Learning
to Drive A Standard Transmission
by Kyle Busch
Get
Kyle's Book from Amazon.com Here!
Almost anyone can learn to drive a standard transmission
when they put their mind to it, right? Not! However,
almost anyone can lean to drive a standard transmission
if they go about it the
right way (or rather the left foot way).
The
easiest way to learn how to drive a standard transmission
is simply by first focusing entirely on the left foot
(enabling its coordination to become equal to that of
the right foot). Sounds
simple, but training the good old left foot is really
the biggest part of smoothly moving down the road.
Getting
Started:
To get started, have someone who has a vehicle equipped
with a standard transmission drive you to a large flat
vacant parking lot. Be certain to have your friend in
the passenger's seat to provide supervision when you
drive. Also, make certain that you are covered by vehicle
insurance from your policy or through the person who
is letting you drive their vehicle.
In the parking lot with the vehicle's engine turned
off, apply you right foot to the brake pedal, and practice
getting a feel of the clutch pedal by pushing it in
and out with your left foot.
The
Shift Pattern:
Next, view the shift pattern shown on the top of the
shift knob. 1st gear is usually located by pushing the
shift lever forward. Then, with the clutch pedal pushed
all the way in to the firewall, move the gearshift lever
through the gears (i.e., 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, and
reverse) a few times and then put the gearshift lever
into neutral. Neutral is located in the middle of the
shift pattern.
In
simplest terms, picture the shift pattern as a H (reverse
and 5th gear are also added in). The crossbar of the
H represents neutral. When the transmission is in neutral,
you should be able to move the gearshift lever to the
left and to the right. If you need help, ask your friend
who drove you to the parking lot. So far, so good!
Getting the Feel of it:
With the transmission in neutral, start the engine and
then press the accelerator lightly to get the feel of
the accelerator pedal.
Next,
take your right foot off of the accelerator completely
and let the engine just idle. Push the clutch pedal
in completely, hold it in, and place the gearshift into
1st gear.
Now
the moment of truth (just kidding, you will be a pro
in no time!) Continue to keep your right foot off of
the accelerator, but very slowly let out the clutch
(try to become aware of how far you have let the clutch
pedal out then the clutch just begins to engage) until
the vehicle just begins to creep forward. This is accomplished
by moving the clutch pedal in and out just a little
bit (about 1/2 inch) to get the vehicle to begin rolling
forward.
Work on slowly letting the clutch pedal out until you
can get the vehicle to move forward at a couple miles
per hour in 1st gear without touching the accelerator.
If the vehicle stalls, it is no big deal. Just push
the clutch pedal in and restart the engine.
Keeping
it smooth:
Your goal is to be able to smoothly let the clutch pedal
out (with no accelerator) and have the vehicle move
ever so slowly forward. The purpose of this step is
to allow you to focus solely on training just your left
foot for smooth controlled clutch movement.
Concentrated training of the left foot will help you
to avoid the old herky, jerky, stall, "Here! You
take the keys" routine. A routine that can be so
frustrating when you are first learning to drive a standard
transmission. Once you are comfortable not using the
accelerator and letting the clutch but smoothly, you
can practice pressing the accelerator lightly and letting
out the clutch.
After
you are able to drive the vehicle in 1st gear, practice
releasing the accelerator, pushing the clutch in all
the way, moving the gearshift in to 2nd gear, and letting
out the clutch (shift out of 1st gear at about 15 miles
per hour and 2nd gear at about 25 miles per hour). Drive
in the large vacant parking lot in 1st and 2nd gear
(most slow speed turns are achieved in 2nd gear) until
you feel comfortable.
Planning
Your Route:
When you feel comfortable and want to begin driving
on public streets, have your friend drive you to low
traffic secondary roads and accompany you to provide
supervision. The next step would involve your planning
to drive routes that will allow you skip starting and
stopping on roads with hills. With a few miles under
your tires, and continued use of your left foot, you
will soon be able to hold the vehicle on a hill when
starting out. In no time at all, you will be driving
like a pro and shifting into 5th gear overdrive. Then
one of your friends will soon ask: "Can you show
me how to drive a standard transmission so that I can
get that car out of the driveway?"
You
can then respond, "Well, it all begins with the
good old left foot."
Buying a Used Vehicle
For information on buying a used vehicle and saving
money, a new book is available: Drive the Best for the
Price: How to Buy a Used Automobile, Sport-Utility Vehicle,
or Minivan and Save Money. Information about the book
is available at: 1 800 839-8640 or www.drivethebestbook.com
In 1991 the book's author, Kyle Busch, purchased a used
vehicle for $2,600 that a private owner had driven 82,000
miles. He has driven the vehicle for over nine years
and the odometer now reads over 292,000 miles. The vehicle
continues to provide for his daily transportation needs.
