question...how do you guys come to a stop? im not asking how, im asking like what method do you guys use? i think im starting to apply brakes, then when the engine slows to about 1000rpms i put it in neutral then just stay in neutral till the green light hits. i used to apply brakes then depress the clutch all the way and just stay like that then move the shifter in to first. anyways, how do you guys come to a stop? or is there really just one method?

 

Jared,

It sounds like you are describing what you do when you are at a stop.

The most fuel efficient way would be to coast to a stop. If you start at a stop light and very slowly accelerate to roughly the midpoint before the next light, and then completely coast to that next light, you will have conserved fuel. Now in like manner if you add a little braking in there at the end that would be the next most efficient I guess.

What's not efficient or smart anymore is the way I learned. My father taught me to drive a standard and in his opinion from his day and age he would down shift to slow the car down before braking. Which of course would rev the engine and also wear the clutch.

I have a different view now as its much easier and cheaper to replace brake pads and turn rotors than it is to replace a clutch. So I leave down shifting for spirited fun driving when I'm playing around.


As far as at at the light around here I put it in neutral and keep my foot on the brake while sitting at a light. Too many rear end collisions here, and to be sitting in neutral without a brake on would put you into the car in front of you or even the cross traffic ahead of you. When I think the light is about to change I begin to think about pressing in the clutch and putting it in gear.

But that's just me, I could be totally wrong.

 

Is there really a right or wrong way. I mean sure one wrong way would be if your letting the car die each time you stop (i.e. stopping without pushign the clutch in period).

 

yeah im describing what i do when bringing my car to a stop and while im stopped. just thought i'd see what method you guys use.

 

When I was driving a stick I would press in the clutch as I let the car slow down with pressing the brakes gently as I come to a stop. Also as I am slowing down I would down shift to every gear with the clutch still pressed in. I did that just in case the brakes were to fail I would be able to release the clutch and slow down with each gear as I down shifted

 

Normally, Brakes are for slowing or stopping. Clutch is for starting a roll and shifting gears. I slip into neutral when I am waiting at a light because I am to lazy to hold the clutch down But that really is up to you. Do what you sense is the right thing for the time and circumstances.
Now that said, do I down shift? Certainly but not with an eye on using the clutch against the engine as a brake. I rev match for down shifts then once the clutch is engaged I allow the engine compression to slow the car. Other times a down shift is to preselect a gear for coming out of a corner. Braking into the corner and shifting to another gear but keeping the clutch in until I am done braking. Then rev matching and powering out or just rolling through. What ever it is that suits my fancy at the time. Its a manual shift so you get to use it how it best makes sense for what your doing at the time. Takes practice. keep in mind that slipping the clutch is wearing the clutch. Try to hone in on a normal style which minimize clutch slippage.

 

this is usually what i do

occasionally i'll downshift and engine brake just for the kick of it. but thats much more fun during spirited driving anyhow :P

 

I've gotten into the habit of downshifting/rev-matching to a stop light/sign. Then I brake at the last 200-300 feet.

I also leave the car in first gear w/ clutch depressed at a stop just in case there's some maniac who decides not to stop when he comes up behind me...

 

I guess it depends on how quickly you need to stop. Assuming a normal red light situation ahead, I take my foot off the gas, and coast, squeeze the break pedal as necessary, I place my hand on the shifter while I am breaking and apply very light pressure. When you reach a pretty low speed (about 10mph) you can just slip the shift into neutral. Don't force it. This works well for 3&4 gears. In second or first just hit the clutch. Anticipation is the key to becoming a good shifter.

 

Just reading some of the earlier posts and thought Id give my two cents worth. Until the new Mustang arrives the only other manual car around here is the Road Runner. There a couple of things I do when driving because they seem logical. First, I always start it and shut it down in neurtral foot off of the clutch. Reason: Engine not running-no oil pressure which means the reaction of the pressure plate is exerting force on the crank which is pressing on the thrust bearing. With new cars since 1970 this isn't an option anymore due to the clutch interlock switch which means you have to hold the clutch in to start.

At lights, and coming to a stop, I let it slow down in whatever gear its in and then flip it into neutral again for the same reasons-less wear and tear on the thrust bearing.

Also, when gearing down its good practice to rev the engine a bit to try to get the flywheel speed up to where the input shaft speed will be. This puts less stress on the clutch and allows for smoother down shifts.

 

i left foot brake so i stop in neutral ..

 

I usually keep the car in gear and use the brake. I pop out of gear when I slow down a good bit and come to a stop.

 

It varies depending which one of our cars I'm driving, how much of a hurry I'm in, and how long I'm likely to be stopped at the traffic light. More often than not I'll take the car out of gear and coast up to the light.

 

That's my answer too.

 

It does depend on what car I'm in. If I were driving a prius I would look for the biggest tree on the side of the road and run into it. But some people like to just use the car in front of them. Its all up to the driver.

 

Are you joking or are you new to driving standards?

 

I like heel-toe downshifting, so I will use that technique to match revs, downshift and use the brakes and the end of the stopping process, at least from highway speeds.

At lower speeds, I will slow down to 1k rpm in the current gear (typically 3rd) then depress clutch and simply brake from there.

I enjoy heel-toe downshifting for road driving (not highway of course; not much need there.)