[gunsequalfreedom]

I am not a car expert in any way, but many have said some of the newer cars will not allow you to shift into neutral or turn off the key when in drive and in motion. I would like to know if that is true, if so that design would seem to be a malfunction itself to me.

I have not tried turning off the key but I frequently shift into neutral when rolling down long grades (not supposed to do it because you have less control over the car but it saves gas).

The answer to shifting to neurtral is yes, at least on the 2011 I drive.

[ProtectOurFreedom]

Coasting down long grades in neutral will actually cost you MORE money overall because you don’t have any compression braking and you will ride the brakes. Brakes will wear our sooner. Worst-case scenario...brakes will overheat and fade, leaving you with limited stopping power. Happened to me in my Dad’s ‘66 Bonneville with all drum brakes, no discs (brake linings overheated and glazed). Fade is much less likely to occur with four-wheel disc brakes.

[Figment]

” I frequently shift into neutral when rolling down long grades (not supposed to do it because you have less control over the car but it saves gas).”

The old “Georgia overdrive.” There was an 18 wheeler that pulled that on I-40 approaching the Tennessee River bridge a few years back, he went over the side into the river

[Moltke]

I have not tried turning off the key but I frequently shift into neutral when rolling down long grades (not supposed to do it because you have less control over the car but it saves gas).

Most modern engines (fuel injected cars since ~1980) cut the fuel supply to ZERO when coasting in gear under load (=downhill), while at the same time providing some degree of compression braking. OTOH in neutral the engine will require fuel to 'idle' - hence coasting downhill in neutral will cost you fuel rather than save some (and brake pad wear insofar as you use the brakes to maintain speed).

[USFRIENDINVICTORIA]

" shift into neutral when rolling down long grades (not supposed to do it because you have less control over the car but it saves gas)."

You have a lot less control in neutral. If there are any curves on the downhill, you may have fatally less control. It has to do with "moment of inertia" and "torque". You don't have any torque in neutral, and this really throws off your moment of inertia. You really don't want to do that. Please, do yourself a favour and look it up.

BTW, for similar reasons (plus the braking-distance factor) it's always safer going up a hill with curves, than it is going down the same hill. If you live in hill country, slow down at the top of hills.

[vette6387]

“I have not tried turning off the key but I frequently shift into neutral when rolling down long grades (not supposed to do it because you have less control over the car but it saves gas).”

Remind us all where you drive so we avoid your environs. It’s amazing to me what some will do to save pennies at the expense of their own personal safety. Also, if your vehicle has an automatic transmission, it won’t be happy with your “coasting.”