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Old 05-03-2012, 05:50 PM   #11 (permalink)
MetroMPG
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Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: 1000 Islands, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 22,521

Blackfly - '98 Geo Metro
Team Metro
Last 3: 70.09 mpg (US)

MPGiata - '90 Mazda Miata
90 day: 52.71 mpg (US)

Even Fancier Metro - '14 Mitsubishi Mirage top spec
90 day: 70.75 mpg (US)

Appliance car - '14 Mitsubishi Mirage ES (base)
90 day: 52.48 mpg (US)
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I disagree that a car in neutral is necessarily "out of control". If I need power or engine braking, I shift. I don't see the problem. I remain in control.

I'm not 100% sure where that old "neutral = out of control" warning came from. I come across it once in a while.

I suspect it dates back to the days when vehicles had relatively poor friction brakes and applying (riding) them during a long descent while in neutral (ie. minus engine braking) could have led to braking loss due to fade or boiling the brake fluid.

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Ecodriving test: Manual vs. automatic transmission MPG showdown



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