[Elantra GT] manual transmission on 2006 elantra gt

[Kevan Hunter]

Hi all,

I just bought a 2006 Elantra GT with a manual transmission. I have 
driven a few cars with a manual transmission but never owned one. I have 
had the car for a week and am still getting the hang of this transmission.

Most of the time I am smooth when shifting from 3rd to 4th and to 5th, 
but I find it harder to get into 1st and go from 1st to 2nd without 
shaking the car.

How high should the rev's be when i start to let the clutch out? And how 
high when the clutch is out? Similarly, for shifting from 1st to 2nd, 
when should I shift, and how long should it take me?

When going from 3rd to 4th, I usually keep an eye on the tachometer, 
then let off the gas and push the clutch in when the revs are at 3000, 
and the revs have dropped to 2000 by the time my foot is off the clutch 
and I am in 4th. But in lower gears this seems much more difficult to 
do. In 1st the revs are often over 3000 before I have a chance to shift 
up to 2nd, and I need to let them drop to around 1500 as I'm letting out 
the clutch.

Are there any pointers that other elantra owners can give me?

thanks in advance,
-ksh