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As a point of interest I was on a driving course that taught us to drive on the brakes rather than the engine to stop the excess wear and tear on the engine and gearbox due to the price of engine and gearbox wear compared to pads and disks. The company saved thousands of pounds a year by changing the driving style less clutch wear, less gearbox wear and less engine wear, so no slipping in to numeral is not putting any wear on your engine, what we were taught was do not shift in to a gear unless you are going to drive that gear well if you are stopping you wouldn't shift to first to sit and wear your clutch out.
Alex is the real deal! I met him and his wife on their vacation a few days ago. They are just as genuine and nice as in his videos. Great job, yet again, Alex!
@@stoneman8110 who’s saying he didn’t? Jobs usually take about a week to get back to you then you gotta go through an interview, orientation and back ground checks.
@@draxicous906 man just do it lol I’ve never worked on a car my whole life not even little stuff and I’ve quickly fell in love with working on them older cars are so easy to work on I think you’ll love it!
@@williamchaney6154 I actually work on many cars. I drive a 2001 buick Leasaber old granny car. Love it though nicest ride I have been in. And I have been in many Mercedes-Benz, Audi, Chrysler even new genesis Just don't compare to the good Ole Air ride, compressor some old cars run.
Take note gear heads! When life gives you lemons, BUY A MODDED TRANS AM of course! Love it Alex, cool ride. And your boys at Modern Masters are great people. What an adventure.
I'm an old timer hot rodder from the 60's & 70's. I built my own super fast '55 Chevy 210, with a Jim Hall Chaparral hypo 327, bullet proof bell housing, Muncie 4-speed, and 4:11 gears, back in the day, and other stick shift cars, too numerous to mention. I was a very good speed shifter, and never blew a clutch or tranny. Luckey I guess...lol? But I always drive using gears to slow down until I stop, with no problems. I'm almost 80-years old now, and drive a beautiful custom '86 Fiero GT that I built, running a super charged 3800 from a 2003 Bonneville, with a 3.4" pulley, putting out around 300hp at the wheels, and love the sounds of decelerating into the corners and accelerating out of the corners. I think it comes from loving to hear the deceleration noise, popping and rapping, like the European race drivers do on the track, when going through the turns, etc. It just sounds right to me. Doing that versus popping it into neutral to slow down using the brakes, is no problem either way. Except you save the brake shoes and/or brake pads. That's my opinion...for what it's worth...lol
Enjoyed this very much! I have a 94 Trans Am I bought new. 338.000 miles on it now . Engine never been touched, even the timing chain is original! Still runs like new. So cal car. No corrosion issues...this car has been seriously messed with, hopefully thats not going to cause long term issues.
Really? I boughtit new in June of 94. SouthernCalifornia car. 0 corrosion issues. I was 34 at the time. Never abused, never modified in any way. 3000 mile oil changes, Castrol GTX. One factory rebuilt GM GOODWRENCH Transmission replacement. Meticulously maintained, still looks nearly new inside and out. Runs like new, even has original timing chain. Uses no oil. Was my daily till 2005 when I bought a new car. During that time was driven 30, 35 thousand miles per year. Is the Dark Green metallic with black leather interior. @scotmandel6699
Worked at a GM dealer in 93-94 when this model came out. It was fun trying to set them up in the show room cause the plexiglass pads we had to park them on would slip out as soon as the rear tires would climb over the plexiglass pads. Salesmen had to hold them down with their foot!
The 4th gen LS TA is timeless. When they are kept in great shape they just do not age. The interiors of course are a different story, but the body lines and styling are incredible. In 2009 I sold my flawless red 1995 LT-1 TA to have my favorite testicle surgically removed (Testicular Cancer'), so I can't really say I regret selling. But I do miss that ride more than you can imagine...it was quite the sacrifice. Man, what I would give for another 4th gen TA...definitely not another nut though! Anyhow, yet another fantastic purchase Alex! I can't think of a better person to bring this ole girl back in top shape.
This channel is so addictive. Alex and Peter are so damn funny and i love that they work on anything and everything. The filming and editing are just a step above. I find myself watching their new content before any others.
The extra bolt locations on the torque arm are for the v6 cars as they have a split 2 piece drive shaft. There is a bearing in a bracket that supports the centre of the driveshaft.
@@austin_firebird The v8s didn't get them either, this guy probably found the cheapest torque arm and switched it out before he sold the car. The torque arm in the video is 100% a V6 torque arm, from what year? Who knows
One of my favorite videos so far. I’m a Mercedes guy through and through, but started out in love with GM. Something about the raw & natural road trip footage resonates with me. My son is 16 and never showed interest in cars until I told him to look for one so I can stop driving him around everywhere. If he gets his way and lands a TA, I’ll try to catch you at Fluid some time (it’s like 30 min from us).
I just love the way you get so excited when you get all these awesome cars from the past and you fix them the right way and no cutting corners. Great channel.
Love the Trans Am, looks like a keeper to me! Regarding the neutral coasting thing, you are right it does no harm to the gearbox or anything else. In the UK its how we are taught (majority still learn in manual cars here) it’s more to do with less control of the vehicle as you lose all engine braking. I prefer to slow down in gear and depending on what sort of ‘progress’ I’m doing I will shift down through the gears or do block changes as required 👍
Just recently discovered your channel. Obviously I subscribed. I'm 44. Been a gear head since the early '90s. Just got into RUclips when COVID hit. There are so many great car channels that it's hard to keep track. I live in Louisville, KY which has a decent car community that doesn't get get a lot of recognition. The LS1 WS6 with the massive snout is one of my favorite rides. I had a built Fox Body when these cars hit. I will never forget the commercial that Chevy put out to promote the platform... A Trans AM Firehawk pulls up to a red light behind a Fox Body Mustang. The light turns green and the T.A. sucks the Fox Body up its massive ram air snout and spits it out the tail pipe! Talk about a commercial specifically made to piss of Ford guys. It did too.. Thank God for the LS1 because it brought back the horse power wars that pushed Ford and Dodge to again make fast cars and bring back American Muscle! Great channel, great car. Brings back some great memories!
Right on man, welcome to cartube. If you want some more content (not sure what all you've seen or like yet), maybe check some of these out if you haven't. -Vice Grip Garage: A shoestring and bubblegum kinda guy that has done some incredible revivals including running a model A some 600 miles home from the barn it was found in, using the tools he had on him. I consider him to be the Bob Ross of Cartubers. Most relaxing and entertaining car content here, IMO. -Junkyard Digs: Great dude with an even greater Fiancee (Mook) who works on all things old and rusted. Very entertaining with recurring "characters" (his friends) who always keep the content interesting. Mook also has her own channel (Junkyard Mook), and the girl can friggin wrench! -Cleetus McFarland: Overall performance and racing channel of all styles (focuses on drag racing, but also circle track, drifting, Stadium SuperTrucks, jetboats, etc.) with some vlogs here and there. Currently competing in World Cup with multiple cars. Great dude, even better team, and a hell of a work ethic. Hell yeah, brother! -KSR Performance and Fabrication: one of the most knowledgeable car guys on the planet. Super humble, great explanations, and a good look into the mind of a master craftsman. -Finnegan's garage: Yes, that Mike Finnegan from Roadkill. Everything from boats to drag cars. Great dude, and great content. Not much else to be said about this guy. -Bad Obsession Motorsports: even the Brits can do something right every now and then. The Queen spit these two out into the world to make some of the most incredibly well built race cars the planet has ever seen. Words cannot describe the lengths these two go to in order to build the very best projects they can muster. Their Project Binky series from start to finish is a must. -B is for Build: Wild dude with some insane custom rides. -TheCraig909: Great younger backyard mechanic with some excellent builds, turning rusty shit into impressive monsters. About as pure as a mad backyard scientist gets. Points for the mullet he sports. -SxS Blog: if you want to see ANYTHING involving off-road motors, you go here. Wild dudes with an appetite for destruction, or as they call it, "testing" lol. Excellent bunch, and very entertaining. -Ronald Finger: This guy is quality over quantity. He doesn't post much, but when he does, it's excellent. Past two projects are a Fiero home restoration project spanning multiple episodes, and an old sport bike rebuild (I forget the model, but it was the same bike from Top Gun). Wildly detailed and never a minute of boring content. -Rather B Welding: THE mad scientist for completely off road custom builds. Everything he makes is bespoke (whether or not it always does what he wants his creations to do is another story). If you like watching builds more than actual action with a vehicle, go here. That's all I really got off the top of my head, but there are just so damn many to watch. Hope you find some of these interesting, and maybe this will ensure you have something to always watch on a lunch break!
My dad and my uncle moved to Romeoville IL. after Vietnam from Welsh WV. My childhood was filled with the family tradition of a road race from IL. to WV and back. At least once a year to visit family. My dad a GM guy in his 70 Monte Carlo SS, and my Uncle the Ford guy in his 70 Mustang Mach 1. My cousin and I riding shotgun in our respective fathers cars. My cousin and I kept up the tradition up until the mid 2000's, me in my Camaro's and he in his GT Mustangs, until all the old timers in the family had passed away. Such beautiful country to drive, so many memories rekindled by this video. I'm a BMW guy now, but that LS1 rumble... Perfection.
In regards to coasting to a stop in neutral, we were taught in truck driving school to always keep it in gear as well while coming up to a stop. The theory is ‘out of gear, out of control’ so if an emergency situation were to arise, you have the ability to accelerate if needed. Nothing about it being bad for the trans though, which I would highly doubt since the gear oil will still be splashing around from the output shaft spinning
My thought as well. Not a trans issue, more of a driving safety issue. Being in gear gives you additional engine braking, and instant acceleration for collision avoidance, but you're not going to hurt anything.
Agreed, I was also told it was more economical too as in neutral more fuel is needed to keep the engine turning versus engine braking. That said my DSG box in eco mode will put the car into neutral and coast when decelerating.
maybe by keeping in neutral people think about keeping it on clutch - you can damage clutch bearing by keeping clutch on whole the time. also not using engine for breaking helps you boil breaks on long descends can't fiind anything that would hurt transmision tho
I have a similar build in my 98 just a BTR stage 3 instead of the magic stick. You’re likely making 420-440 rwhp and high 300’s to low 400’s rwtq. Great find and enjoy! You’re right also, greatest family of engines ever made!
