Let’s be honest: operating a manual car can resemble a cross between a puzzle game and an exercise regimen. Your car is screaming, “SHIFT ALREADY!” while you sit there, attempting to understand what the tachometer is telling you. It’s not as simple as just pressing the gas and going—oh no, there’s a whole rhythm to it.

Think of it as learning to dance, but instead of impressing people at a party, you’re just trying not to stall at a red light. In this post, I’m going to break down when to go up a gear, when to go down, and how to make peace with that pesky tachometer. Let’s get those RPMs under control!

Let me tell you about when to shift gears. You’ll know when to change up a gear by looking at the tachometer, or “tack” for short. It’s the one with RPM written on it, which stands for revolutions per minute.

Don’t confuse it with the speedometer, which has miles per hour and kilometers per hour written on it.

The tachometer is calibrated in thousands, so when it shows 10, 20, or 30, it actually means 1,000, 2,000, or 3,000 RPM. I think they do this to avoid having all those zeros on the dial, which would make it look messy.

Instead, they get rid of the zeros and just put “times 100” down there. So, 10 means 1,000, 20 means 2,000, and so on.

Now, let’s talk about using the tachometer.

As I start moving, the revs will gradually build up to 2,000 RPM. When they get near 2,000 RPM, I know it’s time to go up to the next gear. For example, when I’m in first gear and ready to go to second gear, the revs drop back down after the shift.

As I accelerate some more, the revs start to build again. When they get near 2,000 RPM again, I know I need to go up a gear again. So, when I’m in gear 2, I know I need to go up to gear 3. Once I go up to gear 3, the revs drop back down again.

You basically just keep doing this until you stop accelerating or get to the top gear.

If you’re moving uphill, instead of changing gear at 2,000 RPM, try changing up at maybe 2,500 or 3,000 RPM. This will give you more power and help you get up the hill. As I’ll demonstrate here: when I start moving uphill, I let the revs build to 2,500 or 3,000 RPM, then shift to the next gear. This gives me more power and helps me tackle the incline.

More revs equal more power. Changing gear when the revs are higher will also help you accelerate more quickly.

Let’s talk about how to drive smoothly and efficiently.

When you want to speed up quickly, like when you’re merging onto a busy highway, you might need to do this. First, check if there are any cars coming your way. Then, you can quickly accelerate to 25 miles per hour. You’ll notice that your engine revs go above 4,000 RPM. This is because you didn’t have to change gears all the way to 25 mph, so you could speed up pretty fast.

Now, let’s talk about what to do if your car seems to be struggling, especially if it’s a low-powered one. In that case, you can try raising the revs by 500 RPM across the board. So, instead of shifting between 1,000 and 2,000 RPM, keep it between 1,500 and 2,500 RPM. This might help your car get going more smoothly.

But what about when you need to slow down? When you’re slowing down, your engine’s revs will drop. If they get below 1,000 RPM, your car doesn’t like it. It might start to judder. When this happens, don’t worry, just go down a gear to bring the revs back up.

Now, here’s the important part: you need to keep the revs between 1,000 and 2,000 RPM. If you keep them in that range, your car will be happy. If the car is juddering, even just a little, that’s a sign that your gear is too high. Drop down a gear, and that should sort the problem.

But here’s the thing: if you’re stopping, don’t worry about the gears. After all, gears don’t help you stop—they only help you go. As long as you press the clutch down by the time the revs reach 1,000 RPM, you’ll stop just fine.

Now, here’s a little tip: if you focus too much on the gears while trying to stop, it’ll actually distract you. Your attention will be on the gears, and it won’t be on your steering and braking. That’s important for making sure you stop in the right place.

Remember the saying: “Brakes are for slowing; gears are for going.”

If, after you’ve slowed down, you want to keep going, just select the gear that’s best for your speed:

– If your speed is between 15 and 25 miles per hour, choose gear 3.

– If your speed is between 5 and 15 miles per hour, choose gear 2.

– If your speed is below 5 miles per hour or at walking pace, choose gear 1.

Here’s the secret to keeping your tachometer in the happy zone and conquering your gears! You’ll shift effortlessly, climb hills like a pro, and even navigate tricky roundabouts with ease if you follow these tips. It all comes down to listening to your car and letting the engine run at its most comfortable level.

Thus, simply rev, shift, and enjoy the ride without fretting the next time you’re behind the wheel. And if you are able to start off strong the first time, don’t be afraid to give yourself a small fist bump. You’re worthy!