i'm doing a search on this and i get conflicting results. what do you guys suggest?
just curious.

 

i say downshift normally whenever you can to 1st. i only go straight to neutral when i have to brake hard or quickly.

 

ebrake it and stick your arm out the window.

 

I downshift if I'm about to turn.. if I'm coming to a complete stop I just throw it in N & hit the brakes.

brake pads are cheaper then a new engine.

 

Considering I've already had to replace part of my transmission, I throw it in neutral just so I don't have to go through that again. People may say "you'll go through brakes faster", but hey, they're a hell of a lot cheaper than transmissions.

(note: My transmission trouble was covered under warranty and I didn't pay a dime. Synchro for Reverse and First were trashed)

 

how did it get messed up the first time?

 

yeah well it looks like they are having quality problems with those synchros and gears! So downshifting wouldn't kill it, it's nothing you did to your car! It was just a bad part..

Personally I would brake hard if i had to stop really quick, and when driving a manual throw it into a lower gear if i needed extra stopping power. But normally when I was driving a manual I would usually end up moving it to neutral, and hitting the brakes.. but always ready to throw it into a lower gear in case someone does something stupid..

Sure, it does put a little wear on the transmission downshifting, but it's not that great over the long term. Unless you're downshifting and throwing the RPM's to like 5k rpm's I wouldn't worry about it.. personally for me I'd use my brakes more, since it's quicker and brakes are cheaper when they wear out..

 

Downshift....even automatic trans. downshift to aid in braking.....just keep the rpms no higher than 4K when you downshift for breaking purposes. If you are downshifting and the engine revs above 4k, you'll notice that you probably should've shifted down to the gear that's one higher first, then down again once you have slowed down a lil'.

When I downshift through the gears, I almost never downshift all the way into 1st....just take it down to 2nd and then neutral. 2nd usually gets you slow enough to not put a heavy strain on the brakes once you put it into neutral.

I also downshift when traveling down a step hill for an extended period of time....keeps your brakes from overheating/wearing significantly.

 

I always like to be in gear with the clutch disengaged when coming to a red signal just so that I'm ready if it turns green.

 

I throw it into first at 45 mph, and let it tach out. BOOM!!!!

 

I usually downsift through the gears until I get to 2nd, then I throw it in neutral and brake...

I don't use my brakes much at all... unless I am coiming to a complete stop... most of the time I just rev-match then engine brake..

 

Well downshifting is harder on your motor and transmission, braking is harder on your brakes. So you be the judge which would you rather put excessive wear on?

 

Most car manuals will say you should downshift... Mine does..

 

brakes===$$
transmission===$$$$$
enigne====$$$$$$



Take your pick

 

Depends on how fast your going and
how soon you need to stop.

 

whoa.. why are you downshifting to first? The first gear for tC's is pretty short so there's a good chance you can overrev, plus is it even possible? Most Toyotas I've driven are designed to only shift down to first at a standstill.

You should downshift through the gears if you want to brake quickly. You're achieving the opposite effect you're looking for if you're bumping it to neutral

 

Since when do you downshift an automatic to help braking? Doesnt that mess up the tranny?

 

If I know I have time before I need to stop I will down shift, mainly cause alot of times the light will change before I even get there or come a to a complete stop. When I need to go to a complet stop or quickly slow down I clutch break and bring it into the gear that I would most likely end up in if I don't completly stop. That are go into first when I do stop. I know it's not the greatest on clutches, but I learned in hilly area's and most the flat areas I"m in now I'll just roll into nuetral while I"m at the light and not even touch the brake. So I'm not clutching or breaking as much.

 

all you need to know is
pads are $20-$45 do it you self
clutch is $333-$500 plus install
and most new drivers don't need to be thinking about down shifting in emergency situations.

 

[quote="M-Flo"]
exactly you should never be hitting first gear in the tC unless your at a standstill! if your moving at all use second gear
besides 2nd gear has plenty enough torque to get you moving again, also to answer your question, i would agree with blackrsx and say most manuals say that you should downshift through the gears when slowing down it will not hurt the tranny at all if your smooth and not running the rpm's really high