I'm a little confused as to the point of this question.

With any gear, you want to downshift when not doing so will cause your car to bog (which is definitely anything under 2000 rpm on most cars, and more when you're going up hill, etc).

 

I don't think I've downshifted into first more than once or twice. If I'm going that slow and am not stopping I usually just feather the clutch a little bit instead.

 

I take off in second gear.!!!

 

I usually cruise around my apartment and mall parkinglots in 2cnd.

I will usually only drive around in 1st if its cold and I'm going slow.

On the road I'm never in first save for taking off. If I know I'm going to have to go really slow I just put it in neutral until I get to the point of having to start moving and then I'll just shift to whatever I need to

 

10-15

 

I was told by someone years ago about driving stick:

most of the time follow the 10 mph rule, meaning select the gear that is closest to the speed you are going

10 or less = 1st
10- 20 = 2nd
etc

I dont know how correct that is but it seems to work pretty well.


If I am already moving forward I always put in second, to me, it is less impact full on the drive-line