Subaru Outback Manuals 2012 Outback Owner's Manual | Page 294

7-16 Starting and operating Shift up mph (km/h) 1st to 2nd 15 (24) 2nd to 3rd 25 (40) 3rd to 4th 40 (64) 4th to 5th 45 (72) 5th to 6th 50 (80) ! Maximum allowable speeds WARNING The manual transmission is a fully syn- chromeshed, 6-forward-speed and 1-re- verse-speed transmission. The shift pattern is shown on the shift lever knob. & Selecting reverse gear CAUTION Shift into reverse ONLY when the vehicle has completely stopped. It may cause damage to the transmis- sion to try shifting into reverse when the vehicle is moving. 1) Slider You must raise the slider and hold it in that position before you can move the shift lever to the “R” position. To change gears, fully depress the clutch pedal, move the shift lever, and gradually let up on the clutch pedal. If it is difficult to shift into gear, put the transmission in neutral, release the clutch pedal momentarily, and then try again. & Shifting speeds ! Recommended shifting speeds The best compromise between fuel econ- omy and vehicle performance during normal driving is ensured by shifting up at the speeds listed in the following table. When shifting down a gear, ensure that the vehicle is not travelling at a speed exceeding the Maximum Al- lowable Speed for the gear which is about to be selected. Failure to observe this precaution can lead to engine over-revving and this in turn can result in engine damage. In addition, sudden application of engine brakes when the vehicle is travelling on a slippery surface can lead to wheel locking; as a conse- quence, control of the vehicle may be lost and the risk of an accident increased. The following table shows the maximum speeds that are possible with each differ- ent gear. The tachometer’s needle will