I don't think I've ever vicariously enjoyed a drive as much as I did yours home from WV. Nice find. I can only imagine how much more awesome that trip would have been with Peter there to vibe off of your enjoyment.
This channel is so much more entertaining than 90% of any other car shows on network television. One reason I believe is that the boys are passionate about the cars they purchase.
It was great entertainment watching Alex descending deeper into madness as the trip went on, talking to himself, talking to imaginary people and doing car voices 🤣
@@SandyNickk it’s quite literally the only way to stay sane. But it’s just so much damn fun, you can tell he’s genuinely having so much fun driving this car. It’s awesome to see
It's mind-blowing the effect of non-human interaction can have on the psyche in a short period of time. Long-term non-human interaction causes permanent damage and the loss of sanity. Kind of makes me feel sorry for the guys in light deprivation solitary confinement ( or what they call being placed in the hole ) depending on what they are in solitary confinement for of course because some people you just can't feel sorry for
You just can’t beat late 80s, 90s and early 2000s hot rods. I loved my 89 Mark VII and my 97 Mark VIII even more! I get excited when I get up beside one of these units the same vintage as mine!
I always gear down while slowing down and always have the car in the correct gear for the speed that I am going. This allows the engine to help with the breaking and also has me ready to accelerate instantly if needed without trying to figure out what gear to put it in. I believe it is mostly a safety issue not a mechanical issue. This is most noticeable on a motorcycle where you could practically come to a full stop without even using the brake and be able to instantly take off without having to shift gears first.
THIS IS WHAT LIFE IS ALL ABOUT BROTHA! amazing man glad to see you having fun and enjoying that awesome road trip! Made me smile the whole trip! Felt like i was there with you! Have fun with this project!
Hey, after watching this video, I wanted to let you know. It’s not hard on the transmission to stop in this manner, it’s hard on the brakes. You will wear your pads much faster by not downshifting and you will heat up your brakes to failure on a road course without downshifting which is precisely why all road racers downshift. It’s amazing to me that everyone you know drives without downshifting. I’m 53 years old and have been both club and historic racing my entire adult life and I know no one that drives a manual transmission without downshifting to slow down. I mean, it makes perfect sense. You have engine compression at your fingertips to use to slow down. It’s free whereas brake pads wear and heat up. Just my two cents. Love your content.
The neutral thing is actually a safety issue. If you suddenly needed to accelerate or whatever, you have to make a couple of steps to be able to do so. Even if you are super fast with your hands and whatnot, it will take you time. Freewheeling isn't technically bad for the car, but not always the safest move.
I literally just purchased a silver 02 Trans Am WS6 Ram air 4 days ago, has 65k miles on it and is in amazing condition, it even has a undercoat on the bottom of the car and a really nice sounding after market exhaust.It’s really such an amazing car and I love it, but mine does not have that battery cover or any of the WS6 badges under the hood, I’m not sure if they were a factory option or a aftermarket thing, but I wouldn’t mind having the batter cover. That blue with the carbon fiber is really nicer I may see if it would look good on mine, but I’ll try to do it better than it was on that car, will probably throw a supercharge in it as well, other than that I’m going to keep it stock, it truly is the last of its breed, and an end of an era, Pontiac should have never been shut down.
I have always wanted one of these. I remember sitting in one at an auto show back when they launched. Instantly was smitten for the WS6 and my inner mullet was ready to rock. Anyways, I have always used the transmission to down shift because that is how I was taught by my father when learning manual. He said it just help save brakes at the potential cost of clutch wear. With that, I do skip gears a lot, both up and down as needed and have no issues just tossing it into neutral most days, especially when no one is behind me and can just coast long as possible when not in hurry to complete a stop. Save fuel, save gas, save brakes, and save clutch wear.
The way I see it I use netural cuz clutches are a pricey er and harder job then brakes and typically just pads at that. Idk wear on brakes always sounds better then clutches
I'm brand new to this channel and by no means a fan boy but I have to agree with this guy on his neutral coasting. I do the same thing. The number of people in the comments vehemently saying they "never would" do that and "don't know anybody who does that" are silly. It's a style of driving and no more a "safety hazard" than driving with one hand. Engine braking isn't something you need to use driving stoplight to stoplight, as evidenced by the fact that automatic cars don't use it. Saying it'll "wear the brakes faster" to coast in neutral is idiotic. Keep doing what you're doing man, love the F-body content.
It's so true that friendships are built on shared experiences. Even though we're not "technically" friends, I feel like most of us in here would be, and one experience a lot of us would probably share is12:25. I just made my day brighter because that post-stall body language is so relatable. Every single person who has daily driven a standard has done that exact same motion with that same look on their face. Like Howie Day said, "even the best fall down sometimes..." and it doesn't make it any better, not one bit. I love that this was left in here.
I love seeing Trans am videos, especially yours. They are very informative and interesting. I also noticed the rattling from the front. That could be a bolt missing from the headlight shroud. Just hanging there vibrating.
I couldn't afford to buy a car like that for fun. If I win the lottery though that will be the exact car I get. Such an amazing and beautiful car. Exhaust sounds are angelic. Kudos to you!
I've heard about the gearing down when you slow down for a light but in my mind it's more to do with you being ready to accelerate if you need to in case of danger. You want to be ready to make a quick move but other than that, there's definitely no damage that can happen to a transmission if it's coasting in neutral.
Not necessarily gearing down but yeah just engine braking untill like 1100rpm then going into neutral is what I was thought. The reasoning is indeed that this way you are 'more in control' of the vehicle compared to being in neutral, whatever that means lol.
IMHO for safety in general it's better to have the car in gear as much as possible (say, if you get rear ended by someone while approaching the intersection it can also take longer to stop). I'd also add that not using engine braking puts unnecessary stress on the brakes, but for just a couple of stop lights it shouldn't really matter.
@@johnl3230 Not telling anybody what to do, but I generally coast as much as possible unless I want to slow quickly then add engine braking. downshifting constantly just seems wasteful on 2 levels, but not when it's my saturday muscle car I downshift a bit more often for more racecar noise.
@@johnl3230 Eh, it's a bit of an extreme case, but I've seen people try to coast going down mountain roads to "save fuel" in older cars and have their brakes faded by the time they get to the bottom
Yes we all missed Peter. Hopefully he will be back for Saturday morning. Oh yeah Max too!! Nice ride. Alex you were so giddy the whole trip. Happy for you.
Because of your videos like this driving cars you bought interstate and driving them back home on a huge ass road trip, I decided to do the same. Flew Brisbane to Canberra for a manual BMW 130i. Caught the flight Monday. Bought the car the next morning. 3.5hrs driving Canberra to Sydney. Then stayed with a friend overnight. Then Wednesday did the 13hrs back from Sydney to Brisbane with one real stop in Port Macquarie for a feed from McDonalds haha. The car is a gem. Didn't miss a beat. ~800miles total.
I used to travel a lot for work. My favorite thing was to fly to the aiport furthest away, rent a hemi challenger and then absolutely beat that muscle car along the backroads for a couple hours to the office. The immediate torque and speed is incredible, so is the exhaust sound and all the fancy comfort and safety features that kept me from flying off into a soybean field at 200mph!! Everyone needs at least one muscle car!!!
The only reason I was told to always leave it in gear even when slowing down is you might have to accelerate for whatever reason maybe to avoid something and if you are in neutral you can’t do that as fast.
Exactly what I was gonna say. Had a situation where i was going through a green light, and someone ran the red, the extra deceleration from the transmission and the breaks made it so I didn’t hit him
I might leave in the gear I was using but then it's neutral most situations. every time you downshift you wear the syncros the clutch the through out bearing and put reverse pressure on the crank bearings and transmission. brake pads are cheap
I have been watching these videos for a lil while. Made me feel awesome and excited!. Not just your channel. I but all over. Made me feel great that good change is on the way for me. BUT! I realize that it's not for me! I still believe in it! I hope hope that if you are watching this! This does actually work for you. Just keep up with it. Make good choices, stay positive and things will be awesome for you. But it's not meant for everyone . I now kinda realize that everyone can't win. It's definitely not meant for everyone. Every positive had to have a negative. I'll take the loss so others can win. I'll be the sacrifice so others can move forward. So keep up with it and good will happen for you.
Slowing in neutral isn't bad for the transmission. However, you'll use up your brakes faster and it's ever so slightly more dangerous because you can't immediately accelerate if you had to for some reason so there's a loss of some control there. I think it is or used to be illegal to coast in neutral for that reason at least in some states.
Besides those points, coasting in neutral you might use a little more fuel as the fuel injectors can shut off if you coast in gear. In neutral you're using gas just to keep the engine idling.
While both valid points, from Mr. Bing and Mr Kennedy, changing brakes/rotors is still less expensive than replacing a clutch from poor rev matching while slowing down. On a side note, I have some vids on my channel with the same color/year WS6.
Throttle response is the safety factor. Throttle response is can also be a danger if not used responsibly... but that is what makes a mundane trip and adventure!
Burning up the clutch downshifting to slow down vs using the brakes, I'd prefer to use the brakes. Cheaper and easier to fix than replacing the clutch.
absolutely loved that BTW in UK we don't drift to a stop in neutral. Driving 36 years & it's always been seen as a bit of a no no. Best is use engine braking & brakes together
Why is it a no no? I know some people who do both and they haven’t had problems. I understand engine braking is more efficient than braking in neutral.
@@brenton9492 I think sometimes people say its a safety issue, like if you needed to quickly accelerate and had to put the car back in gear, I still don't really understand it though.
