corsia logo

Why and how to drive a stick shift?

Why and how to drive a stick shift?

Do you want to be considered a hardcore car enthusiast? Or, perhaps you just want to impress your friends? Or you are the kind of person that likes to know things? Well, you can have all of that! Because today you are going to learn how to drive a stick shift!

Why you should learn to drive a stick shift

We would not be true to our human nature if we didn’t ask “why.” Why aren’t things cheaper? Why are sugary foods so delicious? Why should I know how to drive a stick shift?

Although I can go pretty deep into all these questions, let’s stick with the last one (pun intended). Even if you are a fan of automatic transmissions, it won’t hurt to know a bit more, right? And I have plenty of good reasons for you to learn manual, so let’s get going.

You will earn driver cred

This can mean a lot or very little to you. Nevertheless, it may be hard to earn the respect of fellow gear-heads if you aren’t familiar with manual transmissions. You may not like to drive one, you may not own one, but if you love cars, you should at least know how to use one.

It’s also worth mentioning that there is something intrinsically satisfying about knowing how to drive manual. Maybe because most people can’t? Or because it feels like a challenge you’ve beaten? Whatever the case is, it just feels good.

You will get to know your car better

Feeling a connection with your ride may sound strange to many. It’s hard to describe it. You are in control. You know what the car wants and does. You learn when the perfect time to switch gears is. And when you can even skip one!

Driving automatics often detaches us from the experience. It’s no wonder that most people can’t catch problems with their vehicles until it’s too late. But the manual requires you to understand your engine and gearbox. How it sounds, how it moves. Because of this, you can often notice if something is wrong with it easily. And hopefully, you can get it fixed in time.

It can be really fun

I am already hearing some of you say “It’s not fun if you are stuck in traffic!” Well, yes it is not. But at any other time, it is super fun! It takes your driving experience to a different level.

And let’s admit it – all those racing movies make you want to at least try switching through the gears. We’ve all been there!

So, if you don’t want to doze off while driving, and you want the experience to be more involving and exciting, the answer is simple. Just. Try. Stick.

Emergencies are a thing

You never know what life may bring. Imagine if someone offers you a million bucks to drive their car from point A to point B. The problem? It’s a stick. There goes your dream life …

True, this may be an unlikely scenario, but let’s not take chances. At some point, you may need to use a stick shift to save a life. So a few hours spent learning can make a huge difference one day. It could mean saving a life.

You will have a much broader choice

Although most models are available with automatic transmission, some aren’t. If you want to drive a true beast of a car, you better know how to use a stick.

But even if we go beyond sports and muscle cars, a wider choice is never a bad thing. The used car market offers a huge variety, and it would be sad for a manual transmission to be the deal-breaker. Not to mention the ever-growing, in variety and importance, classic car market!

Bonus Reason: If you ever move to Europe, knowing how to drive a stick will be invaluable. Many vehicles there simply aren’t manufactured with automatic transmissions. Most Europeans know how to drive a manual car, and you don’t want to feel left out.

How to drive a stick shift

Now that you are convinced such knowledge is worth it, we can move on. So let’s start with the basics.

Understand How The Clutch Works

Do I hear the question “why” again? I see. You don’t know why you need such information.

For starters, most of the fear of driving a stick has a lot to do with the clutch. And do you know what beats fear? Understanding.

In basic terms, the clutch serves as a connection between your car’s engine and the wheels. If they are not connected, the engine may run, but your car wouldn’t budge.

The entire connection is based on friction between two disks. When they are engaged, the power from the engine is transmitted to the wheels, i.e. the car moves. When disengaged, the wheels won’t receive power and they will eventually lose momentum.

Enter the clutch pedal. This is what controls that engagement. When pushed down, the disks are not connected, and you are free to shift gears. Otherwise, there is a connection, and shifting gears then is a huge no-no!

There are many reasons why a clutch is necessary, but we won’t go that deep. All you need to know is that you can break the transmission if you try shifting gears, without pressing the clutch pedal.

You have to know that the engine can stop if there is too big a difference between the momentum of the two spinning disks. That’s a safety measure to prevent damage, so don’t be afraid if this happens.

It’s easier than you think

Perhaps everything seems way too complicated now. After all, another moving part that you can break is not good news. But things are not as bad as they sound.

As with every new skill you have to learn, this will take time to master. However, you can become pretty good after a few tries. When I was learning the manual, it only took me about an hour to get the grip of it.

