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Where I live we have a Ford Mustang GT convertible as one of our cars at my house. Everytime I am at the lights, I always put the car in neutral, some of my friends in there car people put it in first and just hold down the clutch? Is there a correct way of doing this, or does it not matter as nothing is damaging the car with either method.

My dad (ASE certified mechanic) tells me to put it on neutral at the lights. He told me that putting it in first w/ the clutch in (riding the clutch) is bad for the clutch and throwout bearing.

I am learning how to drive stick (got a 2006 350Z on saturday) and stink at it.

When you hold just the clutch in, the throw out bearing gets used. When you shift into neutral, you do an extra shifting cycle. But the car should handle either scenario easily. If there is a long time between the lights, holding the clutch in may cause a little bit of heat because of use of the throw out bearing and some slight clutch drag. Only then would I suggest shifting into neutral.

My sister's b.f has a 2006 350 Z, the exhaust sound is so nice while you are inside.

I have a heavy right foot. Sometimes I can get the car into gear easily but when I get nervous i stall it. Stoplights on upslopes also kill me.

here is so strange to have an automatic car so everybody and in driving schools you always drive a manual car. I think is funnier changing gears specially in tricky roads. I also put neutral at lights, everybody said me that this way the clutch won't suffer so much, but in driving schools cars the teachers say just keep 1st and clutch

m3_lover wrote:Everytime I am at the lights, I always put the car in neutral, some of my friends in there car people put it in first and just hold down the clutch? Is there a correct way of doing this, or does it not matter as nothing is damaging the car with either method.

If you hold the clutch down it's not a big deal if it's for a short time, as long as you don't burn the clutch by lifting the pedal up and down.

Most of the cars I bought I had to change the clutch, the bearing never fails really just the plates and "basket" thing. Screw it I don't know the word :p

note: women are clutch burners! (I hope principessa don't read this )

Use neutral...........for the reasons stated above. The clutch release bearing is doing work when the clutch pedal is depressed. Also, if there is any clutch drag, you will heat up the plates.

It is also a lot more relaxing for you, the driver, to put the car in neutral while you wait for the light.

Of course, if you want a quick get-away you will probably engage first before the lights change, so you are bound to spend some time with the clutch depressed - can't be avoided.

Either way, you are not really going to kill the clutch badly by holding in; it's just easier on the machinery and IMHO you should take every chance to be easy on your equipment. Change gear smoothly, especially on down-changes to avoid reverse loads going through the mechanicals.

Above all...enjoy your driving.........

I don't care much about the extra shifting or the real possibility that you lift your foot a little.

What I care more about is my left knee. Too much football. At the end of the day, it adds up, if you have a long commute in an urban area. This argument won't fly with your friends.

Anyway, why don't you drive relaxed, gear into neutral at red light, stretch a little for the 90 seconds of traffic light cycle while you hear Bob Marley? You can count in your mind to 90, if you are this kind of person, or watch the pedestrian lights if you want to be alert to shift a little before green.

I keep my car in neutral a lot, long before reaching the red light, just for fuel economy purposes: this has become automatic. I do it almost every time I know I will be forced to brake ahead, as some said, just to be easy on machinery. I only downshift when I really need the extra grip.

This behaviour also makes you to stretch a little the distance to the car ahead. You start to try to predict how to let the faster guys overtake you and when will you reach the slower guys to "fit" in the gaps.

You wouldn't believe how many times your car coasts faster than the rest of the cars in the street with their engines running at 3000 rpm. Anything can help to save the whales, dude...

This will keep your clutch running a couple of extra miles between changes. Or drive as you please, it is ok with me.

Extra shifting is a weak argument, as gearbox maintenance is really low for the life of your car, while clutch is replaced with greater frequency.

And, if you have troubles on uphills with your clutch, practice a couple of times to hand-brake the car for starting uphill. Not that I know a Mustang with a hand brake that works...

I'd suggest neutral and brake pedal pressed regarless if it is manual or auto gearbox.

Not only bearing suffers under pressed clutch but whole clutch activating system (mechanical or hydraulical) as well as clutch spring. Once spring losses stiffness because of spending too much time pressed that will lead to quicker ware of clutch plates. I don't know about lights in Canada but in Europe when it changes to yellow eveyone is already in 1st gear waiting to release clutch.

Brake pedal should be pressed not only because brake lights will warn driver behind to stop but most of all because if someone nails you from behind acceleration your body suffers will be smaller than with unbraked car. Also, you don't want someone to push you in the middle of crossroad to play a sitting duck.

Good response Manchild - I don't always hold the brake on, but I do watch my mirrors and tap it a couple of times if a car is approaching.

I thought it was just me that gets off smartly

Don't ever go on amber................

Go as soon as red starts to go dim.....it's quicker

Remember; steady revs, clutch just before biting point and use peripheral vision to see the lights change

manchild wrote:Brake pedal should be pressed not only because brake lights will warn driver behind to stop but most of all because if someone nails you from behind acceleration your body will suffer will be smaller than with unbraked car. Also, you don't want someone to push you in the middle of crossroad to play a sitting duck.

I was in a car when that happened (knocked from beihind but not as hard). And because, the driver didn't break hard there was less impact on the car. The car moved forward instead of ending up with rear end crashed badly

Manchild suggests you save your neck, not the car. I am pretty sure that if the brake is on the acceleration of your car will be less (but will take more damage in absorbing the energy).

RH1300S wrote: Good response Manchild - I don't always hold the brake on, but I do watch my mirrors and tap it a couple of times if a car is approaching.

Thanks... actually I also tap brakes looking at mirrors but once car behind me stops I hold brake because drivers in third and flollowing cars can't see my tapping

Venom, cars are just piles of metal and no car is worth risking health or life for.

Being pushed in the line of vehicles that some sideways on their green can be deadly. Even if you don't get pushed so much your neck can get seriosly injured by acceleration of unbraked car.

this isn't a usefull practice

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BA76glTfh_A