Don't shift from any gear into first while the car is moving. It will make the car decelerate suddenly, and the engine revs will shoot up. It's not good for the transmission.
When I drive stick, and I know a stop is coming up, I put it in neutral, and coast to slow down until I need to press on the brakes. If you need to stop a bit more suddenly, you can downshift into the next gear along with braking, and the engine will help you slow down faster. I don't know why others are saying you should never be in neutral... I've been driving manual for 10 years, and I know for a fact that coasting in neutral, especially when going downhill or coming to a stop, is completely safe for the car. It also helps save gas. Another way to save gas is to be in the highest gear you can without stalling the car. The less the engine revs with the gas pedal being applied, the less gas is consumed. Engine braking, like I discussed before, uses no gas and helps slow the car down using the engine.
Press the clutch and brake.
Don't go into neutral unless you have stopped.
No need to change down into 1st from 2nd when stopping.
Press the break and shift to neutral when you've stopped.
When you are coming to a stop just leave it in what ever gear you are in, push in the clutch and then apply the brakes to stop. After you come to a stop keep the clutch in and put it into first gear and when you are ready take off. By shifting into neutral or other gears is unnecessary and confusing when coming to a stop especially for a new driver.
Shift several times to the next lower gear to slow down and stop. This practice prevents brake pad wear. As you "near" your stop, push the clutch in as well as the brake petal. Start out in low gear to start moving. Use the clutch petal first, release the gas petal then shift to the next higher gear.
As you become accustom to shifting you're ears will tell you the engine RPM and when it's time to shift to the next higher gear *according to the speed limit.
First of all, the vehicle's model name is a proper name. Mustang is correct. "mustang" is not. Oh but for teens learn all sort of incorrect grammar things from each other. 2012 Mustang GT. No need for parenthesis. All you needed was "Today my boyfriend let me drive his 2012 Mustang GT." Simple, accurate and correct. Next sentence. "He tried to teach me how to drive the stick shift but did not quite explain everything." End of another sentence. The next segment is not needed. That is implied that you wish not to harm the vehicle. The series of questions are pure fear. But here is the problem. Why do you feel comfortable asking invisible strangers for words as to how do the things you ask? I understand the issues but the only way to learn is to sit in the car and go through the motions with the boyfriend explaining them. Most of us are not natural teachers. It is a skill that requires practice. Ask everything, one by one, and discuss it with him. It is his car. "amania" who cannot capitalize her own name expressed some words. Do they help? Of course not. There many levels of skill as to driving and stopping a manual transmission car. A beginner needs to know the basics and one of the basics is to understand what a clutch does, how it works. Use Google to find out. Next is the transmission. Google that as well. As to practice, no need to even have the motor running. You can practice shifting and braking all nice and safe and slowly, step by step while parked. Speak the owner of the Mustang GT. Oh, HUGE safety factor. Neutral IS NEVER to be used while driving. This is for super experts to do. NEVER. The car is in gear with the clutch in or out. Go from there. But asking here? Really? This is just texting addiction. Do you resolve everything by pushing buttons on a screen?
before starting the car make sure that the gear shifter is in neutral and that the E brake is engaged press the clutch pedal all the way down put the gear shifter into 1st gear disengage the E brake then give it some little gas not to much and gently release the clutch pedal , if you release the clutch pedal to fast the car well stall , when coming to a stop no matter which gear you are in just press the clutch pedal all the way down and put the gear shifter in neutral and press the brake pedal ( driving a diesel pwored car is much easier )
johnny cake and country boy have it correct. I have no idea why they have got a thumbs down. Probably from people who drive automatics.
Today my boyfriend let me drive his car (2012 mustang GT) and he tried teaching me how to drive stick shift but he didn't quite explain everything and I don't want to do anythingn wrong to his car. I know how to shift and the basics but I always have a problem coming to a stop. If I'm in 1st gear and I come to a stop, how do I slow down? Do I just brake? Do I have to push in the clutch? Can I just go into neutral? Really need help! And same with 2nd gear, do I downshift to 1st gear or go to neutral? And if the car is in neutral and I brake, do I need to have my foot I the clutch? Help please!!
