Why drive manual

In our last blog we looked at the advantages of automatic cars when you're learning to drive as a complete beginner, but there are of course some benefits to getting manual driving lessons. While manual gearboxes are made to last a long time, your driving behaviour can impact the amount of life you get out of the transmission. The speed at which you start and stop, the way you use the clutch e.

A driving instructor who has experience teaching learners how to drive manual will help you learn the sounds and feeling of the car that indicate when to change gears or ease off the accelerator. They may even be able to help you understand what behaviours will extend the life of your car components and why - after all, they are exposing their car to the learning experiences of numerous people, and they need to know how to keep their car in good shape.

While Australians tend to prefer automatic cars, in much of Europe the market is still dominated by manual cars which remain extremely popular. While challenging at first, learning to do this while also keeping your eyes on the road and remaining alert to hazards can fill you with a great sense of personal satisfaction and achievement. Keep the power steady as possible. Shift the car into first gear. Do that by pulling the gear shifter to the left and then pushing up.

You should feel the gear shift click into place letting you know the car is in gear. Gently let off the clutch.

When I mean gently, I mean imagine you were gently applying aloe vera to a fresh sunburn. There is no rush. The biggest beginner mistake is letting off the clutch too quickly. You will notice this because the car will slowly begin to roll forward. To get the car moving smoothly, you will need to keep your clutch foot as steady as humanly possible at the bite point. If you let the clutch out too quickly you will stall.

Once the car begins to pick up speed, you will feel the engine and transmission spinning together. You will know this because now when you let out the clutch, the transition is smooth. Fifth and sixth gear are generally reserved for highway driving. Alexander Cheung.

It's a little thing, but knowing how to drive a manual is a skill. That skill allows you to drive all manner of vehicles, especially a commercial vehicles and b classic vehicles. Maybe you can help your buddy move his dad's old Corvette someday When you drive a manual, you have control over exactly how much power is going from the engine to the wheels.

This will come in especially handy during bad weather, or when ice and snow cover the roadway. It's also great to have manual control when you're off-roading. If you ever find yourself with a weak battery, give your car a rolling start and pop it into gear — try doing that with an automatic! Cars and trucks with manual transmissions cost less, which means you can save a few bucks when you buy one at the dealership. Instead of spending money on an automatic, you can buy some extravagance like heated seats.

A well cared for manual transmission is essentially a low maintenance transmission. At some point in a manual transmission's life, you'll need to drain and fill the gear oil most manufacturers recommend this procedure every 75k miles or so, some suggest it over k. You may or may not need to replace the clutch, but if you do, one of our kevlar clutches will last twice as long as the original Contrast that with an automatic transmission, many of which need their fluid drained and filled every 30k miles.

So-called "lifetime" transmissions never need to be drained and filled, but they have a life expectancy of k miles or so. Once they're "kaput", you're out thousands of dollars buying a new or refurbished transmission to replace it.

Say what you will, but there can be no argument on this point: If you see a sports car with an automatic transmission, you're disappointed. Perhaps even judgmental.