Someone said "RULE: Brakes are for slowing, engine is for going..."

Gee, maybe I shudda bought an automatic?? Gotta stickshift? Use it! Drive! Have fun!

John

 

A transmission is for moving the car. It is used to do so while accelerating AND slowing. An automatic does not go into nuetral when braking. To maintain proper control of the vehicle, the transmission should be used at all times. It is a component of the drive train.

 

Sounds good, Thanks for all the feedback, I found this the most interesting because I've been wondering what effects if any costing would have on the clutch

I'm good at matching speeds and definetly prefer to use engine breaking since I'm not abruptly cutting the cars momentum.
Also, what effects does breaking have on engine?
Is there any stress on the engine mounts due to sudden weight shifts?

Last thing said, After driving and paying close attention to speed, RPM's, and my engine breaking my R53 sounds really good! Especially when starting it up the next morning. Almost like the engine downshift burns off any build up within the engine.

 

Not quite true ... although what others have repeated over and over again ... brakes are for braking ... not the transmission

one legitimate reason is in snow or ice/slippery BEFORE ABS. The brakes would skid but the engine breaking was slower.

And people who still listen to their father who learned to drive like 50 years ago

 

+1 DixonL2 I avoid using the clutch wherever possible. I believe in skipping gears on the way up such as going 1st to 2nd to 6th or combinations. It drives me loco when my wife has to use the clutch to go up through every gear. Also, when coming to a stop, I just use the brakes to stop, than slide the shift to neutral without touching the clutch at about 1000 rpm. It can be a game as to how little one has to shift a manual. The last car i had was a honda that went 150k on the original clutch.

 

Tom and Ray (Cartalk) say don't downshift to slow down, it's hard on the clutch. It's #15 on their list of best ways to shorten the life of your car (or something to that effect). That said, I'll follow their directions when in predictable traffic but, I agree with you from the perspective of, "better control" when in other situations. I would imagine that even Tom and Ray downshift in preparation for, like you mention, making a turn or in other situations where being in the correct gear is important because of, for instance, the possible need to quickly extract ourselves from potential trouble. Also, when slowing on preparing to enter a curve you definitely want to downshift to the gear that provides best control over your car while in that curve (and, of course, for reasons we all understand we don't want to have to shift while in that curve). And, finally, accelerating briskly out of a curve when driving the twisties is definitely an important part of the fun of owning a Mini Cooper.

P.S. Before hearing what Tom & Ray had to say on the subject I ALWAYS downshifted to slow down (for the past million miles or so) and, admitedly, I always kept my foot on the clutch while waiting at a stoplight (another way of asking for an early repair). But then again, I've avoided these repair costs because I've purchased a new car every 3 years or so over these past few decades.

 

Brake pads cheap

 

Big difference between downshifting TO slow down and downshifting BECAUSE you slowed down. If I'm heading into a curve, I slow down as appropriate (with the brakes), downshift, and then go. Definitely want to be in a lower gear for the twisties - better throttle response.

 

Trailbraking, of course

 

I resemble that remark - well my dad's passed on but I did learn to drive 50 years ago. Anyway, for another legitimate reason, if in the mountains etc.. you better use engine braking on the downhills.

Another is on roads such as the dragon. If you plan on accelerating and then braking hard for every corner I doubt very much your brakes will still function well at the end of the run.

I'll say again, I have never had to replace a clutch in any vehicle I've owned or driven in my 58 years. I put well over 100,000 miles on some of them. I dare say if my MINI clutch goes it will be the fault of a weak clutch.

 

Well trucks do it but thats different but yes, it might be better in "real" mountain passes. I've driven a lot in the mountains and can see that

Good one

 

Any professonal high performance driving school or racing school will tell you right off the bat: "Brakes are for slowing and stopping, gears and motor are for going!"

 

Around here in DC area, we have highways that are carrying more traffic than they were designed for. Hence it doesn't take much to trigger a traffic jam. And one of the "trigger" is brake lights.

So, around here, I tend to downshift to slow down gradually, without using brakes, so I won't set off a potential traffic jam because most people seem to suddenly hit brakes at the mere sight of a brake light in front of them.

Yeah, I know, I know, it probably doesn't help much, but every bit help.

Also I think it help save on gas a bit, as an engine that is in gear isn't consuming fuel if the foot's off the gas pedal, right??

 

I have driven manual transmissions since 1958 and have always down-shifted. Some of my cars: Chevelle Malibu--'65--back when it was a performance car/a couple MG's. A few VW bugs and a GTI, A 911 Porshe, 5.0 Mustang, Z28 Camarro, C5 Vette, and my '05 MCS. I have never had to replace a clutch. Also, When stopped, I keep the clutch in and put it in gear--never in neutral. Yikes, closing in on 50 yrs of ruining my clutch. 50 years? Can it be? Yup!. Nick

 

Hmmmmm.....and they all will teach you to heel and toe to get the car in the proper gear for the corner. Kinda like what we are talking about.......