I personally don't recommend engine braking; brake-pads/rotors are much cheaper and easier to replace versus an over-revved engine. Just always keep the car in gear and you should be fine (eg. no coasting in neutral). I used to stick the shifter in neutral and then brake when approaching a stoplight, but after I burned through pads a bit too quickly I just kept the car in gear until most of my braking was done.

Shingo

 

My opinion is the same. However, there are times when engine braking is useful. From personal experience (moving from dorms loaded with 150+lbs of stuff) it's sometimes quicker (read: safer) to brake using engine compression. Of course, truck drivers have no choice but to downshift most times.

Re. turning:

The reason why many drivers unneccesarily pop into neutral (or hit the clutch) during turns, is that they fear stalling the engine. Keep in 2nd or 3rd gear for most turns, and you'll be fine.

Keep in mind that if you begin to get involved in Autocross or other motorsports, alot of our conservative advice no longer applies. But for street driving, don't let anyone here tell you that you _have_ to heal-and-toe during turns, or double clutching is the only way to go, or whatnot - they're wrong.

 

Yeah, I was just mentioning Heel-Toe for fun, I wouldn't recommend it on a daily basis. It's a needlessly complex manouvere to be using on the roads.

 

Shingobladde-GSR,
So do you always rev-match when downshifting through gears to slow the car down before a red light? I am doing the coasting in neutral thing at this stage but would like to learn from you veterans as much as I can.

 

what are you talking about...? i said thru the corners, which is essentially the same as through turns.
and if you weren't referring to me then i apologize.

 

I used to just for practice (before a left-hand turn for example), but it attracted unwanted attention from the cops so I've stopped doing it. The only time I rev-match now is on an empty road, parking lot full of orange cones, or open track event.

Shingo

 

So basically now you just downshif quickly, let out the clutch and let the synchronizer do the work? Is that putting a lot of stress on your drivetrain?
Just want to know more and why. Thanks, man.

 

I probably do it on a daily basis but just for the hell of it on offramps or when i go on this twisty road near my place TOok me a while to get it down smoothly. When i downshift i usally blip the gas with teh clutch in just so the transition is a bit smoother and the car doesn't jerk.