I believe 'Coasting' in neutral or with clutch down for too long would mean you would fail a driving test in the uk, which is probably why we don't do it that much in the UK. Also with engine braking it reduces the wear on the brakes as they have a bit of assistance.
hope you see this! Im hunting for my first self bought car, i was blessed with given a Pontiac bonneville and have been obsessed with Pontiac ever since, this is and will forever be my dream car. These videos like this just keep me going and motivated
Another great video. Simply awesome sound from the new addition to the stable. Glad that I lucked out on my guess! As for the coasting in neutral, I don't know of any engineering back-up to warrant the claim that its damaging. Those people who grew up only driving standard transmissions frequently select neutral when slowing down.
I had a 2002 35th anniversary Camaro SS with the SLP package. T-tops, leather, center exit exhaust, basically the nicest Camaro you could get at the time. The only thing I did to it was long tube headers, and a smooth bellow for the intake and a stall converter, and yes it was an auto, but I actually liked that. I raced several six speed F-bodies with similar mods and would win only because I beat them off the line cuz I knew how to launch the crap out of that auto and they would just stay spinning cuz they'd dump the clutch. Anyway, I LOVED that car and seeing this WS-6 totally takes me back to high school! 👍
My brother has a 35th anniversary SS (special edition) with the M6. I have a 30th anniversary SS A4 (white with orange stripes). My car had the LT1, but I found a pair of LT4 heads, and they are in the shop for porting right now. My car was 100% stock, but since the engine was blown when i bought it, the build has snowballed into a big-cam, forged internals, beast!
Love the car. You got a great deal. As far as the putting it in neutral and slowing down, you aren't hurting anything. My almost 81 father taught me that when driving a manual, brakes are cheaper than a transmission. I would gear down like you when slowing to a traffic light etc. He's probably right, but I have owned more manual than automatic cars, and I always shift down or even heal to toe.
I'm no mechanic but we were always told when riding our motorcycles not to shift it into neutral before slowing down. It was more of a safety issue in case anything happened and you had to quickly move. Harder to do quickly if you have to shift it into gear versus having the bike in gear and hand on the clutch, ready to go. Plus it wears your breaks faster too. I always downshift and use the engine to help slow me.
That's so much more wear on you, the clutch, and the transmission that is unnecessary for the daily driving rolling up to a stop sign. Using engine braking while heading down a long hill or mountain makes plenty of sense to not cook your brakes however.
Yup, I slow down by clutching down through the gears as I get close to a light, and i was taught to do that rather than shifting to neutral and using the brake because I never knew if I might not need to get out of the way of the fool behind me, if for whatever reason they don't stop. Or any maneuver, really, that requires power. And while the comment about brakes being cheaper than clutches (especially these days?) is very true, the lack of being able to GO when I need to? I'll keep clutching down.
I used to have a 95 Z28 convertible with the t56 6 speed, and like you I used to get around 31mpg… absolute blast to drive. One of the cars I regret getting rid of the most.
Clutch. what you doing is great. Way back in 69-70 my friend and I had 69 Camaros. We read an article in Hot Rod or something about extending clutch life. It said to put the trans in neutral when ever you are at a stop light. I have been doing that for years. My friend bought his 69 SS new and did that and got insane mileage out of that clutch! So whoever is giving you grief about that Tell them to Buzz off. I have had done this for years.
I absolutely loved the first season of the Motor Trend show, "Roadkill". This has that vibe (only with no problems). What I am saying is, love this style of content and will happily consume it all, should you be able to make more.
I watched as much Roadkill until it went behind a pay-wall. and engine masters. The best roadkill was when they took an engine out of a car and put it in a boat - in the parking lot!
@@stuartd9741 Same here. I loved the concept, but I don't want to keep track of another subscription for one show. Finnegan is still up to his schnanigans though, and its a similar, if not the same, vibe. My fav RK episode was the completion of the Alaska trip in the Ranchero.
@@zeroforkgiven yes remember that one was a while ago now. Yeah once you start paying subscriptions for every show you want soon adds up. Was gutted when RK went subscription.. Fun while it lasted.
Nothing bad for the trans about coasting in neutral. The only thing I could think of is when you're in neutral if you suddenly need to move you'd have to get in gear first. But coasting to the last part of the stop in neutral is fine. (Also I'd never shift into first if I'm still moving)
You are better off shifting into first when going at about 2-3mph than from full stop. Saves syncros on the most abused gear (1st). OFC only applies when you know you will shortly have to move, otherwise idling at a red light with the clutch pushed in wears out the throwout bearing.
@@silentshredr LOL average american education brain. Keeping it in gear saves gas, also you can't use your vs you're properly. Manual transmissions have no pumps or anything dependent on gear engagement. They are splash lubricated by the output shaft gears.
Love this one Alex Legit Street Cars . Love the channel! My LSC is a 2003 C5 50th Anniversary Special Edition. Thanks you are actually teaching about troubleshooting and providing incredible real world info!
I was taught to use the transmission to gear down to a stop to keep rev up on the motor. This improved the vacuum to the brake booster allowing better braking efficiency
Yes, let's wear out the clutch and the transmission unnecessarily because it'll be slightly easier to push the brake, thanks to the improved boost vacuum.
Dude that Trans Am is almost perfect and I'm jealous AF. That Navy Blue is my favorite 4th gen color. I have an '02 SS with the full SLP Package, and Eibach springs and upgraded front/rear sways. Also have poly motor mounts and bushings. it's silver metallic and 80K miles. It's my baby, bought it used in '06 when I got my discharge. BTW you got a killer deal on that WS-6. Please don't destroy it 😟
Please keep this TA, I absolutely love Firebirds. The Last of the Breed package on the 2002 Firebirds was a dealer installed option. Some had them, some had no idea what it was. The carbon fiber sail panel was put on to replace the original panel that was bubbling from the glue. I suggest pulling out a few staples from the door panels so they don't crack. I can't wait to see the next video on this car!
Had many 4th Gen Firebirds & Trans Ams. That noise sounds like a loose jack that is supposed to be bolted in place behind the passenger quarter panel (remove the trunk trim & it's there). Also check to see if the power antenna motor is loose because it can make that metallic clunk too :)
Hey Alex, sweet WS6😎 The coasting to a stop thing isn't so much about mechanical damage but the fact that you lose the additional braking advantage of the engine. Coasting to a stop might seem fairly innocuous, but it is no different to coasting down a steep hill in neutral... Engine braking in that Firebird is like having a 5-600 bhp extra brake. Off throttle you're burning next to no fuel compared to being at idle. Also, at idle you lose the additional cooling benefits of the waterpump spinning at a higher rpm... Want proof? Run that car on urban streets in 6th... It will be pretty much at idle cruising around. Watch the temp go through the roof. Run the same route but stay in 4th or 3rd and the temp will stay much cooler. Roll upto the stops as you leave Mexico in gear and the coolant temp will be more stable.
You guys are all full of shit. A transmission is designed forward motion. Using it to slow down is damaging to the clutch, flywheel bearings. That's what the brakes are for and by throwing it in neutral it also saves on brake wear. Use some common sense.
@@b58hustler71 Bless your heart. Perhaps you could start by understanding what engine braking is and how to apply it... This might help: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Engine_braking 😉 Drive down the road at your chosen speed, lift off, allow the speed to drop a few hundred rpm, change down, repeat. With practice, you will be arriving at the stop line at walking pace, requiring minimal use of the brakes. And it might shock you to know that it's just as effective in an auto.
@@alasdairhompstead7950 engine braking isn't necessary. You don't understand that a car is not an 18 wheeler. What a moron. You use more fuel by engine braking, especially city driving where you are stopping every block or 2. Over the period of years, that's a lot over extra wear on the drive train and extra cost in fuel consumption.
@@b58hustler71 you use almost no fuel because the throttle is closed and forward momentum keeps the crank turning. Coasting actually uses more fuel because the engine is disconnected from drive train and requires fuel to keep running. Doesn’t matter if it is a car or a road train, the physics is the same, and when coasting you're not in full control. Do it on a driving test in the UK and you'll fail.
@@alasdairhompstead7950 read what you are saying. Disconnected from the drive train it uses more fuel? Are you dilusional? So are you saying that when the car is sitting still and the motor is Idling let's say at 675 RPMS, that it's using more fueling than when it's running at in gear at 2000 RPMS.? WTF. Good night. Moron.
Keeping the car in gear provides smoother stopping in icey or slippy conditions, I refer to it as driving on the gears , engaging the correct gear aids breaking and also ensures that you have a good power response if you need to accelerate, you can maintain better control of the car with the power always engaged. I'm old school back in UK where most people drive manual/ stick shifts . It's was considered a bad habit to coast in neutral and would have resulted in a driving test failure.
In a modern fuel injected car it also saves fuel (I know, like it's going to make a difference on an LS :)) but in neutral, the injectors have to fire to keep the engine running, whereas coating in gear allows the car's momentum to "pump" the engine with the injectors (and ignition) not contributing anything, so they can be shut off. This is even true for an automatic on long descents down a mountain pass: shift to a lower gear and use engine braking (and no fuel) to slow the vehicle and save the brakes. I've gone down so many mountains smelling brakes from vehicles around me riding their brakes all the way down the mountain. Not only is that eating up your brake pads, but eventually the fluid will boil and give a soft/long pedal, or worse.
Coasting in neutral isn't bad for the transmission... if anything, it probably preserves it. With that being said though, I think its a better habit to keep car in gear as much as possible and only put in neutral when stopped. I had a few bad habits driving my first car that was a 5 speed. These were pointed out by a mechanic friend that saw me doing them when I asked him to replace my 1st clutch: 1. Parking the car in neutral and only engaging parking brake (if parking break fails, car can roll away, so leave it in 1st or reverse when parked) 2. Coasting with clutch engaged is bad, as it wears it out prematurely (learned that the hard way) and 3. Crusing in neutral for an extended amount of time, as you give up throttle control and put a lot of extra wear on the brakes. Also, I think that learning rev matching and engine brake skills has helped with my endurance racing performance, as you keep more control of the car throughout. Hope that brings some new light or things to consider for anyone here!
It isn't bad for the transmission to slow down in neutral. It is harder on the brakes, so you will go through pads quicker, but that is about the extent of negative on the mechanical side.
