AC Schnitzer releases LCD shift knob for BMW, Mini

[ChItalian1027]

i think its a cool design but when i'm in downtown chicago i try to have my hand on the wheel but i'm so used to keeping my hand on the shifter.

i use my clutch to slow down or rev match. rev matching for me is easier then heel toe since i don't know how to do it. never engine braked. my dad showed me once on his 94 Z28 but i told him i didn't like it.

when i'm on the highway in fifth i always have both hands on the wheel and my left foot at the ready.

[tiFreak]

Originally Posted by ShortE36

For us married folk

yes, but for those with their testicles still attached, we need the style points lol, jk

[ShortE36]

I do remember you writing on another post that you bought a subie wagon.... safe to say your testicles are long gone. j/k

[ChItalian1027]

Originally Posted by ShortE36

I do remember you writing on another post that you bought a subie wagon.... safe to say your testicles are long gone. j/k

HAHA!!

[tiFreak]

Originally Posted by ShortE36

I do remember you writing on another post that you bought a subie wagon.... safe to say your testicles are long gone. j/k

hey, it was that or a Volvo wagon

[mohaughn]

Originally Posted by cooljess76

The engine breaking issue as you said is debatable. I've done it in all of my cars with no problems, but some will argue the wear and tear issue. Personally I only downshift one gear at a time and I use that in conjunction with a light application of the brakes. I use my gears to slow down and I use my brakes to stop, so I'm kinda in the middle.

Clutch is much more expensive than brake pads... I don't use any engine braking on the street. On the track I only use it when I need to. I'll also skip gears when downshifting, like 4th to 2nd. But I only started doing that once I could properly rev match to keep from locking the rear wheels.

One of the chief instructors in the group I run with cracks me up when he teaches the novice/intermediate group classroom sessions. He talks about proper braking technique and engine braking, and usually advises that newer drivers shouldn't do it. He then goes on to tell all of the Porsche owners that if they do use engine braking to make sure to use his race shop as he would rather charge them to replace a clutch than change out brake pads.

Clutch repairs on a p-car can get very expensive.

[spidertri]

Are we talking about downshifting and engine braking at like 5k rpm? I downshift when approaching stop signs and red lights but generally when the rpm are ~2k or lower so that the next lower gear puts it around 2.5k. My Dad taught me to do it and he has been doing it all his life.

[mohaughn]

Either one, what you are doing probably does very little wear and tear. Doing it at very low speeds and RPMs is probably negligible in terms of clutch wear.

Doing it at high speeds and higher RPMs will definitely wear down the clutch faster. The only time I see the need to do it is on the track when you don't have enough brakes left or are already on the threshold of activating ABS.

But, as was said, people have different ideas on doing this. My take is brake pads are much cheaper than a clutch. So I mainly use my brakes to stop the car.

[spidertri]

I definitely understand what you are saying, I do not downshift at high rpm. It's pretty obvious from the way the car reacts that it's not good to do. And yeah, pads are much cheaper to replace.