How Often: Do You Downshift?

"BJL" (simplifyandaddlightness) 08/12/2013 at 10:00 • Filed to: How Often

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Welcome to How often, a place where you read the question, think about your driving, and then answer. Planning to have this come out at 10:00 each weekday.

So, how often do you downshift to a red light. I don't mean downshifting into a turn, or anything that you have to do in order to keep momentum, but rather while you are coming to a stop.

For me, I am trying to stop my 8600 lb truck, and I actually try to do it about 50 percent of the time. If I know the light is turning red, or a stop sign is ahead, I always downshift. But what about you?

Party-vi > BJL 08/12/2013 at 10:03

0

Unfortunately both of my current cars are autos, but in the Willys I'll downshift at a light into first because the engine burbles and backfires a little :D

In the E46 I almost never downshift when coming to a halt - the stock exhaust note isn't anything special and the transmission sucks.

Mosqvich > BJL 08/12/2013 at 10:05

0

Not that often to be honest.

Slave2anMG > BJL 08/12/2013 at 10:06

2

Fairly often in my MG as the brakes are not fabulous, plus I get to hear the overrun and burbling as I go down thru the gears. In my VW turbo beetle, never - no exhaust note and the car's got great brakes. And brakes are cheaper than clutches.

Jayhawk Jake > BJL 08/12/2013 at 10:07

0

Almost never.

Z_Stig > BJL 08/12/2013 at 10:07

3

I generally don't downshift for a red light, unless I have inkling that it might go green. In that case I might drop a gear or two.

BeaterGT > BJL 08/12/2013 at 10:09

0

Only to pass and the occasional slowing down.

Bakkster, touring car driver > BJL 08/12/2013 at 10:10

1

I've been doing it a lot with the Cruze, to take advantage of the ECU turning off the fuel injectors unlike if it was idling in neutral.

Not sure if it's working like I expect, but I'm doing it anyway.

Hermann > BJL 08/12/2013 at 10:10

0

Depends on the traffic. When it's mild or none, I always downshift using almost exclusively engine braking.

But on traffic, to be safe, I brake first, and downshift while mostly braking. Gotta have that foot always on the brake during traffic.

KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs > BJL 08/12/2013 at 10:10

95

Obligatory

PelicanHazard > BJL 08/12/2013 at 10:11

0

I do it on downhills to engine brake. Uphills if I'm not sure whether the light will change before I come to a complete stop (and not downshifting in my car in that scenario will bog down the engine). And after a long stint of highway without shifting, I'll do it to get my left foot back in order.

In the city, up to a stop sign, or when I know the light will stay red, I often just put it in neutral and stop with brakes alone.

TheBloody, Oppositelock lives on in our shitposts. > BJL 08/12/2013 at 10:14

5

Coming to a stop? Never, brake pads are cheaper however if I know the light is going to turn green I'll drop down to 2nd or 3rd depending on how fast I'm going.

Only Wheels and Horses > BJL 08/12/2013 at 10:14

0

Always.

SkarTisu > BJL 08/12/2013 at 10:15

1

I understand the question is intended for manual gearbox drivers, but I always drive my DSG equipped GTI in manual shifting mode so I can upshift and downshift when I want to. I always work back down through the gears coming to a stop until a reach second. I'll let the DSG handle the 2-1 downshift on its own so I reach as smooth a stop as possible. Manually performing the 2-1 downshift causes the car to buck slightly even though it attempts to match revs.

Z_Stig > Bakkster, touring car driver 08/12/2013 at 10:15

6

If you leave it in gear while coasting, the ECU will turn off the injectors. Downshifting raises the engine's RPM which turns the injectors back on.

Dukie - Jalopnik Emergency Management Asshole > BJL 08/12/2013 at 10:16

9

The way I've always looked at it was that brake pads are cheaper than a clutch.
However, when I started driving big rigs, I learned that it's needed, so I do it a lot more often in Grimace. It also helps me learn the shift pattern, which makes everything a reflex in regards to shifting, and that really helps when you haven't driven a stick in a while.

Grindintosecond > BJL 08/12/2013 at 10:17

0

From an interstate speed to zero, I don't. Or I try not to as it is kind of a waste. My car has little extra engine braking to contribute from it's 4 cylinder so I put it in neutral and brake to the stop. Besides, the longer your clutch pedal is in, the longer you are using the clutch springs and on some cars, it adds pressure to the main bearings or other engine parts. (Jag-E for example)

Had I a truck or large engine vehicle, then yeah downshifting would really have alot of braking that would make the brakes last longer.

