I read about how downshifting, holding the clutch in with the car in gear at stop lights, and riding the clutch while stopped on hills are all bad for the clutch.

I drive about 50 percent freeway, 30 percent heavy traffic commute, and 20 percent city driving and have been getting over 150,000 miles on my clutches even though I hold the clutch in while the car is in first gear at stop lights. I have done this with two cars now, Toyota Tercel and Volvo S70.

I was wondering how many miles other people get with their clutches with their clutch use habits and if it is really that bad for the clutch if you can still get so much life out of them while downshifting and riding them.

I am guessing that if you use the clutch only for shifting gears, it would last almost forever. If you downshift or hold the clutch in while in gear, you would get over 150,000 miles. If you ride the clutch while stopped on hills you would probably only get 50,000 miles. Worst case sceneario if you are really hard on the clutch, you may only get about 25,000 miles.

Clutches may cost more than brakes, but if downshifting can save you two sets of front brake pads, two sets of rear brake pads, and one set of front and rear rotors. Over $1,200 of brake service over 150,000 to 200,000 miles, Maybe the cost of a new clutch because of downshifting is not really that bad.