Did you pull up on the ring below the shift knob? If you don't do this you can't engage reverse ( it's the reverse lock out)

 

the collar below the knob needs to be pulled up then the shifter moved left and then up

 

To engage the reverse you must pull up on the ring at the top of the shift boot and then move the stick up in to first gear. Hope this helps.

 

The bottom of the shift knob is actually a lever. Grip the shift knob from the top, and use your 2nd and middle fingers to pull that lever up. Then shift to reverse.

Also, get a different salesman. Not knowing how to drive a manual shift car is one thing, not knowing how the product you're trying to sell works is completely different.

 

All of the above... No need to repeat that but I'm a bit surprised the Salesman didn't know how to do that... Mostly if you are test driving with him ! Might get stuck somewhere trying to figure out how to reverse lol

 

What a god-awful salesman. That guy's job is to take you out for a test drive and answer questions about the car. If he didn't understand how manual transmissions work, why in the world was he trying to sell you a car that ONLY COMES WITH A 6-SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION.

Sorry, just a side rant. What everyone else said though...there's a lock-out ring just below the shifter knob that you need to pull up (towards the roof of the car) to open the gate into reverse. Just a safety thing so you don't accidentally shift it into reverse while driving.

 

I had the same problem with my first Focus (2002ZTS) LOL Same style shift knob (5speed)
I get it home, and couldn't back into my spot. Drove around the block, double-parked for 10 min while I pull-out the owners manual and read up on it..


Thus I was familiar with the shift lever on the ST.
Good Luck !

 

One further clarification, unlike a Ferrari or Lamborghini with an exposed gated shifter these cars do not have clearly defined gates within the shifter assembly. The stop positions are based on the position of the shift linkage between the shifter and the transmission. Looking at the exposed shifter removed from the car (ex. the FRPP short throw shifter).

Lifting up on the collar causes the mechanism blocking the shifter from reverse to move out of the way allowing you to move the shifter to the left of first and lock into reverse.

 

Ok, thanks for the replies. I found myself pushing that collar in like it was a button thinking that was the trick. Didn't try pulling it up. Well, it was amusing to see the salesman get out and push the car backwards so we could get back to the dealership!

 

Pushing it in is like the mercedes manual's. I think the subies are like that too.

 

That's like being a parking lot attendant that can't drive stick.. I'd learn if I was him if for no other reason than to take a Boss out for a rip..

 

Exactly my thoughts.

 

So, the guy didn't know how to put it in reverse AND couldn't speak English???? Good God!!

 

Did you yell "mush!" while he was out there?

 

It was either that or "chop chop!" I can't recall exactly.

 

Wow, incredible...

HOW DOZ SHIFT WURK

 

To be honest it didn't come up when I was buying my car (salesman gave me the keys and said enjoy) and I couldn't figure it out the first two times I wanted to reverse. I had other options then and it wasn't until I accidentally pulled in where I was forced to back out that I figured it out. I had my friend pull out the manual then I remembered seeing movies or sitting in a 6 speed before and suddenly it came to me.

 

I couldn't figure out how the Mazda Speed 3 went into reverse (you push down on the stick), and I have been driving manuals for years. So I wouldn't fault a guy for not knowing how a car reverses. There's just too many things to know about a vehicle to expect someone to know everything about all of them.

But not knowing how to drive a stick in the car business...there's not much excuse for that. Whether you're in sales, service, or even accounting or management, you should know how to drive a manual if you're around cars daily. You don't need to be good at it, but you need to be able to do it.