Hello, I'm Chris. In this video, I'm going to show you how to move off and stop in a manual car.
To move off, press the clutch fully down and select first gear.
To select first I need to follow this diagram on top of the gear lever.
The letter R is for reverse gear and it can be in a different place depending on the car.
I have to lift a metal collar to select reverse so I won't be able to put it in reverse by accident.
At the moment, it's in neutral, which means it's not in any gear. This point here is neutral.
To select first gear I need to push it to the left
and then forward to first. Having your palm facing to the left will make it easier.
To really focus on how to move off and stop we're just going to stay in first gear for now,
but on the next video, I'll show you how to change gear and when. Now I need to set the gas.
This is a sensitive pedal and you only need to press it slightly about the thickness of a
pound coin to get the revs between one and one and a half. But you don't need to be precise.
Then hold your foot still. You might overdo it at first but you will get used to it. You would need
to give it a bit more gas if you're moving off uphill or no gas if you're moving off downhill.
With practise, you'll get used to the sound of the engine, which means that you won't have to look at
the rev counter. Now I need to raise the clutch to the biting point. Slowly bring the clutch up
until you feel the back of the car dip slightly, the front raises slightly too and the engine sound
changes, now keep your feet still. This is the car wanting to go forward and the only thing holding
it back is the parking brake. I'll press the clutch back down and find the biting point again.
I'll do it again.
The first part of raising the clutch doesn't do anything
but then you'll feel the back of the car dip a little.
If I raise the clutch too high then the car really wants to go a bit too much
and it can overpower the parking brake, move off quickly or stall. You only want to feel the back
of the car dip a little. Lower the clutch down slightly if it does try and move off too much
or push the clutch all the way down and start again for the practice. Once you've found the
biting point you can rest the heel of your foot on the floor as it can help you have more control.
Get used to where the biting point is in your car as it can vary from car to car.
Now I need to make sure it's safe to move off by checking all the mirrors and blind spot
over my right shoulder. Signal if it would benefit anyone and there's someone behind in a parked car,
so I'll signal for them. Keeping my feet still is really important. I've got the gas set
and biting point. Double checking the mirrors and blind spot. Still safe, so I just need to release
the parking brake. You won't be able to release it just by pressing the button. Instead, pull the
parking brake up slightly and press the button at the same time. Fully lower the parking brake down,
then let go of the button. It's important to keep your feet still for a couple of seconds
as the car begins to move, until you're moving faster than a walking pace
and then slowly raise the clutch with a little more gas. If you raise the clutch too soon then
the car could stall. Little steering needed, keeping roughly a metre away from the kerb.
Now you can release the gas pedal to slow down or press it slightly to increase speed.
The gas pedal is so sensitive. Now the car will continue to go even if you don't press the gas.
It will just move very slowly in first gear.
I'm now going to pull up on the left in a safe, convenient and legal place without stalling.
I'll check the interior and left mirror, signal if it benefits anyone. I'm off the gas pedal and
my feet are ready with the brake and clutch, now I'll press the clutch and gently brake to stop.
Keeping both feet on the brake and clutch, parking brake on by pressing the button,
pulling it up and then releasing the button.
The parking brake should hold the car and prevent it from rolling away. Select neutral
by moving it down slightly so it springs to the central position. You can check it's in neutral
by moving the gear lever left and right and it should move freely. If you don't select neutral
and release the clutch then the car will jerk forward and stall. Now you can release the pedals
and cancel the signal if it's been on. And that's how you move off and stop in a manual car. There's
so much information and a good way to remember it is to keep repeating it, so let's do it again.
Clutch down, first gear, set the gas, revs up to about one and a half. Raise the clutch to
the biting point so you feel the back of the car dip slightly and the engine sound changes.
I'll show you again, now keep your feet still.
Check the mirrors and the blind spot over my right shoulder. If it is unsafe to go and you
have to wait then don't hold the biting point unnecessarily as you don't want to increase wear
on the clutch. Instead, come off the gas and press the clutch back down and when it's safe to go,
set the gas and find the biting point again. Now signal if necessary, release the parking brake,
feet still for a couple of seconds, clutch up slowly with a little more gas.
If you release the clutch too soon then you could stall.
If it's possible I'm trying to keep at least the doors a width away from these parked vehicles
or about a metre away from the kerb if there isn't any. To pull up on the left,
I'll check the mirrors, signal if necessary, off gas, clutch down, softly brake to stop.
Parking brake on, select neutral, you can now come off the pedals
and cancel the signal if it's been on.
You should press the clutch about two car lengths before stopping.
If you stop without the clutch then the car will stall and you'll have to start the engine again.
Bear in mind that you can brake to slow down
and you don't need to press the clutch, but if you want to come to a complete stop
then remember to press the clutch down fully about two car lengths before stopping.
The brakes in a modern car are sensitive and you might press the brake harder and
harder resulting in a bump when you stop. To do an emergency stop you need to brake firmly
but if you want a nice smooth stop then just press the brake slightly and keep the same pressure and
the car will gently stop. Ease off the brake a little just before stopping completely to get
rid of the bump but definitely make sure you brake harder when you need to. Always think carefully
where a safe place is to park. Nowhere illegal or where you'll be an inconvenience to others.
To help you remember the routine let's move off and stop once more. So, clutch down, first gear,
set the gas, this helps you not stall.
Raise the clutch to the biting point until you feel the back of the car dip a little
and the front raises slightly. You will notice this better by looking at the horizon.
Now don't move your feet. Check the mirrors, blind spot, signal if necessary, release the parking
brake, feet still for a couple of seconds, then slowly release the clutch with a bit more gas.
To pull up on the left, check interior mirror, left mirror, signal if it's necessary, off gas,
steering left to get the front in, right to get the back in, then straighten the wheels.
Clutch down and gently brake to stop.
Feet still, parking brake on, select neutral, come off pedals, cancel signal.
And that's how you move off and stop in a manual car. Have a look at our other video which focuses
on how and when to change gear. As always, thanks a lot for watching. Please subscribe
as it really helps us make more videos. In the meantime, take care on the road and bye for now!