Quick shift to neutral.. is this good or bad driving?

**Smoke XIII** · August 23rd, 2005 09:43 AM

I'm sorry if this shouldn't be in this category.. I can't seem to find the right category for this thread...

Intro >
Anyway. I'm kinda new to driving. It's been about 6 months or so. And I'm kinda new to bringing my own car. So I don't really have that much knowledge. And I learned mostly just by myself and looking at other drivers.

Question >
I've found this out by myself. When approaching an intersection and when I'm about to turn right, I hit on the brakes, hit the clutch, and shift to neutral. Then I turn to the right, managing speed with the brakes. When I'm in position to go straight again, I shift to 1st gear and go on. I haven't noticed any driver doing things like these. The reason why I wanted to go to neutral is so that I won't have to bother with watching the RPM go down and having the engine turned off. Cause if I'm not in neutral, I'd have to hit the clutch when the RPM's really low so as not to have the engine stopped.

Any advices? Suggestion? I'd really appreciate it, thanks...

**gwapito69** · August 23rd, 2005 09:47 AM

I do it sometimes but it's better if you leave it in 2nd gear.. I dont use first gear pag umaandar pa yung oto ng mga 10mph. but if you know you're stalling then it's time to put it in neutral.

**BlueBimmer** · August 23rd, 2005 09:47 AM

afaik this will promote faster clutch wear n tear..

**Smoke XIII** · August 23rd, 2005 09:51 AM

Originally Posted by BlueBimmer

afaik this will promote faster clutch wear n tear..

what will promote faster clutch wear n tear?
If I go to neutral? or if I just stay in 2nd gear?

**mazdamazda** · August 23rd, 2005 09:53 AM

only put the gear into neutral if you are about to stop / stall.

**silhouette** · August 23rd, 2005 10:00 AM

like gwapito, i don't shift to 1st gear when moving. i do manage my ride on the 2nd. but if you think your ride will stall while on 2nd gear, then go neutral. timplahan lang yan, and dapat kilala mo na ride mo.

**Smoke XIII** · August 23rd, 2005 10:05 AM

thanks for the replies..

I guess I shouldn't be doing this... thanks...

how about if I'm going downhill and I shift to neutral? Is that still not ok? Do forgive me if I'm too stupid with this kind of things, I'm learning through friends and some drivers I know....

**mazdamazda** · August 23rd, 2005 10:07 AM

Originally Posted by Smoke XIII

how about if I'm going downhill and I shift to neutral? Is that still not ok? Do forgive me if I'm too stupid with this kind of things, I'm learning through friends and some drivers I know....

nope. don't shift to neutral when going downhill at a fast speed.

though you can do that when in heavy traffic.

**Smoke XIII** · August 23rd, 2005 10:14 AM

may I also ask why? Will it damage something?

hmm.. on heavy traffic that's what I've been doing though. When in "bumper to bumper" situation, from a stop I'll move to first gear and move a little and then I quickly go to neutral and slowly hit the brakes (assuming the car in front of me is stopping again).

**mazdamazda** · August 23rd, 2005 10:18 AM

AFAIK, you won't damage anything.

You'll ONLY have a degraded steering & braking capability. Not to mention that you won't have acceleration if you suddenly need it (like to avoid an obstacle / accident / etc).