Quick & smooth gear changes

Changing up gears smoothly.

Here's a tip that's a bit difficult at first but it will help you change up a gear without losing speed. It takes a bit of practice and experience and is a little more advanced.

For a quick smooth gear change up, press the gas before lifting off the clutch completely so that you don't let the revs drop down too much.

It's smooth and you don't lose any speed.

How much to rev it varies from car to car but don't let the revs drop too low if you'd like a smooth gear change without losing speed.

But don't change up gears whilst you're accelerating or the car will rev up and could cause it to jolt.

Revving it a little when changing up a gear isn't always necessary in a modern car because when you release the gas to change gear, the revs don't drop that quickly anyway. So it will still be smooth even without adding gas, you just won't pick up speed as quick. But every car is different.

Releasing the clutch gently will also keep the gear change smooth.

Driving fast.

The amount of revs I've got when changing is important. If I'm changing down gear when the revs are at 2000 for example, I'll rev it to about 3000 before fully releasing the clutch. Revving it a little higher than it was.

But don't give it too much gas or the car will rev too high and cause it to jerk a little.

How much to rev it up varies from car to car but you'll get a feel for it.

Remember to release the clutch gently after changing gear to keep it smooth too.

Revving the engine when changing gear takes a lot of practice to get it smooth. You might find that it actually makes for a more jerky drive when you first practice it as you might take a bit of time to get it right. But once you're a more experienced driver then it can really take your driving of a manual car to the next level if you want to drive quickly and safely.

Instead of constantly checking the rev counter, I rely on the sound of the engine which does take a bit of practice and experience.

If you do need to check the rev counter then make sure it's a quick glance so you can keep your eyes on the road as much as possible.