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2torial #0689:
Learn2
Drive a Stick Shift
Vrooooom!!!!!...?...#@*#!!!
Some parents issue their 16 year-olds a live
2torial, screeching "More gas! More gas!", while
pushing their young protege's knee - and the gas
pedal - toward the floor in the middle of a busy
street. Other parents figure what they don't know
won't hurt them. But no matter how old you are, if
you already know how to drive an automatic
transmission, the distractions of driving won't add
to the challenge. Don't worry: driving a stick
shift is sort of like riding a bicycle--only time
and practice stand between confusion and second
nature.
Why bother? Because manual transmissions (those
that require stick shifts) usually get better gas
mileage than their automatic counterparts. And
because you control the gears, acceleration and
hill climbing will prove more effective. Also,
downshifting can save wear and tear on your brakes
and provides more control in icy or rainy
conditions.
Caution: This 2torial is intended to be
supplemented by instruction from a knowledgeable
driver. Do not drive unsupervised until you have
been tested by a competent adult (if you can find
one). Also, know that there may be some additional
wear and tear on the clutch during the learning
process.
Know your way around. A manual transmission
demands that the driver shift the gears instead of
the engine. Most cars have four or five forward
speeds, as well as reverse. In order to master the
process, you need to know the following:
- The clutch pedal is located at the far left and
is used when moving up or down from one gear to another.
The clutch is disengaged when the pedal is pushed
to the floor.
- Neutral is not a gear; actually, it is the absence
of gear. When the engine is running in neutral, you
can rev up the engine, but you won't go anywhere.
You'll also be able to wiggle the shifter back and
forth - which you can't do when engaged in any gear.
- For most cars, second gear is the workhorse. It
will get you up (and down) steep hills as well as
through congested downtown.
- Reverse gear is somewhat different from the others:
it's got more range than, say, first gear, but doesn't
like going for too long or too fast. So, don't back
up around the block to pass the time.
- The gas pedal (at far right) works with the gears
to give the engine power at different levels. As mentioned
before, if you press on the gas pedal while out of
gear, you will only rev the car up: this is how 50's
hot-rodders showed their toughness. But if you over-accelerate
with the clutch partially engaged, you'll eventually
wear it out.
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