downshifting to slowdown

[cruzesi]

the first car i learned driving was on a stick shift car and i was taught to use only the breaks to slow down. when ever i talk with European guys, they say its a good thing to down shift and release the clutch gradually to slow down over using the breaks alone.
what is the right way to slow down?

[Skylinegtr06]

heel and toe, and for an effective use of engine break you should rev match while you downshift, you can get away with downshifting at low rpms without rev matching but you loose good engine breaking.

[Firestrife]

Originally Posted by cruzesi

the first car i learned driving was on a stick shift car and i was taught to use only the breaks to slow down. when ever i talk with European guys, they say its a good thing to down shift and release the clutch gradually to slow down over using the breaks alone.
what is the right way to slow down?

downshifting is technically a better way and saves more gas as opposed to pure brakes. Its an opinionated thing but most people agree you could stay in gear and brake while the engine helps then when it gets to like 1500-2000 rpms you clutch in and go neutral.
Personally i downshift.

[DxsecJb]

Mind explaining how downshifting saves gas? I mean I do downshift but that only makes your revs go higher for a small time but if you do it many times it adds up (as I believe) causing you to spend more gas, rather then puting it in N and let the rpms go down. I personaly prefer to downshift when Im taking a curve because im already in gear when it comes to getting out of the curve and it works even better when taking it @ speed (not saying to do so). I also downshift when I need to suddenly stop in a short distance, it helps alot and takes some of the stress away from the brakes. In all I frequently downshift but really dont think it saves gas....sry for the novel

[nayilsi]

as somebody here said...

brakes are cheaper than tranny.. hence use brakes.

i go to neutral and then use brakes

[Firestrife]

Originally Posted by DxsecJb

Mind explaining how downshifting saves gas? I mean I do downshift but that only makes your revs go higher for a small time but if you do it many times it adds up (as I believe) causing you to spend more gas, rather then puting it in N and let the rpms go down. I personaly prefer to downshift when Im taking a curve because im already in gear when it comes to getting out of the curve and it works even better when taking it @ speed (not saying to do so). I also downshift when I need to suddenly stop in a short distance, it helps alot and takes some of the stress away from the brakes. In all I frequently downshift but really dont think it saves gas....sry for the novel

There is supposed to be a fuel cutoff when you downshift and not accelerating. Engine Braking in other words.
Here's explanation:
Coasting in Neutral?

[DxsecJb]

0o I see thnx

[trymev8]

I do it all the time

[Ebay Master]

Would this theory happen to be true for the R18's also?

[1stk20z3]

rev match.

[BATANG CITY JAIL]

i always use my brakes to slow down...

[06blaksi]

Originally Posted by Firestrife

There is supposed to be a fuel cutoff when you downshift and not accelerating. Engine Braking in other words.
Here's explanation:
Coasting in Neutral?

Just to clarify, there is no fuel cut off when downshifting....many a people have fried an engine mis-shifting and over reving.
rev match FTW

[Toy Slacker]

neutral to brakes. brakes pads are much cheaper than a clutch.

...and this has been extensively covered beforehand.
Down Shifting To A Stop?

among other threads which can be found using the 'search' function.

[nancjs]

honestly, only time I found it necessary to downshift to slow down was when I was doing a downhill (mountain, probably about 5 miles of pure curvy downhill).

Leaving in gear then helped a LOT and I felt safer than when I was constantly on brakes while in neutral.

on regulary day to day driving though, I just brake in gear until 1.5k rpm, and then just go into neutral.
Time it takes to: clutch in (and brake), downshift, gas (no brake), and clutch out (brake) is too much for me.

It's a lot easier if you just slam on the brake and jump back to neutral.

There's a single reliable source (brake) which I'm constantly on, and it's a lot less work.

idea of tapping gas while i'm trying to slow down just bothers me.

[BLU BY U]

ibtl

[Duce2k]

I brake and downshift

[BLU BY U]

i put it in reverse to slow down....


dont worry though, i only put it in reverse if im going under 45mph

[xdjyoshx]

If i see another one of these threads my head is going to explode

Anyone posting about ****1ng rev matching while down-shifting and heel/toe driving is retarded*.. which is apparently some of you. Downshifting and Rev matching is a waste of using your transmisson to do a job your brakes were designed to do. Unless you are autocross racing or otherwise want to look like a tool on the city roads, please don't do it. YOU DO NOT NEED TO HEEL TOE SHIFT WHILE DRIVING ON A PUBILC STREET**. What about double clutching? SYNCROS!!! IBTL

















*Unless they are discussing their track driving abilities

**Unless you happen to be in a track where they closed off portions of city streets to race on.

[BLU BY U]

should i use hand signals out my windows to show which way im turning? or just use my blinkers? or both?

[illusionstwice]

if I was a mod....


time