Stick shift driving: stopping and going question?

wings4shoes

Yeah, any of that... You don't HAVE TO down shift through every gear. I never do.

What I usually do, and what feels most natural is:
Lets say I am in 4th and coming to a stop. I will normally hold in the clutch, let the vehicle slow down on its own, then start breaking.

Whenever I have come to a stop I start back in 1st to get going again.

jose o

4th -> N -> 1st is the proper way to slow down and start moving again.

NEVER downshift unless you want to stress your transmission gears and wear out your clutch disc unnecessarily. When you downshift from a high gear to a low gear just to slow down, then it's clear that your gears will be shouldering the stress and torque that is applied to slow your car. Slowing down should only be left in the hands of your brake pads; they're much cheaper and easier to replace.

Transmission and clutch repairs can run you up above $700+ unless you have the right tools and equipment and can replace the parts yourself.

Visit this link for other stick-shift simulations:
http://www.hondacivicrepairs.com/stick-shift.asp?q=Learn%20to%20drive%20stick%20shift%20-%20Honda%20Civic&id=29

Good luck!

Ryan R

Why are you putting the car in neutral at all? It isn't necessary. Stay in fourth and stop. Then put it into first while waiting and go when the light turns green.

Stephan W

You *can* go directly from 4th to Neutral and only use the brakes to come to a stop.

Using the engine braking effect helps reducing gas consumption and brake wear, though. (On the other hand it increases clutch-wear a bit, but in general the clutch lasts much longer than the brake pads.)

So my advice would be: drive foresightful, so you have enough time to shift down to 3rd at least. The engine will do the braking (and modern engines use *no* gas when doing so), only brake if you need additional deceleration (in traffic maybe also touch the brake pedal a bit to light the stoplights).
Maybe repeat with 2nd gear if there is enough space left. Use the brakes finally to come to a full stop, switch to Neutral while braking from whatever gear you're in.

Annotation: downshifting one gear is usually enough and most of the time there is not enough time/space left to go down all the gears anyways. Additionally it is not too bad to use the brakes a bit: I used to do engine braking almost exclusively, but it cost me new brake discs because they were never cleaned from starting rust *g*.

When stopped: stay in Neutral and remove the foot from the clutch (standing on the clutch permanently wears the springs in the clutch on the long run). If stopping for a longer time also use the handbrake (or just release the brakes if the road is level): the following drivers will thank you for not having to stare into a bright stoplight.

Also: use engine braking when going downhill! The correct gear is the one where the vehicle accelerates just a little on its own. Again: no gas used and brake pads saved.
Heavy, uninterrupted braking on a long, steep downhill drive might even overheat the brakes - in which case they are prone to failing (brake fluid evaporates - vapor is much more compressible and therefore barely transmits force). In any case it would waer the brakes a lot - a mistake that many people that are not used to driving in the mountains make (if you dont drive in the mountains nevermind *g*)...

mudrat_toy

I have do disagree with Nicholas. Downshifting does not create faster wear. In fact, by downshifting, you are actually saving your brake pads. Also, you maintain control of the vehicle by down shifting. Now, like others have said, if you don't have time, don't down shift, just hit the clutch and brake. You also asked if you could downshift while holding the clutch and braking. By holding the clutch in, that essentially puts the transmission in neutral by removing the friction from the clutch disc. If you hold the clutch in and shift into the different gears, that is the same as going into neutral until you stop. Proper downshifting means, actually engaging each gear as you slow down. Shifting into third and letting off the clutch, second, let off the clutch, and so on. I have driven manuals for over 20 years. I find that my brakes last a lot longer than they do in my automatics, because I down shift. Of course when downshifting, use your breaks lightly with the downshifting. This helps to prevent over reving your engine.

Some states have laws in regard to "coasting" to the light. This is legally considered failure to maintain positive control of your vehicle and can be ticketed.

You should refer to your local laws to determine if coasting to the light is legal or not.

punky

You really don't have to down shift through all the gears. I never did if the light caught me by surprise I would just hold in the clutch and brake. Then start out in first. If I saw the light in time then I would run through the gears. You will learn all kind of things while you are driving a standard shift vehicle. I learned to drive a standard as my first car then got introduced to the automatic. I drive a automatic but occasionally I like to drive a stick because it feels like coming home.

nicholas m

no bs, if your not comfortable, dont downshift. your care has brakes, use them while in neutral, even downshifting appropriately to slow the vehicle normaly causes wear and tear, it produces more torque to all parts involved, downshift in an emergency to stop, your not gaining an advantage (by regular driving) by downshifting to stop (in an emergency downshifting creates more downward torque and can DEFINITELY stop your vehicle quicker) except looking cool like you know what your doing

mpento

Just use the clutch put it in neutral and stop. Pretty much your gears are purely used to match your speed so if you wanted to slow down and drive to the lights then you might downshift but coming to a stop just but it in neutral and use the brakes.

Patience

You could do any of that. I usually just throw it into neutral and come to a stop then start again in first... Just depends on how far away you are and if the light turns green before you come to a stop. If you start before you completely stop just remember to try and rev match and you should be okay.

2Fast924

If your in fourth, and you hit a red light as your getting there, push in the clutch, push the brakes and wait till a complete stop. Then put it in Neutral and release the clutch. When the light hits green, put it in first, and pull away. If the light hits red, and you have quite a bit of distance between you and the cross walk, put it in neutral, and slowly coast to a stop with your brakes.

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