I need some driving tips!
- Thread starter AntMan530
- Start date
Yes, you can actually save yourself a lot of money on brakes if you put it in 1st gear and just ride the clutch to slow the car down.
feralkid
Lifer
- Jan 28, 2002
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Dear Tom and Ray:
My husband recently bought me a 1997 Saturn SC2 with a five-speed manual transmission. Because I haven't driven a stick shift car in 25 years, I asked my daughter -- who also drives a Saturn stick shift -- for some advice. Years ago, I was taught it was necessary to downshift when slowing in traffic. My daughter tells me it's better now to just put the car in Neutral and coast to a stop. When my husband drives my car, he downshifts from fifth to fourth to third and so on. Which way is better? -- Kathy
Tom: Well, there are definitely benefits to downshifting in normal stop-and-go driving, Kathy. It's just that they're not mechanical. They are that 1) it's more fun than doing nothing because you can pretend you're Mario Andretti, and 2) it sounds really cool.
Ray: The problem is that downshifting is murder on clutches! If you downshift through all the gears every time you stop (like your hubby does), you're effectively doubling the number of shifts you make, and thereby cutting the life of your clutch in half!
Tom: So if he's willing to pay for your next several clutches, then tell him "Fine, Hon. Downshift all you want."
Ray: But your daughter is much closer to being correct. Our only disagreement with her is that we don't like to see people coasting long distances in Neutral. If you suddenly had to accelerate to swerve around a car or get out of somebody's way, you'd have to waste time shifting into gear first.
Tom: So the best procedure is to just leave the car in whatever gear you're using, and use the brake to slow down. Then, when you're almost at a stop (when you get down to 10 or 15 mph, just before the engine starts to buck), push in the clutch and leave it in, while putting the gearshift in Second (just in case you need to accelerate). And when you've come to a complete stop a few seconds later, shift into Neutral and take your foot off the clutch.
Ray: The only exception to that rule is when you're going down long, steep hills. Then the brakes can overheat, and it's crucial that you DO downshift and use the power of the engine to keep your speed under control.
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I never use my clutch. I like to sound like the big rigs in my honda. Grinding gears is awesome.
The point of downshifting is maintain full control of your car.
I like to retain full control of my car.
I like to retain full control of my car.
Seriously though, I recommend you leave to downshift quite well when it comes to shifting at high speed.
Downshifting or having downshifted has saved me countless times.
Downshifting or having downshifted has saved me countless times.
When you want to stop, put the car in neutral and brake. If you just want to slow down, put the car in neutral, brake, and put the car in the gear you will need when you have slowed enough. Giving the engine a bit of gas helps synchronizing the gears (but this can be called "advanced manoeuvers"
I've driven a stick a few times but never owned one - my next car will probably be a 6 speed sports car though, i'm already excited
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