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It can be a bit intimidating. Staring up a dramatic incline in a vehicle with a manual transmission can be a bit nerve-racking. A hill start is especially intimidating when you glance up at your rearview mirror and watch that insensitive driver behind you close the gap so much so that Timothée Chalamet couldn’t slip between. However, if you keep this technique in mind, tackling a hill in your manual car doesn’t have to be that bad.

Keep these techniques in mind when driving your manual car up hills and steep inclines

It’s no secret. A manual car like a five-speed Mazda MX-5 or Ford Mustang Bullitt will roll backward with the clutch depressed. That’s just the nature of a vehicle with a manual transmission. Unfortunately, that also means you could roll back into a vehicle or a nearby obstacle as you attempt a hill start.

It can be intimidating. Frankly, it can be enough to prompt would-be manual pilots to rationalize not buying a manual car. However, it doesn’t have to be all that bad. No, you can observe these techniques to avoid rolling back into a bad day. 

  • If you have a hill start facility, use it
  • After coming to a complete stop on an incline, engage your handbrake
  • In first gear, gently engage the throttle
  • Release the clutch to the engagement point and release the handbrake
  • Drive away slowly, using just enough power to avoid rolling back or stalling

Be sure to check your owner’s manual or online sources to confirm whether your vehicle has a hill start function. An assist function could hold your vehicle in place on an incline without allowing it to roll back. If your manual car is new enough, you may have a driver-assist facility to aid with hill starts. For instance, Ford included Hill Start Assist in certain vehicles since 2011.

I like to get thoroughly acquainted with a car’s clutch engagement point before taking it out for drives in hilly environments. Knowing where your car’s clutch engagement point is can make it exponentially easier to start without over-revving, whether on flat ground or a hill. 

Remember, there’s no shame in waving a tailgater around to avoid an accident.

Source: RAC

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Staff Writer

Erik Sherman

Erik Sherman joined the MotorBiscuit team as an Autos Writer in 2022. An admitted petrolhead and an avid motorcyclist, Erik has owned everything from classic cars to motorcycles to modern driver’s cars. Erik also has extensive experience with military and emergency vehicles, ranging from ambulances and fire engines to MRAPs and M-ATVs. Erik is an eager car and motorcycle reviewer with experience covering everything from sports cars to pontoon boats and jet skis.

Erik holds a Bachelor’s Degree in International Relations (IRG) from the University of Texas at Austin and has studied Chinese, Energy, and European Politics at the University of Glasgow in Scotland. Erik’s background is unorthodox; he is a United States Marine Corps (USMC) combat veteran, water survival practitioner, and a former firefighter/EMT. Additionally, Erik is a regular volunteer and former instructor with the American Red Cross (ARC).