I just got my evo IX and its my first stick car and when I usually don't down shift when coming to a red light I just put it on nuetral and then use the brake, is this good or bad?
and when down shifting do I need to rev match or I could just down shift from 5-4 while using the break and releasing the clutch?

thks

 

You can look at two ways, It's not going too hurt your clutch, but not down shifting will wear out your pads faster. Don't just drop a gear and release the clutch! clutches r very expensive! It varies on the speed your traveling coming up on the red light. You can drop 1 r more gears, but ease your clutch until it starts to catch, your feel your ride decreasing it's speed quickly than release the rest (not in a dumping motion). I'll come up to a light in 5th and as I start braking I'll drop to 2nd with the clutch still in, slow to about 30 35 then ease the clutch in stages to assist the stop! peace! & and have fun with the ride!

 

hmm, pads are very cheap and easy to replace, but clutch and transfer case is hella expensive to replace (And not easy).

If u are still learning how to drive a stick, just pop it into nuetral and hit the brake. Once know your rpm range at different gear (and rev matching) then you can start downshifting. You want to be able to downshift as smooth as possible, no grinding gear etc

 

oh, and I like to add that...What's the point of having "brakes" if you gonna engine braking... The engine and tranny keeps the car moving, you use brakes to slow it down.

 

+1 on that. it wont wear down the brakes any faster than any other car would. do u engine brake ur automatics? and plus...all u evo owners should be prepared to spend money on ur car..lol..its an evo..how do u not spend money on it.

 

So lets say your slowing down at an intersection and you are coming up on a side street and your in Neutral. A car comes screaming through that side street and the only way to avoid him is to mash the gas.

But wait, your in neutral using the brakes......You dont have enough time to find the appropriate gear, rev match, then mash the throttle to get out of the way.

I always rev match when I'm slowing down. It hones your shifting skills all the time.

 

ok....good scenario...but how much reaction time do u think people have. first off 80% of people probly wouldnt have even noticed. and the 20% who MIGHT have noticed, maybe only 5% acually woulda thought to hit the gas instead of brakes. even in an automatic if u mash the gas u still gotta get up to speed. and if ur driving a stick just relase clutch and go...even in worst case ur not gonna hurt ur car on that one time. and if ut hink bout it...side street and stuff cruising is around 4th or so..depending on car....if u have a green light ur not gonna be using the brakes..and if its red ur stopping anyway.

 

+1...you should always be in the correct gear for accelerating and downshifting is just a good overall way of learning more about your car.

 

Dont drag your clutch during down shifting. Either pop it in to neutral (lazy mans way, go buy a G35) or rev match and you should be able to release the clutch as fast as you want with out it jerking. Then if you master that start working on your heal-toe down shifting; revmatching, downshifting and braking all at the same time Crazy idea eh? Then if you can master that you can even down****ft without using the clutch at all!! If your rev are matched up PERFECTLY, the shifter will slid right into the lower gear, no grinding at all.

 

it isnt as simple as releasing the clutch and going...you have to find the right gear and if you are slowing down in nuetral sometimes it is difficult to know which gear will put you in the powerband. If you are downshifting you will be in the correct gear and can just stomp on it if you have to (or want to). And yeah, most automatics take time to select the correct gear but then again most automatics suck.

 

heel and toe to me just seems like a way for a non racer pretending they are wicked good at driving. and people act like since they can heel toe they know how to drive a car. peronsally i think fancy shifting is useless for daily driving. just one more thing to worry about.

 

true...but y would u be slowing down, clutch in, going 40 ish in first gear. if u knew anything bout ur car u would know at wut mph give or take u need to shift. there would be no reason to slow down from 80 and put the car in st and just keep the clutch in.

 

Puting the car and neutral and coasting actually wastes more gas than leaving the car in gear and/or downshifting. When you slide itinto neutral the engine has to keep its self running so it adds fuel. When you keep your engine attatched to your tires, the momentum of your car keeps the engine running instead of combustion. This leaves more fuel to accelerate, besides wouldnt you feel stupid wasting gas SLOWING DOWN

 

Are you talking about engine idling? Coasting save more gas then reving your engine. You know what's the best way to save gas or not "wear out" your car?
How about just not drive your car at ALL

lol gas money Go buy yourself a bicycle

EDIT: no offense, i'm just trying to be sarcastic.

 

if u were that worried bout saving gas, u wouldnt buy an evo. sure it adds up over time, but r u really gonna see a difference?