This. Braking in neutral wears the brake pads more than down-shifting and engine-braking in gear. There's no reason the transmission would be damaged by braking in neutral.
@@devildogcody sorry that reply is meant for the other gentleman. It's pretty basic and we both know this, any one can change a set of brake pads. They are cheap and accessible. Changing a clutch is far more difficult. Therefore, use your clutch less and your brakes more.
There is yet to be born a motorhead that can resist playing in a tunnel. It's an echo chamber built for sound. My favorite is riding my Harley in the mountains on roads surrounded by trees late night when the only sounds are the bike. Natures tunnel. Love the TA, in the early 80's I had a 75.
Probably at least 20k these days. The market for these already bottomed out several years ago and they are appreciating. I bought my 98 for 6k 6 years ago, and it's worth more than I paid for it now.
The torque arm relocation bracket allows for better physics reducing wheel spin, it's a way better design, also allows you to install better larger exhaust easier. I've seen dyno numbers with the Volant intake you have and they're higher than other aftermarket lids, keep it! It also looks cool.
The only negative I've experienced with my volant is that the filters get dirty pretty fast due to exposure but it's not a big deal, I just wash them and then lightly re oil them.
@@FWDSUXARSE more dirty means more air, thus more power. If your filter in your lid isn't getting dirty it's because it's receiving less air. Air is dirty, that's just how it is.
The oil thing with slowing down is the same reason they say don’t tow a car and have it in neutral. It has to do with the trans fluid sitting at the bottom and while in gear, the actual gear is long enough to sit in the fluid and fling the fluid up over the gear sets soaking everything keeping it all lubed. While in neutral, the only actual gears moving in the trans are smaller ones therefor not reaching the fluid enough to fling it around the trans. For simply coming to a stop it really isn’t a huge deal because it’s such a short distance. I could see if you’ve done it stopping on a vehicle with 750,000 miles on it then MAYBE it could have an affect on it but again, that’s mainly for towing as the trans wouldn’t be having fluid flung thru out the trans for long mileage. Hope that helps!
In the US i agree 100%. Here in Europe no one wants them, they want cars that to 50 mpgs... Sad to say my 2008 Audi S6 V10 does at his best 18mpgs hahahaha
@@organiccold the ls1 corvettes got like 35mpg or something stupid on the interstate. But he's talking about performance an even for a performance engine they get good mileage because of the na torque
Great video and what a buy! 48K miles and looking so good on the underside. This is a great deal. You gotta keep this so you and peter can dragrace them eh? 😁😁😁
I'd love to hear the comments on driving a manual transmission in neutral (when slowing down). My son has had 2 manual cars (he's 17) and I've taught him to down shift, just like my Gpa taught me. I was always told it was easier on the brakes. Slowing down a manual transmission in neutral won't harm the transmission at all & would probably make it last longer. Most guys aren't like Alex though - who probably do a brake & rotor job in 15 mins.
You got an awesome deal on that Trans AM! I would just throw a MGW shifter in it. That intake probably works good with the hood. SLP is really good too.
I’m with you Alex! No issue with coasting down in neutral. Downshifting in order to engine brake a car coasting to a stop is not a problem either. It does however, contribute to wear and tear on the clutch. Brakes are waaaay cheaper and easier to replace than clutches. But hey, if it makes you feel better....knock yourself out!
Slowing in neutral is not bad for the transmission/car, but it does mean that the only control you have over the vehicle speed is the brakes, if a sudden 'thing' happened and you needed to accelerate again, you would have to go through the whole process of 'clutch, select gear, clutch out (with engine speed matching via throttle) and then accelerate. Just better driving to leave it in gear as you slow.
Slowing down in gear also saves gas, as it puts the engine in fuel cutoff, vs idle which uses fuel. It also means less wear on the brakes, but more wear on the clutch.
I bought my 2002 Trans AM just north of Orlando. It needed a few things done to it, so I had a local shop do the absolute necessary items then drove it back home to Atlanta. I didn't turn it off at fuel and food stops. I had a small block of wood holding up one headlight assembly for when it got dark. When I got it home did a little more to it and had a great car.
Interesting question about the neutral question. Although automatic trans were common enough when I grew up,the people who taught me to drive taught me to use the engine for a brake. It might have been because cars and esp older trucks trans were not well synchronized and they mostly had drum brakes so keeping it in gear helped maintain control in a couple of ways and it definitely saves brakes wear and fade. Once you learn to drive that way, it's just natural to do and I think still better practice. Down shift and brake definitely increases stopping power.
Here in Norway almost every car is manual gears, so when we were learning to drive cars, for me about 30 years ago we were told to shift down to save break pads or not to over heat the breaks breaking down hills. By the way I personally think you wear the trans more by down shifting and putting negative tork on the trans and the engine mounts and so on while breaking with the trans (we call it engine breaking). hope you understand what I mean 😅
That may be true, but I've always downshifted, in one car for 160k-170k miles and in a whole different car 100k miles and I had other faults, but the transmission on both worked just like new. As long as the car isn't constantly revving and not grinding gears they'll outlast the car.
I think it also has to do with controlling the vehicle. If you’re in neutral and then need to accelerate quickly, you may not be able to get it in the correct gear.
The transmission doesn't care where the force comes from, as long as no component is over-revved. Engine breaking isn't super easy and could wear the clutch quicker but it will not hurt the trans or the engine.
Biggest reason for keeping it in gear while slowing down is to save fuel and to save on the brakes. EFI cars don't inject fuel while coasting in gear over a certain rpm. Also, the car feels more in control, at least in my opinion. In Sweden, you'd fail your license test if you let the car coast in neutral.
I know this comment is late, but I did so many trips like what you did from PA to Illinois all the time in my TA! I need to fix my transmission up and give the engine a tune up and get it back on the road. I miss those memories so much!
I in general keep it in gear until I'm at least under 15 to 20 miles an hour and I know I'll be coming to a complete stop. Most of the time I just heel toe down to second and crawl up to stop lights and whatnot. It's just always safer to stay in gear, things can happen fast when you least expect it.
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They say to keep in gear for safety, no other reason .
But sounds beast to down shift!!!!
As a point of interest I was on a driving course that taught us to drive on the brakes rather than the engine to stop the excess wear and tear on the engine and gearbox due to the price of engine and gearbox wear compared to pads and disks. The company saved thousands of pounds a year by changing the driving style less clutch wear, less gearbox wear and less engine wear, so no slipping in to numeral is not putting any wear on your engine, what we were taught was do not shift in to a gear unless you are going to drive that gear well if you are stopping you wouldn't shift to first to sit and wear your clutch out.
Hey would you want to trade your Trans am for a Hayabusa imported from Japan
NO. I’m not installing RAID. Don’t be cancer.
Alex is the real deal! I met him and his wife on their vacation a few days ago. They are just as genuine and nice as in his videos. Great job, yet again, Alex!
doxxed
@@dr.mantistoboggan4746 bro what
Fake scamming improper English speaking bastard
Yeah Alex is a genuine guy..
Always learning from his videos is a really good role model for work ethic.
Man I lost my job last week and your videos have kept me occupied so my brain stays positive thanks for the help you give and the consistent uploads
Top gear uk saved my life in 2016. I know that feeling.
If you lost your job then why not apply a damn grocery store or a restaurant just saying.
@@stoneman8110 who’s saying he didn’t? Jobs usually take about a week to get back to you then you gotta go through an interview, orientation and back ground checks.
Keep your head up, bro. Look at this as an opportunity to start the career of your dreams!
Is that you Rainman Ray?
I almost teared up watching this. Absolute dream car. Can't believe you found one in that condition for that price. Super jealous. Love the channel.
I feel the same love these cars with all my heart.
I just bought a 1997 Formula Firebird with 136k miles for 4K I love it so much I hope you guys get yours one day!
@@williamchaney6154 Congrats. I have been looking at a 1988 gta but unsure.
@@draxicous906 man just do it lol I’ve never worked on a car my whole life not even little stuff and I’ve quickly fell in love with working on them older cars are so easy to work on I think you’ll love it!
@@williamchaney6154 I actually work on many cars. I drive a 2001 buick Leasaber old granny car. Love it though nicest ride I have been in. And I have been in many Mercedes-Benz, Audi, Chrysler even new genesis Just don't compare to the good Ole Air ride, compressor some old cars run.
Take note gear heads! When life gives you lemons, BUY A MODDED TRANS AM of course! Love it Alex, cool ride. And your boys at Modern Masters are great people. What an adventure.
Nice
I'm an old timer hot rodder from the 60's & 70's. I built my own super fast '55 Chevy 210, with a Jim Hall
Chaparral hypo 327, bullet proof bell housing, Muncie 4-speed, and 4:11 gears, back in the day, and other stick shift cars, too numerous to mention. I was a very good speed shifter, and never blew a clutch or tranny. Luckey I guess...lol? But I always drive using gears to slow down until I stop, with no problems. I'm almost 80-years old now, and drive a beautiful custom '86 Fiero GT that I built, running a super charged 3800 from a 2003 Bonneville, with a 3.4" pulley, putting out around 300hp at the wheels, and love the sounds of decelerating into the corners and accelerating out of the corners. I think it comes from loving to hear the deceleration noise, popping and rapping, like the European race drivers do on the track, when going through the turns, etc. It just sounds right to me. Doing that versus popping it into neutral to slow down using the brakes, is no problem either way. Except you save the brake shoes and/or brake pads. That's my opinion...for what it's worth...lol
Enjoyed this very much! I have a 94 Trans Am I bought new. 338.000 miles on it now . Engine never been touched, even the timing chain is original! Still runs like new. So cal car. No corrosion issues...this car has been seriously messed with, hopefully thats not going to cause long term issues.
Runs like new with 338,000 miles??? LOL I find that hard to believe.
