Do you use engine braking?

[Riknos]

I don't want to turn this into a massive discussion about heel and toe. I want to know about people using engine braking i.e going down through the gears to slow them, rather than just relying solely on the brakes.

I'm no driving god, I don't try to heel and toe, but I am smooth with gear changes and always manage to rev match and use the gears to slow down onto an approach for a roundabout for example, rarely having to use the brakes sometimes.

I was stunned to read today on a car forum that someone who has been driving a performance car for over 5 years NEVER engine brakes?

I can understand women / those who don't know anything about cars / recent test passers just using the brakes and not the gears to slow down, but someone driving a performance car? Seems odds to me.

Are they in the minority, or do other people on here do the same?

First person to response with 'heel and toe' gets shot

[Riknos]

carpetsoiler said:

I do it frequently, usually in tandem with braking. Because my flywheel weighs practically nothing, it's extremely effective. Or I'll just read the road ahead a little bit further, and let off the accelerator a bit earlier. Saves screaming up to the car in front and hammering on the brakes.

This is basically what I was looking for. I don't understand people hammering to a red light and slamming on at the last minute. Use some perception, read the road ahead, change down the box as you approach, then use the brakes etc...


But lots of other sensible posts too, so good to know others think like-minded. Using the gears to slow doesn't knacker your gearbox...

Edited by Riknos on Friday 20th December 14:03