Now...sometimes I just can't NOT downshift for the nice noises :)

CarlitoBenito > BJL 08/12/2013 at 10:18

0

With a 1.4L Turbo engine, downshifting my Dart isn't as effective as it is on my 4.0L Jeep. But it's fun to downshift going underneath an overpass, just to hear the exhaust they equipped on the Dart Turbos.

Quattro-luvr, Powered by Datsun & Stinger > BJL 08/12/2013 at 10:18

0

It depends on if I'm trying to save gas or not. If I'm feeling frisky and want to power out of a corner then I do.

Other wise I coast.

DrJohannVegas > KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs 08/12/2013 at 10:19

17

For every gallon you save, I BURN TWO.

DasWauto > BJL 08/12/2013 at 10:19

1

I always slot it into gear as I'm slowing down but don't always let the clutch out. If I'm coming up on a red from a longer distance away, I'll engine brake and slow down otherwise I'll just brake and go down the gears without releasing the clutch.

Jeremy H formerly Kalakaboooom > BJL 08/12/2013 at 10:20

1

Seeing as how I own a Porsche 944, and the clutch changes are an absolute nightmare, I never downshift unless it's used in conjunction with emergency stopping. But on occasion if I know I will need to stop quick I will do some downshifting, but it is rare, brakes are just so much cheaper, and easier to replace.

Joep > Z_Stig 08/12/2013 at 10:20

3

I never downshift, for the reason mentioned by Z_Stig.

McMike > BJL 08/12/2013 at 10:20

0

I only downshift to accelerate.*

*Unless I'm in a fun car, and want some snap crackle pop.

*Unless I'm trying to hold speed on a steep grade

bikertool1 > Dukie - Jalopnik Emergency Management Asshole 08/12/2013 at 10:21

7

I would tend to agree with you but I always downshift and yet somehow, have never had to replace the clutch. I've kept cars as long as 180,000 miles, and owned cars with more miles that I don't think ever had a clutch replacement... so my feeling is that if you do it right, there's minimal wear to the clutch. I will say that perhaps it wears out the synchros prematurely. That's just a hunch, because I've always had issues with one or two gears grinding, on various cars (all Hondas), after a certain amount of time with me driving like a maniac.

472CID > BJL 08/12/2013 at 10:23

9

On my motorcycle I do most of my decelerating with downshifting. With cars I usually downshift once or twice then pop it in neutral.

Your avatar says "erican Motors Corporati" sounds like a secrete Latin car company.

Bakkster, touring car driver > Z_Stig 08/12/2013 at 10:24

0

I see. So once I hit about 1500 (when I feel the idle controller start to add throttle) I should just go to neutral? They won't turn back off even if I spend a decent amount of time coasting in the lower gear?

XJguy > BJL 08/12/2013 at 10:24

0

A little too often.

jedimario > BJL 08/12/2013 at 10:25

0

95%+ of the time. It's just a habit at this point.

wrblue11 > BJL 08/12/2013 at 10:25

0

heel toe as much as possible!!!!

minardi > BJL 08/12/2013 at 10:25

1

Actually, I do it all the time with a little blip before...

Kiwi_Commander > BJL 08/12/2013 at 10:26

0

Pretty much, I only downshift when I want to have fun like taking a corner at high speed. Other than that, I pretty much leave it in gear

Car-less Car Guy > BJL 08/12/2013 at 10:26

0

I've never really understood why/how to downshift to slow or stop. Could someone explain it to me?

Usually when I am approaching a red light, I'll push the clutch in and brake, while selecting the gear I think I'll need if it turns green.

Turbineguy: Nom de Zoom > Dukie - Jalopnik Emergency Management Asshole 08/12/2013 at 10:26

1

Would like to see a photo of Grimace. Awesome name for a vehicle.

Autolegend86 > BJL 08/12/2013 at 10:26

1

2006 STI. and because of it haven't needed to replace brake pads in about 6 years.

JJJenningsIII > SkarTisu 08/12/2013 at 10:27

0

Why? Seems fairly futile, especially since you are putting more stress on the transmission which would be FAR more expensive to replace than brakes.

ejp > BJL 08/12/2013 at 10:28

36

I heel-and-toe up to about 95% of all stop signs, stop lights, whatever - every freaking opportunity that I get.

