What I see happening here for PolarBear is he is waiting too long before downshifting as he approaches a red light. He should start downshifting at 1000 metres, or 1500 metres, from the red light, from 4th to 3rd gear. This would give him more time to think about the shift.
Push the clutch all the way in and shift to 3rd, let off the clutch and check your speed before pressing the throttle again. You are slowing early so it won't need much more fuel, maybe none.
As you get closer to the red light, do the same thing again going from 3rd to 2nd gear. OR HOLD 3rd gear and slow down to 27KM, then just before the red light press the brakes to stop while holding the clutch in. After the full stop, still holding the clutch in, shift to 1st gear and you are ready to go as the light changes.
On starting out from the light let it rev up to 1800 to 2000rpm, push the clutch in and shift to 2nd, let the clutch out slowly for a smooth shift. Then as the MZ5 accelerates shift to 3rd. If you feel your speed is fast enough and it won't stall, you CAN shift from 1st gear to 3rd gear by-passing 2nd.
There is NO RULE that says you HAVE TO always shift in sequence. You shift gears UP and DOWN according to the vehicle's speed, i.g. enough RPMs to NOT stall.
Down shift BEFORE entering a turn or curve. Up shift coming out of the turn.
With front-wheel-drive, entering a curve on a country motorway, hold the speed you have, down-shift if necessary, at the apex of the curve give it more gas to pull the vehicle through and out of the curve. Up shift leaving the curve.
Never SLIP the clutch!! Always put the clutch all the way IN or let it all the way OUT. And do not "ride" the clutch pedal like it's a footrest. Slipping the clutch generates a lot of heat which can set the clutch pad on fire.
