Downshiifting vs. Neutral
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 8,133
Likes: 144
From: Ex-SF Bay Area; now happily Denver area
Re: Downshiifting vs. Neutral (Tom Steele)
:rant: For Christ sake...Drive the car already...You'd think the Vette
was made of fine china the way some people talk. Over 40 years of
driving all kinds of cars, I've up shifted and down shifted cars under
all driving conditions and never blew a clutch or trans.
:iagree: Thank you so much for saving me the time typing that! :iagree:
Actually, I'd like to point out that I have created a 4.324 Mb Excel Spreadsheet that I will e-mail to anyone who wants it. If you plug in the initial value of your car, and the options and press the RUN button (carefully) it will show you that the best way to save money and wear and tear on your Corvette is to park it in the garage and push it by hand to the driveway each day and put Zaino on it over and over again, then get a lawn chair and just sit and stare at it all day long.
:banghead:
was made of fine china the way some people talk. Over 40 years of
driving all kinds of cars, I've up shifted and down shifted cars under
all driving conditions and never blew a clutch or trans.
:iagree: Thank you so much for saving me the time typing that! :iagree:
Actually, I'd like to point out that I have created a 4.324 Mb Excel Spreadsheet that I will e-mail to anyone who wants it. If you plug in the initial value of your car, and the options and press the RUN button (carefully) it will show you that the best way to save money and wear and tear on your Corvette is to park it in the garage and push it by hand to the driveway each day and put Zaino on it over and over again, then get a lawn chair and just sit and stare at it all day long.
:banghead:
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 4,295
Likes: 2
From: Indianapolis Indiana
Cruise-In III Veteran
Cruise-In IV Veteran
Re: Downshiifting vs. Neutral (FunDriver)
I won't bother with downshifting unless brake fade is a worry or I need more braking for whatever reason.(or i want to hear the engine) I agree the car can take it, but it's just foolish to downshift unless you need it. And what % of the time that we brake do we really need it driving around town? You can stick you foot out the door and brake as well, but I'll just use the part of the car that's made for braking...the brakes.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 23,283
Likes: 906
From: Lake Elsinore, CA
Re: Downshiifting vs. Neutral (Tom Steele)
Actually, I'd like to point out that I have created a 4.324 Mb Excel Spreadsheet that I will e-mail to anyone who wants it. If you plug in the initial value of your car, and the options and press the RUN button (carefully) it will show you that the best way to save money and wear and tear on your Corvette is to park it in the garage and push it by hand to the driveway each day and put Zaino on it over and over again, then get a lawn chair and just sit and stare at it all day long.
Hey, wait a minute . . . that's what I do. :leaving:
:jester :p:
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 2,200
Likes: 0
Re: Downshiifting vs. Neutral (georgec114)
:rant: For Christ sake...Drive the car already...You'd think the Vette
was made of fine china the way some people talk. Over 40 years of
driving all kinds of cars, I've up shifted and down shifted cars under
all driving conditions and never blew a clutch or trans.
From the oldest flathead Fords to early Toyota Corolla' to tons of
Chevy's in between, I have never replaced a clutch.
Had a Nissan 200sx and finally replaced a clutch at 160k miles.
Car was old and still runs at 200k miles. My ex-wife downshifted that car
on every corner and stop. She drives a Maxima now the same way with
over 100k on it.
Stop portraying the Vette as some kitty car that will fall apart as soon
as you start to exert some pressure.
RANT OFF
...GeorgeC
was made of fine china the way some people talk. Over 40 years of
driving all kinds of cars, I've up shifted and down shifted cars under
all driving conditions and never blew a clutch or trans.
From the oldest flathead Fords to early Toyota Corolla' to tons of
Chevy's in between, I have never replaced a clutch.
Had a Nissan 200sx and finally replaced a clutch at 160k miles.
Car was old and still runs at 200k miles. My ex-wife downshifted that car
on every corner and stop. She drives a Maxima now the same way with
over 100k on it.
Stop portraying the Vette as some kitty car that will fall apart as soon
as you start to exert some pressure.
RANT OFF
...GeorgeC
:iagree: :iagree: :iagree: :iagree:
:iagree: :iagree: :iagree: :iagree:
Heel & Toe
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 20
Likes: 0
From: Toronto Ont.
Re: Downshiifting vs. Neutral (maddog2)
Just rip it boys!!!!!!!!! My god. I'm on my second Vett. 1st was a 93 coupe, and now the 2000 drop top and both are and were 6 speeds. I have thrown that baby in to 1st grear from 70 KMS/HR with no problems. Have yet to change a clutch or breaks for that matter. The way I look at it is like this, if it goes you have an excuse to put in a High performance one!! :steering:
I'm not saying you should just pop the clultch out when down shifting but you can let it out easily in every gear, I even skip gears (4th - 2nd ) most common. The car is a sports car, not a caddy!!
Drive it that way.
I'm not saying you should just pop the clultch out when down shifting but you can let it out easily in every gear, I even skip gears (4th - 2nd ) most common. The car is a sports car, not a caddy!!
Drive it that way.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 11,945
Likes: 12
From: Vancouver
2015 C5 of Year Finalist
St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10
Re: Downshiifting vs. Neutral (2KVETT)
Way to go George you said it all!!! I hear some of the topics and shake my head. If you can't downshift get an automatic. Use the car, they designed it to be used. All the effort that went into the car and the money that was spent to purchase it. If I have to go around in neutral what happens if someone gets into my space and I am cruising in neutral my reaction time is compromised. Safety first. Just don't expect to throw it into first and 70mph and get away with it unless you have horseshoes up your butt. That's my .02
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 20,054
Likes: 44
From: Swansea IL
Re: Downshiifting vs. Neutral (maddog2)
I don't know if there is a right or wrong answer to this question. I use both techniques. If I'm approaching an intersection controlled by a light and I see I can't make it and traffic permitting I'll put the transmission in neutral and coast to a stop. Other times I'll downshift. I do like the choice the MN6 provides.
Like I said I don't think there is a right or wrong answer to this question. But I do find myself "stirring the gears" just to hear the Indy's.
Tom
[Modified by AFVETTE, 8:47 PM 7/25/2003]
Like I said I don't think there is a right or wrong answer to this question. But I do find myself "stirring the gears" just to hear the Indy's.
Tom
[Modified by AFVETTE, 8:47 PM 7/25/2003]
