My daily driver is a Cadillac SRX. Extremely nice car. Not so hot fuel mileage with the Northstar 320hp V8. Thoughts on slipping it into neutral when coasting? I’m thinking transmission damage problems, not the philosophical point of gliding in neutral. Think it could possibly harm the trans?
It should do no direct damage to the transmission.
You did not ask, but there are some thoughts you should consider if you have not already.
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It is illegal in some areas due to potential safety issues.
It can cause you to loose braking ability on long steep downgrades.
It can will mean less control over your car.
If saving gas is your plan, it likely will not do much and may reduce mileage. Most modern cars cut off fuel delivery when your foot is off the accelerator and the car is in gear turning the engine over faster than idle speed. Being out of gear may allow you to coast further, but you will be using fuel while you do it.
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The fuel saved or used is not likely to amount to enough to make any real difference. Driving like your grandmother will likely make a far bigger difference. Drive to avoid using the brakes and drive slower, but don’t overdo it causing traffic problems.
you bought a v8 car and are complaining about the fuel mileage?
what happens when you’re coasting(or sitting at a red light) and you go to hit the gas? Nothing except revving the engine higher.
look at the tachometer when it’s in drive then bump it into neutral, some cars will actually rev higher in N than D, wasting some more fuel
You can expect full agreement on this one:
No damage to the transmission.
No fuel savings by coasting in neutral.
No sympathies to V8 purchasers who complain about fuel usage and costs.
why do you americans worry about fuel economy?your petrol(i mean gasoline )is so cheap !!here in england ive just paid ?5.45 a gallon!! thats 9.81 of your us dollars per gallon!!!i wish our fuel was as cheap as yours!
No damage to the transmission.
Clank and Clunk just answered a letter in their column from someone who evidently went past “N” into “R”… at 60. Don’t coast in neutral.
They are used to it being almost free. Lack of foresight means they will continue to make decisions on the expectation of low priced fuel and continue to complain about the price.
Because we like our beer cold. We need the money to buy electricity for our refrigerators.
i like my beer cold also,ha ha!!im coming over to new york in 10 days,so i wonder if us customs will let me take back some cheap petrol to england?i could sell it for double the price you guys pay!
It’s that darn RNEUTRAL gear that keeps interfering with my gas saving scheme!
I once asked for a cold beer in a British pub and got a puzzled look. Apparently the more versatile pubs now sell “beer on the fridge”, which is indeed cold.
nowadays most of it is cold,i prefer cider,which when served cold is delicious!
Our fuel indeed is cheaper than yours and I am greatful for it. I do not want to pay your prices but that does not mean we have to enjoy it when prices skyrocket. I suppose it could be said that what is expensive is relative to what you are accustomed to.
you bought a v8 car and are complaining about the fuel mileage? With all due respect I do not see a complaint, I see a question. The op might have bought the vehicle a few years ago before skyrocketing prices and simply wants to eek out a few more mpg’s.
Keep it in drive and forget neutral.
“why do you americans worry about fuel economy?your petrol(i mean gasoline )is so cheap !!here in england ive just paid ?5.45 a gallon!! thats 9.81 of your us dollars per gallon!!!i wish our fuel was as cheap as yours!”
Wish we had your car choices and our health care paid for…
There. We do have an intelligent response, from someone who actually read the question. Sure, we can afford the fuel for all of our vehicles, but why not try to conserve a bit? I think I can probably keep it in control downhill…
We could have health care paid for, but that would mean increasing taxes somewhere…
wait, I know, we could tax gasoline until it’s double the price, and use a bigger gallon, then charge by the litre… like the UK. 
all kidding aside, it IS the taxes that make UK’s gasoline so expensive. Though the cities are really cramped together so it makes driving almost worthless unless it’s on a holiday cruise or something
in the uk we pay about 80 percent tax on petrol!!its not bloody fair!!the cities are a bit busy to enjoy driving,but i live near manchester,which is quiet compared to london.and we pay national insurance,which is about 7 percent of our wages,which is spent on our “free” healthcare.i love the usa,and cant wait until august 27th,when im coming to new york for a week.i just love a country where you can have 4.6 litre v8 fords for taxis!!!theyre miles better than our dirty diesel black cabs.
I think some companies in NYC have switched over to the Prius for their taxis, which makes sense when you think about it.
Remember:
P is for Pass
R is for Race