Ok, I just got home from having to drive my girlfriends 92 Saturn, and was surprised by something...

I realized that when I let off the gas, the car would coast much smoothly than mine does (97 EX). I was wondering if Civics are known for this or something, or if there's something wrong with my wheels, or anything. Anyone have any ideas?

yea i think civic are notorious for bad coasting because when i go down a big hill and let off the gas my car (94) slows down instead of going to same speed or going faster.

yeah that too man, it downshifts when going downhill, maybe it's cause its an automatic or something? I dunno though, cause my girfriends car is an auto too...

Yea if its an auto its uasualy going to naturally downshift. Mine does the same.

Manual is better :-) My Civic CX is the first car I have driven for any length of time that is a manual, and I love it, you can make it do what you want when you want.

Something I noticed about auto T.s is if you put it into N it coasts faster/longer, since the engine isn't slowing it down.

the trans downshits causing engine braking like downshifting in a manual when coming to a light to slow you down.

the trans downshits causing engine braking like downshifting in a manual when coming to a light to slow you down.

lol, nice typo :lol2:

i work for valet and one thing you should notice is that some of the newer cars will down shift cause they think your eventually going to be coming to a stop which in my part seems to be less wear and tear on your brakes...lucky you dont drive mercedes and bmws... some of the newer ones i drive really down shift when you let off the gas its like i dont even have to press the brakes.. but my car is a manual so i love coasting downhills.. it saves gas

Leaving it in gear/pulling against the transmission when coasting uses less gas that clutching in/going to neutral