I'm not doing it for any reason other than the fact that it is immensely satisfying to execute a perfect heel-and-toe downshift...well, also, if the light happens to turn green, I never have to fumble to find the right gear. I'm not trying to fool anyone, though - it's just because I find it incredibly satisfying. I can do it smoothly enough and I tend keep the revs low enough that my passengers don't even notice.

Also, on the highway - if I'm anticipating a slow down or an emergency maneuver, I tend to drop a gear so I have extra power...just in case I need it.

CobraJoe > BJL 08/12/2013 at 10:29

1

Unless I'm going 15mph or so, I always downshift.

I love being able to drive without the brake as much as possible. Many times, I can time it right so I don't have to stop for the light, or slow down enough to coast through an empty 4 way stop sign. Other times, it lets me stop quicker (the Thunderbird's brakes kind of suck) or it just keeps some wear off the brakes.

Turbineguy: Nom de Zoom > BJL 08/12/2013 at 10:29

1

My last manual trans car was a '98 Jetta TDI. I bought the car new and sold it a few years ago with 220k miles - original clutch still tight. I'd brake up to lights and save the DS for accelerating. Brake pads MUCH cheaper than clutch linings.

SkarTisu > JJJenningsIII 08/12/2013 at 10:29

3

I can't defend it logically. I just like doing it. Since it automatically rev matches, the stress on the transmission is minimal.

RAKARAKA > BJL 08/12/2013 at 10:29

0

I recently changed the stock exhaust on my S14. With the new one the SR20 has a really sweet note above 3000RPM and the engine loves high revs. So yeah, I downshift whenever I can. At this point, my right leg has been conditioned to being 20-30 degrees hotter than my left leg hehe... Its torture for the clutch, but an Exedy Stage 1 kit is on its way. Until then tho, imma burn whats left of the stock one.

Dream Crusher, a name suggested by steliosr32 > BJL 08/12/2013 at 10:29

0

Heel and toe downshifting.

SuperFluke > BJL 08/12/2013 at 10:29

1

I down shift, rev match when exiting the freeway or when I am decelerating from a high speed to a low speed/stop.

randomnine > Dukie - Jalopnik Emergency Management Asshole 08/12/2013 at 10:30

1

Why burn through your brakes *or* your clutch? Heel and toe and use neither. (apart from mandatory light touch on brakes to signal you're slowing down)

Of course, then you look like an idiot revving your engine up so you can slow down with engine braking.

CaribooLou > SkarTisu 08/12/2013 at 10:30

0

The computer is smarter than you are. Let it do its thing.

ProfeshionalRussian > BJL 08/12/2013 at 10:30

0

Diablo?

steamafication > BJL 08/12/2013 at 10:30

0

I drive a minuscule 3 cylinder kei-car. The brakes are just enough to stop the car but I almost never downshift unless I need to stop immediately otherwise I will rear-end the dude in front.

In normal traffic though I always put it in neutral and apply the brakes. I have always wondered though, which is better? Downshift or brake? Will I ruin the drive train if I downshift?

RayHMKishimoto > bikertool1 08/12/2013 at 10:30

2

Keywords are "if you do it right" ;)

Z_Stig > Bakkster, touring car driver 08/12/2013 at 10:31

0

Right. When you feel the engine is starting to feel like it's lugging, you can go to neutral. Usually that's below 10 MPH for my car.

Yup, as long as the drive wheels are turning, they are driving the engine, which will keep the injectors off.

Dejan Jovanovic > BJL 08/12/2013 at 10:32

0

Big tyres and Suzuki Jimny's brick aerodynamics mean I barely have to, but I do it every time anyway - I get a real kick out of seeing how long my brake pads will last (80,000km, or 50k miles, so far no sweat).

Thomasaurus > BJL 08/12/2013 at 10:32

0

I downshift...

When there's a tunnel coming up and I want fun vroom vroom sounds.

When there's a fun turn coming up and I want to power through.

When I need to pass someone and need a little more jam.

Otherwise, not really. Downshifting for a red light seems like such a waste of clutch.

No0bskywalker > Autolegend86 08/12/2013 at 10:32

0

but what about your clutch??

RX > BJL 08/12/2013 at 10:32

0

Maybe 1% of the time, I leave it in the gear it's in and shift to neutral at around 1500. But both my cars are pretty light so you get a decent amount of resistance slowing it down even at lower RPMs.

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > BJL 08/12/2013 at 10:33

1

I engine brake downhill but I have to do it one gear higher than I need to because our Jeep does not like to be revved over 2k.