Really? I boughtit new in June of 94. SouthernCalifornia car. 0 corrosion issues. I was 34 at the time. Never abused, never modified in any way. 3000 mile oil changes, Castrol GTX. One factory rebuilt GM GOODWRENCH Transmission replacement. Meticulously maintained, still looks nearly new inside and out. Runs like new, even has original timing chain. Uses no oil. Was my daily till 2005 when I bought a new car. During that time was driven 30, 35 thousand miles per year. Is the Dark Green metallic with black leather interior.
@scotmandel6699
Worked at a GM dealer in 93-94 when this model came out. It was fun trying to set them up in the show room cause the plexiglass pads we had to park them on would slip out as soon as the rear tires would climb over the plexiglass pads. Salesmen had to hold them down with their foot!
The 4th gen LS TA is timeless. When they are kept in great shape they just do not age. The interiors of course are a different story, but the body lines and styling are incredible. In 2009 I sold my flawless red 1995 LT-1 TA to have my favorite testicle surgically removed (Testicular Cancer'), so I can't really say I regret selling. But I do miss that ride more than you can imagine...it was quite the sacrifice. Man, what I would give for another 4th gen TA...definitely not another nut though! Anyhow, yet another fantastic purchase Alex! I can't think of a better person to bring this ole girl back in top shape.
this is the best comment on this entire vid. I feel like you and Alex would be fast freinds. xD
This channel is so addictive. Alex and Peter are so damn funny and i love that they work on anything and everything. The filming and editing are just a step above. I find myself watching their new content before any others.
The extra bolt locations on the torque arm are for the v6 cars as they have a split 2 piece drive shaft. There is a bearing in a bracket that supports the centre of the driveshaft.
The v6 in those years have one piece
@@austin_firebird yes but the 4th Gen is a parts bin car
@@austin_firebird The v8s didn't get them either, this guy probably found the cheapest torque arm and switched it out before he sold the car. The torque arm in the video is 100% a V6 torque arm, from what year? Who knows
My 97 v6 had a 2 piece which snapped. I put in a ls1 alum drive shaft it fit no issues. My 96 v6 had a 1 piece.
One of my favorite videos so far. I’m a Mercedes guy through and through, but started out in love with GM. Something about the raw & natural road trip footage resonates with me.
My son is 16 and never showed interest in cars until I told him to look for one so I can stop driving him around everywhere. If he gets his way and lands a TA, I’ll try to catch you at Fluid some time (it’s like 30 min from us).
I just love the way you get so excited when you get all these awesome cars from the past and you fix them the right way and no cutting corners. Great channel.
Love the Trans Am, looks like a keeper to me! Regarding the neutral coasting thing, you are right it does no harm to the gearbox or anything else. In the UK its how we are taught (majority still learn in manual cars here) it’s more to do with less control of the vehicle as you lose all engine braking. I prefer to slow down in gear and depending on what sort of ‘progress’ I’m doing I will shift down through the gears or do block changes as required 👍
Just recently discovered your channel. Obviously I subscribed. I'm 44. Been a gear head since the early '90s. Just got into RUclips when COVID hit. There are so many great car channels that it's hard to keep track. I live in Louisville, KY which has a decent car community that doesn't get get a lot of recognition. The LS1 WS6 with the massive snout is one of my favorite rides. I had a built Fox Body when these cars hit. I will never forget the commercial that Chevy put out to promote the platform... A Trans AM Firehawk pulls up to a red light behind a Fox Body Mustang. The light turns green and the T.A. sucks the Fox Body up its massive ram air snout and spits it out the tail pipe! Talk about a commercial specifically made to piss of Ford guys. It did too.. Thank God for the LS1 because it brought back the horse power wars that pushed Ford and Dodge to again make fast cars and bring back American Muscle! Great channel, great car. Brings back some great memories!
Right on man, welcome to cartube. If you want some more content (not sure what all you've seen or like yet), maybe check some of these out if you haven't.
-Vice Grip Garage: A shoestring and bubblegum kinda guy that has done some incredible revivals including running a model A some 600 miles home from the barn it was found in, using the tools he had on him. I consider him to be the Bob Ross of Cartubers. Most relaxing and entertaining car content here, IMO.
-Junkyard Digs: Great dude with an even greater Fiancee (Mook) who works on all things old and rusted. Very entertaining with recurring "characters" (his friends) who always keep the content interesting. Mook also has her own channel (Junkyard Mook), and the girl can friggin wrench!
-Cleetus McFarland: Overall performance and racing channel of all styles (focuses on drag racing, but also circle track, drifting, Stadium SuperTrucks, jetboats, etc.) with some vlogs here and there. Currently competing in World Cup with multiple cars. Great dude, even better team, and a hell of a work ethic. Hell yeah, brother!
-KSR Performance and Fabrication: one of the most knowledgeable car guys on the planet. Super humble, great explanations, and a good look into the mind of a master craftsman.
-Finnegan's garage: Yes, that Mike Finnegan from Roadkill. Everything from boats to drag cars. Great dude, and great content. Not much else to be said about this guy.
-Bad Obsession Motorsports: even the Brits can do something right every now and then. The Queen spit these two out into the world to make some of the most incredibly well built race cars the planet has ever seen. Words cannot describe the lengths these two go to in order to build the very best projects they can muster. Their Project Binky series from start to finish is a must.
-B is for Build: Wild dude with some insane custom rides.
-TheCraig909: Great younger backyard mechanic with some excellent builds, turning rusty shit into impressive monsters. About as pure as a mad backyard scientist gets. Points for the mullet he sports.
-SxS Blog: if you want to see ANYTHING involving off-road motors, you go here. Wild dudes with an appetite for destruction, or as they call it, "testing" lol. Excellent bunch, and very entertaining.
-Ronald Finger: This guy is quality over quantity. He doesn't post much, but when he does, it's excellent. Past two projects are a Fiero home restoration project spanning multiple episodes, and an old sport bike rebuild (I forget the model, but it was the same bike from Top Gun). Wildly detailed and never a minute of boring content.
-Rather B Welding: THE mad scientist for completely off road custom builds. Everything he makes is bespoke (whether or not it always does what he wants his creations to do is another story). If you like watching builds more than actual action with a vehicle, go here.
That's all I really got off the top of my head, but there are just so damn many to watch. Hope you find some of these interesting, and maybe this will ensure you have something to always watch on a lunch break!
My dad and my uncle moved to Romeoville IL. after Vietnam from Welsh WV. My childhood was filled with the family tradition of a road race from IL. to WV and back. At least once a year to visit family. My dad a GM guy in his 70 Monte Carlo SS, and my Uncle the Ford guy in his 70 Mustang Mach 1. My cousin and I riding shotgun in our respective fathers cars.
My cousin and I kept up the tradition up until the mid 2000's, me in my Camaro's and he in his GT Mustangs, until all the old timers in the family had passed away. Such beautiful country to drive, so many memories rekindled by this video. I'm a BMW guy now, but that LS1 rumble... Perfection.
In regards to coasting to a stop in neutral, we were taught in truck driving school to always keep it in gear as well while coming up to a stop. The theory is ‘out of gear, out of control’ so if an emergency situation were to arise, you have the ability to accelerate if needed. Nothing about it being bad for the trans though, which I would highly doubt since the gear oil will still be splashing around from the output shaft spinning
My thought as well. Not a trans issue, more of a driving safety issue. Being in gear gives you additional engine braking, and instant acceleration for collision avoidance, but you're not going to hurt anything.
What u said plus its better for fuel Economy, with that exhaust sounds cooler and is better for your brake pads.
Agreed, I was also told it was more economical too as in neutral more fuel is needed to keep the engine turning versus engine braking. That said my DSG box in eco mode will put the car into neutral and coast when decelerating.
maybe by keeping in neutral people think about keeping it on clutch - you can damage clutch bearing by keeping clutch on whole the time.
also not using engine for breaking helps you boil breaks on long descends
can't fiind anything that would hurt transmision tho
Isn't going to neutral a remnant of when you had to because gearboxes couldn't go directly from one gear to an other ?
I'm going to try and move my Thursday videos to Wedneday. What do you think?
Why not
I don't even know what day it is, so sure...
Sounds good to me.
Indifferent tbh.
I think it’s a great way to split up viewer time. Rather than Thursday and then Saturday. That’s just me though.
I have a similar build in my 98 just a BTR stage 3 instead of the magic stick. You’re likely making 420-440 rwhp and high 300’s to low 400’s rwtq. Great find and enjoy! You’re right also, greatest family of engines ever made!
I don't think I've ever vicariously enjoyed a drive as much as I did yours home from WV. Nice find. I can only imagine how much more awesome that trip would have been with Peter there to vibe off of your enjoyment.
Thanks for letting us tag along on your Trans Am adventure. Yeah, Peter would have enjoyed that car trip with you Alex.
This channel is so much more entertaining than 90% of any other car shows on network television. One reason I believe is that the boys are passionate about the cars they purchase.
19:14 don't forget about the torque arm bushing at the back of the transmission. Those can bang hard during bumps and off/on throttle transitions.
Keep this car man!! I was so amazed at how clean it was underneath!!
Seriously! I'm so jealous he got that car for $13k! I would've jumped on that myself!
01 T/A WS6 owner here. (black with tan interior)...I'm so glad you removed the tail light covers! Those factory honeycomb tail lights look so good!
It was great entertainment watching Alex descending deeper into madness as the trip went on, talking to himself, talking to imaginary people and doing car voices 🤣
we’ve all been there on those long hauls lmao
That WAS great😂😂😂
there was another person in the car....
@@SandyNickk it’s quite literally the only way to stay sane. But it’s just so much damn fun, you can tell he’s genuinely having so much fun driving this car. It’s awesome to see
It's mind-blowing the effect of non-human interaction can have on the psyche in a short period of time. Long-term non-human interaction causes permanent damage and the loss of sanity. Kind of makes me feel sorry for the guys in light deprivation solitary confinement ( or what they call being placed in the hole ) depending on what they are in solitary confinement for of course because some people you just can't feel sorry for
You just can’t beat late 80s, 90s and early 2000s hot rods. I loved my 89 Mark VII and my 97 Mark VIII even more! I get excited when I get up beside one of these units the same vintage as mine!
