When we went snowskiing at the Alta, UT resort the van they used to transport us in used the tranny for most braking going up and down the Little Cottonwood Canyon roads. The driver said it was cheaper to replace the tranny every few years than it was to replace the brakes a few times each year.

 

I just use my brakes.. I pop it into neutral once my RPMs reached close to 1k RPMs.

 

I used to, but I find that the less you're in gear...the less gas you use. This car (for some reason) is ridiculously bad on gas. Rev-matching is okay, as long as you know what you're doing. Even with a Brembo setup, brake pads cost less than a clutch

 

I row downwards through the gears when the clutch is in. Same giddy feeling, less wear and tear.

There, problem solved.

 

I do it sometimes. I just give myself enough room so I wouldn't have to use the brake too much. I see some people coming up to a stop light very fast. That is just plain stupid.

 

not true when you are not adding gas, the engine turns off the fuel injectors when the car is in gear and above a certain rpm. By putting it into neutral, it will idle which uses more gas, and more brakes without the aid of engine braking, even in a high gear.

 

same here

 

If you downshift at a high rpm, you will use more gas than you would while you idle for two seconds to slow down.

 

I have an AT and usually drive in the "manual" mode. I usually downshift myself as I would in a true manual car. Otherwise the car does it for you.
I understand using the brakes as they are intended, but this is my play car so I play.

 

Nope... that's completely not true. I used to think it was true too.. but when I got my Scangauge about 2 weeks ago, I tested this theory and it turns out that our cars use the same amount of fuel whether coasting in neutral or in gear... it uses the amount of fuel that you'd use at idle in both cases.

 

Agreed, but my point is that if you're in gear at a high rpm you will be burning more gas than you would be coasting in neutral to a stop. Unless this car is designed different than any other car, you would save some money on gas by doing that.

 

Did you try this going down a big hill or on a flat surface and over what distance? That info is contrary to everything I've seen posted on the subject regarding the injectors closing when the throttle is closed

 

http://www.my350z.com/forum/showthread.php?t=285696

 

The GREATEST danger to "engine braking" is no brake lights. Think about it.

 

I CONCUR, I HAVE FUN ALSO, AND SOUNDS NICE, VRRRRMMMMMMMM