Driving habits and styles

[manoa matt]

Obviously no two drivers have the same driving habits and styles, and we probably all learned to drive a manual trans in slightly different ways.

What are peoples opinions about downshifting while comming to a stop vs brake only then shifting down after completly stopped? I usually downshift as long as the RPM's don't rev too high, or too high too quickly.

All of my surrounding neighbors have small childern that go to bed early and my driveway is on an incline, the road also slopes downhill. Sometimes late at night if I need to leave or make a short run to the store I'll coast down the driveway and a short distance down the street with the car in neutral, no clutch pedal depressed, then press in the clutch, put it in first and let out the clutch to jump start the car. Is this a bad thing to do? Again, I'm always carefull about the RPM's

[baltobernie]

Oh man, that brings back memories of starting my Kawasaki without incurring the wrath of my parents' neighbors! The 3-cylinder two-stroke sounded like a coffee can of rocks when cold. Coast it out the driveway, and down the street. We lived on the crest of a hill, so I could annoy neighbors left and right!

I don't downshift the Spider when approaching a traffic light. The car is so lightweight, it loses speed on its own. I am guilty of nudging the shifter into Neutral without using the clutch during this procedure; maybe I won't with the new box If I catch the light, I can go directly into the proper gear, and if it's still red, leave it in Neutral.

[mdrburchette]

I do it both ways. If I have enough time to downshift, I do, but sometimes if the light catches me off guard I just hit the brakes with the clutch pedal depressed. If I downshift with the speed up a bit, I'll give it a little gas to match rpms.
This also reminds me of a story from my youth. I owned a TR7 and couldn't afford to replace the starter when it went out, so I'd have to push the car until it started rolling and pop the clutch to start it. It was bad if the car didn't start the first time because I'd run out of driveway and have to push it back and do it all over again! I'd also make sure I parked where there was a slight decline or a straight shot so I could start my car. Were those really the good ole' days?

[manoa matt]

If you coast with the clutch pedal depressed for an extended length of time, won't that wear out the clutch friction plate?

[baltobernie]

I would think it might prematurely wear the throwout bearing, but if the clutch plate isn't touching the flywheel, it's not subject to wear, is it?

[fiasco]

I used to down shift every time I needed to slow down. I think after some lesson in driving a van full of kids down a mountain road I got it in my head that even in normal driving situations it was more important to save the brakes than the wear on the engine, trans and clutch. As I've gotten older, I have become less likely to downshift, and more likely to put it in neutral and coast/brake to a stop.

In my old Celica, I could just gently push the shifter into neutral without using the clutch, but the Spider tends to feel like it doesn't want to do that, so I usually push the clutch down to shift into neutral.

Please note that everything I just described, I do out of pure, arbitrary habit, and I have no idea if any of it is actually good or bad for the car.

-- se

[racydave]

I downshift, and coast. More into 3rd than 2nd. Sometimes, I coast/stay in same gear going into a tight curve or turn. Its all about bein smoothe, and not jerkin things around. Bernie, I had a Kawasaki 400 3 cyl 2 cycle. Could not keep the feet on the pegs cauz it vibrated so! Sure miss thoes days! Used to get rats in my pony tail...

[TulsaSpider]

IMHO I save the wear on the clutch and use the brakes, they are easier to replace.

[spiderrey]

I do it both ways. ?

[kristoj]

In my daily driver I downshift heel and toe style where I am able to match the revs before letting the clutch out. The pedal set-up in the Spider, sadly, makes it impossible to properly match the revs while braking during a downshift. So I come to a stop and then select first.

[mdrburchette]

I do it both ways. ?

I adapt easily.

[spiderrey]

no, i quoted.

[pope]

I think my worst driving habit to break was resting my hand on the shifter when driving. Now I shift and put the beer back in my hand. Saves on shifter fork wear.

[JimM]

Unless you are racing or have gotten in trouble by going too fast on a curvy road there is no reason to punish your car. It sounds like you tend to drive like I do. Down shift under 3000-2500 rpm so if the light changes you are in the right gear to start out in (2nd or 3rd) while still moving. I have shifted into 1st only a couple of times and it really seems to put a strain on everything involved. I would definately advise waiting until stopped to shift into 1st. Besides, I didn't think they let you go fast enough over there to have to down shift.

Jim

[GOPAPA]

I live out in the country where there are no stop lights so to go to town where there are lights ,,I could coast down a long hill with a grade of 7% ,,If I did I would just put the car in Neutral .. And in town I just use the brakes and no down shifting ..
In my truck that gets way worse gas milage I do the taking it out gear thing when going down the hill ,,but only if there is not much traffic.. I would like to hear more about the damage some have said if you just hold the clutch in and coast though ,,sounds interesting to know how it does hurt ..