Honda is known for its standard transmissions. My first car when I was 16 was a 1990 Accord Sedan with standard transmission. Now I'm 22 and have an 08 Coupe. The engine is the 4 cylinder.
But there are points of confusion for me I could never clear up. I used to bring the car to a stop by putting it in neutral at about 5 mph and under. However at one point my father told me that is not good for it.
I'm not sure if I should believe him since he told me its not good to put it in neutral while stopped at a light, but now I know that is a must as leaving the petal in leads to clutch wear.
Now, I don't want to lug the engine either. Is it best to downshift to neutral. at 5 or less I often downshift into first gear, but now I hear that is very bad for the car. Is there no end to this! at 5 and less it goes in smoothly. But I hear that no matter what you have to wait until you stop because just like reverse, its all teeth in the engagement and no slip, so moving at all will lead to damage.
HOWEVER, when i don't shift into neutral i feel like i'm riding the clutch a little too much going from 5 to stop.
So (1) how do I come to a stop without causing engine wear or riding the clutch? Should I shift down into neutral? Should I never shift down into first?
(2), When i'm launching, sometimes i leave it in 1st gear when I want to drive at about 2-5 mph (usually through shopping centers). there are some of those new outdoor shopping malls that mimic small towns around here, with narrow streets and pedestrians everywhere. Because of this, i sometimes drive at only about 2 mph for extended periods of time. should I leave it in 1st or shift up to 2nd no matter what once i get moving? I don't want to lug the engine, but it even seems almost at lug when i'm in 1st at that speed. Or should I just never drive a standard transmission that slow?
(3) lugging the engine. I shift up at at an rpm where once its in gear it never falls below 1500 rpm. I want to get good gas mileage, but I don't want to lug. Under 1500 feels like its lugging, am I right? The manual says it recommends operating at over 1000 in a standard, but it feels like lugging to me until 1500, am I right? or am i cutting too close, should I shift at an even higher rpm still?
__________________ 2008 Honda Accord Coupe EX-L i4 Nighthawk Black Pearl manual trans. - 7500 miles.
