There was once a time in automotive history when manual transmissions reigned supreme by default. The automatic transmission had yet to be developed and we all shifted for our engines. Fast forward to today and most people, understandably, choose the convenience and less stressful route of driving an automatic. In fact, most models on the Toyota car lineup, outside of the Corolla Hatchback and 86, don't even come with optional manual transmission. While great on one front, it makes it hard to learn the archaic art of driving stick.
Automatic is highly convenient, we have to admit, but driving manual is sportier, more engaging, and more fuel efficient in many cases. Plus it feels damn good to drive this way if you're racing. If you've yet to learn or are looking to improve your current manual Toyota car driving habits, Toyota of Clermont is here to help you take better care.
To Better Preserve Your Manual Clermont Toyota Car, Follow These Tips
The trickiness to driving a car with
manual transmission is uncountable. Between all the steps to remember there's a large margin of error and the potential to permanently damage your engine if you're not careful. Don't be scared. Toyota of Clermont is here with some tips to keep you in good shape while you drive.
First Clutch. Then Shift. In That Order
When you're driving an Clermont Toyota car that's using a manual transmission, you're essentially your engine's shifter. It's a connection to your ride that is
original and precious. The wrong move could result in massive damage so listen closely. Always. Use. The. Clutch. First. Before you even think about touching the shift knob with your right hand, make sure you push in that clutch with your left foot.
By pushing in the clutch you open the gear shaft which then allows you to shift appropriately. If this is done at the wrong time or you decide to shift before you clutch, you could wind up with your ride on a lift and a huge bill to pay. To avoid all this, just clutch before you shift. Simple.
Stop the Rock and Roll
Staying at a stop light might seem pretty rudimentary, but driving a manual makes the once simple process decently complicated. The go-to for many manual Clermont Toyota car drivers is to put your ride in neutral while you wait for the light to turn green and then shift into first to go from there.
But, those of us looking for a little quicker start will be tempted to keep it in first and intermittently use the clutch to "rock" back and forth. We're here to tell you to do the lame thing. The cool thing will wind up damaging your clutch and gear shaft and then you'll feel pretty lame after that.
Make Some Space for Your Hand and the Shifter
Keeping your hand on the shifter seems like a good idea to stay prepared for your next gear change and a great way to audition for a role in Fast and Furious. As cool as that sounds, the truth is that this bad manual transmission habit could be eating at the longevity and
health of your shifter. It's a delicate instrument that doesn't need your extra weight and stress bearing down on it. So, give it a rest and use your hand for something else.
Whatever You Do. Don't Moneyshift!
Toyota cars here at Toyota of Clermont are built to handle a lot of punishment from their drivers, but not many can drive away from a moneyshift and live to tell the tale. "What's moneyshifting?" You might ask. This terribly dangerous maneuver is executed by bringing your Toyota car's RPMs to a critically high point and then shifting down to the wrong gear. A great real-world example of this is Robert Mitchell, a vlogger/driver, who was doing a hill race with his Clermont Toyota GR Yaris and moneyshifted by mistake. During his race he reached a 6,500 RPM peak in gear 2 and downshifted to first gear instead of up to third. As a result his RPM gauge skyrocketed well past 10,000 RPMs and his engine let out a god awful squeal.
Somehow his engine, with a little post-disaster care, was left largely unscathed. But, this is one of the lucky case scenarios. To sum it up, don't try it (don't be an Anakin).
Drive Your Manual Toyota Car Better with Toyota of Clermont
Sitting in the driver's seat of a manual Toyota car comes with a lot of pressures, but it's nothing you can't handle by following these tips. If you happen to make a mistake, Toyota of Clermont and our auto service staff are here to help. Visit the dealership at 16851 State Road 50.
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