29/12/2023
𝗙𝗼𝗿 𝗺𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗱𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗺𝗮𝗻𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆, 𝗶𝘁'𝘀 𝗱𝗶𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝘂𝗹𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲 𝗴𝗲𝗮𝗿. We all know you start in first, but what to do afterwards?
Well. Until you just know instinctively, here's a little tip!
Whilst it can vary from car to car based on the power of the engine, the general rule is, look at the speed limit, and remove the zero!
For example: If you're driving 10-20mph, go up to second gear, 20-30, go up to third, and so on!
Generally first gear is only there to get your car started, and you shouldn't really be driving in it unless you're in a car park or a queue of slow moving traffic for example.
Get in the habit of listening to your car too!
If you hear your car revving and roaring, do the opposite, either slow down, or change up! If you're rumbling, it means you're going too slow for the gear you're in, so you either need to change down or speed up (if you're in first already, use the clutch to slow down.)
𝗪𝗵𝗶𝗹𝘀𝘁 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝘂𝗯𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗱𝗼𝘄𝗻, you may be wondering how to navigate that!
As your speed drops, you'll need to change down gears to prevent the car from stalling.
It's recommended that you drop down in blocks from a higher speed - so from fifth to third, third to first, or fourth to second for example. If you're stopping, you'll do this whilst braking, though on some occasions, as when you're coming to a bendy road or a town, you'll naturally slow down, meaning you'll use your gears to slow the vehicle.
Finally! 𝗛𝗶𝗹𝗹𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝗯𝗲𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀 𝘁𝗼𝗼! ⛰️
Generally when going up a hill you'll want to be in a lower gear depending on how steep it is. This is because lower gears offer more power, less speed, allowing your car to climb a hill easier.
A higher gear will often leave your car struggling, and eventually stalling, if you don't change down. Learn to listen and feel the car, and ensure you put enough throttle in before the hill to give your car the power it needs - read the road!