Stick Shift/Manual Transmission Question....driving during traffic?

Question

ok im new at this and i really want to learn.here my question.

If your going 20mph on 2nd gear on the freeway and you see theres traffic ahead and its going 8mph.
and
same question but your going 20mph on a ramp to a freeway and there traffic.
What do I do.

explain what do you do.

Do I down shift to first but my friend told me that you cant shift to first after shifting to second or something like that.

Answer 1

Some people downshift but i've heard it might be bad for you transmission if you do it too much. Shift to neutral and slowly brake.

Answer 2

If the traffic ahead of you is going 8mph, and your doing 20mph, slow down from 20 to about 10-12mph then you can easily shift down to first gear. As for your friends answer, since when can't you downshift from 2nd gear to 1st gear?

Answer 3

20 Mph is not good on the freeway, you'll be lucky nobody hits you, for going that slow..

I have been driving stick shift for 10 yrs now, Down shifting is normal. In traffic, stop and go situations, I downshift more then I brake with the shifter in nuetral.

Answer 4

I would stay in 2nd gear and be ready to brake. If and when you come to a full and complete stop, you may hold in neutral until traffic moves. It is possible to downshift to first gear at that speed, but since 1st is normally such a low gear, there is little to no advantage to doing so. Your vehicle SHOULD have enough torque and power to provide additonal inertia to gain roadspeed in second gear. In this case, again, I would simply let the car drive itself in regard to allowing the idle speed provide enough power for safe and controlled driving. Downshifting is advisable when you MUST overtake and pass someone in a non-limited access highway setting... ie: two lane back road. While driving on the highway, you can opt to downshift and pass, but your car again should have enough power to do so while in the proper gear for the roadspeed and conditions. Hope this helps again.

Answer 5

can't believe the answers your getting they should stick to there automatics driving for forty years never owned an automatic drive close to 40,000 miles every year you do the math if your going to slow for 2nd gear put it in 1st that's what its made for as far as double clutching 1961 I drove my first fully syncro transmission and I haven't dealt with one since transmissions today are fully syncro shift up or down on the fly that's what there made to do..never wore out a clutch,pressure plate or hrowout bearing in my life..that happens when you dont know how to drive a stick

Answer 6

You could drive in second gear for a little while till you get to the other lane. Just don't do it too much. That ruins the tranny. When your in the other lane you can downshift from there if it's really that slow.

Answer 7

It's called "double clutching". Ask any old guy. You are in second gear and put the tranny in neutral, let out the clutch and run the engine up to the rpm's it would take to drive the car in 1st gear at your current speed you are traveling . Then you push in the clutch and pop the tranny in 1st. Works whether your cincros are bad even.

Answer 8

Your shift point is indicated by the R.P.M. of the engine.Don't go below 1000 rpm. You don't need syhchonizers in a transmission if you know how to shift.Ask any race car driver.

Answer 9

the only time you should shift to first is when you car comes to a complete stop. if you are driving real slow then 2nd is fine.

Answer 10

i think the problem is that your going 20 mph on the freakin freeway!

if traffic is THAT bad, find another way around