what are some tips on how to drive a manual car?

there are two methods you could use

1) the beginner method is to use the shift point stated in your owners manual for example my s2000 says to start 1 gear shift at 20 mph to second then up to 35 mph shift to third and so on.

BE CAREFUL THOUGH DON'T LOOSE YOUR CONCENTRATION WHILE DRIVING

it doesn't matter if you shift a little bit earlier or later ALWAYS LOOK A THE ROAD

2) the second method, I have learn to recognized the sound of the engine when you need to shift it sounds as if the is being force, you will feel the car rough. and when you need to downshift the car will sound as if want to stall, it would start shaking it would feel underpowered.

the second method is better cause you don't have to take your eyes of the road.

PRACTICE WOULD HELP YOU get use to your car. don't worry about stalling everybody has done it.

Hi Stan,

It depends on the car... but gear changes normally happen around +/- 3000 rpm when accelerating up through the gears, somewhat less than that when decelerating. Sometimes your owner's manual will suggest a certain range of speeds for each gear - say 0-10 mph in first, 10-20 in 2nd, etc - check to see if yours does.

The best thing is to practice... with experience you'll hear when the car 'wants' to shift gears... and it will become a completely natural and instinctive action.

Hope this helps, and good luck!

To much info in your other answers stan

Its very simple stan,you use at first your ears,turn off the stereo and listen

Your car will tell you it wants another gear,if you change up to soon,the engine will labour

and start to stall,if you change to late your engine will be screaming

You start in first unless your pointing down hill then pick 2nd

then change up one at a time until up get into top gear

changing down is dependent on approach speed,you can block change two or more gears

at a time,it just take practice

I'm bathe same with you, Stan.

first you sit in the seat, then you start the engine....its called practice jackass, jump in the car and you will learn