Stick Shift Driving

NYC Driving Lessons

Finding places for Stick Shift Lessons

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Stick shift lessons are generally not as difficult as most people make them out to be. The preparation is very minimal. The skill itself isn’t hard to grasp, it just takes time and repetition to develop finesse. The first most important part when it comes to stick shift lessons is the location.

Key points

    • Avoid learning in parking lots or completely empty streets
    • Start in an area with wide roads and light traffic
    • Make sure there are streets where speeding up is acceptable
    • Pick out an area that is mostly flat, but has a range of hills not too far by
    • Make sure there are a lot of stop signs/lights around the area


Stick Shift Lessons



A lot of people want to start out in parking lots. People who are taking stick shift lessons already know the rules of the road and have general driving experience. The only way to really learn is to be put in a situation as realistic to actual driving conditions as possible. Taking away traffic or road rules is unrealistic! Look for wide, flat streets. Find an area that has hills and traffic signals close by. Hills are very important.

Make sure you’re comfortable in the place you’ve chosen. There are times when you’ll need to shift through the gears and practice down shifting. Have a long strip of road around for just that purpose. Progression should be made quickly. From starting to starting on hill, then downshifting and so on.


Stick shift lessons shouldn’t be done in very busy places. Even if it’s realistic, that’s an extreme. The idea is to keep yourself on your toes, not completely petrify you! You still need time to focus on what you’re doing, but still have the sensation of every day driving. Streets with cars parked on the is preferred because it makes learning parallel parking easier. Set the stages for your stick shift lessons and the rest will take care of itself!

Buying a Stick Shift Car

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Buying a stick shift car can be intimidating. Stick shift cars are very similar to any other car. The only difference is the manual transmission and clutch pedal. Knowing what to look for and how to detect the problems is key.

Key Points

    • Of course, mileage is very important
    • If you’re buying a used car, check the oil, tires and go for a test drive
    • Step on the clutch and see where it begins to engage
    • Make sure the emergency brakes aren’t worn out
    • Test drive the car and go through every gear
    • Put the car in neutral and rev the engine to make sure it’s smooth
    • Make sure you get an accurate background for the car


Buying a Stick Shift Car

Check the mileage and the oil. Cars that are driven in the city usually have more wear and tear than cars driven in suburbs. Turn on the car and rev the engine. It should be smooth. Take it for a test drive and listen for ticking in the engine. Listen for any knocking noises when making turns to make sure there is no problems with the bearings. The muffler shouldn’t be smoking. On a cold day, some white smoke will come out when the car is first turned on, but that’s normal.

Check the Clutch



Stick shift cars have clutches, so make sure the clutch doesn’t catch too high.. Put the car into first gear and start coming off the clutch. Most clutches begin to catch about half way up or sometimes a little more. Make sure the clutch doesn’t catch too high, or else that means it’s worn out and needs to be replaced soon.

For new cars, the clutch will be very responsive. The window to buffer the friction point will be smaller. It’s like taking two magnets and bringing them close together. When you get too close, they will snap together. Same with a brand new clutch. As you come off the new clutch, it will get to the point of friction and quickly engage. Most new clutches need to be broken in.

Stick Shift Driving in Extreme Weather

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Driving stick shift in heavy snow, rain or wind can be dangerous if not done correctly. If driven  correctly, a manual transmission car can be more effective than an automatic car in extreme weather.

 

Down Shifting

Downshifting can be very helpful in slick conditions. For example; if the road is snowy and you find yourself going down a hill, downshifting gently and progressively is an easier way to slow the car down than stepping on the brakes. Stepping on the brakes can possibly cause the wheels to lock and for you to lose control.

Granted, if you downshift too abruptly, you can also cause the wheels to lose traction and control. The trick is to be comfortable with the clutch and the gear box.

 

Pulling Off

Pulling off in severe weather is generally easier in stick shift vehicles because you can control the acceleration to a higher degree in a manual car. Just letting off the clutch slightly until the car begins to react can help you crawl out of snow and ice more effectively than releasing the brake in an automatic car.


While there are advantages to driving stick shift in extreme conditions, there is still a bigger learning curve than automatic driving. Being proficient in stick shift driving is the first step before being able to handle extreme conditions more effectively.

The advantage is definitely there. It’s up to you to learn what it takes!

Stick Shift Driving Lesson: Engine Braking

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Engine Braking



Engine Braking is an out dated tactic for the most part. Now that most cars have power brakes, applying the clutch and simply braking is simple and effective enough to come to a stop from any speed.

Engine braking does have a purpose though, When slowing down drastically, but not completely stopping, it can help. This is where driving a stick shift car has it’s advantage. The lower the gear you are in, the more responsive the car is when you step on the gas. When we slow down to make a turn and downshift, it is a much better alternative to stepping on the brakes and then downshifting when we complete the turn. Engine braking is an advanced tool, but one you will naturally start doing when you get better. Why? Because it’s much smoother.


Sometimes, engine braking becomes practical in extreme weather situations. If the road is icy, slamming the brakes might make the car slide. Clutching down a gear while releasing the clutch slowly might be just what you need instead of the very sensitive brakes. Even though power brakes and new technology have made engine braking a thing of the past, it can be used effectively and comfortably. Play around with engine braking a little and see how it feels.