I am in the school to downshift and have it on gear almost all the time. I believe you have more control. I taught both my kids the same thing. I have always done that with motorcycles, pickups, cars and sports cars. In a sports car I often used a technique called "heel and toe" to blip the rpm's for downshifting. What fun! I miss those days!
How to drive a car with a clutch
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el caminero
Single-Sixer
In some states it is mandatiry to stay in gear at a stoplight, p.o.v. or c.m.v.
First gear is the same or lower than reverse on almost all manual transmissions so you should park the car in first gear. Use caution parking with the emergency brake in very cold weather, maybe 10 or colder, as the pads or shoes can freeze to the discs or drums making it very difficult to get going. We had a 2014 Ford Fusion with a manual and it had the hill holding clutch. It is helpful once you get used to it or you can turn it off in the settings as it works through the ABS system. At a stop I usually just push the clutch in but you can put the car in neutral until the light is getting ready to change and then put it in first before the green.
Actually stuck brakes in freezing weather is common on some makes. Toyota even says not to do it in their manual.
Wife won't drive a stick anymore. She got stuck on a hill couple times and refuses no matter where. I was driving a 26' company truck in Virginia and the only place to cross was uphill, under a bridge. I rode the clutch and gas in 1st gear for couple minutes waiting for the light. Trying to get a loaded truck moving uphill wasn't fun. Reved the engine and feathered the clutch to keep it moving and made it. Of course this was the route the local PoPo recommended to make the bridge requirements. I still enjoy a stick for the fun.
black1970
Blackhawk
For a time I drove a tractor trailer. It had 18 forward gears and three reverse. Toss in that it was a 6x6 and had a PTO winch and it looked like a forest had taken root.
Oh, and not a single synchro. And hauling a fully loaded runway foamer you needed every one of those gears to hit 45 mph.
If you couldn't double clutch, reach through the steering wheel and manipulate multiple levers, all while using your arm to maintain steering control you might as well not even try to leave the firehouse.
Oh, and not a single synchro. And hauling a fully loaded runway foamer you needed every one of those gears to hit 45 mph.
If you couldn't double clutch, reach through the steering wheel and manipulate multiple levers, all while using your arm to maintain steering control you might as well not even try to leave the firehouse.
Hertervillian
Saluki
Neutral foot on brake, I'm more likely than not to knock it out of gear and coast to a stop. Although I know how I rarely slow down by down shifting.
There are arguments made for and against every style. Driving here in the middle of flyover country doesn't seem to take an aggressive approach to driving a stick.
There are arguments made for and against every style. Driving here in the middle of flyover country doesn't seem to take an aggressive approach to driving a stick.
I always thought anyone who survived driving a stick shift in San Francisco was a Master.
el caminero
Single-Sixer
Bill cosby had a bit on that, which us kids remembered whenever dad took the carryall across the bay for some chinese. 3 on the tree and o'd, on a 283 he rebuilt because the dealer, on rebuilding it for the previous owner, had installed the fan backwards ("we put it back on the same way we took it off!") because detroit had put the fan on backwards in the first place. he got a hella deal on discount (the dealer thought it was cursed) for parts...got its backstory from the previous owner who recognised it and flagged us down in a parking lot....he was surprised it was the fan at fault!
I remember once when visiting Niagara Falls, I think it was on the Canadian side I had to go up an almost straight up street with a stick shift and it was a sweat when I was trying not to roll back and hit the car behind me. I have not owned a standard shift now for decades and have no desire to own another one. They were fun and a challenge when I was in my 20's but not now when I am old.
Richbaker
Blackhawk
I was a tech at a VW dealer, got to work on a couple of those things... One of the reasons I got into electronics.
I remember that bit. I thought of it my first time driving a rental "(auto) In San Francisco. Going uphill in town, stopped at a light with my foot up in the air (or so it seemed).
GasGuzzler
Hunter
For a stop sign or in traffic, I leave it in gear and clutch as needed. At a red light or another time where I'll sit for a bit, I kick it out of gear and let off the clutch. Leaving your hand on the knob could cause premature wear (over a very long time) on old external shift rail transmissions (Muncies, Top Loaders, T-10's, etc.) but does nothing on a modern transmission. Some cars require a certain gear when parked. The 2005 (only) Corvette (first year for that body style) had to be put in reverse before the car was turned off (also first year for the push to start) or else the battery would run down. I do not use reverse to park because reverse generally uses a safety of some sort. In a modern h-pattern manual, I use 2nd to park to have a higher gear ratio and because it's the easiest gear to pull.
And to be technical...vehicles are not built with emergency brakes. There's too much implication in that name for the manufacturers. It's generally called a park brake (and generally always has been). Most modern parking brakes would help zero in an emergency.
Slowing down: I use both. If I am slowing down enough, I will have to downshift to accelerate anyway. Once the shift is made I let the engine slow the car until the next downshift but it all depends how much you're slowing down and how much time you have to do so. Downshifting doesn't wear the clutch any more than upshifting. Starting from a stop is where most clutch wear comes from.
And to be technical...vehicles are not built with emergency brakes. There's too much implication in that name for the manufacturers. It's generally called a park brake (and generally always has been). Most modern parking brakes would help zero in an emergency.
Slowing down: I use both. If I am slowing down enough, I will have to downshift to accelerate anyway. Once the shift is made I let the engine slow the car until the next downshift but it all depends how much you're slowing down and how much time you have to do so. Downshifting doesn't wear the clutch any more than upshifting. Starting from a stop is where most clutch wear comes from.
