no hurry to continuously engage/disengage the clutch if you aren't going anywhere. When the car in front of you moves forward a good length, make a clean takeoff and ease off the gas - the car will creep in 1st perfectly fine. With the above techniques, your clutch will last longer and you will be more relaxed.

With changing lanes, simply nudge yourself into any space and someone will eventually let you in.

Answer 2

If traffic is going 4 mph, you'll probably want first gear. Don't let the engine lug or lurch, that's VERY bad for the engine bearings because the oil pump is not turning fast enough to keep oil pressure up.

Yes, stop and go traffic requires a lot of shifting beteen neutral and first and an equal amount of clutching. Just do it. By the time you've driven a stick for a little while, it won't even be tedious, it'll just be "automatic" for your brain.

Never hold the clutch pedal down for more than 1-2 seconds. "Standing on the clutch" will eventually destroy your throwout bearing, a painful repair. If you need to stop for a few seconds (like in stop-and-go) then clutch, shift to neutral and foot off the clutch. Then shift to first when it's time to move again. Again this is just automatic after awhile, it won't interrupt your daydreaming :)

Changing lanes, just drive normally... normally I don't change gears while changing lanes. If you're trying to make that "rocket jump" from a crawling lane to a fast lane, well... hold off on that, til you get better at driving the stick. Then it should be obvious :)

Answer 3

You drive a manual in LA the same way you drive one in Alamagordo, Kankakee, Joplin or London. As long as you don't "lug" the engine there's no problem with driving 4 MPH in second gear. All modern trannys are fully synchronized so there's no reason you couldn't shift down to first gear either.

You don't shift gears while turning or changing lanes. Anywhere.

Answer 4

You need some more practice driving, as long as you are not jerking around your car is fine. Lane change, check in front and back and turn on your blinker, you might be surprised that they will let you in.