Five dos and don'ts when driving a car with manual gearbox

HAMBURG: Learning to drive a car with manual transmission was once a rite of passage for many would-be motorists, but with automatic transmission on the rise, cog-swappers are less common.

Here are five dos and don'ts to observe when driving one.

First of all, it's worth noting that while an automatic makes carefree cruising and queue-crawling in town easier, a manual shift enables driving in its purest (and arguably coolest) form.

Added to that, repairing a maltreated clutch is a major, engine-out repair on most cars which will land you with a hefty garage bill.

Here are five things to watch out for.

1. Never allow your foot to dwell on the clutch pedal

If you keep your foot on the clutch pedal while driving, the clutch will slip and wear out more quickly, since the release bearing gets damaged. This is the part responsible for separating the flywheel on the engine from the gearbox when you depress the clutch.

2. Never shift gears without engaging the clutch

It might seem obvious but not engaging the clutch while shifting gears can be harmful to the transmission of your car. It will make a loud sound indicating rough engagement or no engagement at all. Skilled drivers can get away with it in a racing scenario but this is not recommended on the road.

3. Never stay in gear with the clutch depressed at traffic lights

When stopping at red lights, always take the car out of gear, shift into neutral and get off the clutch. This reduces stress on the release bearing. You probably won't get off the mark quicker if you stay in gear, especially not in city traffic.

4. Never leave your hand resting on the gear shift

When your hand is rested upon the gear stick, it puts pressure on the shifter mechanism. The shifter gate then pushes the synchronizers. They touch the gears and friction is created. This friction can cause premature damage to the teeth of the gear.

5. Avoid slipping the clutch when taking off on hills

If you are attempting to take off on or up a hill you can leave the handbrake on while you increase engine revs and very slightly start to ease pressure off the clutch pedal, without letting it slip which wears out the clutch plates. This will pre-load the engine and stop it from stalling when you take off.