Driving a car with a manual transmission also called a stick shift requires more skill and understanding than operating a vehicle with an automatic transmission. In a stick shift vehicle, you will be manually shifting gear to adjust your speed, rather than letting the car do it for you. To learn how to drive a stick shift, you'll need to know what makes this driving style different. As soon as you sit in the driver's seat you'll see: Clutch Pedal - The gas and brake pedals are in the same places as an automatic car, but on the far left is an extra pedal called the clutch. Your right foot is still used for the gas and brake, but you will use your left foot to depress the clutch. Numbers on the Gear Stick - In an automatic transmission car, the gear stick has letters for drive, reverse, neutral, and park. In a manual, there are numbers for each gear, along with an “R" for “reverse". The parking brake - Automatic transmission ve...