Clutch Habits (Auto trans drivers plz don't vote)

Manual drivers - what are your clutch habits when slowing to a stop?
Let's say you are going 45 miles per hour in 5th or 6th gear, and the light goes red 100 or 200 yards ahead of you.

Do you:
01 :: Immediately put the clutch to the floor, and use brakes to stop while coasting with the engine idling.
02 :: Downshift a gear, keep clutch engaged while using brakes. (Clutch in just before the engine lugs.)
03 :: Leave it in the current gear while braking, and put the clutch in just before the engine would start to lug.

 

01 and 03. i time it to where i never really have to use my brakes but sometimes put it down cause it starts to lug then it turns green. saved my about 5 or 6 mpg driving like that. used to get under 20 consistently now average about 25.2 or so but i never ever never ride the clutch

 

tacoma is an auto, but in my 93 corolla i just put the clutch in and coast to a stop using my brakes.

 

Downshifting to match the trans rotation speed gives you engine response should anything go wrong. Coasting in neutral or in the max gear you were in leaves you with an extra step or two to get to an engine you can accelerate.

 

at 45 mph you will get to that red light and stop before it turns green in most cases. when i can, I slow down and try to get to the light when its green so i can go back in gear and keep moving.

 

in my teg i would do both, downshift and coast on the brakes... towards of our time together i would downshift more

 

That's what I do too.

I have been told its "better" to downshift and keep the truck in a responsive gear in case I need to acceleralte and pull away for any reason.
But when I down shift, no matter how smooth I try to make it, it usually jerks a little and I dont like the way it feels. any tips?

 

this is what i do and no downshifting to slow down brakes are cheaper than a clutch.all of my cars were manuals and drove them to almost 200k and never replaced a clutch.

 

downshift.

 

i pop it in to Neutral and brake to the light and stay in neutral untill the light changes

 

same here

 

Depends on speed and distance and gear I am in when light turns red. I used to always downshift in my other vehicles, but, I have been babying this truck in hopes of having more longevity of the clutch. I replaced the clutch in a 1988 Izusu Trooper (indestructible beast) and it was not any fun getting it apart. Actually, on second thought, I may start downshifting again since I don't really know that it necessarily wears down the clutch faster. I do not ride my clutch pedal.

 

I do all 3, depending on the situation.

 

neutral all the way baby!!!

 

Mostly nuetral. Using the breaks.

 

i downshift and brake, coasting in gear with the clutch pedal in wears the clutch out quicker

 

you have to rev-match....Basically when you downshift while the clutch is depressed you hit the acceleration and try to match the rpm's with what you think they will be when you downshift. (confusing...I'm not the most articulate person). When you eventually get good people that ride with you won't even notice you downshifted!

 

i've been trying to teach myself to do that but can't seem to get it right. i usually end up grinding gears . i think i'll just live with the little shake...
with my truck at about 2000 rpm, i downshift and with every gear (except for first) it'll bring the rpms up to about 25-2600

 

This.

I've been rev-matching and heel-toe shifting for a couple of years now, and you'd be surprised how much of a difference it makes. Plus, if you do it right, you'll save a ton of wear and tear on your clutch and trans.

 

how does coasting with the clutch in wear it out faster,if you have the clutch pedal in the clutch is disengaged.down shifting will wear you clutch faster.