How to drive a car with a manual transmission?

Too often, manual driving seems to be a daunting challenge for many of us. That's why you'll get a quick lesson, simplifying each step of learning to drive a manual transmission car.

Preferably, start on flat ground. Then roll down your windows and buckle up. You can use the CBT memory trick to remember the order of the pedals, from left to right: Clutch, Brake and Throttle.

Effective manual driving is based on a good understanding of the clutch.

The clutch is the element that transmits the engine's power to the gearbox or uncouples the assembly to allow the gear change. Its role is to allow the passage from one gear to another by absorbing the jerks of the gearbox.

Next, make sure you have adjusted your seat. It is important to have easy access to the left pedal, the clutch pedal.

To become familiar with the feel and sound of the clutch disengagement, depress the clutch pedal and hold it down. This way you can feel the difference between the pedal stroke and the brake and throttle strokes.

When starting
To start, put the gearshift in neutral. Then start the car with the clutch pedal on the floor.

Once the engine starts, you can release the pedal... as long as the gear arm is still in neutral.

To shift into first gear
To shift into first gear, depress the clutch pedal and move the shift lever into first position. Slowly lift your foot off the pedal until you hear the engine speed drop, then press it down again.

To start moving forward, gently lift your foot off the clutch pedal until the RPM drops slightly. Then press down on the gas pedal with your right foot. If you let go of the clutch too quickly, the car will stall.

When you're driving and the RPMs reach 3,000 to 4,000, it's time to change gears. You can also tell when it's time by the roar of the engine.

To brake
Finally, when it's time to brake, release the throttle and step on the brake. When you reach about 15 km/h and the car starts to shake, depress the clutch and put the gearshift in neutral to avoid stalling the car.

Good driving!