Sure, your car may stall quite a few times in the beginning, but that’s nothing to worry about. It happens to the best of us, even after years of driving stick.

The only reason it’s more common with people who are new to the manual is experience. They are just not used to operating the clutch. Stalls usually happen when you release the pedal too quickly and the transmission of power is not done gradually. Alternatively, you can also be too slow to release, so the momentum of the wheels is lost and the engine stops.

Go someplace safe

The best thing to do before you start learning is to go somewhere free of cars and people. Thus, you won’t be afraid of your car stalling.

However, in order to do that, you need to find a friend who can drive a manual or an instructor. If you are especially less confident, a professional may be of more help. But before you do that, read on so you can at least understand the process.

It’s all in the pedals

It may be called “driving a stick”, but that’s not at all where the magic happens. You need to focus on the pedals.

Start by making sure your parking brake is on. It doesn’t always have to be, but since you are a beginner, it will be easier if it is.

At this point, most experts will tell you that you need to have your car in neutral first, and hold the clutch all the way down before you turn the car on. Doing both of these things at the same time is unnecessary.

If you put your car in neutral (i.e. the stick is in the center and can be moved freely), you can start the engine without holding the clutch. Power won’t be transmitted to the wheels, so the car won’t stall. From then on you can hold the clutch down (use your left foot) and shift to first gear. DO NOT RELEASE YET!

Alternatively, you can have your car in first gear before you turn it on. In this case, you should hold the clutch down and start the engine. Again – do not release.

Finding the sweet spot

So you should be in gear by now, with your foot on the clutch. Slowly start releasing the clutch while pressing the gas pedal at the same time. This is the thing you need to focus on. It’s what driving the manual is all about.

There is a point between releasing the clutch and accelerating, where the car starts moving slowly. I call it “the sweet spot”. But know that every car has its own sweet spot, and it comes at a different point.

Let’s see what can go wrong with finding the sweet spot. One possibility is to be too quick with releasing the clutch. Then the car will stop, as we discussed.

Another is if you are too quick with depressing the accelerator. Then the car will shoot forward too fast when the sweet spot is hit. It can be really dangerous. More so, when this happens people panic; they release the clutch and gas completely, and the car stalls again. So take your time to get decent with taking off.

The sweet spot is also found between shifting gears from first to second. It’s not as prominent, and your car may not stall. Still, if you don’t want a bumpy gear shifting, you should release the clutch smoothly.

Some vehicles have that spot between second and third gear as well. However, since you are new to the manual, you probably won’t notice it, until you get good at shifting at lower gears. And remember – always make sure to push the clutch to the ground before shifting.

Further gear shifting

If you get good with the lower gears, you pretty much know how to handle a manual transmission. Well, not exactly. What about “when” should you switch gears?

  1. The easiest way is to look at the RPM. If it goes above 2000-2200 it’s a good time to switch. However, this usually applies when shifting above second gear.
  2. You should shift from first to second immediately after takeoff. As soon as you fully release the clutch and your car is accelerating, just press it again and switch.
  3. You can even get away with shifting straight into second gear with some diesel engines. But don’t try that in the beginning.
  4. Know that with enough experience, you will forget about the RPM meter. The engine sound and the smoothness of the ride will indicate when it’s best to shift.

Turning the car off

So you already know how to drive a manual. Feeling good, aren’t you? Smug maybe? Well, there is one final thing you have to know: how to stop a manual car.

The problem is that depending on who you ask, there are different things to do. But here is a general way to do it. Stop in place by holding the clutch down and slowly pressing the brake. Activate the parking brake, put the car in neutral, turn the vehicle off, then release the clutch.

Some say that you should leave your car in first gear (or second, or reverse). This essentially acts as another parking brake. It really is up to you.

So now you know how to properly handle a manual transmission. If you are feeling adventurous, you can go get a new car now! But perhaps try it out first. In any case, drive safely and responsibly! Thank you for riding along!

Share our experience:
Are you ready to ship a car?
Recent posts
car shipping quote

Truckers Can Fight Sex Trafficking

If You See Something, Say Something! This is the slogan of the nonprofit group Truckers Against Trafficking, the organization’s main goal is to have more

Shipping a Rivian

Shipping a Rivian

Shipping an electric vehicle like Rivian requires several considerations. Here we will share some key aspects to keep in mind when you need to ship

Read more

Corsia Logistics team works hard every day to ensure reliable expedited car shipping service. Our customer reviews prove that.

