5 Important Reasons Why You Should Learn Stick Shift Driving

Published by Rick Turner on

girl holding her license after passing her driving test

Why drive a stick shift? There are a lot of advantages to learning the right way to operate a manual transmission vehicle, despite the fact that the vast majority of cars on the road nowadays are automatic. It’s not necessary that only experienced drivers should operate vehicles with manual transmissions. 

It is in your best interest to instill in yourself, especially a teenager (if you have one), the ability to operate a manual transmission car, even if this is not the primary mode of transportation. 

Why Drive a Stick Shift?

Here are the top reasons why you should consider learning and mastering stick shift or manual driving with the help of a driving school in Phoenix AZ:

Manual Transmission Cars Are More Economical

You are in charge of how light your wallet should feel following a fueling session. Even while we are aware that today’s automatics are significantly more productive and fuel-efficient than those of the past, there are some situations in which manual transmission is unbeatable.

Coming full circle, you have the ability to determine the extent to which you want your driving to be economical with fuel. 

The driver has complete control over the number of revolutions per minute (RPM) that the engine makes, and it is possible to make a shift up to high gear from any point in the H-pattern.

Stronger Engine Break

If you’ve ever driven a vehicle with a continuously variable transmission (CVT) and then put it into low gear, you’ll have noticed that its engine brake does not have the same amount of force as a transmission that has hard gears. 

When traveling downhill or even just slowing down, shifting into a lower gear can relieve some of the strain that your brakes are under.

On the other hand, genuine engine braking is only available with the manual transmission. When the low gear is set, the car will be able to decrease to a much more manageable speed, making it much simpler to drive down a hill. 

When compared to CVTs that include an L position right on the lever, the slowdown that occurs when picking a low gear on a manual transmission is significantly more pronounced.

Manual Transmission Offers Simplicity

Manual transmission is referred to as a gearbox since it is basically just a box of gears. It is as uncomplicated as it can possibly be. In today’s world, we have a multitude of transmissions from which to select. 

Although the transmissions of a DCT, CVT, and classic automatic may appear to be as straightforward as pulleys and the belt for a CVT, on average, these transmissions are more complicated than the H-pattern gear lever on your vehicle.

To control the actions of an automatic transmission, the electronic control unit (ECU) of the vehicle needs to be equipped with an additional control system. 

When you combine this feature with the fact that a driver may select various modes and configurations simply by pressing a button, you end up with a transmission that requires you to acquire the driver’s permission before you can extract even a little bit of power out of it.

You Get a Better Response Rate

When you press on the gas pedal, the engine will act immediately. It is not necessary for you to wait for a manual transmission to get up to speed or to be aware that you are pressing on the accelerator. 

If you are driving a car with a manual transmission, you just need to ensure that you’re in the lower gear before expecting your vehicle to pick up speed.

Because the transmission isn’t connected to the ECU, you’ll have complete control over when you want the engine to rev up to its maximum. There is nothing preventing you from dragging it or reaching the redline, although we don’t recommend doing the latter.

Enhances Hand, Eye, and Foot Coordination

Hand-eye-foot coordination is required in order to modulate the clutch pedal as well as the throttle and do so in a cautious manner in order to make the gear shift as smoothly as possible. 

The correct shifts are ensured by communication that is almost imperceptible but unbroken between the hands, feet, and eyes. 

Do not be alarmed if all of this appears to be intimidating since it will become second nature to you as you continue to practice driving with the manual transmission.

Driving School in Phoenix AZ: Learn with the Experts of Legacy Driving Academy

We recognize that there are many misconceptions about how difficult it is to operate any manual transmission vehicle, but a reputable driving school in Phoenix AZ can make the process much simpler. When it comes to the subject of safe driving, there’s no room for any kind of cut-and-dry solution. 

If you’re ready to start learning the wonderful skill of manual driving and do so while ensuring your safety, talk to the seasoned driving instructors of Legacy Driving Academy. 

Contact us now by sending us a message!

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