Hey guys, I was wondering if you guys prefer downshifting to 1st manually while stopping or let the car automatically select 1st gear. Would the latter be better for clutch longevity? I've tried both and I don't mind either way.

 

I shift to neutral when stopping to let the clutches fully release.

 

^^^^^^^
THAT.

The clutches generate a LOT of heat while you are sitting on the brake pedal. Pressure in the clutch goes nearly triples in gear, even on the brake, to enable creep function.

 

I always let her do her own thing, I leave her in sport auto.
What happens if you need to leave fast in your in N?
Say a car is loosing control going straight for your EVO and your in N.
My DD 2010 MR 118K miles is still strong as **** and always stayed in first when stopped, again I'm at 118K miles and nothing happened.
GL!

 

Nvm, misread

I'd much rather play the odds and believe that some out of control car barreling for my stopped Evo isn't something that happens every time I stop. Increased clutch wear if I leave the car in gear, however, does happen.

At the end of the day, do you want to listen to this guy, who's anecdotal evidence works for him? Or kozmic, one of the few people looked to as a reference for how to properly use your TC-SST.

 

Thanks for the replies guys! So I should let the car downshift for me then shift to neutral when at a stop?

 

Up to you......I just shift to neutral when i feel the computer disengage the clutch, or sometimes even before it. I try to take advantage of DFCO, but it seems like the computer reapplies throttle everytime it changes gears or disengages throttle, thereby negating the fuel savings.

 

Wow, glad to hear it's going strong after all those miles! MIVEC at its finest

 

Downshift, it's how a car is driven. Coasting in neutral is dangerous. The transmission is for shifting!

 

How is it dangerous? It relieves pressure from the clutch and helps mileage while in the process. Just like a manual tranny.

 

I do both, its hard to shift to neutral EVERYTIME you stop.

 

Is it? I just move the shifter from D to N, then back to D once the light turns green. Use paddles to shift.

Then again, I came from driving manual, so it's not any extra work for me.

 

yes it is

I shouldn't say "hard" more like seems pointless to be in neutral for .1 seconds on a quick red to gren or a stop sign your gonna just barley stop at. To each their own

 

Over 100k miles, slipping clutch wear at a stop adds up......just look at the SST clamping pressure. We already abuse our SST's with track driving, need to eek every little bit of life out of it before we're forced to change clutch discs.

You're right, to each their own. Just want people to see why it's beneficial to shift to N and have them decide for themselves if it's worth it or not. I'm not paying for the extra wear of other people so no skin of my back.

At the end of the day, MR drivers need to realize that there are differences between Automatic usage and Dual Clutch usage. For best wear, S-Sport everywhere, shift to neutral at stops, don't get on it until the clutches warm up to proper operating temps, and don't overheat the clutches. Anything else is just accelerating wear. They'll all fail at some point, how fast is up to you.

 

i always downshift when i'm stopping. I don't see why it's a problem. Transmission is there for shifting.