How to Better Drive Your Manual Transmission Toyota Car

 What was once the staple of the automotive world, more like the only one available in fact, has become the niche and obscure option. We're talking about manual transmissions and they're pretty few and far between as the desired driving mode on many vehicles. Some vehicles on our Orlando Toyota lineup don't even have manual as an optional transmission. It's hard to argue with the convenience and freedom automatic transmissions afford us as drivers, but manuals still hold a special place our hearts and the hearts of many out there.

It's preferred by racers, automotive purists and originalists, and those looking to add a little more interactivity from their ride. But, there's a lot of room for error when it comes to using the world's first transmission type. To keep your Toyota car from falling apart while you're driving it, we at Toyota of Orlando are here with some key things to remember to better drive your manual transmission ride. 

Habits to Break to Preserve Your Manual Toyota Car

Driving a manual Toyota car can be quite tricky. There are a lot of steps to remember and keep in mind plus a huge margin of error. A slip up could cost you a lot at the auto service shop. To keep your engine intact, here are some essential tips from Toyota of Orlando. 

Remember, the Clutch Always Comes First

Driving a manual Toyota car means, in effect, you're the one who has to do the shifting for the engine. This, for many drivers, is pretty difficult. It requires excellent timing, instincts, and you have to always remember that you have a 3rd pedal and your left foot is going to have to do some work. 

When shifting, it's absolutely key to remember to push in the clutch before your right hand does any shifting. The clutch opens up the gear shaft and allows you to shift. Forgetting to engage the clutch or doing so at the wrong time can have pretty detrimental consequences for your Orlando Toyota car. In short, always use the clutch first.

Stop Rocking at Stoplights

Driving a manual Orlando Toyota car takes some getting used to, but once you do you need to make sure you come to and stay at a stop correctly. Putting your shifter in neutral feels a fair bit unnatural so many manual drivers out there will come to a stop light, keep it in first, and engage the clutch intermittently, and rock back and forth. While this primes you for a quick start from the stop light and helps you get the hang of driving in first gear, it can wear the life out of your clutch. It may seem lame, but the smart thing to do is just put it in neutral and re-engage when the light changes. 

Give the Shifter Some Room to Breathe

Unless you're racing and need to change gears quickly, there's really no reason to keep your hand on the shifter. "But what if I want to feel like I'm on the set of Fast and Furious?" Well, while we all would love for that to happen (especially this writer) the truth is that driving a manual with your hand on the shifter can wear it out much faster. The manual transmission is a delicate piece of machinery and you should only interact with the shifter when necessary. After that, give it and your hand some space.

 Don't (For the Love of God) Moneyshift!

Orlando Toyota cars are built to be pretty sturdy and resilient, but not even a Toyota can handle the grueling and detrimental impact of a moneyshift. What do we mean? What jargon is this? Let us explain. A moneyshift happens when a driver brings their RPMs to a critical high point and shifts down or to the wrong gear by mistake. Actually, a driver/vlogger named Robert Mitchell did this and caught it on camera. During a hill climb race he reached a gear 2 RPM of 6,500 but shifted down instead of up. From there the Orlando Toyota car GR Yaris he was driving squealed an ungodly squeal and sent the gauge to about 10,200 RPMs. 

Somehow, the GR Yaris survived but it's one of the few Toyota cars out there that could. Doing this causes catastrophic damage to the clutch, gear shaft, and engine overall and can leave your ride permanently indisposed. Long story short, don't moneyshift. Just don't. 

Drive Your Manual Toyota Car Better with Toyota of Orlando

Driving a manual can be tricky, but follow these tips and you'll be in great shape. But, if you do make a mistake (as we all do), Toyota of Orlando has your back! Visit our auto service center at 3575 Vineland Road today or schedule an appointment online.