What's Best? Downshifting or coasting in neutral and using brakes?

[Unit 5302]

Well, every shift where you are using the transmission to change speed will cause wear on the clutch. Now factor in how many miles you get on a clutch. Double the shifts. Of course it's going to shorten life.

That's not really my concern though. Mine relates to the fact every time you shift you wear the syncros, and the additional rpms and use of course wears the bearings, and other internal parts of the transmission. I'm sure everybody is more than happy to point out that it doesn't hurt it "much." That much more wear is created during hard acceleration. That's true, but it still wears.

I downshift, but I fully realize braking with the brakes is less stressful to the car.