Stang70Fastback > BJL 08/12/2013 at 10:33

0

I drive 30-40-year-old school buses for a tubing company during the summer which shuttles tubers back and forth. The buses are old, arthritic, and you can't always tell which gear you are going into, but I generally tend to downshift on the way back with a full load (or without sometimes) because it's fun, it makes me feel like a bad-ass, and - most importantly - it saves wear and tear on the brakes.

Ultrasuedecushion > BJL 08/12/2013 at 10:34

0

Probably too often. I tend to usually when I'm slowing down, regardless of the situation. I've also been leaning on it a bit more lately since I know my rear brake shoes are getting low and would really not like to rear-end someone.

plaid99 > BJL 08/12/2013 at 10:34

0

Always in my '29 faux roaster PU. With a side exhaust and cherry bomb it really crackles and snorts and scares all the prius drivers here in suburban Jersey. Having to double clutch and blipping the gas makes it really loud.

Shady Balkan Subject, Drives an Alfa > BJL 08/12/2013 at 10:34

3

What is that car and what is that?

typhoon5000 > BJL 08/12/2013 at 10:34

0

In my 2012 Mustang GT, I downshift for stops about 90% of the time. Three reasons: 1) It sounds awesome to rev match downshift withe exhaust I have on my car with all of the pops and burbles 2) It uses fuel shut off to slow the car down and conserve fuel 3) It sounds awesome!

(skip to 1 min in to hear my current exhaust)

Dukie - Jalopnik Emergency Management Asshole > bikertool1 08/12/2013 at 10:35

2

I've never kept a car long enough to achieve the "needs new clutch" achievement, so you're probably right. I was given the "brakes are cheaper" advice from my dad and grandfather, two old school car guys who were probably part of the "swapping a clutch sucks with a jack, some stands and a shitty driveway" train of thought.

GTRB26 > BJL 08/12/2013 at 10:35

0

often, because my 2.5i impreza has a soft brake. it helps me slow down all the time

WookieJebus > BJL 08/12/2013 at 10:35

0

I tend to start off with the brakes, but almost always downshift as well, although not to violently, only around the point where the lower gear will put revs to around 3000rpm. Unless a emergency stop is needed, at which point I downshift well into 5500 - 6000rpm, I found that you get a much more controlled deceleration if the engine does a lot of the work.

scratched cornea > BJL 08/12/2013 at 10:35

0

I almost never downshift to a light. For as many has mentioned brakes are cheaper than clutch. I do however almost always double clutch downshift into a turn so I can easily continue on without being in a lower power band. I do understand that trucks downshift alot but that's mostly to prevent smoking the brakes and having a runaway truck. It doesn't do much for me other than put more wear on my engine / tranny mounts. I do leave it in gear when coming to a stop (lazyness mostly).

CleverUsername > BJL 08/12/2013 at 10:36

0

I used to downshift with every braking period. I liked being in the correct gear if the light changed and it was a good way to remind yourself to constantly be planning ahead on the road. However, since brakes are less expensive than transmission parts, I'm breaking the habit.

Z_Stig > typhoon5000 08/12/2013 at 10:36

0

Downshifting uses fuel...

RayHMKishimoto > BJL 08/12/2013 at 10:37

0

I downshift from 5th to 4th when I exit highway; I downshift to 3rd when entering a corner, and I downshift to 2nd only when I'm coming to a slow moving turtle-like traffic. I downshift quite often but if I know I'm coming to a red light (and knowing I'll need to make a full stop), I'd simply put in neutral and use the brakes instead.

BeaterGT > Bakkster, touring car driver 08/12/2013 at 10:37

0

Ah a Cruze lover, it's clear now.

SpecB56 > BJL 08/12/2013 at 10:37

0

All the time. I like it.

AddMustard > BJL 08/12/2013 at 10:38

2

All day every day. I like to piss off drivers behind me who are not sure why I am abruptly slowing down without braking. Actually, I do, but only in certain circumstances: When I have enough time to safely do so, and by safely I mean no one is behind me who needs to know I am slowing down. I am annoyed by people who do this in stop and go traffic and don't use their brakes to indicate that they're stopping/slowing so I try not to do it to other people. In effect though, it's probably every time I stop, I just try to make sure people behind me know I will be stopping, as a courtesy to them and the back end of my car.

