Cutting through all the ignorance that has been exposed here, that's all anyone needs to know. All the rest could be deleted without losing any useful content.

 

[QUOTE=SIIK2NR,Jan 13 2007, 01:18 AM]Clutch issues are mostly due improper launching or "riding" the clutch because they are scared to let it out on either turns or downshifting.

 

My Dad's '69 Beetle thanks you as well deadbird. May she rest in peace.

 

 

To the people that argued that not using your brakes and only downshifting might get you rear ended:


Be smart, heal toe her' to a stop. You get the brake light action + brake pads + engine breaking all in one simple move.

IMO, its the safest and smartest thing to do. Always be in gear, its not safe any other way.

 

[QUOTE=dead-bird,Jan 13 2007, 08:39 PM] In general...

Use brakes to slow down. Down shifting for the purpose of engine braking was a good idea when the brakes on cars did not work very well and needed the help. You know, like 50 years ago.

Use the transmission to keep your car in a gear that will allow reasonable acceleration for the speed you are going.

 

Hey, I said it first!

And my rear bumper is damaged (from a hit and run - I used insurance money to buy performance parts ) so I try to use my brakes as LITTLE as possible. I'm hoping that someone will rear end me one day so their insurance will buy me a new one

 

I agree.... Heel toe does not come into play here because you are braking to stop...... not downshifting to accelerate like you would for Heel toe.


I came off strong earlier but what I wanted the OP to know was basically that his friend was right in correcting him when he saw that he coasted in 6th all the way to a stop.

Learn the right way...and then add your own variation to your own driving style.

I think it's important that when a poster submits a question and then people who want to add their 2 cents on how they "do it" and so it's ok to do it that way....is usually far from the truth.

"better to be quiet and have people think you are a noob, then to post and remove all doubt"



Tim

 

i generally avoid all "shifting" threads because theres just too much BS to wade through


but since we're having inclement weather across the nation, i should mention that i endorse using the engine to aid control car speed .... ie slowing down car on black ice when the tires can easily be overloaded

 

Does engine braking improve stopping rate on black ice?

At first thought, I would think that engine braking would bypass your ABS.

This would make you more likely to begin sliding on ice in the first place.