5-Star Rated Car Shipping Company

5/5
5/5
5/5

they trusted us

and here's what they say

Simon Moore
Great company
Read More
Looking for a logistics company, to ship my car, from California to Illinois,my first search, then Corsia showed up, skeptical. Call and a very friendly secretary: Elena. She guided me through, I scheduled and as she explained, all when smooth as scheduled Very happy I did the right choice. I'll recommend this great Company to anyone that is thinking to relocate a vehicle. Thanks Corsia logistics for your honesty and professionalism!
Elizabeth Woodward
High five's all around!
Read More
Corsia was highly recommended by a friend in the automobile industry. We needed to transport a cargo van from Seattle to Florida. We contacted Corsia who quickly arranged transport within just a few days. Communication was outstanding! Just a few email confirmations and we were all set. Mike was great and arrived right on time and delivered to Florida on schedule. Tip-avoid the hornets nest of auto brokers on line and just contact Corsia for a truly great experience!
Carrol Tiffany
Amazing
Read More
Corsia has been amazing. Their prices are really competitive but more importantly their customer service has been 5-Star. Elena followed up with me every step of the way, making sure there was no miscommunication between me & the driver. We are using them to ship a 2nd vehicle & would not hesitate to use them again!
Tony Boyd
Definitely recommend
Read More
I have recently used Corsia for long time family car with sentimental value that was moved I have recently used Corsia for shipment of my vehicle from Oregon to Arizona by recommendation from other family member who also used Corsia in the past. I am very pleased on the service and the communication throughout shipment. Ken was my direct contact and kept me informed along the move The car was picked up and delivered as communicated. I did use a enclosed mover and the driver was also clean cut professional and treated car as his own. I would definitely recommend Corsia again with the experience I have had. Thank you. T
JW
Top notch
Read More
Top notch Transport - Porsche 997 Top notch! As easy and efficient as one could possibly imagine. Great customer service.. thank you Luke. Great prices. Check. Timely communications. Check. Clean transport trailer. Check. Supremely careful driver. Check. Timely arrival. Check. Don't mess around elsewhere, just call Corsica and feel confident your transports needs are going to be exceeded. My Porsche 911 rode like a Queen in her enclosed chariot. I've never needed a transport company before, and I surely will use them every time. Do yourself a favor, seriously. Call now.
Geet Mp Haryana
Reliable, efficient
Read More
Corsia rep (Elena) was very proactive. Helped ship a car from CA to GA. She checked in with me via email quote and several phone calls to find me the best possible quote for the fastest available service. After several communications, Corsia was able to schedule a vehicle pickup the next day. The driver communicated well, and the vehicle arrived in final destination faster than we expected in perfect condition. I highly recommend using Corsia's reliable, efficient service.
Cay Liptak
Clean, efficient, wonderful
Read More
Thanks, Corsia! Pickup was so clean, efficient, and wonderful -- my only recommendation is to make sure you schedule it during the day so you can fully review the car in the daylight. Drop off was equally wonderful, and the whole trip went down without a hitch (pun intended!). Seriously, Corsia delivered my Jeep from CT to California with no issues or bumps in the road!
Csaba Kovesdy
Truly positive experience
Read More
Corsia Memphis to LA, mid-size SUV. I looked at 4 different companies amd Corsia was the most responsive of them. While being responsive, they were not unduly aggressive: when I indicated that I need to wait a month before making a decision they stopped contacting me and only came back with a reminder when I really needed it. Once I decided to engage Corsia they found me a transport within two days and the car was delivered (from Memphis to LA) in another two days. I had a truly positive experience.
Kelly Torres
Highly recommend
Read More
Working with Corsia Logistics was a great experience. Working with Corsia Logistics was wonderful. They were able to find a driver right away to transport our car. They were in constant communication as to when the car was getting picked up and dropped off. The driver also communicated with me as to when he would arrive. I would highly recommend Corsia Logistics.
Amy Nelson
Excellent Organization
Read More
Corsia was an excellent company to work with while I transferred my car across the US. A friend of mine suggested I use them as they had been very organized and trustworthy with her own car. I researched a few different place but decided to go with Corsia and I'm so glad I did! Any questions I had throughout the process they answered quickly and clearly. I would definitely use them again in the future and recommend them for others to use.
Previous
Next