[Rainbows!]

Hey guys, so it was my first lesson yesterday and 1 only stalled once haha I thought I was going to do it repeatedly however, I am fine with pulling away from a standstill like the side of a road however, gear changes when driving i.e 1st to second are confusing the hell out of me.

When I put the clutch in obviously I take my foot off the gas, but then when releasing the clutch am I supposed to add gas (a few times I have revved) or completely release the clutch and then add gas?

It's just my gear changes are not very smooth at all haha, am hoping this will come with time because the rest I seem to be okay up to now (steering etc).

[helen-a-ravenclaw]

It takes a while to get used to changing gear smoothly, as you get used to the feel of the car and the position of the bite point.

When changing gears, push down on the clutch and come off the gas at the same time. Change your gear, then come up to the bite point on the clutch and past this point you release the clutch and press on the gas.

Just go steady coming up on the clutch while you're getting used to the car and you should do your gear changes fine.

You don't want to be jerking around your passengers every time you change gear by having bad clutch control (like my dad does >_>).

But you've only had one lesson, so don't worry to much about it! After a while it becomes instinct more than anything and you don't even think about what you're doing.

[TheCaledonian]

Wait to you reach the bite then depress the accelerator at the same speed as you raise the clutch.
If it's you're first few lessons though or if you're not doing it right then just bring the clutch fully up and then go on the gas, you'll slow a bit more but as long as you're not on a steep hill (and in most cases you shouldn't be changing gears there anyway) you'll quickly make it up again

[Maccees]

Eventually it will become second nature to you, just need to practice doing it until you get depressing the clutch and accelerator in sync and 'fluid'.

[Rainbows!]

(Original post by TheCaledonian)
Wait to you reach the bite then depress the accelerator at the same speed as you raise the clutch.
If it's you're first few lessons though or if you're not doing it right then just bring the clutch fully up and then go on the gas, you'll slow a bit more but as long as you're not on a steep hill (and in most cases you shouldn't be changing gears there anyway) you'll quickly make it up again

Aha up to now that's what i've been doing so that's probably why I havn't stalled much lol. I'm finding it hard to find the bite and be comfortable actually driving the thing and checking my mirrors etc all at the same time, but again that's probably because I only had around 40mins driving experiance yesterday :P hopefully with practice it will come much easier haha

[JC.]

Depends on the car you're driving.

If you're in a pretty powerful car then you only need to lift the clutch up. If you're in a gutless 4 pot you'll need to press the throttle pedal a bit harder.


FWIW, all this "gas" rubbish is nonsense. This is the UK not america. It's a throttle or an accelerator.

[her0n]

(Original post by JC.)
Depends on the car you're driving.

If you're in a pretty powerful car then you only need to lift the clutch up. If you're in a gutless 4 pot you'll need to press the throttle pedal a bit harder.


FWIW, all this "gas" rubbish is nonsense. This is the UK not america. It's a throttle or an accelerator.

For some reason it's what instructors seem to call it. Weird I know but I guess it's easier to say when you're teaching all day.

[Camoxide]

Probably a diesel car.

It takes a while to get smooth gear changing down

[ThePants999]

Instructors like to say "gas" because it's one syllable. Using the four-syllable "accelerator" means it takes longer to get the message across.

[JO53PHS]

(Original post by ThePants999)
Using the four-syllable "accelerator"

Five..

[ThePants999]

(Original post by JO53PHS)
Five..

Nothing to see here, move along

[SillyEddy]

Change gear:

Off the throttle
Push down the clutch and hold it there
Change the gear
Bring the clutch back up: Meanwhile, start to add some throttle as you do so. You just need an inch or two of throttle, and you should have that power just as the clutch reaches the 'biting' point. After the biting point, continue to bring the clutch up and add more throttle.
After the clutch is all the way up, you can remove your foot from the pedal if you wish... Just concentrate on the throttle and brakes. Driving for ages with your foot resting on the clutch hurts the ankles!


If you add too much throttle: The engine will rev up because it's not properly in gear. Just let it subside a bit
If you don't add enough throttle: The car might judder to a slower speed, that's because the engine-gear combo wants to work at a slower speed to the one you're currently in. Just add more throttle. This is why you need to have just a bit of throttle as you pass the biting point on the way up.

[Rainbows!]

Hmm, the instructor said I was too eager to add gas when changing gear, so do I just need to bring the clutch up more before using the accelerator?

[SillyEddy]

(Original post by Rainbows!)
Hmm, the instructor said I was too eager to add gas when changing gear, so do I just need to bring the clutch up more before using the accelerator?

Have just a touch of acceleration just as you pass the biting point, then build up the power and bring up the clutch at the same time.


Does your instructor teach you to build up the revs to about 1800RPM before you lower the handbrake to pull away from a junction? You want right around that much power as the clutch comes up by the biting point.


It comes with practise though. I've been driving for over two years, so it's completely second nature. It just develops.