How does downshifting burn more fuel? Just because revs go up doesn't mean you're burning more gas -- there's load on the engine from the wheels that's making it rev, not combustion of fuel.
I downshift for every stop and through every gear. I still touch the brakes though because people are too stupid these days to realize that just because your brake lights aren't on doesn't mean you aren't slowing down.
Being in the right gear to quickly avoid a potential accident has saved my ass many more times than an emergency braking maneuver has.
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How many emergency manuevers does your average driver actaully hit the gas? Hmm, probably very few.
You're right -- probably very few times. But the average driver is also a total dumbass.
I've seen countless accidents that could have been easily avoided if people would have pressed the gas and moved out of the way rather than slamming on their brakes causing multi-vehicles pile-ups.
Just because people are stupid and slam on their brakes doesn't mean it's the right thing to do.
Coasting in 4th to a stop might even be worse than neutral -- not only can you not put power on the ground but if you go to slam on the brakes and let out the clutch you're much likelier to bog and stall the engine than if you were in 2nd -- leaving you stranded in an accident zone with a dead engine that you need to restart, totally at the whim of the drivers bearing down on you, praying that they can stop in time because you can't move until you get your engine started and in gear.
And in Neutral not only can you not put power to the ground to move out of the way of anything (no matter what it is) but with no load you increase your stopping distance even if you do need to slam on your brakes.
There's good reason why it's illegal to have your car in Neutral while in motion.
