How do you do a hill start in a manual car?
On a hill, the clutch biting point holds the car: in first gear, raise the clutch until the car shakes and the revs dip, add gas to about 1,500 to 2,000 rpm, and only then release the handbrake (parking brake) or move your foot off the brake. If the car rolls back, the clutch has not bitten yet; if the engine bogs down, it bit too fast.
Step by step
- Stop with your foot on the brake and pull the handbrake.
- Clutch all the way down, select first gear.
- Raise the clutch slowly until the car shakes and the bonnet lifts a little: the biting point.
- Add a little gas, to about 1,500 to 2,000 rpm, without moving the clutch.
- Release the handbrake (or move your foot from brake to gas) and finish raising the clutch.
In a Magyar Suzuki survey, 34.9% of learners and 21.6% of experienced drivers named the hill start as an ordeal. Source: Magyar Suzuki
FAQ
Can I always use the handbrake?
Yes. It is the safest technique while learning, and the game does not take points for it.
First or second gear on a hill?
First. Second keeps the clutch slipping longer and stalls easily.
What if the car rolls back?
Brake, clutch down, start over. Rolling back a little is normal; more than a metre with a car behind is what gets you honked at.
What is hill start assist?
A system that holds the brakes for about 2 seconds after you lift your foot. The game does not have it.