ED9man2 > BJL 08/12/2013 at 10:39

2

I think it makes sense to downshift correctly to take advantage of fuel cut deceleration and reduce brake wear. I would never do it dragging the clutch to bring the engine speed up, that is unnecessary, sloppy, and bad for your clutch. Typically I'll quickly rev match 5-4-3 or 4-3-2 and coast down or lightly brake in that low gear down to nearly idle before I clutch in, shift to neutral, and stop. If the light turns green, I'm already in gear and ready to accelerate. Mixing some well executed rev matching into your daily grind makes it fun, and teaches you to look ahead and anticipate stops and slow downs well ahead of time.

steve101 > ejp 08/12/2013 at 10:39

0

practice makes perfect, I heel and toe most downshifts. Really every time I brake I cover the throttle. I have driven with some people that do not practice heel and toe on a daily basis and they are not very smooth with their heel and toe downshift.

Then I ride with people that ride the clutch through the corner, pull it into gear mid turn and then let the clutch out, all with one hand on the wheel. kills me -_-

Scrape > BJL 08/12/2013 at 10:39

0

In many newer cars, downshifting doesn't do all that much to slow the vehicle down. My last two cars (both manuals), you needed to use the brakes all the time because downshifting didn't do squat to bleed speed unless you revved the nuts off of the engine. I guess the mechanical efficiency is such that the resistance isn't there anymore. On a loooooong hill, I might downshift to fifth keep speed when not in cruise, but mostly I jut pop it out of gear and coast.

philphil > BJL 08/12/2013 at 10:39

0

I always like to drop it into 1st when getting off the highway. The tinkly sounds I hear under the car are like fairies telling me I'm treating my engine right. Then the tinkly sounds got louder, and then they stopped entirely. Now I'm hoping the fairies will help me buy a new transmission. No word from them yet.

YashKrishnan > Shady Balkan Subject, Drives an Alfa 08/12/2013 at 10:39

1

I seems like Lamborghini Diablo 6.0 SE, not sure what that button is.

Guessing some kind of override over manual shift to automatic

Dukie - Jalopnik Emergency Management Asshole > Turbineguy: Nom de Zoom 08/12/2013 at 10:40

0

I've got quite a few pics up of Grimace. Use that in a search and you'll find them.
Grimace is a 1981 Toyota Celica Liftback with a 20/22R Hybrid (Port and polish/ gasket matched, Oversized valves, Delta 272 cam, head & block decked) running 44mm Mikuni side drafts, and a 5 speed.

Twism > BJL 08/12/2013 at 10:41

0

Only when :

I pass a hybrid

steep/semi-steep/ slightly inclined road

bridge/underpass/tunnel/canyon

sudden red light

I want to power out of a corner (often)

I need to pass a slower car

I want to reward a nice driver with the sound of my exhaust

I feel my heel-n-toe skills are getting rusty for more than 2 minutes of inaction

I feel the car is about to stall ( anything under 3K, right?)

But apart from that? No downshifts , gotta save that clutch !

Autolegend86 > No0bskywalker 08/12/2013 at 10:41

0

1st clutch on the car that the car was sold new with.

If you time it correctly, you don't burn the clutch. You have to rev match as well.

TrekHuis > Z_Stig 08/12/2013 at 10:41

1

I do the same, that's the way we learn it over here in Belgium, we all have to save fuel.

quarterlifecrisis > BJL 08/12/2013 at 10:41

0

It depends on my mood....I just spent the weekend at Road America, so no stop sign or street corner was safe from me dropping gears. In town, maybe 10% of the time to slow down, and 20% of the time to turn corners.

Silvermannn > ejp 08/12/2013 at 10:41

0

I'm right there with you.

CleverUsername > KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs 08/12/2013 at 10:43

30

I don't understand this anti-environmentalism brand of auto-enthusiasm.

First of all it's not impossible to be both a car/driving enthusiast and a pro-environmental guy. I love my cars, but that doesn't make me automatically love wasting natural resources or polluting the air. Hell, if I had the ability/money, I'd swap a brand new BMW diesel into my E30 and get the best of both worlds. I might even run it on vegetable oil.

Second, why bother the guy that bought a Prius? I know that we all love to play that same, tired video of a smug Prius owner, but the other 99.99% of them just bought the thing to get better fuel mileage. Who cares if they aren't into cars? I don't run Camrys off the road because they don't have the same hobby as I do.

