Q: How do you use the manual transmission?

If your car is equipped with a manual transmission, there are a few things you’ll need to know about using it. It’s pretty similar to any other stick shift you’ve driven, but let’s cover the most pertinent parts quickly:

1. Make sure you have the clutch pedal pressed to the floor before shifting out of or into any gear.

2. Reverse is at the top left.

3. First gear is up and left from neutral.

4. Second gear is down and left from neutral.

5. Third gear is directly up from neutral.

6. Fourth gear is directly down from neutral.

7. Fifth gear is up and to the right from neutral.

8. Sixth gear is down and to the right from neutral.

Nissan rates gear shifting speeds as follows:

• From first to second: 8-9 MPH

• From second to third: 17-19 MPH

• From third to fourth: 25-26 MPH

• From fourth to fifth: 31-36 MPH

• From fifth to sixth: 37-51 MPH

Tips

• Shifting speeds vary depending on the engine in your car.

• If it’s hard to get the car into reverse, first or second gear, let off the clutch and then press the pedal again.