# What tricks should I know if I want to drive manual well? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 5, 2004, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-tricks-should-i-know-if-i-want-to-drive-manual-well/232645 "2004-03-05T04:04:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 2\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Unintentionally\_Blank](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/unintentionally_blank/32/5418_2.png) [@Unintentionally\_Blank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Unintentionally_Blank)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2004, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-tricks-should-i-know-if-i-want-to-drive-manual-well/232645/21 "2004-03-06T17:51:40Z")
> [@Optihut](#): > > Why, when it comes to trick driving, you need to be able to do a bootlegger reverse, of course. What? What? 😃 I was SOOOO happy to find my FWD PT Cruiser does some AWESOME ebrake turns in the snow… Unintentionally “You can’t lose control if you never truly had it in the first place” Blank ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2004, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-tricks-should-i-know-if-i-want-to-drive-manual-well/232645/22 "2004-03-07T15:43:06Z")
Yes, shifting into neutral after you are stopped will prevent a tiny amount of wear on your clutch. I rarely do it, and I have 172,000 miles on my clutch. But, everytime you shift in and out of gears, or depress the clutch peddle you put wear and tear on other parts. IMHO, it’s a wash. Also, when in neutral at a light, if you don’ watch the light very closely, and get in gear before the light turns green, chances are you are holding up traffic. Basically, do your best to prevent slipping/riding the clutch. That’s all you really need to do. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-tricks-should-i-know-if-i-want-to-drive-manual-well/232645.md?page=1)