<VV> Rookie Driver

[Norm Witte]

I had a thought on this item of conventional wisdom.  It's true that the brakes are cheaper and easier to replace.  However, brakes are always in a wear mode except when competely disingaged or when the car is stopped.  The clutch, on the other hand, is only in a wear mode when slipping.  Once you have downshifted, you are using engine compression, not the clutch or the brakes to decelerate.  You are adding shifts, so from that standpoint you are increasing wear on the clutch, but I hardly think you would wear out the clutch that way.  Thouughts?

--

Norm Witte 
DeWitt, Michigan 
'65 Corsa 180 convertible 
'65 Corsa 140 coupe 
www.wittelaw.com/personal 

The Internet: a fantastic new technology that combines the accuracy of fourth-hand hearsay with the excitement of typing. 

-------------- Original message -------------- 
From: Frank DuVal <corvairduval at cox.net> 

> BTW, downshifting just to come to a stop is not necessary, and wasteful 
> of drivetrain components. Brakes are much cheaper to replace, use them 
> to stop instead of downshifting. Not as much fun, but cheaper! ggggg 
> 
> Frank DuVal 
> 
> Connie Brummer wrote: 
> 
> >Thanks for all the input. I swear I won't let it lug and I'll pull out of 
> >the curves. 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
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