CounterTorqueSteer > BJL 08/12/2013 at 10:44

2

I don't know if it is just because I love the sound of blipping my throttle or if I just love the feel of it all, but I downshift about 99% of the time when stopping.

darthd > BJL 08/12/2013 at 10:44

0

I downshift coming to a light any time that it might change back to green before i get there. And then there are the douchebags that go around me and hurry up so they can stop.

bikertool1 > RayHMKishimoto 08/12/2013 at 10:44

0

I guess my dad taught me right. Funny, I learned how to shift a manual on two polar opposite cars - a 1987 Prelude (new at the time, my dad's) and a mid-70's Jeep CJ-7 where you had to rev-match every shift. The Prelude was so easy and the Jeep was so impossible! I believe a key element of proper shifting is that you can't worry about passenger comfort. If you're trying to make all these nice, smooth shifts, you're probably killing the clutch.

DannyO > Shady Balkan Subject, Drives an Alfa 08/12/2013 at 10:44

1

Yes, I am intrigued. Please enlighten us.

coggs > BJL 08/12/2013 at 10:45

0

Hard to resist hearing the downshift burble in my Classic 900 Saab turbo - but otherwise not if I'm coming to a complete stop.

randomnine > BJL 08/12/2013 at 10:45

0

When slowing down I'll heel and toe to 2nd, double-declutch into 1st, and then shift to neutral when stationary if I'll be there a while. My car came with tall gearing and no low end power - 2nd bogs down below about 15mph - and my synchro on 1st is gone, so I had to learn to do this to drive the thing in low speed stop-and-go traffic.

Now I'm in the habit I just do it when I'm braking, unless I'm braking hard. Like when the lights change at exactly the wrong moment and the choice is stop hard or run a red.

Tubra > BJL 08/12/2013 at 10:46

0

The ECU in my A6 2012 Mustang GT does lots of downshifting. It's tuned very aggressively and makes for lots of fun happy times. Does corners amazingly on that setup.

Outie5000 > BJL 08/12/2013 at 10:46

0

Pretty much any time i'm slowing down. DSG with paddle shifters makes it easy.

Mark Jacob > DasWauto 08/12/2013 at 10:46

1

This is exactly what I do. I'm terrible at heel-toe, and it's next to impossible on my 240 wagon anyway.

prof2113 > BJL 08/12/2013 at 10:47

0

At just about every stop. That's how I learned to drive stick back when the price of gas wasn't an issue. Back then, I drove a '66 Baja Bug with 33's on the rear. If I downshifted early, I could lock them up and slide them with the downshift, which I thought was cool. That doesn't happen in the Tortoise.

Outie5000 > Z_Stig 08/12/2013 at 10:47

0

It will blip the throttle to rev match and then you'll be coasting in gear with the injectors off a second later.

Kingen2 > BJL 08/12/2013 at 10:47

0

Pretty much all the time, that's how you drive a manual....duh!

RazoE > BJL 08/12/2013 at 10:48

0

I usually cruise in 5th, then when I know I'm going to have to slow down, I downshift (and rev match) to 4th and then 3rd and just let it slow down and brake a little if needed until I clutch in and stop completely.

rrhyne56 > BJL 08/12/2013 at 10:48

0

If I know the light is turning red, I get off the gas, notch it to neutral and coast on in.

Kerberos824 > BJL 08/12/2013 at 10:48

0

Despite being told that it's better to use up brake pads instead of the clutch, if I'm in 5th gear, I typically downshift through the gears until at least 3rd, and often even 2nd. I smile every time I rev match a shift or I can practice my heel toe, so I always do it. And despite that, I've got 175k on my clutch. And I'm around 50k on my set of brake pads, with a lot of feel left.

KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs > CleverUsername 08/12/2013 at 10:48

4

vchengap > ejp 08/12/2013 at 10:49

0

Thanks for posting this so I didn't have to write out a whole response. This describes my driving perfectly.

UncleWalty > BJL 08/12/2013 at 10:49

0

As often as possible.

ZeFookus > KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs 08/12/2013 at 10:51

1

Everybody else can go home, you just won.

Blagovest Zlatev > BJL 08/12/2013 at 10:51

0

Well... When stopping for a red light I do the worst thing possible which is to ride the clutch... But I don't have a tachometer in my car and the speedometer doesn't work, so I ride the clutch and downshift each gear until I go to second just in case of a problem with the breaks. When I am almost stopped I shift to neutral and release the clutch. But if I need to downshift for a corner and etc I just double declutch (I want to do some heel and toe but the pedals in the car I drive aren't alligned properly for the task and the steering wheel is too big for me to move my leg freely) But... It's a car :D but a beater :(