Driving Hard & Downshifting

[cvandoren]

Hi,
I got my 2005 S-Type 3.0 this february and I have about 9,000 miles on it. It is a 3 year lease and I drive the car really hard, i accelerate very quickly most of the time and take corners fairly quickly and i keep the car is Sport mode alot of the time. I was just wondering if driving the car like this will cause any damage in the near future?
Also, my car is Auto and say im driving down a hill, is it good to downshift the car instead of braking?

[lamehonda]

Downshifting isn't good for the long term life of the tranny. turning rotors and getting new brake pads is much cheaper than a new tranny.

[Aston_Jag_Tech]

Driving a car hard is exactly what it implies, HARD!
Down shift a auto tranmission to brake? HARD!

I would take it easy cowboy, ZF made a great trans but comon.

Scott