A method for indicating a running condition of a vehicle having an engine and a manual transmission generates a direction of a down-shift operation according to a detected opening angle of a throttle valve of the engine and detected acceleration and deceleration of the vehicle. The direction of the down-shift operation is generated when the acceleration of the vehicle is above a predetermined value while the throttle valve is substantially fully closed and when the deceleration of the vehicle is above a predetermined value while the throttle valve is substantially fully opened. Thus, a suitable direction of gear position is generated when the vehicle is climbing an uphill road or coasting on a downhill road.