When I slow down from say 55mph I almost always brake a little and downshift to slow down. If I'm going slower sometimes I don't even use the brakes until I'm going 15 or less.

I got over 100,000 miles on my brake pads (backs went first for some reason), and I'm still on the original clutch. So I think as long as you're not slamming it into first at 55mph or popping the clutch, you should be fine either way.

I've also gotten pretty good at upshifting from 3->4 and 4->5 without clutching.


98 Contour V6 MTX, T-Red, 150k mi. Pic SVT Dual Exhaust, KKM Intake, Donnely Mirror, Dension DMP3 Player w/80GB of MP3s, Wheelskin 95 F-150 91 Mustang GT 06 Honda Shadow Aero