I always gear down while slowing down and always have the car in the correct gear for the speed that I am going. This allows the engine to help with the breaking and also has me ready to accelerate instantly if needed without trying to figure out what gear to put it in. I believe it is mostly a safety issue not a mechanical issue. This is most noticeable on a motorcycle where you could practically come to a full stop without even using the brake and be able to instantly take off without having to shift gears first.
Fuckin nerd
I agree
You are absolutely right. Its also a must during winter snowy times
Couldn't have said it better. I have no problems with Alex's way, but I always decelerate in gear for the engine braking and better fuel economy.
I’m not sure it’s a safety issue, but it is definitely no big deal for the car
THIS IS WHAT LIFE IS ALL ABOUT BROTHA! amazing man glad to see you having fun and enjoying that awesome road trip! Made me smile the whole trip! Felt like i was there with you! Have fun with this project!
Alex as Peter and Max and himself was hilarious. Wholesome content for sure
Yeah the only thing missing from the last couple videos was Peter. Thankful he's "back" at least for a cameo in this one.
Hey, after watching this video, I wanted to let you know. It’s not hard on the transmission to stop in this manner, it’s hard on the brakes. You will wear your pads much faster by not downshifting and you will heat up your brakes to failure on a road course without downshifting which is precisely why all road racers downshift. It’s amazing to me that everyone you know drives without downshifting. I’m 53 years old and have been both club and historic racing my entire adult life and I know no one that drives a manual transmission without downshifting to slow down. I mean, it makes perfect sense. You have engine compression at your fingertips to use to slow down. It’s free whereas brake pads wear and heat up. Just my two cents. Love your content.
Okay, HOW do you slow down/stop by downshifting ? Whenever i attempt to i always get tossed around as the car jerks when i go down a gear
The neutral thing is actually a safety issue. If you suddenly needed to accelerate or whatever, you have to make a couple of steps to be able to do so. Even if you are super fast with your hands and whatnot, it will take you time. Freewheeling isn't technically bad for the car, but not always the safest move.
I knew my dad taught me this for a good reason. Makes sense!
I think it is technically illegal in Georgia to ride in neutral.
Yeah, the only thing that affects the car is that you have to use more the brakes to stop.
@@javier.villatoro Brakes are a lot easier to replace than the clutch.
It is illegal in the UK too.
Downshifting with a manual sounds cool, putting it in neutral is fine, especially when you compare the cost of brake pads vs extra clutch use.
I literally just purchased a silver 02 Trans Am WS6 Ram air 4 days ago, has 65k miles on it and is in amazing condition, it even has a undercoat on the bottom of the car and a really nice sounding after market exhaust.It’s really such an amazing car and I love it, but mine does not have that battery cover or any of the WS6 badges under the hood, I’m not sure if they were a factory option or a aftermarket thing, but I wouldn’t mind having the batter cover. That blue with the carbon fiber is really nicer I may see if it would look good on mine, but I’ll try to do it better than it was on that car, will probably throw a supercharge in it as well, other than that I’m going to keep it stock, it truly is the last of its breed, and an end of an era, Pontiac should have never been shut down.
I have always wanted one of these. I remember sitting in one at an auto show back when they launched. Instantly was smitten for the WS6 and my inner mullet was ready to rock.
Anyways, I have always used the transmission to down shift because that is how I was taught by my father when learning manual. He said it just help save brakes at the potential cost of clutch wear. With that, I do skip gears a lot, both up and down as needed and have no issues just tossing it into neutral most days, especially when no one is behind me and can just coast long as possible when not in hurry to complete a stop. Save fuel, save gas, save brakes, and save clutch wear.
The way I see it I use netural cuz clutches are a pricey er and harder job then brakes and typically just pads at that. Idk wear on brakes always sounds better then clutches
You buy the coolest cars I would have bought as a kid. All the classics. Thanks for taking a chance on these sick rides for us! Love the content.
Heck with this guy I got my own!
I'm brand new to this channel and by no means a fan boy but I have to agree with this guy on his neutral coasting. I do the same thing. The number of people in the comments vehemently saying they "never would" do that and "don't know anybody who does that" are silly. It's a style of driving and no more a "safety hazard" than driving with one hand. Engine braking isn't something you need to use driving stoplight to stoplight, as evidenced by the fact that automatic cars don't use it. Saying it'll "wear the brakes faster" to coast in neutral is idiotic. Keep doing what you're doing man, love the F-body content.
It's so true that friendships are built on shared experiences. Even though we're not "technically" friends, I feel like most of us in here would be, and one experience a lot of us would probably share is12:25. I just made my day brighter because that post-stall body language is so relatable. Every single person who has daily driven a standard has done that exact same motion with that same look on their face. Like Howie Day said, "even the best fall down sometimes..." and it doesn't make it any better, not one bit. I love that this was left in here.
I love seeing Trans am videos, especially yours. They are very informative and interesting. I also noticed the rattling from the front. That could be a bolt missing from the headlight shroud. Just hanging there vibrating.
I couldn't afford to buy a car like that for fun. If I win the lottery though that will be the exact car I get. Such an amazing and beautiful car. Exhaust sounds are angelic. Kudos to you!
I just bought one for 4K it’s honestly easier to get into than you think if you get lucky!
I've heard about the gearing down when you slow down for a light but in my mind it's more to do with you being ready to accelerate if you need to in case of danger. You want to be ready to make a quick move but other than that, there's definitely no damage that can happen to a transmission if it's coasting in neutral.
Not necessarily gearing down but yeah just engine braking untill like 1100rpm then going into neutral is what I was thought. The reasoning is indeed that this way you are 'more in control' of the vehicle compared to being in neutral, whatever that means lol.
IMHO for safety in general it's better to have the car in gear as much as possible (say, if you get rear ended by someone while approaching the intersection it can also take longer to stop). I'd also add that not using engine braking puts unnecessary stress on the brakes, but for just a couple of stop lights it shouldn't really matter.
@@procrastinationoctopus3233 I would rather replace brake pads than a clutch. And it takes no time to push in a clutch and switch gears lol
@@johnl3230 Not telling anybody what to do, but I generally coast as much as possible unless I want to slow quickly then add engine braking. downshifting constantly just seems wasteful on 2 levels, but not when it's my saturday muscle car I downshift a bit more often for more racecar noise.
@@johnl3230 Eh, it's a bit of an extreme case, but I've seen people try to coast going down mountain roads to "save fuel" in older cars and have their brakes faded by the time they get to the bottom
Yes we all missed Peter. Hopefully he will be back for Saturday morning. Oh yeah Max too!! Nice ride. Alex you were so giddy the whole trip. Happy for you.
Because of your videos like this driving cars you bought interstate and driving them back home on a huge ass road trip, I decided to do the same. Flew Brisbane to Canberra for a manual BMW 130i. Caught the flight Monday. Bought the car the next morning. 3.5hrs driving Canberra to Sydney. Then stayed with a friend overnight. Then Wednesday did the 13hrs back from Sydney to Brisbane with one real stop in Port Macquarie for a feed from McDonalds haha. The car is a gem. Didn't miss a beat. ~800miles total.
I used to travel a lot for work. My favorite thing was to fly to the aiport furthest away, rent a hemi challenger and then absolutely beat that muscle car along the backroads for a couple hours to the office. The immediate torque and speed is incredible, so is the exhaust sound and all the fancy comfort and safety features that kept me from flying off into a soybean field at 200mph!! Everyone needs at least one muscle car!!!
The only reason I was told to always leave it in gear even when slowing down is you might have to accelerate for whatever reason maybe to avoid something and if you are in neutral you can’t do that as fast.
Same here. I usually don't bother, not many situations where that would make a difference anyway
Exactly what I was gonna say. Had a situation where i was going through a green light, and someone ran the red, the extra deceleration from the transmission and the breaks made it so I didn’t hit him
Yeah, what they said.
I might leave in the gear I was using but then it's neutral most situations. every time you downshift you wear the syncros the clutch the through out bearing and put reverse pressure on the crank bearings and transmission. brake pads are cheap
@@DC-si8xw brakes are a lot cheaper.. why over work the car.
I have been watching these videos for a lil while. Made me feel awesome and excited!. Not just your channel. I but all over. Made me feel great that good change is on the way for me. BUT! I realize that it's not for me! I still believe in it! I hope hope that if you are watching this! This does actually work for you. Just keep up with it. Make good choices, stay positive and things will be awesome for you. But it's not meant for everyone . I now kinda realize that everyone can't win. It's definitely not meant for everyone. Every positive had to have a negative. I'll take the loss so others can win. I'll be the sacrifice so others can move forward. So keep up with it and good will happen for you.
Slowing in neutral isn't bad for the transmission. However, you'll use up your brakes faster and it's ever so slightly more dangerous because you can't immediately accelerate if you had to for some reason so there's a loss of some control there. I think it is or used to be illegal to coast in neutral for that reason at least in some states.
Besides those points, coasting in neutral you might use a little more fuel as the fuel injectors can shut off if you coast in gear. In neutral you're using gas just to keep the engine idling.
While both valid points, from Mr. Bing and Mr Kennedy, changing brakes/rotors is still less expensive than replacing a clutch from poor rev matching while slowing down.
On a side note, I have some vids on my channel with the same color/year WS6.
@@2001bluerata It's easy to rev match tbh..... Its just doing to much when slowing down though.. Neutral it is.
Throttle response is the safety factor. Throttle response is can also be a danger if not used responsibly... but that is what makes a mundane trip and adventure!
Burning up the clutch downshifting to slow down vs using the brakes, I'd prefer to use the brakes. Cheaper and easier to fix than replacing the clutch.
absolutely loved that
BTW in UK we don't drift to a stop in neutral. Driving 36 years & it's always been seen as a bit of a no no. Best is use engine braking & brakes together
Why is it a no no? I know some people who do both and they haven’t had problems. I understand engine braking is more efficient than braking in neutral.
@@brenton9492 I think sometimes people say its a safety issue, like if you needed to quickly accelerate and had to put the car back in gear, I still don't really understand it though.
