First gear in a manual transmission should be used for speeds up to approximately:

First gear in a manual transmission should be used for speeds up to approximately:

• A. 5 mph
• B. 10 mph
• C. 15 mph
• D. 20 mph

Answer: (C)

First gear is all about getting the car moving and keeping the engine from lugging at very low speeds. It provides the highest torque, which helps you start from a stop and handle slow speeds without stalling. Because of that, you stay in first only until you have enough momentum and the engine can run smoothly in a higher gear. The typical point to shift into second is around fifteen miles per hour, after which the engine RPM can stay reasonable and the ride becomes smoother and more efficient. Staying in first beyond that tends to pull the engine into higher RPMs, making acceleration rough and using more fuel. In normal driving you’d start in first, then shift to second around that fifteen mph mark unless you need extra power for hills or starting from a very slow speed.

First gear is all about getting the car moving and keeping the engine from lugging at very low speeds. It provides the highest torque, which helps you start from a stop and handle slow speeds without stalling. Because of that, you stay in first only until you have enough momentum and the engine can run smoothly in a higher gear. The typical point to shift into second is around fifteen miles per hour, after which the engine RPM can stay reasonable and the ride becomes smoother and more efficient. Staying in first beyond that tends to pull the engine into higher RPMs, making acceleration rough and using more fuel. In normal driving you’d start in first, then shift to second around that fifteen mph mark unless you need extra power for hills or starting from a very slow speed.