I try to stay in a gear that gives me power. If your vehicle is still moving, and you can't hit the gas and have the car immediately accelerate, I think you're doing it wrong.

Stupid article is stupid. There are somewhere in the vicinity of 343,234,267,658 better ways to save gas. Also, you know that number is correct because I'm a random person on the Internet. Random people on the Internet are always correct.


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When I'm coming up to a stop sign or red light and I don't need the assistance of engine braking, I take the car out of gear. Reckless me. I'm totally not in control, it's as if I took my hands off the steering wheel and my feet can't reach the pedals only I have a hand on the wheel, the stick, and feet over the pedals. But hide your daughters I'm a wildman when I'm coasting in neutral!

You realize how lame that sounds?

Seriously, what would have to happen for you to need to accelerate at full throttle faster than you could put the stick in gear and drop the clutch with the gas already floored? Don't you "always in gear" people ever watch your mirrors?

You probably should never try to drive in a northern state in winter. Right now my local streets have a layer of ice topped with a layer of snow. The limits of traction are very low. And just because you can go doesn't mean you can stop or turn. You have to drive in a manner that acknowledges "control" is fleeting and illusory. The "Always In Control" types would have a meltdown on a daily basis.

As far as "brakes are cheaper and designed for easy maintenance," OK, granted. My "driveline parts, rings, valves, and such" are designed to reciprocate, so by the same logic it is better to let them reciprocate, right?

Perhaps one should use the brakes when appropriate and engine brake when appropriate. And coast when neither is called for. Just saying.

The stupid article is stupid. I think we all agree on that.

 

Don't really care if I waste gas when downshifting. I didn't buy a Nissan Leaf. I down shift and rev match.

 

Capo, engine yes (think rings and valves/seats), diff yes, tranny yes (though it should be able to take the stress). Think about the mechanical energy that gets converted into glowing-hot brakes and then think about that same energy getting dispersed into driveline components. You think brakes wear out just for shits and giggles?

 

you know what, while we're discussing vehicle wear, lets all just stop driving and leave our cars in the garage.... then they won't wear out.

 

Unfortunately, they will.

Slowly, but they'll still wear out.

 

[QUOTE=Penforhire,Jan 6 2011, 06:15 PM] Capo, engine yes (think rings and valves/seats), diff yes, tranny yes (though it should be able to take the stress).

 

I'd worry about that with an older car maybe, but modern engines are built very well. I wouldn't worry about the driveline on the S so much, which is why I use engine braking. I'd prefer not to have to change the brakes so often.

 

[QUOTE=Vilstar,Jan 7 2011, 09:11 AM]I'd worry about that with an older car maybe, but modern engines are built very well.

 

I think Bondurant is more about trail braking into corners - set up and gas through versus brake and then gas mid corner. Make the straights as long as possible while minimizing car imbalance.