To downshift or not...?

[doylerl]

So, I'm driving around with a buddy the other day and as I come to a stop, he looks at me like I don't know how to drive a manual. He says when slowing down and/or coming to a stop you should downshift all the way to 1st or it is hard on the trans. I personally just stick it in neutral and coast to either stop or slow down. Is there a benefit to doing it either way? I was taught to just stick it in neutral... is that wrong? What does everyone else do?

[perucho]

You need new friends By putting it on neutral you are causing the least amount of stress on the transmission while slowing down. If you down-shifted and used the transmission to slow you down, you may be extending the life of your brakes but not the transmission's or clutch's life. Changing brake pads/rotors is cheaper.

[lanemeyer14]

I do the same. Always heard it's easier to replace the brakes than the trans!
Edit: Yep, Perucho beat me to it!

[hot4dl8ly]

X2 on brakes vs clutch. You will also get beter mpg coasting to a stop.

[Team Lightning]

X3

[Safety Guy]

What they said.

Except for this little tidbit:

I read recently that for best mpgs, you should let the car coast down in whatever gear you are in because putting it in neutral tells the ECU to give the engine a little gas to keep it running with no load. When you leave it in gear, the centrifigal force turns the engine and uses less fuel to keep it running. Take it out of gear before the engine starts to lug, then you come to a stop.

Now, if I'm wrong, or wrong for Festiva ECU mapping, someone please tell me. As I said, I just read it in one place and haven't confirmed this. It makes some sense, though.

Karl

[doylerl]

That is exactly what I thought. Less stress on the trans, not more! Also, the brakes are MUCH easier to change than the trans or clutch. As far as letting it wind down in the gear you are in, I let it go down a little, but not to where it "lugs". Thanks for the info everyone.

[Damkid]

Sometimes i'll downshift, sometimes i'll coast to a stop :lol: i don't see much dis-advantage to either one

[Team Lightning]

If I need to stop in a hurry, I'll downshift and let the engine help the brakes.

[Britstiva]

Sometimes i'll downshift, sometimes i'll coast to a stop :lol: i don't see much dis-advantage to either one

I'm agree! I do the same thing.... just depends on how tired my foot is. LOL

[leapin]

Two words. rev matching.

[hofficergrover]

I down shift got a old 79 ford pick up that my uncle has owned since 83 and still has same clutch and he down shifted it and i got it and do the same and have no problems with it.

[kartracer46]

Sometimes i'll downshift, sometimes i'll coast to a stop :lol: i don't see much dis-advantage to either one

yea, pretty much the same here. never noticed any difference in MPG, but I drive a carby car.

[JPT]

I downshift all the time. It's just the way I've always driven (been at it 30+ years).

Two words. rev matching.

^ That's the secret to making your transmission last.

[skinnypin]

what about hold the clutch in and coasting to a stop? is that bad? i hope not cuz thats what i do haha