How To Drive A Standard Car
With a little patience and practice, you will be cruising around town in no time.
How to Drive Standard
First, become acquainted with your manual car. There are three pedals. From left to right, these pedals are: clutch, brake, gas.
On top of the gearshift, you’ll find a diagram which shows you where each of the gears is. The diagram is in the shape of a three-legged H in most new cars. First, third and fifth gears are at the tops of the legs; second, fourth and reverse are at the bottom. Neutral is the middle point or crossbar of the H.
To begin driving, verify that the surface you’re on is flat, and allows you plenty of room. Make sure to apply the parking brake.
Now, depress the clutch, then move the gearshift into neutral. Start the car.
Keeping your foot on the clutch, move the gearshift into first, which is the top-left position.
Next, apply the foot brake and release the parking brake.
When you’re ready to begin moving, release the foot brake.
Now, slowly start to release the clutch. When you hear or feel the engine start to slow down, slowly press the gas pedal, while you continue to release the clutch. This should cause your car to move forward.
Continue accelerating until the car has reached about 3,000rpm. Once that has happened, take your foot off the gas, press down on the clutch, and pull the gearshift straight down from first two second gear. Assure that your gearshift is pulled down as far as it will go.
Now, release the clutch pedal, meanwhile pressing gently on the gas.
This is how you shift gears. You will need to do this every time your car hits 3,000rpm until you’re driving at the proper speed. To switch to third, move the gearshift up from second and to the right. Fourth is straight down from there, and fifth is up to neutral, right, then up again.
To downshift, release the gas when you wish to slow down. Press the clutch and move the gearshift through neutral into the next-lowest gear. You should not skip gears when downshifting. Once you’ve shifted to the lower gear, release the clutch slowly and brake at the same time.
To stop the car, downshift to second gear and apply the brakes – pressing the clutch just before the car stops. Don’t downshift into first gear.
To drive a manual car in reverse, follow the same steps as you would to start in neutral. But be careful: the reverse gear engages quicker than first gear, so make sure you release the clutch slowly and press the gas as soon as the car begins moving.
It may seem like a lot of work, but driving standard is a skill you’ll have for the rest of your driving days.
