Depends what the road gradient and number of times you have to stop is. A long level 30 through a village could be taken easily in 6th gear when I had a Cooper S. The rpm sat at about 1200 and it could even get up some gradual inclines okay with a smooth pivoted foot on the accelerator. Of course, to accelerate with gusto, you’d need to drop it down 4 gears. Some 6 speeds – usually diesels will go below where they would normally idle in 6th gear, so will bog to buggery until you bring it down to 5th or even 4th.

I have just driven a xx car for the first time ( a loaner from a friend). I have driven manual gear cars before and of course use the clutch when shifting gears, but this car doe not have a clutch petal and while car had a clear 1st through 5 gear, I was afraid of dropping the trans if I changed gears on the run.
In the manual trans cars of the past, I used the clutch, when I at the appropriate speed and/or when I heard the engine to strain.
This car did not automatically switch gears, so is the deal.
Greg

Hi Aj,
I can’t see any issues with slowing down in 3rd gear and changing into 2nd gear at around 15mph. Have you tried the same, but slowing down from 4th gear and then into 2md gear. The gear grinding sounds perhaps as though it’s a gearbox or worn clutch issue.

It is recommended that you block change down, rather than going down through all the gears sequentially. Essentially, use the brakes (and engine braking) to slow your car rather than the gears. It’s difficult to say a specific speed when to block change down as each car is different. You need to find the specific speeds that your car is happy with. I would say as an example, driving around town at 30 mph in 4th gear, then if making a left turn, slow down to 10-15 mph and then block change directly into 2nd gear would be a good example. You can even do this from 5th, directly into 2nd, it really depends if your car can handle it. You’ll know if your car isn’t happy as you’ll hear it and feel it.

Although examiners do prefer to see block gear changing, if you really prefer to change down through the gears sequentially, you’ll not fail the test for it. Generally though, use block gear changing as it’s a lot easier than constantly going through all the gears and it’s less wear on your transmission.

Where you said this:

”Say: 4th -> Neutral (Wait for speed to drop to 10 – 20 MPH or so -> Neutral to 2nd”

Not sure if I misread it, but do not keep the transmission in neutral while your car is moving at any point. Always have a gear engaged. The same can be said by keeping your clutch pedal depressed for extended periods while on the move (even if in gear). This is called ‘coasting’ and continually doing this on your driving test will likely see a fail. Coasting reduces your control of the vehicle.

1. How and when is it best to shift down smoothly? I assume it’s speed range related, but when I go from 3rd to 2nd, I can hear and feel a small gear grind happening (At right around 15 MPH slowed down from 30 – at which time I’m already at a near dead stop to make a turn, however I’d like to keep going instead of stopping)

2. When down shifting: Do I need to go in order of ALL the gears as my speed drops or can I jump from 4th to 2nd if I wait for the right speed range? (Say: 4th -> Neutral (Wait for speed to drop to 10 – 20 MPH or so -> Neutral to 2nd)

Right now this is my biggest obstacle. It seems no matter what I do, I get a little grind and if I wait too long I loose all my momentum and may as well stop and go to first anyway. Any help is much appreciated!

Hi Charity,
If you are on a downhill slope when pulling away, I would usually say pull away as usual, in first gear, unless it happens to be particularly steep. Being as it’s a stop junction, it may be blind and hazardous, so keep the clutch down and edge forward slowly, controlling the vehicle’s speed with the footbrake only.

Hi,
Yes, a higher gear does mean higher speed, but it’s a cruising speed. To overtake, you’ll generally need a good hit of acceleration and to get that, you’ll need to change down. Yes, 5th gear is used for cruising. The maximum speed will vary depending on the model of car.

Why do you change down if you want to overtake? I thought higher gear means higher speed which should enable you to overtake.
BTW, in a 5gear car, will the 5th gear be used for cruising and what’s the maximum speed limit?