For all you manual transmission owners out there, which do you usually start in, assuming you aren't towing?

I know it is a common practice to start in 2nd when not loaded, but I'm wondering if anyone starts in 1st all well.

Cheers,
D.

 

I always started in first. The only benifit I would see to starting in second is if the roads are slick and you're trying to take off super gently.

 

1st. in full size 1st is usually to low

 

HELLO?? What??? All Ranger tranies 1st gear is geared high(did I say thatright?). It's made to start off in 1st. Pretty much only fullsizes have the "granny gear" in it.....not much these days anymore. My '71 chevy w/ 4spd was 1 gear at like 4 mph, shift, 2nd at like 20, shift, 3rd all theway up to 90, then shift her in to 4th. I'd rarely start off in 1st in that truck, due to it having the "granny gear". Some full size diesel Fords from the 80s were avalible with both trans....."granny geared" or "normal".

 

^^ like he said unless there is a granny gear you never start in 2nd.. and no ranger modern day has had a granny gear...

hell you can go up to like 30ish if not more in 1st

 

I've tried starting in 2nd and you've gotta play with the throttle and clutch too much to get it going well. That's just excess work, excess strain on the tranny/clutch, and killing your gas mileage.

 

x2

My first gear and reverse can be a b1tch to get in gear. I use to literally have to slam it into first at times. I've started in second a few times and it sucks.

Shifting isn't too bad now though. I dunno wtf the problem was before.

 

i take off in 1st but i have taken off in 2nd and 3rd on accident and 4th well it moved but not very well.