How to drive stick: Top Gear's artful guide to driving manual

FLAT SHIFT

Good for: Minimising turbo lag
Bad for: Clutch life

Honestly, this is one for the quarter mile and nowhere else. Exactly as the name suggests you leave your right foot hard on the throttle and pull the gear through as fast as possible. I say ‘pull’ advisedly – it can work well from first to second and third to fourth, but going across the gate from second to third? Not so easy. Much more jeopardy involved.

If you’re running 0–60s it will reduce your times – especially in a turbocharged car as holding the throttle wide open means the turbo never drops off boost. But re-engaging the clutch when the engine is bouncing off the limiter? Brace yourself.

Oh, and never do this on the way down the gearbox – conrods belong inside the engine.

HEEL AND TOE

Good for: Feeling like a pro
Bad for: Your right ankle

A personal favourite this one. There is little more satisfying in a manual than a perfectly blipped downshift.

‘Heel and toe’ is misleading, as unless you have a second ankle it’s going to be more ‘ball and outside edge’ – ball behind your big toe for the brake, then twist/roll your ankle to blip the throttle with the side of your foot before lifting the clutch. Old timers talk about maintaining control and preventing rear wheels locking, but for modern cars (find one with perfectly spaced pedals) it’s all about smoothness and satisfaction.

Teach yourself to keep the brake pressure smooth throughout, get the rev matching perfect and you’re in driving nirvana.

DOUBLE DE-CLUTCH

Good for: Pretending it’s the 1950s
Bad for: Left leg RSI

Do you have an old Alvis in the garage? Perhaps a tendency towards a driving glove and cravat setup?

Then no need to read further, I suspect you’re already well acquainted with double de- clutching. It’s not about speed or performance, it’s about caring for your old car by being as gentle as possible to the transmission. So in the middle of each gear change, either up or down, you pause in neutral and lift the clutch. Then press it again to go into your next gear.

Ideally work on your rev matching as you slip seamlessly into gear for maximum brown beer points at your nearest thatched pub.