# Down shifting vs coasting to a stop **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Tags:** civic, honda\ **Created:** [June 9, 2010, 8:22pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/down-shifting-vs-coasting-to-a-stop/50106 "2010-06-09T20:22:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Alan\_in\_Portland](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/alan_in_portland/32/1865_2.png) [@Alan\_in\_Portland](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Alan_in_Portland)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2010, 8:22pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/down-shifting-vs-coasting-to-a-stop/50106/1 "2010-06-09T20:22:42Z")
My son believes that it is better to coast to a stop and I say use the engines compression to slow the car down to a full stop. He drives an '07 Honda civic six speed. I maintain that it is safer and you not only have better control of the car, but you save the breaks. ---
**Author:** ![tom418](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/da6949/32.png) [@tom418](https://community.cartalk.com/u/tom418)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2010, 8:27pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/down-shifting-vs-coasting-to-a-stop/50106/2 "2010-06-09T20:27:38Z")
I use my “breaks” to stop my car. I never pay someone to replace brake pads/ rotors. Replacing a clutch is another matter. ---
**Author:** ![texases](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/texases/32/862_2.png) [@texases](https://community.cartalk.com/u/texases)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2010, 8:39pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/down-shifting-vs-coasting-to-a-stop/50106/3 "2010-06-09T20:39:49Z")
If you are talking about downshifting through the gears to slow down, then no, I don’t do it. You can leave it in gear (whichever you happen to be in), no added wear with that, then push in the clutch later on. ---
**Author:** ![Alan\_in\_Portland](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/alan_in_portland/32/1865_2.png) [@Alan\_in\_Portland](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Alan_in_Portland)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2010, 8:55pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/down-shifting-vs-coasting-to-a-stop/50106/4 "2010-06-09T20:55:18Z")
Thank you. ---
**Author:** ![lion9car](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/59ef9b/32.png) [@lion9car](https://community.cartalk.com/u/lion9car)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2010, 8:57pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/down-shifting-vs-coasting-to-a-stop/50106/5 "2010-06-09T20:57:19Z")
Please search for all of the other times this has been asked here, as the answer is the same for you. ---
**Author:** ![Docnick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecae2f/32.png) [@Docnick](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Docnick)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2010, 9:01pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/down-shifting-vs-coasting-to-a-stop/50106/6 "2010-06-09T21:01:03Z")
We’ve had this post a number of times before. Needlessly wearing out your clutch and gear box to make the brakes last a little while longer is FALSE ECONOMY. The only time I downshift is when going down a steep slope or mountain road. In that case, the brakes could overheat and fade, a dangerous situation. Brake jobs are nearly always cheaper than transmission and clutch jobs. So, I would coast under normal cricumstances. ---
**Author:** ![Joseph\_E\_Meehan](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/joseph_e_meehan/32/21_2.png) [@Joseph\_E\_Meehan](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Joseph_E_Meehan)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2010, 9:51am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/down-shifting-vs-coasting-to-a-stop/50106/7 "2010-06-10T09:51:04Z")
- Brakes cost: $$ - Transmissions cost: $$$$$ ??? ??? ??? Take your choice. ---
**Author:** ![zacsifac](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b5e925/32.png) [@zacsifac](https://community.cartalk.com/u/zacsifac)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2011, 8:14pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/down-shifting-vs-coasting-to-a-stop/50106/8 "2011-03-20T20:14:15Z")
I don’t think you can damage your transmission or your clutch if you are coasting… I’ve read numerous articles where they said it loud and clear: It’s not dangerous and you save fuel compared to neutral coasting where you lose a bit of control (on turns for example). So why wouldn’t people go for it ? Maybe they aren’t good/confident enough that they’ll pull it off ? Or people don’t want to risk it on their own car ? Try a [car rental](http://www.comparecarrentals.com) service then but I can assure you there’s nothing wrong with this thing.