View Poll Results: Do you downshift or coast up to stop signs or red lights?
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Downshift
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27 |
36.49% |
Coast in neutral
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47 |
63.51% |
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06-08-2009, 12:22 PM
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#26
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Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Mt Laurel, NJ
Posts: 318
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Im a roller coaster
I usually put it in neutral...plus, downshifting seems to tear the H*** out of my drivetrain for some odd reason,  .
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LS-1, T-56
Flowmaster Exhaust System
K&N Air Filter
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06-08-2009, 01:16 PM
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#27
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Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: bridgewater
Posts: 868
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i downshift and coast but i dont let it go over 2000 rpms
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BigAls87Z28
its an ongoing joke between the Geo Storm crew and the Sebring coupe team.
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bolt-ons and a bed n' breakfast
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06-08-2009, 01:17 PM
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#28
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13 Second Club
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Edison, NJ
Posts: 887
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I am a downshifter hands down. I like to always be in gear in case of emergency. Which has happened in which I had to get out of the way in a hurry. Had I been in neutral those extra seconds to get in gear could have been my life.
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06-08-2009, 01:30 PM
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#29
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Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Browns Mills NJ/ Rotondo West FL
Posts: 3,054
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Quote:
Originally Posted by firebirdcrazy
I am a downshifter hands down. I like to always be in gear in case of emergency. Which has happened in which I had to get out of the way in a hurry. Had I been in neutral those extra seconds to get in gear could have been my life.
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Extra seconds, what ya 95
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06-08-2009, 01:50 PM
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#30
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Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Clayton
Posts: 521
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its been awhile since i drove a manual car but i coast
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06-08-2009, 02:13 PM
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#31
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Avatar Abuser
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: 08721-1716
Posts: 5,056
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 79CamaroDiva
I downshift the gears as I get closer in case the light turns, but keep the clutch pressed.
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that's weird.
for the autos that shift, full manual valve body? if not, you're not accomplishing much. in fact, you might be doing harm.
i downshift. i almost always have the gear engaged to the speed i am doing. it makes for more spirited driving, as you don't have to wait to downshift - you're already there, just get on it. of course i learned on an f-150 with little to no clutch.
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06-08-2009, 02:26 PM
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#32
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Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 65
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i like to coast but i live in vernon were we got alot of hills to go down but on the really steep hills ill drop it in second or third
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06-08-2009, 02:45 PM
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#33
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Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Union N.J.
Posts: 10
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I always thought that if you shifted just before stopping at a light or sign, the gears were still rotating and would align into the gear selected easier. I could be wrong but I've been doing it for fifty years and never pondered it
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06-08-2009, 03:01 PM
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#34
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Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Delran
Posts: 6,785
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Quote:
Originally Posted by firebirdcrazy
I am a downshifter hands down. I like to always be in gear in case of emergency. Which has happened in which I had to get out of the way in a hurry. Had I been in neutral those extra seconds to get in gear could have been my life.
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like i said before i coast....but my hand is always on the shifter ready to go into gear at a moments notice. im trying to figure out how there's a lot of extra seconds...is it just your driving style (laid back) or something else to attribute to that (i.e crappy shifter)?
i have a question though....for you manual trans drivers...how long before the light turns green at the stoplight do you wait to put it in gear?
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06-08-2009, 03:06 PM
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#35
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Mr Fantastic
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: West Milford NJ
Posts: 7,917
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usually put it in 1st right after i stop
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Matt

B18B1 FTW
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06-08-2009, 03:13 PM
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#36
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11 Second Club
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Hagerstown, MD
Posts: 1,567
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Quote:
Originally Posted by GP99GT
usually put it in 1st right after i stop
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^ this, if im not already in gear.
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06-08-2009, 03:14 PM
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#37
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Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: west milford, nj
Posts: 1,662
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i usually always downshift and right when im about to stop ill pop it in neutral and keep it there till the light turns green.
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Previous Cars: 1992 Eagle Talon TSi AWD (5spd), 1992 Mustang GT(auto), 1995 Hyundai accent(5spd)
Current Car: 2000 Honda Accord EX (5spd)
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06-08-2009, 03:21 PM
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#38
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Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Piscataway
Posts: 189
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I usually coast, depends on my mood. I tend to put it in gear when the other light turns orange, that is if i can see it, otherwise i really don't have a set method
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06-08-2009, 03:22 PM
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#39
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Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Norwood, NJ
Posts: 384
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coast it
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1987 Camaro LT V8
2005 Chrysler PT Cruiser=POS
1981 Chevy El Camino
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06-08-2009, 03:32 PM
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#40
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Join Date: May 2006
Location: Midland Park, NJ
Posts: 1,389
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Downshift, why wear out the brakes?
