Downshift or neutral when slowing down
 

Me and Spec-B'ro are having a difference of opinions. Anyone care to chime in:

Should you downshift or put the car in neutral when slowing down?

I leave it in whatever gear I'm currently in to engine brake while I'm braking and then put it in neutral before it hits the stall point.

Yes, keep it in gear as long as possible. In an emergency situation when you're gonna need to step on the gas to avoid an accident, being in the right gear will save you seconds. And seconds count.

I do both, it just depends on my mood. :)

I was just about to say the same thing.

Cosign.

In the Legacy, I downshift before I hit my brakes, unless I just missed a light, traffic is stopping unexpectedly, or I am in first or second gear. When a car has a lighter clutch pedal and I feel that it would not grab as it engages, I will go to the brake first and downshift as the car is slowing.

I agree, in my RSX-S I always downshifted to engine brake and tap my brakes so my it wouldnt rev up so high.

In my 5eat I still do the same...

In terms of what's better for the car...it makes no difference at all. Whether you downshift before stopping or go to neutral it makes no difference mechanically or reliability wise.

For me personally, sometimes I downshift and sometimes I put it in neutral. It depends. If I'm a distance away and the light turns red, I'll pop it in neutral and coast and and apply the brake as I get up to traffic. Other times I'll downshift and slow down that way as the traffic may start moving by the time I get up there. Other times I may downshift and brake as I get to the light/traffic. There is no 'right way' or 'better way'.

Coast as much as I can. I tend to know what's around me so the chances of needing power in a instent is pretty rare.

I tend to watch traffic and the up coming traffic lights and let the engine idle instead of using the compression and vacuum to slow me down.

In gear whenever possible. There have been a few times that had I been coasting, I probably would not have had a whole car anymore.

just drive however the **** you want.

<3


It's a heart btw. :P lol

I usually put it in neutral, bounce the needle off the rev limiter and then slam it into first gear coming from whatever gear i was in previously. Keeps the carbon out of the exhaust and keeps the clutch from burning....lmao!

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In the city or around town I push in the clutch and hold it while stepping on the brakes as well. So in gear(under 30mph or stop and go traffic)

Exiting off a freeway I throw it in N and coast up or down the ramp and then step on the brakes as I near the intersection.

Pretty much my style too, but I do rev-match and engine brake as much as possible... especially downhill, which is likely why my brakes last so long.

Plus, as others have said, emergency avoidance is that much easier to initiate.

Or this.... :)