To answer the OP's question: You don't really need to downshift to first, unless you are negotiating a hairpin corner.

As for everyone else (except Stoppie), this why there are driver's schools. As a chief driving instructor for the FCA, I see guys that can't drive and have no idea what car control is, stick the car in neutral or put the clutch in and coast to a stop. Pathetic.

You actually need to be in gear and connected to the drive train, if the car is moving. if you are actually going to drive the car, this is important. If performed properly you will cause no extra wear on the clutch or transmission, and with F1 gearboxes, the revs are matched for you. If your car has CC brakes and you decide to 'just ride ride them', check the current costs of a brake job, it far exceeds a clutch job. With a true manual, you actually have to master heel and toe, and a double clutch downshift........ Oh God! Effort!

My biggest annoyance of being involved with the Ferrari community for better than 25 years, is that more owners are interested in the best valet spot than the best line through a corner, but I guess its more important to look good, than to drive well.

 

I use it too, if you got room to coast.that's normal driving routine. i was strictly speaking for 6-5-4-3-2-1 EVERYTIME you stop, like a motorcycle gearbox. oh course you ride the clutch until the car almost sputters - then disengage and ride the brakes. but besides the initial coasting/riding the clutch, I dont see the need to downshift towards a stop. were not talking dowshifting because of reducing speed, but complete stop
but like you said, to each his own. But I'm with Stoppie - smooth and fast upshifting and downshifting in all rev ranges is a must for any self respecting man. probably everyone here has that down

 

Wtf is this the vagina monologue?

 

 

on a F1 transmission, you can either let the car downshift or put it into neutral from a lower speed roll. Never put your car into neutral from over 40-50mph as you could need to accelerate out of danger.

downshifting manually is not necessary. brake pads are cheaper than 7k clutch jobs.

 

This is my biggest problem with Ferrari. This is by far the most important thing to most owners. Not all I know and most if the good ones are on this board but in general it's just annoying.

 

I want one of those stickers

 

yes, erm, I model my driving technique after the highest exemplary available, and that is the F1

 

Rev match saves the clutch. Double clutch saves the synchronizers.

For the record I usually just leave the car in gear until I reach idle RPM, then press the clutch to finish the stop.

 

I don't downshift into 1st to stop at every single red light, that's silly. I'll rev match into 4th and 3rd then start braking for the last 5 or 10mph. And there are different ways to rev match, I'm not one of those people that rev it to 7,000rpm every time.