Thanks for joining us on this tutorial of how to drive a manual car. Manual cars have a steep learning curve, so your very first experience can be jerky as you become familiar with the clutch and shift timing. But do not worry! In this blog, we will cover the basics of a manual transmission vehicle. You will be able to learn how to drive a manual car in 8 simple steps.
The Basics of How To Drive a Manual Car
Before we jump onto how to drive a manual car, let’s have a glance at the basics. Manual vehicles have, starting from left to right, three pedals namely Clutch, Brake and Accelerator. As many of you might have guessed, the accelerator speeds up the vehicle by increasing the engine revolution. On the other hand, the brake slows the car down. The effectiveness of both of these pedals is subject to how hard you press them.
The clutch pedal acts as a mediator between the engine and the wheels. When pressed, the clutch disconnects the engine from the wheels. The clutch pedal is what makes the manual’s drive more complicated.
8 Steps to Drive A Manual Transmission
Now that you are familiar with the basic components of the manual driving system, it’s time to dive into the steps on how to drive a manual car.
1. Get Ready: The very first step is to get into your car and fasten your seatbelt. Then place your vehicle into the neutral gear by navigating the gear stick to the centre of the box.
2. Find the Ignition: The next step is to seek out where the ignition is. You might find ignition to the steering's right in the UK (left in the US, Canada, GCC states etc.), but many vehicles also have push-to-start feature.
3. Give the Ignition a Twist: Once you locate the ignition, you must insert the key and turn the ignition halfway around. By doing this, you allow the vehicle sensors to take their readings.
4. Start up the Engine: Put your left foot on the clutch pad firmly and turn the ignition all the way to start the vehicle. Remember to make sure your vehicle is in neutral mode before you start your car.
5. Check the Handbrake: Once you’ve started your vehicle, you are ready to proceed to the next step to learn how to drive a manual car. At this stage, disengage the handbrake. Many new vehicles do not have a
handbrake; instead, they have an electronic handbrake. Refer to your car’s manual for more information regarding handbrake.
handbrake; instead, they have an electronic handbrake. Refer to your car’s manual for more information regarding handbrake.
6. Gear Up: Now press the clutch pad again all the way and move the vehicle into the first gear. You will find the gear pattern printed onto the end of your gear shifter. In case you cannot locate the design, do not panic. The first gear is usually in the top left side of the gear selector.
7. Get Moving: Continuing to learn how to drive a manual car; it is time to get your vehicle moving. While your clutch pad is fully depressed and the vehicle is in the first gear, you must put your right foot on the accelerator pad. Next, you need to press the accelerator pedal very slowly and release the clutch pedal very gently until the car begins to vibrate slightly. We call it the biting point.
8. Get in the Flow: With the right combination of clutch and accelerator, your car must be moving by now. Once you’ve gained enough momentum, release the clutch pedal completely and increase the engine revs. Remember that stalling your vehicle in the early attempts is absolutely normal! Just turn off the engine, shift back to neutral gear, and try again.
How To Reverse A Manual Car?
Essential to learning how to drive a manual car is getting used to reverse. It would be best if you began by pressing the clutch pedal all the way down and shifting the vehicle into reverse. You can find the reverse gear in the gear pattern. With a fully depressed clutch, consult the mirrors to make sure the way is clear, and accelerate slowly while releasing the clutch.
Once you feel the reverse gear engages, get in the momentum, and adjust the engine rev accordingly. Make sure to consult the mirrors constantly while you navigate for your safety!
How To Drive A Manual Car – 3 Useful Tips
By now, you must have a fair idea of how to drive a manual car. However, some tips and tricks can make your manual car driving experience even better.
1. When you stop at a traffic signal, do not hold down the clutch whilst stationary. Wunderstand that it saves some time to have the vehicle geared, but it puts a lot of force on the clutch release bearing. You do not want that to wear out quickly!
2. You must also be careful not to hold down the clutch on slopes such as hills. When stopped, do it properly by pulling the handbrake and only using the clutch when you are ready to take off.
3. Another useful tip to keep in mind is to minimise the heavy use of the accelerator. New drivers use the accelerator too much on slopes or avoid stalling, ultimately weakening the clutch plates.
Advantages of Manual Transmission Cars
Manual cars have some clear benefits; they are less complicated than automatics, hence require lesser effort to maintain it. The only component that would need repairing is the clutch after many miles of driving. The gear oil also decays less quickly and requires fewer replaces. Manual cars are also famous for good fuel efficiency because they do not have a hydraulic pump and torque converter. Without the torque converter, braking is also relatively easier in manuals giving you more control in driving.
We hope this guide and the extra tips would help you learn how to drive a manual car. Be sure to abide by the traffic laws to stay safe while driving!
