At stop lights, do you stay in gear or go into neutral?

[Lavalover]

What are you planning to do, leave it in 5th? What I'm saying is to just put it in neutral--you have to start off in first anyway and you will not go into first until you are nearly stopped.

[boredom.is.me]

Actually I coast to every stop light in 6th and never downshift. Continue being a smart ass.

[Lavalover]

Why thank you I will.

[paulca]

Real world: If I coasted to the red lights, I stay in neutral till they go amber. If I didn't coast to the lights, it depends on how long I'll be waiting. Pedestrian crossing, I stay in 1st as they only last 20 seconds. A junction I know I'll be waiting at a while or up hill, neutral and hand brake

Driving test mode (for advanced lessons): Handbrake and neutral if I expect to be there longer than a few seconds.

You can save a load of fuel free wheeling towards red lights (or downhills), but it would be a driving test fail over here, including the advanced test.... but they don't pay my fuel bill!

[rs999]

I didn't vote because it depends on length of the red light.

On a long light, go into neutral and sit on the brake.

Short or reactive lights, goto first and then over-rev it as you get moving again.

[tennisfreak]

Motorcycle rider here, follow same rule for both bike and car.

Approaching light and can tell its about to change, leave it in gear.

At stop light no one behind me, neutral until I see someone approaching then I put in clutch and get in 1st. (yes I'm watching my rearview the entire time)

At stop light with others behind me stopped properly, in neutral.

Always watching cross traffic lights and when they turn yellow I put my vehicle 1st.

[arvidj]

Originally Posted by Clembo

Twenty plus manual transmission cars in 50 years and I've never put the car in neutral, always stayed in gear with the clutch in at traffic lights. Never replaced a clutch or TOB. Different story if caught in dead-stop traffic or for any long period of time like at RR crossings.

Originally Posted by Fish Eagle

+1

42 years of driving mainly manuals, many different cars, no clutch problems ever!!

As long as this thread has been brought back to life I'll add my experience.

50 years of manual cars and motorcycles and have always put it neutral.

Vehicles not used for performance events have never had a clutch replaced, with the record being a Toyota Tacoma 4x4 truck with 274,000 miles on it. Thought the box, frame and brake lines did rust out completely. Thanks Minnesota Department of Transportation!!

Vehicles used for performance activities had different results, but that was to be expected.

[neutral]

DO YOU SEE MY USERNAME?

[DaDr00]

Neutral at a stop light with my foot on the brake if needed.

Also, make sure you're in a gear BEFORE taking a turn. You don't want to get caught in neutral if you have to make a move.

[stugray]

Originally Posted by wbradley

Neutral. Saves my knee and leg and there's no chance I'll accidentally pop the clutch, jump into the intersection and get t-boned.

I definitely agree.

To those who say "If someone is going to rear-end me, I'll be able to get out of the way".

I think the above scenario (causing an accident) is more likely than being able to avoid one.
And also - If you are going to pop the clutch and jump forward to avoid getting rear-ended.... what about the traffic that you are jumping into.
Youd rather t-bone someone or get t-boned than rear-ended?

I'll take the rear end over the t-bone anyday (que the sexual comments).

Put it in neutral and relax the clutch foot.

If you are worrying about the time it takes you to get into gear, then you are either really slow at getting in gear, or you have some serious life issues to resolve.

[Braces]

Neutral. Less stress on my knee. As I approach a stoplight .... I rev-match and shift to neutral without the clutch ... and coast in.

[MokSpeed]

Depends on whether I'm on level surface or going up/down a hill.

[_j_anthony]

If I am the first car at the light I'll watch the other traffic light to see it turn yellow and go on my green.
If I'm not the first I'll wait for the brake light from the car first car to go off then I'll put my car in gear.

[Chad86]

Originally Posted by virobloc

I try to put it in neutral at every stop. I feel it's better for the clutch.

Originally Posted by DarkSunrise

Neutral, unless the light is about to turn green.

Originally Posted by SloS13

neutral. Save the throwout bearing.

Originally Posted by Kunzite

Neutral. Why needlessly stress the clutch?

Originally Posted by wbradley

Neutral. Saves my knee and leg and there's no chance I'll accidentally pop the clutch, jump into the intersection and get t-boned.

Originally Posted by neutral

DO YOU SEE MY USERNAME?

Agreed.