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by hinkley 1113 days ago
I'm only on my second set of brake pads on my TDI and you're right. However in most real driving situations, engaging the engine braking requires feathering the brake long enough to get it to downshift.

So while my brakes aren't on the whole time, they are on when I first make myself a problem that needs to be managed.
2 comments
mrguyorama 1113 days ago
>engaging the engine braking requires feathering the brake long enough to get it to downshift.

What? No, you put in the clutch, pull out of gear into neutral, rev match up to the engine speed for the lower gear, plop the shifter into it, release the clutch. What do you use the friction brakes for? Hell, you can skip the rev matching completely if you don't mind clutch wear and jerkiness.

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FractalParadigm 1113 days ago
Even with a DSG-equipped car like the parent likely has, you can use the "manual" mode ("M" on the shifter) and downshift to as low as the car will allow. This also has the benefit of 'preparing' the transmission for further downshifting, as it will pre-select the next gear down instead of up. My car is indeed a 6MT, and downshifting happens exactly as described.
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tcoppola 1113 days ago
I believe they're talking about a manual transmission TDI. In which you could simply downshift and engine brake, without engaging the brakes.
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