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Old 07-08-2012, 05:27 PM   #1
986_inquiry
2006 987
 
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Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: st. louis
Posts: 443
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i've been driving wrong: downshifting to slow is bad

it's been on here a few times
http://986forum.com/forums/general-discussions/12123-down-shift-brakes.html
http://986forum.com/forums/general-discussions/29822-how-much-do-you-use-engine-brakes.html

and i have started doing it myself, using the gears to slow the car rather than the brakes, until I'm at a slow speed

But experts say it's wrong:
The Straight Dope: To slow a stick-shift car, should you brake or downshift?

Quote:
Numerous mechanics, auto engineers, and auto buffs echo this view. They say downshifting may have made sense in the 60s and earlier, when many cars had manual drum brakes. These were much less effective than today's power disk brakes and you needed all the help you could get stopping the car. But not any more.
so there you have it, i'll... try and stop, even though it is fun
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