How To Drive A Stick Shift

Learning how to drive a stick shift takes some practice and coordination. Your best bet when learning to drive a stick shift is to get out of town and off of the main streets so you don't have to worry about other cars or pedestrians. Follow these simple steps and you will be driving a stick shift in no time:

1. When you are ready to start driving, take a deep breath and relax. Driving a stick shift will be a lot harder to master if you are nervous.
2. Adjust the seat so you can easily push the clutch pedal all the way to the floor. You will use your left foot to operate the clutch. Your right foot will take care of the brake and the gas, like normal.
3. Start the car and get ready to drive. Push the clutch pedal all the way to the floor with your left foot, turn the key to start the car and with your right foot press the brake pedal then release the emergency brake.
4. There should be a diagram of the gear positions on the handle of the gear shift. While still holding the clutch pedal down, move the gear shift handle into the position of first gear.
5. Now you are ready to start moving. Make sure the coast is clear before you get going. Slowly start letting the clutch pedal out while simultaneously pushing the gas pedal in. The car will start to go forward. If the car starts to buck, let off the gas and push the clutch back in. Keep trying until you smoothly start the car moving forward.
6. As the car picks up speed the RPM will increase. You will need to change gears at 3,500 to 4,000 RPM. To change gears you need to follow the same motions as before; take your foot off of the gas pedal, press the clutch pedal to the floor and slide the gear shift handle into second gear. Slowly let the clutch out as you push in on the gas. You will proceed through the gears as needed, using the same pattern of movements each time, until you have reached the top gear.
7. Whenever you need to come to a stop you will push the clutch pedal to the floor, take the car out of gear and apply the brake. To get going again just repeat the process.
8. If you are driving in traffic or any situation where you need to slow down but not stop, you will need to down shift the car. This is done using the same process; you will just shift to a lower gear instead of shifting up. For backing up you will do the exact same thing, except put the gear handle into the reverse position.

Driving a stick shift is fairly simple mechanically. With practice you will be able to tell by the sound of the car when you need to change gears. After driving a stick shift for a while you will be changing gears without having to thinking about it.