How to Drive a German Stick Shift

Stopped Start
1. Press the clutch with your left foot and start the ignition. German vehicles with a manual transmission will not start if the clutch is not depressed.
2. Release the emergency brake.
3. Press the clutch all the way down and put the car into first gear using your right hand.
4. Rev the car up to 2,000 RPMs by pressing the accelerator with your right foot. This is the proper amount of RPMs needed to move the vehicle forward on a flat surface. If you are on a hill, you may need to rev the engine to as many as 3,000 RPMs, depending on the incline.
5. Release the clutch slowly with your left foot while remaining on the accelerator. As the clutch is released, the clutch plates will engage, causing the vehicle to move forward.
Changing Gears
6. Stop accelerating the vehicle and press the clutch all the way down with your left foot.
7. Shift into the next gear using your right hand on the gear shifter. For example, if you are in first gear, pull the gear shifter down into second. If you are in second gear, push the shifter up into third gear.
8. Release the clutch smoothly and continue to accelerate the vehicle until you have to shift into the next gear. German cars have between four and six gears.