Standard transmissions have a dual existence. They are at once both feared and loved by drivers, some who swear they’ll never own a car with a clutch, and others who say they wouldn’t hit a dog in the rump with an automatic transmission. Drivers who choose automatic transmissions thinking they can’t handle a manual transmission really are missing out on a great experience, though.
Today’s standard gearboxes are easy to operate and are almost fail safe. With a little practice, even the most adamantly pro-automatic transmission drivers may find themselves banging through the gears with joy. Keep these tips in mind, and you might find the driving passion that so many other drivers enjoy.
Challenge yourself without distractions
The perfect place to practice your first foray with a manual transmission is a large, empty parking lot. Prying eyes can make you nervous and lose your place, and the thought of accidentally hitting a parked car can drive you to distraction. Without these obstacles, you can focus on the task at hand – getting accustomed to the shifter and clutch.
Stop and Go
The most difficult part of learning how to drive a manual transmission is starting and stopping. Practice starting and stopping in a straight line, accelerating to between five and 10 miles per hour, and then stopping again. Don’t worry about shifting from first to second gear for the time being. That’s the easy part.
Get a “feel” for the transmission
A manual transmission may seem like something you have to see and touch to get the hang of, but the truth is that it’s more of a feel. Each gear has a set position in the shifter, so once you’re familiar with where each of the gears are located, their positions should be second nature. The “feel” aspect comes into play with the clutch. While you’re stopped, and with the clutch depressed, put the car in first gear and slowly apply gas while you slowly let out the clutch pedal. You’ll feel the clutch catch. This is the point at which you apply the gas to accelerate forward.
Next, you’ll “feel” the engine let you know when to shift into second gear. Try not to watch your tachometer, and let the car tell you when it’s time to shift. Eventually, you’ll learn where the right shift points are, and driving a manual transmission will become second nature, and far less intimidating than it once was.
Attack the Hills
Starting and stopping on hills is one of the most nerve-wracking parts of learning a manual transmission. Since highways are full of hills positioned in just the right places to make new drivers roll back into the police car behind them, it’s a good idea to practice hill stops and starts away from traffic. Ideal places? Try park roads, parking lots and even parking garages, where the grades will be relatively gentle, and traffic kept to a minimum.
Practice, Practice, Practice
Like any skill, becoming good at driving a standard transmission means practicing. When you become comfortable at your parking lot practice arena, take it to the road fearlessly, and spend time behind the wheel to get a feel for how the transmission works. If you try just once to drive a manual, and then go right back to an automatic, chances are you won’t get the feel for how to drive it. Be brave, and you just might find yourself enjoying that commute for once!
Souces:
Standard Shift: Learn how to drive a manual transmission: www.standardshift.com
