How To Drive A Stick Shift – EricTheCarGuy

44 thoughts on “How To Drive A Stick Shift – EricTheCarGuy”

1. what (is the name of the) part (maybe a switch?) of the gear box or transmission or clutch system, prevents changing gears when the clutch is still engaged? and where is it located?

2. Yes clutch interlock was implemented in pretty much every car from around the mid to late 90s and up. In other words, you have to depress the clutch to start the car on any car in the US. Overseas however this is not the case for whatever reason. I don’t know why. Also if you wanna install a remote start on a car with a standard transmission I believe that some cars actually do have a switch to bypass the clutch switch so that you can start the car with the remote start. I’ve seen it on Subaru’s before but I’m not entirely sure which car manufacturers this operation can or cannot be done with.

3. driving standard basically is a lot like pooping. clutch, sh/t, let out the gas.

4. I miss my 5 speed ranger

5. one problem is people make it even more confusing for new drivers how to drive the stick…

6. Hey Eric! Can you do a video on double clutching and why it's necessary on some manual transmissions?

7. What about a video on how & when to use an automatic transmission PLEASE! For example when to use Overdrive, Drive, 3 (if has it), 2, & 1?

8. For shits and gigs you don’t always need to use gas to start from a stop

9. I still downshift in an auto too

10. Years ago I used to drive a stick on the lower deck of I-93 in Boston. That cured any fantasies of driving stick.

11. You should of made a video on a Honda manual trans not on a ford

12. Shouldn't you rev match when downshifting? That way it's a smooth transition.

13. I love manual ever since my 95 civic…

14. Hahaha love this!!!

15. Vintage etcg

16. 5 Easy steps to drive stick :
    1. Depress clutch
    2. Start car keep, clutch in
    3. With clutch in , shift into first
    4. With clutch still in, fully depress gas pedal
    5. Dump clutch, while having gas pedal floored.

    Congrats you're driving a manual transmission car !!

17. You didn’t discuss when to properly and correctly shift gears.

18. So Eric, quick question: what is your opinion on downshifting into 1st while the car is still rolling? I attempted that when I first tried driving and it caused the car to jerk a bit and stall even though I was only going 5 mph (this was a 2013 Scion xD). I have never done it since then

19. When do we get a video on how to shift without using the clutch?

20. Just started my driving lessons (I live in the UK) and this is so helpful. I learnt this in my first lesson but seeing somebody else do it while explaining the actions is super helpful in reinforcing that knowledge, thanks Eric 🙂

21. I really shouldn’t be watching this, whenever I start thinking about how I drive I can’t do it smoothly.

22. Driving stick trust me is a lot of fun I love it. I just remember it's an up and down motion with your feet. You want you left foot to slow come off the clutch but at the same time you wanna give the car some gass so you don't stall with your right foot I call that the up and down motion. Also anytime your coming too a stop always always clutch first you'll probably think brake no no if you hit brake you will stall you need to hit clutch gear down you can stop in second gear but it's harder on the engine too get going. Another trick to stop is throw in neutral then you can let go of the clutch and just use the brake. Lot of tricks with a manual car makes it fun to drive.

23. A mechanic advised me to not ride the clutch or downshift. Brakes are cheaper and easier to replace, durrrrrrrrrrr

24. Are those your driving gloves?? lol!

25. downshifting also helps keep your alternator spinning faster as well as keeping your brake booster full of vacuum
    let alone you're in a gear where if you need to accelerate, you can easily

26. I'm not sure what its like in the states but here in the UK, if you pass your test with a manual (stick shift), you are licenced to drive a car with any transmission. If, however, you opt to take your test in an automatic, your licenced to drive automatics ONLY. It is illegal for you to drive a manual car until you take the test in a manual car.

27. I have the basics down but the clutch in my 94 camaro has to go all the way to the floor and I have bloody short legs. Stupid genetics.

28. Cool, informative and useful video for many. Thanks Eric!

29. Do you need to rev match?

30. Dude, you make getting going seem so much harder than it actually is, in this video. :/ I never, not once, had to rev the engine prior to releasing the clutch. Ever. I don't know who taught you that, but I personally have never found that necessary. It's just making it more complicated. My dad's a retired truck driver, and HE never used that technique. It's dead simple to figure out as long as you don't release the clutch too quick and pay attention. Dead simple. 😐 I learned manual on a four cylinder Nissan Frontier for fuck's sake and never had to feather the throttle, so… If you gotta fiddle with the throttle for the vehicle to take off right, there's something wrong, there. :/ Idle might be a hair too low, or something.

31. quick question
    when u reverse u dont relese the clutch all the way right

32. riding the clutch means keeping your foot on the clutch pedal once you are moving. This will wear out your fork and throw out bearing.

33. Down shifting may save the brakes, but it's hard on the clutch and the thrust bearing on the engine crank shaft. I believe that keeping the clutch pedal depressed while at a stop also causes excess wear and stress on the throw out bearing and the pressure plate.

34. well i live in nyc and i had to learn the hard way , because in nyc there is not such as thing as empty parking lot or any place where there is little traffic , when i first learned it was on a 1994 corolla , it was embarrassing at first but i learned to drive it in one day and in heavy traffic , for my i think the best way to learn is to drive in traffic because you will force yourself to avoid stalling

35. I don't do the whole engine brake thing far as I see it, it's much easier to replace your brake pads rather than putting in a new clutch. Imo that's a bad habit he is showing

36. Isn't it bad to downshift without matching revs? At least to some extent?

37. that clutch pedal looks so soft and easy to push lol my foxbody heavy clutch at first it was killing my leg but I've gotten use to it now

38. Okay, so I basically know how to properly drive a manual, but one question still bugs me. Is it a good idea to hold the clutch at the catch point if you just need to creep forward?

39. Isn't it bad for the car to downshift without rev matching? I thought that put a lot of stress on the clutch and transmission?

40. hey I got a question I drive a 2017 focus rs I want to know if I'm driving it the right way the clutch is aggressive it's springy feel what I do Is one bring the clutch up to bite point while bringing it up, is give it little gas 1200 rpm I have to hold the clutch there for 2 seconds then I feel the clutch fully engage and I let go the car is rolling already by that time it's a quick procedure you know what I mean. If I hold it there more while car is moving it's sliping causing lot of wear so I let go of the clutch, as soon as it catches, it's a very smooth take off, people say I ride it, i don't get it if i bring it out fully once it just starts to touch the springy feel kicks at u, it's not smooth that way with gas even if I bring it up slower I feel that is sliping more is that the right way to drive a manual ?

41. One thing i never understood.. Sitting in traffic? Can't you just put it in netural and lift off the clutch?
    Do people really have their car in gear and sit in traffic with clutch down and complain that manuals suck?

42. Any car with a lot of torque on the low end is ideal. A V8 muscle car, for instance. Then you won't have to play with the throttle quite as much. Hardest car to learn on would be an underpowered econobox with an 4cyl, but if you can drive one of those manual, the rest will be easy.

43. Easiest way to learn, let the clutch out super slow without hitting the gas, you will feel the car roll forward, push it back in and repeat. Once you have the feeling for the bite point give it just a little bit of gas and go.

44. when you are gently applying the clutch in really tight spots (near idle/slightly slipping) to maintain control, harmful to the clutch? sometimes you have no choice…

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