How to use manual mode on automatic cars

Most modern cars use automatic transmission because of its simplicity in operation. However, automatic transmission cars still have a manual mode that any driver should understand. Basically, manual transmission is a type of gear that is shifted manually according to the driver's will, not automatically changed by the car. Gear shifting can be done through the gear lever or paddles on the steering wheel.

Changes on the gear lever

This is the most common manual transmission type today. On the gear lever there is an additional space to push the gear lever with two symbols +/- to increase or decrease the number. This mode can be marked with the letters M (Manual), S (Sport) or nothing.

With this type of number, the driver can change the number as desired. To go up a gear, push the gear lever to (+), to go down a gear, push the gear lever to (-). If you don't want to use manual transmission anymore, just push it to position D and the car will switch to automatic mode.

On many modern cars with electronic gearshifts, if the driver shifts to manual (M) but does not change gears according to speed for a long time, the car will automatically intervene and return to normal D gear.

Change with the steering wheel paddles

Steering wheel paddle shifters are a common feature on sports cars or luxury cars. These paddles work similarly to the +/- on the gear lever, with the usual design being the right paddle increasing the gear and the left paddle decreasing the gear. Some cars only have paddles on the steering wheel, while others have them on the gear lever, depending on the driver's preference, they can shift gears using the gear lever or the paddles.