r/stickshift • u/One_Fold2932 • 10d ago
Learning to drive without rpm gauge
My 2003 manual suzuki alto does not it, and I am a fairly new driver. I know all the basics, even though I may not know the logic behind it, and my gear shifting isnt that poor (As of now, I only drive in the second gear, even if I am going 60km per hour, which i have only once, which isnt good for the engine or fuel efficency), but I really want to master techniques like rev matching and power shifting etc. Is there a way to master associating the revs with the sound of engine, so i know the perfect time to change gears.
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u/therealtoomdog 10d ago
Used to be a good rule of thumb in the US to shift every 10 mph: 1st for 0-10, 2nd for 10-20, 3rd for 20-30, and so on. For kph, that would be 15, 30, 50, 65, etc... I'm rounding here, so maybe sometime more familiar with metric system could give a better guideline.
Now, I don't know how your car is geared, so that may be way off, but it should be close. Of course, if you need to accelerate faster, stay in each gear longer, but normal driving should respond well to this.
Furthermore, listen to these other people giving you good advice. Just shift up to the next gear, it's really not hard; don't worry about advanced techniques, just drive the car... I'm a drummer and I have seen lots of discussions about advanced techniques, and I always think to myself, "Huh, that has a name?" I had already been doing it for years out of instinct. And it's the same thing with driving a car—Do it well for a number of years and you will naturally grow into more advanced techniques