I believe 'Coasting' in neutral or with clutch down for too long would mean you would fail a driving test in the uk, which is probably why we don't do it that much in the UK. Also with engine braking it reduces the wear on the brakes as they have a bit of assistance.
hope you see this! Im hunting for my first self bought car, i was blessed with given a Pontiac bonneville and have been obsessed with Pontiac ever since, this is and will forever be my dream car. These videos like this just keep me going and motivated
Another great video. Simply awesome sound from the new addition to the stable. Glad that I lucked out on my guess! As for the coasting in neutral, I don't know of any engineering back-up to warrant the claim that its damaging. Those people who grew up only driving standard transmissions frequently select neutral when slowing down.
I had a 2002 35th anniversary Camaro SS with the SLP package. T-tops, leather, center exit exhaust, basically the nicest Camaro you could get at the time. The only thing I did to it was long tube headers, and a smooth bellow for the intake and a stall converter, and yes it was an auto, but I actually liked that. I raced several six speed F-bodies with similar mods and would win only because I beat them off the line cuz I knew how to launch the crap out of that auto and they would just stay spinning cuz they'd dump the clutch. Anyway, I LOVED that car and seeing this WS-6 totally takes me back to high school! 👍
My brother has a 35th anniversary SS (special edition) with the M6. I have a 30th anniversary SS A4 (white with orange stripes). My car had the LT1, but I found a pair of LT4 heads, and they are in the shop for porting right now. My car was 100% stock, but since the engine was blown when i bought it, the build has snowballed into a big-cam, forged internals, beast!
@@mistered9435 NICE! I always loved those 30th anniversaries!
Love the car. You got a great deal. As far as the putting it in neutral and slowing down, you aren't hurting anything. My almost 81 father taught me that when driving a manual, brakes are cheaper than a transmission. I would gear down like you when slowing to a traffic light etc. He's probably right, but I have owned more manual than automatic cars, and I always shift down or even heal to toe.
Man That Blue Color is Awesome🔥 Clean AF!
I'm no mechanic but we were always told when riding our motorcycles not to shift it into neutral before slowing down. It was more of a safety issue in case anything happened and you had to quickly move. Harder to do quickly if you have to shift it into gear versus having the bike in gear and hand on the clutch, ready to go. Plus it wears your breaks faster too. I always downshift and use the engine to help slow me.
Brakes are easy to replace. Clutches and transmissions, not so much.
That's so much more wear on you, the clutch, and the transmission that is unnecessary for the daily driving rolling up to a stop sign. Using engine braking while heading down a long hill or mountain makes plenty of sense to not cook your brakes however.
Yup, I slow down by clutching down through the gears as I get close to a light, and i was taught to do that rather than shifting to neutral and using the brake because I never knew if I might not need to get out of the way of the fool behind me, if for whatever reason they don't stop. Or any maneuver, really, that requires power. And while the comment about brakes being cheaper than clutches (especially these days?) is very true, the lack of being able to GO when I need to?
I'll keep clutching down.
@@EstebanRapido Engine braking done properly should not hurt the trans or the engine, maybe except for 2 stroke.
@@nhansgoofyvideos7581 every time you use the clutch, you are wearing out the clutch.
What job would you rather do, change the brakes or the clutch?
I used to have a 95 Z28 convertible with the t56 6 speed, and like you I used to get around 31mpg… absolute blast to drive. One of the cars I regret getting rid of the most.
Haven’t even watched the video yet and I know it’s gonna be absolutely brilliant😂Thanks for the amazing content Alex!
Clutch. what you doing is great. Way back in 69-70 my friend and I had 69 Camaros. We read an article in Hot Rod or something about extending clutch life. It said to put the trans in neutral when ever you are at a stop light. I have been doing that for years. My friend bought his 69 SS new and did that and got insane mileage out of that clutch! So whoever is giving you grief about that Tell them to Buzz off. I have had done this for years.
Really nice to see alex finally enjoy a cross country drive where he doesn’t have to worry about the car breaking down! Great find! #W202
I absolutely loved the first season of the Motor Trend show, "Roadkill". This has that vibe (only with no problems). What I am saying is, love this style of content and will happily consume it all, should you be able to make more.
I watched as much Roadkill until it went behind a pay-wall.
and engine masters.
The best roadkill was when they took an engine out of a car and put it in a boat - in the parking lot!
@@stuartd9741 Same here. I loved the concept, but I don't want to keep track of another subscription for one show.
Finnegan is still up to his schnanigans though, and its a similar, if not the same, vibe.
My fav RK episode was the completion of the Alaska trip in the Ranchero.
@@zeroforkgiven yes remember that one was a while ago now.
Yeah once you start paying subscriptions for every show you want soon adds up.
Was gutted when RK went subscription..
Fun while it lasted.
Vice grip garage channel has roadkill type revivals with the problems. Also Derek is hilarious.
I'm primarily an import guy, but seeing your love for these cars makes me appreciate them that much more. 👍
Nothing bad for the trans about coasting in neutral. The only thing I could think of is when you're in neutral if you suddenly need to move you'd have to get in gear first. But coasting to the last part of the stop in neutral is fine.
(Also I'd never shift into first if I'm still moving)
You are better off shifting into first when going at about 2-3mph than from full stop. Saves syncros on the most abused gear (1st). OFC only applies when you know you will shortly have to move, otherwise idling at a red light with the clutch pushed in wears out the throwout bearing.
Some transmissions are not lubricated as they should be when coasting in neutral. Trust me keep it in gear, your not saving gas.
@@silentshredr LOL average american education brain. Keeping it in gear saves gas, also you can't use your vs you're properly. Manual transmissions have no pumps or anything dependent on gear engagement. They are splash lubricated by the output shaft gears.
@@silentshredr keeping it in gear with throttle closed is actually infinite MPG with the fuel injectors shut off.
Love this one Alex
Legit Street Cars . Love the channel! My LSC is a 2003
C5 50th Anniversary Special Edition. Thanks you are actually teaching about troubleshooting and providing incredible real world info!
I did the same thing, using neutral with my 02 WS6 Trans Am, ended up selling it with 32,000 miles, such a great Car to drive, etc, loved it
I would LOVE to be the next owner of this beautiful T/A. I remember working at the pontiac dealership on river road- Always wanted one for myself!!
I was taught to use the transmission to gear down to a stop to keep rev up on the motor. This improved the vacuum to the brake booster allowing better braking efficiency
maybe back in the 60's now is just a waste of fuel
Yes, let's wear out the clutch and the transmission unnecessarily because it'll be slightly easier to push the brake, thanks to the improved boost vacuum.
Dude that Trans Am is almost perfect and I'm jealous AF. That Navy Blue is my favorite 4th gen color. I have an '02 SS with the full SLP Package, and Eibach springs and upgraded front/rear sways. Also have poly motor mounts and bushings. it's silver metallic and 80K miles. It's my baby, bought it used in '06 when I got my discharge.
BTW you got a killer deal on that WS-6. Please don't destroy it 😟
Please keep this TA, I absolutely love Firebirds. The Last of the Breed package on the 2002 Firebirds was a dealer installed option. Some had them, some had no idea what it was. The carbon fiber sail panel was put on to replace the original panel that was bubbling from the glue. I suggest pulling out a few staples from the door panels so they don't crack. I can't wait to see the next video on this car!
Had many 4th Gen Firebirds & Trans Ams. That noise sounds like a loose jack that is supposed to be bolted in place behind the passenger quarter panel (remove the trunk trim & it's there). Also check to see if the power antenna motor is loose because it can make that metallic clunk too :)
Hey Alex, sweet WS6😎
The coasting to a stop thing isn't so much about mechanical damage but the fact that you lose the additional braking advantage of the engine. Coasting to a stop might seem fairly innocuous, but it is no different to coasting down a steep hill in neutral... Engine braking in that Firebird is like having a 5-600 bhp extra brake. Off throttle you're burning next to no fuel compared to being at idle. Also, at idle you lose the additional cooling benefits of the waterpump spinning at a higher rpm... Want proof? Run that car on urban streets in 6th... It will be pretty much at idle cruising around. Watch the temp go through the roof. Run the same route but stay in 4th or 3rd and the temp will stay much cooler. Roll upto the stops as you leave Mexico in gear and the coolant temp will be more stable.
You guys are all full of shit. A transmission is designed forward motion. Using it to slow down is damaging to the clutch, flywheel bearings. That's what the brakes are for and by throwing it in neutral it also saves on brake wear. Use some common sense.
@@b58hustler71 Bless your heart. Perhaps you could start by understanding what engine braking is and how to apply it...
This might help: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Engine_braking
😉
Drive down the road at your chosen speed, lift off, allow the speed to drop a few hundred rpm, change down, repeat. With practice, you will be arriving at the stop line at walking pace, requiring minimal use of the brakes. And it might shock you to know that it's just as effective in an auto.
@@alasdairhompstead7950 engine braking isn't necessary. You don't understand that a car is not an 18 wheeler. What a moron. You use more fuel by engine braking, especially city driving where you are stopping every block or 2. Over the period of years, that's a lot over extra wear on the drive train and extra cost in fuel consumption.
@@b58hustler71 you use almost no fuel because the throttle is closed and forward momentum keeps the crank turning. Coasting actually uses more fuel because the engine is disconnected from drive train and requires fuel to keep running.
Doesn’t matter if it is a car or a road train, the physics is the same, and when coasting you're not in full control. Do it on a driving test in the UK and you'll fail.
@@alasdairhompstead7950 read what you are saying. Disconnected from the drive train it uses more fuel? Are you dilusional? So are you saying that when the car is sitting still and the motor is Idling let's say at 675 RPMS, that it's using more fueling than when it's running at in gear at 2000 RPMS.? WTF. Good night. Moron.
Alex, I LOVE your videos like crazy! Thank you for so much for everything you share! You and your team are simply the BEST!
We all miss Peter. Can we get a RUclips short of him?
He's at the end of this video!
