The propper way to come to a stop is not to downshift, but to leave the car in gear, then shift into neutral when the revs drop low. There is no need to put all that extra wear on the clutch and synchros by downshifting. End of discusion. Seriously.

 

yeah, it just makes sense to keep it in second. If your turning right on red, you might as well keep it in 2nd, becuase you're going to end up in 2nd anyway......less hard on the clutch than from going from 1st to 2nd, plus it's a lot less work. it's not bad on your transmission. in fact, it's better on your transmission cuz you're not shifting at all. good point, whoever started this thread, i forgot. haha.

 

BigMontana, very nice job of explaining. I couldn't have done it better myself.

 

I've started to leave mine in 2nd or 3rd depending on how fast I'm taking the corner. First gear is so low I only use it when stopped or nearly stopped. I've been down shifting to slow down in this car and the last couple cars I've owned and never had a clutch prematurely wear out. I think the main thing is to do it smoothly and don't cause the engine to rev very high while downshifting. It can be done smoothly without rev matching. And who the hell is double-clutching anyway? We aren't driving '39 Chevy trucks, these cars do have synchros.

 

clutch

 

I combine coasting with downshifting depending on specific traffic situation. I look ahead as far as possible for traffic lights. If I see or anticipate light change way ahead, I try to coast and then gradually downshift aiming at having the car still moving when the light changes (if traffic situation permits).

Downshifting does not save gas - coasting in neutral does.
For my Integra, downshifting only = 29 mpg while coasting/downshifting = 32-33 mpg (tested on the same route, mostly city/suburbs driving but with some divided highways and some slopes).

BTW - I have been regularly downshifting for 10 years/100K (as essentially the only driver on that car) and have had no clutch problems. Plus - I am still on the original brake pads.

 

... I go into first. i like keeping the car in gear alot. so while slowing down i usually double clutch to first, incase i need to accel. kind of a natural habit. in the tsx, the first gear is so short that this may be skipped, but i still do it. AND I GET TERRIBLE GAS MILAGE, but its how i drive