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06-08-2009, 05:22 PM
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#41
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Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: hamilton nj / glassboro nj
Posts: 916
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i am not sure... it really depends on the situation... i do both about evenly id say... maybe coast a little bit more than downshift... its really dependent on situation i guess though
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06-08-2009, 05:24 PM
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#42
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11 Second Club
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Hamilton Twp, NJ
Posts: 855
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Quote:
Originally Posted by NastyEllEssWon
i have a question though....for you manual trans drivers...how long before the light turns green at the stoplight do you wait to put it in gear?
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I wait until just before the light goes green to put it in gear. No sense having the clutch hydraulics/throw out bearing/pressure plate/thrust bearing all loaded more than you have to???
Quote:
Originally Posted by alamantia
Downshift, why wear out the brakes?
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Brakes are cheaper and easier than clutches?
On/Off ramps - its always a rev-matched downshift followed by as much throttle as I can.
Chris
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1999 Formula 6spd (The driver)
1997 2500 Ext. Cab Dodge 4x4 CTD 5spd (The Earth Mover)
1970 Nova 5spd (The toy)
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06-08-2009, 05:25 PM
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#43
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Power Member
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Milford NJ
Posts: 1,526
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i will usually downshift until im in 3rd, unless im already in 3rd, then let the engine slow the car down and coast the last bit. Save the brakes. clutch may be more expensive, but thats no reason to beat on the brakes and change pads every 3000 miles
Last edited by //<86TA>\\; 06-08-2009 at 05:27 PM.
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06-08-2009, 05:30 PM
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#44
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Join Date: May 2006
Location: Midland Park, NJ
Posts: 1,389
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Why would it wear out the clutch? You only weart out the clutch if the clutch is slipping.
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06-08-2009, 05:58 PM
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#45
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Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Delran
Posts: 6,785
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Quote:
Originally Posted by alamantia
Why would it wear out the clutch? You only weart out the clutch if the clutch is slipping.
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im pretty sure clutches are a wear item and everytime you hit the clutch is wearing it a tiny bit like a brake rotor
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06-08-2009, 06:13 PM
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#46
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Meet Coordinator
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: brick/pt. pleasant beach
Posts: 19,368
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Quote:
Originally Posted by vipergtx500
I usually coast, depends on my mood. I tend to put it in gear when the other light turns orange, that is if i can see it, otherwise i really don't have a set method
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no wonder why you don't have a set method
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06-08-2009, 06:19 PM
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#47
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Join Date: May 2006
Location: Midland Park, NJ
Posts: 1,389
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Quote:
Originally Posted by NastyEllEssWon
im pretty sure clutches are a wear item and everytime you hit the clutch is wearing it a tiny bit like a brake rotor
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if the crankshaft and the imput shaft of the transmission are rotating at the same speed there is no slippage.
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06-08-2009, 06:32 PM
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#48
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11 Second Club
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Hamilton Twp, NJ
Posts: 855
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Quote:
Originally Posted by alamantia
Why would it wear out the clutch? You only weart out the clutch if the clutch is slipping.
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So no clutch wear takes place once rolling? At every shift when the clutch is released, the clutch/pressure plate/flywheel instantly grab, no slip at all?
I'm saying there is some wear (however small) everytime you pull a gear, the harder and more aggressive the shift (up or down) the more wear the clutch sees.
Chris
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1999 Formula 6spd (The driver)
1997 2500 Ext. Cab Dodge 4x4 CTD 5spd (The Earth Mover)
1970 Nova 5spd (The toy)
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06-08-2009, 06:37 PM
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#49
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11 Second Club
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Hamilton Twp, NJ
Posts: 855
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Quote:
Originally Posted by alamantia
if the crankshaft and the imput shaft of the transmission are rotating at the same speed there is no slippage.
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I agree, but how many people are rev matching versus how many people simply downshift and get the big vrroooommmmm.......
In my mind, that big vroooooooommmm is the clutch taking some wear as the tranny and crank get synched up speed wise?
Or am i confusing the clutch's role with that of the synchros?
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1999 Formula 6spd (The driver)
1997 2500 Ext. Cab Dodge 4x4 CTD 5spd (The Earth Mover)
1970 Nova 5spd (The toy)
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06-08-2009, 06:40 PM
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#50
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Join Date: May 2006
Location: Midland Park, NJ
Posts: 1,389
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Clutch only wears when pressure is applied to the disc while the disc is rotating at a different RPM than the flywheel. If you tap the gas to raise the engines RPM prior to downshifting you can almost match the RPM of the engine to the disc when you let the clutch back out there will be no slippage. Now if your a rookie and just jamb it in a lower gear and let the clutch out without raising the engine RPM (which i serioulsy doubt anyone on this site is too stupid to do) then you have wear.
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