@@LegitStreetCars I saw it was like a Stan Lee cameo in a marvel movie
that's mean peter will come back in action in next video
Keeping the car in gear provides smoother stopping in icey or slippy conditions, I refer to it as driving on the gears , engaging the correct gear aids breaking and also ensures that you have a good power response if you need to accelerate, you can maintain better control of the car with the power always engaged. I'm old school back in UK where most people drive manual/ stick shifts . It's was considered a bad habit to coast in neutral and would have resulted in a driving test failure.
Yeah, but things have changed a lot in some ways.
In a modern fuel injected car it also saves fuel (I know, like it's going to make a difference on an LS :)) but in neutral, the injectors have to fire to keep the engine running, whereas coating in gear allows the car's momentum to "pump" the engine with the injectors (and ignition) not contributing anything, so they can be shut off. This is even true for an automatic on long descents down a mountain pass: shift to a lower gear and use engine braking (and no fuel) to slow the vehicle and save the brakes. I've gone down so many mountains smelling brakes from vehicles around me riding their brakes all the way down the mountain. Not only is that eating up your brake pads, but eventually the fluid will boil and give a soft/long pedal, or worse.
@@kuyper Doesnt always save fuel, sometimes coasting is actually more beneficial though.
You are getting into the Motor Trends kind of entertainment lately like Roadkill was. Cool!
Kinda reminds me more of Vice Grip Garage content where Derrick drives hundreds of miles saving abandoned vehicles. Equally fun content.
Coasting in neutral isn't bad for the transmission... if anything, it probably preserves it. With that being said though, I think its a better habit to keep car in gear as much as possible and only put in neutral when stopped.
I had a few bad habits driving my first car that was a 5 speed. These were pointed out by a mechanic friend that saw me doing them when I asked him to replace my 1st clutch: 1. Parking the car in neutral and only engaging parking brake (if parking break fails, car can roll away, so leave it in 1st or reverse when parked) 2. Coasting with clutch engaged is bad, as it wears it out prematurely (learned that the hard way) and 3. Crusing in neutral for an extended amount of time, as you give up throttle control and put a lot of extra wear on the brakes. Also, I think that learning rev matching and engine brake skills has helped with my endurance racing performance, as you keep more control of the car throughout.
Hope that brings some new light or things to consider for anyone here!
That engine sounds sooo good. That's a great car you've picked up there ☺️
Music to my middle aged ears
It isn't bad for the transmission to slow down in neutral. It is harder on the brakes, so you will go through pads quicker, but that is about the extent of negative on the mechanical side.
This. Braking in neutral wears the brake pads more than down-shifting and engine-braking in gear. There's no reason the transmission would be damaged by braking in neutral.
Clutches actually cost money
@@EstebanRapido not sure what you are trying to say here......do you think that slowing in neutral is somehow hard on the clutch? Because it isnt.
@@devildogcody sorry that reply is meant for the other gentleman.
It's pretty basic and we both know this, any one can change a set of brake pads. They are cheap and accessible. Changing a clutch is far more difficult. Therefore, use your clutch less and your brakes more.
It’s like would you rather replace a clutch or pads? 😂
There is yet to be born a motorhead that can resist playing in a tunnel. It's an echo chamber built for sound. My favorite is riding my Harley in the mountains on roads surrounded by trees late night when the only sounds are the bike. Natures tunnel. Love the TA, in the early 80's I had a 75.
What do you think this car is worth as it sits right now?
35000$ maybe
At least more than the airplane ticket home...
17k
Probably at least 20k these days. The market for these already bottomed out several years ago and they are appreciating. I bought my 98 for 6k 6 years ago, and it's worth more than I paid for it now.
I have the volant on mine as well. Stock airbox is restrictive along with the accordion type "bellows".
The torque arm relocation bracket allows for better physics reducing wheel spin, it's a way better design, also allows you to install better larger exhaust easier.
I've seen dyno numbers with the Volant intake you have and they're higher than other aftermarket lids, keep it! It also looks cool.
The only negative I've experienced with my volant is that the filters get dirty pretty fast due to exposure but it's not a big deal, I just wash them and then lightly re oil them.
the volant intake is the ugliest intake ever but it performs very well agreed
@@albertchaidez6317 I kinda like it
@@FWDSUXARSE more dirty means more air, thus more power. If your filter in your lid isn't getting dirty it's because it's receiving less air. Air is dirty, that's just how it is.
@@albertchaidez6317 it's a love it or hate it design. I personally prefer it over a lid.
The oil thing with slowing down is the same reason they say don’t tow a car and have it in neutral. It has to do with the trans fluid sitting at the bottom and while in gear, the actual gear is long enough to sit in the fluid and fling the fluid up over the gear sets soaking everything keeping it all lubed. While in neutral, the only actual gears moving in the trans are smaller ones therefor not reaching the fluid enough to fling it around the trans. For simply coming to a stop it really isn’t a huge deal because it’s such a short distance. I could see if you’ve done it stopping on a vehicle with 750,000 miles on it then MAYBE it could have an affect on it but again, that’s mainly for towing as the trans wouldn’t be having fluid flung thru out the trans for long mileage. Hope that helps!
Can't beat the reliability and availability of the LS motor 🏁🏁
In the US i agree 100%. Here in Europe no one wants them, they want cars that to 50 mpgs... Sad to say my 2008 Audi S6 V10 does at his best 18mpgs hahahaha
@@organiccold the ls1 corvettes got like 35mpg or something stupid on the interstate. But he's talking about performance an even for a performance engine they get good mileage because of the na torque
Great video and what a buy! 48K miles and looking so good on the underside. This is a great deal. You gotta keep this so you and peter can dragrace them eh? 😁😁😁
I'd love to hear the comments on driving a manual transmission in neutral (when slowing down). My son has had 2 manual cars (he's 17) and I've taught him to down shift, just like my Gpa taught me. I was always told it was easier on the brakes. Slowing down a manual transmission in neutral won't harm the transmission at all & would probably make it last longer. Most guys aren't like Alex though - who probably do a brake & rotor job in 15 mins.
I do like the front fascia on the blue one more than the white one. That lower air dam really adds an even more aggressive appearance.
You got an awesome deal on that Trans AM! I would just throw a MGW shifter in it. That intake probably works good with the hood. SLP is really good too.
I’m with you Alex! No issue with coasting down in neutral. Downshifting in order to engine brake a car coasting to a stop is not a problem either. It does however, contribute to wear and tear on the clutch. Brakes are waaaay cheaper and easier to replace than clutches. But hey, if it makes you feel better....knock yourself out!
Slowing in neutral is not bad for the transmission/car, but it does mean that the only control you have over the vehicle speed is the brakes, if a sudden 'thing' happened and you needed to accelerate again, you would have to go through the whole process of 'clutch, select gear, clutch out (with engine speed matching via throttle) and then accelerate. Just better driving to leave it in gear as you slow.
Slowing down in gear also saves gas, as it puts the engine in fuel cutoff, vs idle which uses fuel. It also means less wear on the brakes, but more wear on the clutch.
love seeing how much fun you have! OMG dEFINITELY need more of this banter with yourself. Really let's your sense of humor shine!
I bought my 2002 Trans AM just north of Orlando. It needed a few things done to it, so I had a local shop do the absolute necessary items then drove it back home to Atlanta. I didn't turn it off at fuel and food stops. I had a small block of wood holding up one headlight assembly for when it got dark. When I got it home did a little more to it and had a great car.
I think you should keep that ws6 so you have a manual one and an auto one
Always loved WS6s!
Interesting question about the neutral question. Although automatic trans were common enough when I grew up,the people who taught me to drive taught me to use the engine for a brake. It might have been because cars and esp older trucks trans were not well synchronized and they mostly had drum brakes so keeping it in gear helped maintain control in a couple of ways and it definitely saves brakes wear and fade. Once you learn to drive that way, it's just natural to do and I think still better practice. Down shift and brake definitely increases stopping power.
Here in Norway almost every car is manual gears, so when we were learning to drive cars, for me about 30 years ago we were told to shift down to save break pads or not to over heat the breaks breaking down hills. By the way I personally think you wear the trans more by down shifting and putting negative tork on the trans and the engine mounts and so on while breaking with the trans (we call it engine breaking). hope you understand what I mean 😅
Brake pads are cheap, transmissions are not lol
Exactly. “Brake” pads are easy to replace and cheap. Clutches and trannies not necessarily.
That may be true, but I've always downshifted, in one car for 160k-170k miles and in a whole different car 100k miles and I had other faults, but the transmission on both worked just like new. As long as the car isn't constantly revving and not grinding gears they'll outlast the car.
I think it also has to do with controlling the vehicle. If you’re in neutral and then need to accelerate quickly, you may not be able to get it in the correct gear.
The transmission doesn't care where the force comes from, as long as no component is over-revved. Engine breaking isn't super easy and could wear the clutch quicker but it will not hurt the trans or the engine.
As a 2000 Ws6 owner for the past 19 years I'm smiling ear to ear watching this video.
why?
@@dr.mantistoboggan4746 Because they're fun cars?
@@ethancrawford8242 Why ask me that , I've never owned one?
Love this car. Colour and body kit look perfect. Sounds epic 👍
Biggest reason for keeping it in gear while slowing down is to save fuel and to save on the brakes. EFI cars don't inject fuel while coasting in gear over a certain rpm.
Also, the car feels more in control, at least in my opinion. In Sweden, you'd fail your license test if you let the car coast in neutral.
I know this comment is late, but I did so many trips like what you did from PA to Illinois all the time in my TA! I need to fix my transmission up and give the engine a tune up and get it back on the road. I miss those memories so much!
Man you have been pumping out the content! Amazing job Alex! Hahaha loved the "fake footage from a different channel."
I in general keep it in gear until I'm at least under 15 to 20 miles an hour and I know I'll be coming to a complete stop. Most of the time I just heel toe down to second and crawl up to stop lights and whatnot. It's just always safer to stay in gear, things can happen fast when you least expect it.
Agreed, you never knew when you need to start moving again to avoid something.
My absolute favorite muscle car of all time! I've got an 02.