oaklandopen
Member
the problem with the question of downshifting while daily driving is that it is so general, especially when it deals with driving a car. there are too many situations that are different and require different driving habits
for me, if im on a road that warrants 6th gear speeds and i see a light ahead that's red or in the process of changing i generally rev match to 4th which starts a nice slowing, then i begin to apply the brakes. before the rpms get too low (like at a stalling number) i just put it in neutral. but that's just 1 situation that could just as easily go a much different way and thus require a totally different kind of slowing. ie, i could be in 6th cruising and the light changes at the point where you can't waste time downshifting, so you have to go right into braking (maybe even hard braking if it's a fast enough road).
if you live in pretty much any other state than florida sometimes you have to downshift when coming to a hill (downhill). in certain areas around where i live the downhill slopes can be long, and have a stop at the end. that's when i rev match a really low gear like 3rd and the rpms will be high (between 4 and 5k). but what that does is maintain a constant speed, but save the brakes. and i always wonder about the ppl that ride their brakes down some of these hills cuz doing that is one of the worst things you can do for your brakes. that's what gives you hot-spots in your rotors and takes plenty of pad away.
but once again that's only a couple situations, there are soooo many that you have to deal with on a daily basis. but if i were being general, i would say that i do use engine braking in select moderation, and i always rev-match to do so.
and btw...NOTHING engine brakes like a bike does. that was like 90% of my slowing down
for me, if im on a road that warrants 6th gear speeds and i see a light ahead that's red or in the process of changing i generally rev match to 4th which starts a nice slowing, then i begin to apply the brakes. before the rpms get too low (like at a stalling number) i just put it in neutral. but that's just 1 situation that could just as easily go a much different way and thus require a totally different kind of slowing. ie, i could be in 6th cruising and the light changes at the point where you can't waste time downshifting, so you have to go right into braking (maybe even hard braking if it's a fast enough road).
if you live in pretty much any other state than florida sometimes you have to downshift when coming to a hill (downhill). in certain areas around where i live the downhill slopes can be long, and have a stop at the end. that's when i rev match a really low gear like 3rd and the rpms will be high (between 4 and 5k). but what that does is maintain a constant speed, but save the brakes. and i always wonder about the ppl that ride their brakes down some of these hills cuz doing that is one of the worst things you can do for your brakes. that's what gives you hot-spots in your rotors and takes plenty of pad away.
but once again that's only a couple situations, there are soooo many that you have to deal with on a daily basis. but if i were being general, i would say that i do use engine braking in select moderation, and i always rev-match to do so.
and btw...NOTHING engine brakes like a bike does. that was like 90% of my slowing down
